Bach flower remedies

Bach Flower Remedies are a form of alternative medicine which uses extremely weak tinctures[?] of various flowers and plants. Each plant is believed to impart specific qualities to the remedy, and they are generally specially prepared by a naturopath[?] for each patient to meet their individual needs (generally nervous conditions such as depression, anxiety, insomnia and general stress).

The best-known Bach flower remedy would have to be Rescue remedy[?], a combination of Rock Rose, Impatiens, Clematis, Star of Bethlehem and Cherry Plum extracts. Rescue Remedy is so-called because the ingredients are believed to relieve stress, anxiety and panic attacks. Rescue Remedy is taken at need, and it is available either in a small spray-bottle, in a glass bottle with an eye-dropper, or as a 'rescue cream' to be rubbed onto the skin.

Some people have used rescue remedy and other bach flower remedies on their household pets and domestic animals, and it is reported to often be quite successful in calming them and improving their problem behaviour.

Bach Flower Remedies contain no artificial preservatives or additives in them. By themselves the tinctures are extremely perishable and would soon degrade to uselessness, so they are mixed with a grape-alcohol carrier to act as a preservative. This makes them generally unsuitable for alcoholics as although used in minute quantities (generally an eye-dropper at a time, either straight on the tongue or mixed in a glass of water) the alcohol taste remains very distinctive.

see also naturopathy[?]