Bach Flower Remedies: FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Bach Flower Remedies

The Bach Flower Remedy system is such a useful set of remedies. They help re-balance any emotional difficulty and give gentle support through all the ups and downs of life. Here are answers to some of the questions many people have asked over the years.

What exactly are the Bach Flower Remedies?

The remedies are a set of 38 different plant tinctures that you take internally to improve

how you feel emotionally. You can take them as single remedies or up to around 7

remedies at a time, depending on what you need.

How do they work?

They appear to work in the same way as reiki and acupuncture, as the remedies are in a

class of healing known as Vibrational Medicine.

Are the Bach Remedies the same as Aromatherapy?

No, the two approaches are very different, even though they are both plant-based. The

Bach Flower Remedies are scent-free plant tinctures that you take internally, to address

emotional issues. Aromatherapy uses aromatic plant-based essential oils on the skin

using massage and inhalation methods.

How will they help me?

The remedies are designed to gently wash away negative feelings and responses,

allowing you to replace the negatives with positive, helpful feelings instead. They work by

bringing out your naturally positive, healthy elements, rather than creating “false positive”

feelings.

How do I take them?

The simplest way is to put 4 drops of a remedy (or remedy mix) straight onto your tongue.

You can also add the 4 drops to any kind of drink (both hot or cold), or your food. In cases

where eating or drinking is not possible, they can be put on the skin.

How much and how often should I take the remedies?

The minimum dose is 4 drops, 4 times a day. Taking fewer than 4 doses a day will mean

the remedies won’t work quite as well.

What happens if I take too much or too many doses?

The good news is that you cannot overdose on the remedies. You can take 4, 14, 24 or

40+ doses a day if you want to and it will be quite safe. If you are using remedies that are

preserved in brandy, you may want to be aware of the small amount of alcohol involved in

very large dosage numbers, but that is all.

How will I choose the ones I need? I need them all!

Ha ha! I know what you mean and you’re not alone in thinking that! Even back when Dr

Bach created these remedies, his clients asked the same thing of him. He did try giving

people a bottle containing all 38 but found that it didn’t work. It appears to be connected

with the vibration medicine issue of using too many vibrations at once. It’s like trying to

play every single note on a piano at the same time – it’s just noise. It’s better to find a

chord to play, which is the same theory behind the remedies (it’s better to choose a few at

a time).

Will the remedies affect my medications or any medical treatment I’m receiving?

The remedies themselves will not affect any medication or treatment at all (the remedies

often support medical treatments). If you are taking the remedies that are preserved in

alcohol, you need to be aware of a very small intake of this alcohol and how that interacts

with your medication/s. You can add the remedy drops to a hot drink (the alcohol will

evaporate) or choose alcohol-free remedies for your treatment. If you’re in any doubt,

please check with your pharmacist or Doctor.

When should I stop taking the remedies?

You can stop taking the remedies whenever you would like to, as there are no withdrawal

symptoms with them. The most common way is when you feel better you realise you have

forgotten to take them for a few days. Usually, the mind and body will lead the way! If you

genuinely feel that they are not working at all, it is worth double checking that you are

taking the correct remedies for your needs at that time.

Are there any side effects?

The vast majority of people who take the remedies do not experience any side effects at

all. Occasionally, some people report that they notice challenging feelings appearing, as

the old ones are washed away. This often settles down within the first week as the body,

mind and soul heal. Very, very rarely, someone will report a slight rash or nausea during

the first day or two of taking the remedies. This seems to be when emotions are showing

as physical symptoms and this settles within a day or so of beginning treatment. There

have never been any reports of moderate or severe side effects. Throughout all studies

on the remedies, scientists have confirmed that the remedies are very safe to take.

Does anything stop the remedies working?

No – the remedies are surprisingly robust for such a gentle treatment! They are not the

same as other treatments where certain food or drink must be avoided. The remedies will

work no matter what you do!

What if I forget to take a dose?

Don’t worry if you miss a dose or two, you can just take the next dose and carry on as

usual. You don’t need to take extra doses to “catch up” (although it is quite safe to do so).

