Bach Flower Therapy: Does it work?

Bach Flower Therapy (Bach Flower Therapy) is a natural healing method founded by and named after the British physician Edward Bach (1886-1936). Bach considered a disease as a disharmony between the body and soul of a person. He defined 38 negative archetypal states of the human soul, to each of which he assigned a flower, so that all Bach flowers stand for a certain human behavior or reaction pattern. He assumed that the vibrations of the plants correspond to the soul states of mind. Bach primarily treated the soul rather than physical symptoms by trying to influence the energy system of the person.

Indications (areas of application)

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Insomnia (sleep disorders)
  • Stomach disorders (functional gastric disorders; irritable stomach; functional dyspepsia).
  • Heart complaints
  • As a supportive treatment for atopic eczema (neurodermatitis), allergies (eg hay fever), asthma and bedwetting.
  • Treatment of mental concomitants of burns, car accidents or sports accidents.
  • Psychological exceptional situations such as surgery.

The procedure

The administration form of the Bach flowers are the so-called flower essences. These can consist of a maximum of a mixture of 6 different flowers. The preparation of the essences is done in two different ways:

  • Sun method The flowers are picked on a sunny day and placed in fresh spring water, preferably from the area where the plant is located. The flowers should cover the surface and are then placed in the sun for 2 to 4 hours. According to Bach, this is how the vibrations of the flowers pass into the water. The flowers are then removed and the solution is diluted with the same amount of brandy and preserved. This solution is called the mother tincture. The mother tincture is diluted again and bottled (“stockbottles”). For further treatment, the mother tincture is further diluted.
  • Cooking method Since not all plants are available at all times, they are picked as in the sun method and then boiled out. The extract is filtered several times and also diluted with brandy. For further treatment, the mother tincture is further diluted.

Bach divided the flower essences into seven groups, so that each plant is associated with a superior state of mind:

  • Anxiety
  • Insecurity
  • Insufficient interest in reality
  • Loneliness
  • Hypersensitivity to influences
  • Despondency/despair
  • Too much concern for the welfare of others

Taking Bach flower essences should lead the patient to deal with his personality and transform a possible negative mental state into a positive one. In addition, the introductory conversation with the therapist is also a central part of the therapy. Bach Flower Therapy can be used in a variety of ways, overarching goals are:

  • Mental health prevention – harmonization of negative behavior patterns and assistance in personality development.
  • Self-healing – activation of self-healing powers.
  • Treatment of mental stress and stressful situations – eg separation, a serious illness or job loss.
  • Accompanying therapy for acute and severe chronic illnesses

In addition to the normal flower essences, there is also an emergency mixture (“Rescue”) of five special flowers, which treats the temporary psychological discomfort in special emergency situations (such as shock or the greatest internal tension).

Benefits

Bach flower therapy is a useful adjunctive measure to conventional medicine. It can lead to improved psychological well-being and has no physical side effects.