Hi all-


I was just curious about everyone's opinion about Bach remedies. Also about the "rescue remedy" which is something I hear a lot about. I someone does use it I wonder if it can be used before an event that commonly causes anxiety such as a performance type situation rather than during the anxiety. Any ideas/opinions are welcome. Thanks!

Flower power, remedies for the healthy.....
has nothing to do with homeopathy..

GM is probably right about flower essences being for the healthy. I use them frequently for attitude/adjustment problems in seemingly otherwise healthy animals. But, Rescue Remedy is one flower essence I can not be without! I have had very injured, feral cats come in traps.....any idea what that can mean to life and limb to try to handle!!!! When a cat is in that condition and totally wild.....wow! I have found that I can drop Rescue Remedy on them, I try to get some on their ears, while in the trap or gently mist them (don't like to make pssst type noises at them though)and get that one prescious moment to transfer them to better accomodations without them getting even more frightened and get a quick look/feel at the extent of their condition, with most of the skin on my hands still intact. Then I can go on to the homeopathic treatment.

Sadly, I also use Rescue Remedy when death is eminent. It does seem to ease them. Probably a remedy would, too. I just don't have the expertise to know what to use properly, so I grab my Rescue Remedy.

Have never used Rescue Remedy except in a real emergency. Have not used it as a preventative. However, I think Aconite could be used preventatively.

GM, do you think Acon in solution would accomplish the same thing as Rescue Remedy? Might be something to try next time?

I put some crab apple on Schmozenge's ears yesterday as they were covered in fleas
Today, no sign of fleas - but hey, he could have scratched them off!

My experience with Rescue Remedy has been very positive. I have used it in "dramatic" situations, primarily, but it probably would help with performance anxiety, although there are flower essences more closely associated with that. Flower Essence Repertory by Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz is a thorough resource book.

Rescue Remedy is actually a combination of several flower essences. My understanding is that it is to be given when someone has experienced a shock or a minor injury.

Situations where I have given Rescue Remedy:

I came home to discover my 1 year old Golden Retriever having convulsions: shaking profoundly, losing control of her bowels, unable to stand up. I squirted a dropper full of RR into her mouth, and she immediately stopped shaking, etc. She remained calm as a friend helped me get her onto a blanket and into a car to the vet. 15 min later the shaking began again. The vet called me later to say she had an inoperable brain tumor and would have to be put to sleep. The vet had to give her several shots directly into her heart, more than she thought would be necessary. I have no way of knowing if the RR had anything to do with my dog requiring so many shots to pass on, but it was incredibly helpful in getting her to the vet.

My mother has Alzhimer's Disease and was prone to anger outbursts, which included slapping and hitting. I keep RR on hand and when her caregiver would call that she could not calm her down I would rush over and place some under her tongue. She would immediately calm down and would not have another episode for days or weeks. (She has since then been prescribed Stramonium by her homeopathic Dr, which totally eliminated anger outbursts within days; for which we are all grateful!)

I gave it to my son after a minor car accident, as he had seemed "out of it" for several hours after the accident. (He refused to go to the Emergency Room.) After one dose of RR, he seemed to "wake up" and was more present and alert.

Family members who fly from US to Ireland use it on their flights to help with jet lag and report it is extremely useful-they do not feel as tired and adjust to the time changes more readily.

I never thought of using it in a mister-a great idea in situations where it would be hard to get it under someone's tongue! (Too bad nursing homes and Alzheimer's units don't try that instead of running for the drugs and waiting out the traumatic minutes until it takes effect! I have seen this happen so many times; it is a heartbreaker to experience. The patient's are calmed down, alright; they are zombies for hours after.)

To my thinking, flower essences are similar to homeopathics, as they are very diluted.

I see you from your post, GM, that you don't value or use them; but can you please explain why they are not in the same realm as homeopathics? I truly don't understand the difference, and as you can see from my posts, my own personal experience with them has been that they can be very powerful. I would appreciate your comments.

Oops! My dog was 14 years old when this occured, not 1 year old!

My comment is , read patchitus post..it will show the difference between flowers and homeopathy!
And , i dont bite on every attempt to start an argument needlessly.

I have had extremely good results using Bach's flower remedies when the indications are mental or emotional. I use Mimulus for fear of "known" things, like thunder; Star of Bethlehem for past abuses not forgotten, and a great response (overnight) with Olive when I used it on a horse that had been near death from colitis and was extremely debilitated.

I have had really good results from using the Bach Rescue Remedy. Once used it on my cat after he had a surgery, and was severely depressed and quite exhausted. He rallied very quickly! It also really helps for calming things down--exam nerves, anxiety about job interviews, stress and aggravation from difficult situations...all the way down the line to labour pains and worries!

Bach was a homeopath. Because the remedies are given out very generally in most cases (RR is recommended to all) they are not strictly homeopathic. But they are effective and safe, and they don't interfere with remedies that have been well selected, in my experience. It certainly helps people to have something to turn to when it is necessary--in times of worse-than-ordinary stress and in times of trauma.

Divina

I have gotten some very good results from flower remedies when working with emotional issues and imbalances. The Alaskan Essences are particularly powerful. fastdogs is right about Mimulus. "The Flower Essence Repertory" says it is good for "fears of ordinary events...especially (if) afflicted in the solar plexus which churns with great anxiety and unease." Flower remedies can be used before a difficult situation to soothe and calm.

You may also want to consider Gelsemium which is indicated for stage fright. Here is a link to Clarke's MM: http://homeoint.org/clarke/g/gels.htm


[This message has been edited by nrg grl (edited 09 December 2000).]