If you find you have missed more than about 3 or 4 doses, you may feel a dip in your

progress, but that will improve when you start taking the remedies regularly again. If you

realise you have forgotten to take a dose for a couple of days, it may mean that you no

longer need that remedy (or remedy mix).

What remedy do I use to treat my asthma / IBS / Migraines?

The Bach Flower Remedies are designed to treat your emotions, not your physical

symptoms. Once you have pinpointed how you feel about having this physical issue in

your life, you can take the remedies that will help you emotionally. As you feel better

emotionally, very often this helps your physical symptoms as well.

Can I take neat remedies (straight from the bottle)?

Yes absolutely – just be aware that you will be taking in a very small amount of alcohol

(unless you are using the alcohol-free remedies).

I need the remedies to work quickly – how do I do that?

If you’re in crisis-mode, take Rescue Remedy every 30 minutes until you feel better. If you

want a different remedy (or remedy mix) to work quickly, then take more frequent doses. I

would suggest a minimum of 8 doses a day (or more often if you prefer) if you would like

it to work quickly. Taking a larger dose (ie: more than 4 drops at a time) will not help the

remedies to work quicker – it’s the number of doses that speeds things up.

How will I know when I don’t need the remedies anymore?

You will probably forget to take them for a couple of days and when you remember, you

will realise that you still feel as good as you did when you were taking them.

Are the remedies habit forming?

Not at all. The remedies can be taken for a day or many years and not create any kind of

addiction. The great thing about the remedies is that when you don’t need them anymore,

you simply forget to take them! A word of caution to anyone with alcohol sensitivity or

addiction: please be aware that the remedies are usually persevered in alcohol and this

may not be suitable for you. If this is the case, you can choose alcohol-free remedies and

use them without a problem.

I heard the remedies are mixed with Brandy – What if I can’t have alcohol?

If you do not want an intake of alcohol for any reason, you can buy or request alcohol-free

remedies from The Bach Centre or your Practitioner.

How many remedies can I take at the same time?

The usual recommendation is around 6 or 7 but some people take up to 9 or 10 at a time

without a problem. Practitioners usually offer clients up to 7 per treatment bottle.

What if I choose the wrong remedy? Will it damage me?

No it won’t damage you at all. If you take the “incorrect” remedy for your need at that time,

it simply won’t have any effect.

Isn’t it easier to use one of the pre-blended mixes I’ve seen in chemists?

I would not recommend the use of the pre-blended remedies (apart from rescue Remedy)

that are sold in shops. The most common pre-blends are for insomnia and emotional

eating issues. The reason I discourage people from buying the pre-blends is because of

how the remedies work. In a room of 50 people who are having trouble sleeping, there will

be 50 individual emotional responses to how their insomnia is affecting them. Out of those

50 people, the pre-blended remedies may help 3 or 13 or 30 (or none at all). The probem

is the pot luck approach. If you have trouble sleeping, and if the pre-blend just happens to

be correct for you at that time, then great! But the chances of this are slim, which results in

people wasting their time and money and not having their issues resolved!

I would strongly recommend identifying the remedy/remedies that you need by using

books, websites or a practitioner instead. You’re far more likely to buy the right remedies

and feel better!

How soon will the remedies begin to work?

The more recent the feelings or issue, the sooner it will begin to improve. If you are

treating a longer-term feeling or problem, then the remedies usually take a lttle longer. It

varies from person to person but I usually tell my clients to expect a noticeable change

within the first week of taking the remedy/remedies. Some people will feel a difference on

the first day, other report a couple of weeks… but the average is around 3~7 days.

Why can’t I just use Rescue Remedy all the time instead?

You’re welcome to use Rescue Remedy as often as you would like to, as it will only help

and never harm. It’s ideal to be used in times of crisis, panic and occasionally

nervousness. If you are using Rescue Remedy more than once or twice a week, every

week, ask yourself what is happening that means you need to be ‘rescued’ so often?

Perhaps there is something that needs to be re-balanced as and when you’re ready to do

so?