Bach Flower Therapy: What is it?
Bach Flower Therapy - what is it?
The Bach flower therapy goes back to the British physician Edward Bach (1886-1936). He assumed that all physical illnesses were due to disorders of mental balance.
Bach defined a total of 38 "disharmonious mental states of human nature" - such as irritability, fear, bitterness. Bach attributed an essence of wild flowering plants and trees to every frame of mind, including oak, dogrose and holly. The plant essence is supposed to solve the negative emotions through its oscillation frequency and to restore the mental balance. This should activate the self-healing powers, strengthen the immune system and in this way also cure diseases.
In order to gain the plant essence, plant parts are placed in spring water and then placed in the sun, or heated. In this way, they should give their energy to the water. The water is then added to the preservation with brandy or cognac and diluted similar to homeopathy with large amounts of water.
What methods do you use in Bach flower remedies?
After a detailed anamnesis interview, the therapist selects the Bach flower, which seems best suited to restore the patient's mental balance. Individual mixtures of several plant concentrates are also possible. The Bach Flower Essences are stored in small vials, called "stock bottles". Several times a day, a few drops are poured into a glass of water and drunk.
"Rescue Remedies", also called emergency drops, are a combination of six Bach flowers, which should have a relaxing and emotional stabilizing effect in stress and emergency situations.
For which complaints does Bach flower therapy make sense?
Bach flower therapy is mainly used for mental health problems such as overwork, nervousness, fatigue or anxiety. It is used both in acute problems, such as relationship conflicts, as well as to generally strengthen the mental balance.
Healing or relief is also promised in the case of diseases such as headaches, sleep disturbances or tensions, which could have a psychosomatic origin.
How well is Bach flower therapy scientifically proven?
The Bach Flower Therapy is not sufficiently documented by scientific studies. The mechanism of action is not plausibly proven for school physicians and is justified by the placebo effect.
What are the limitations of Bach flower remedies?
Side effects of Bach flower concentrates are unknown. However, the essences are unsuitable for children and "dry" alcoholics because they contain small amounts of alcohol. For them there are Bach flowers in Globuli Forum.
The followers of the Bach flower therapy believe in a quick effect on acute problems. The use of the therapy to create mental balance, however, is not for the impatient: the treatment may take several months.
Critics see it as problematic that the Bach Flower Therapy solely reduces illnesses to mental health. This may lead patients to believe that they alone are responsible for their illness. In no case should be tried in medical emergencies to cure a patient with Rescue drops!
For whom is the Bach flower therapy suitable?
The Bach Flower Therapy is suitable for those who are looking for uncomplicated self-help with everyday problems and want to get involved in the somewhat esoteric model of thinking that plants have energetic vibrations that affect human consciousness. Anyone who wants to get advice from a Bach flower therapist must be willing to talk about mental states.
How much is the treatment?
A Erstanamnesegespräch the naturopath costs about 50 euros. 30 milliliters of Bach flower essence are available for about 15 euros, 10 milliliters Rescue drops from 6 to 8 euros. The statutory health insurance companies do not pay the therapy.
