All the therapies and techniques described on these pages are ones I have experienced myself, and while descriptions of techniques are factual, all opinions are personal.
BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
Bach Flower Remedies are mood changers.
Their literature specifically states, "These Remedies do not take the place of medical attention, and a person should take medical advice where necessary." Dr. Bach's objective was to seek energies in the plant world which would restore vitality to the sick by overcoming worry and apprehension, which he felt hindered recovery.
Dr. Bach - who was originally a Harley Street consultant in the conventional medical world, working in the 1920's - defined seven headings of negative states of mind. By experimentation (mainly on himself) he found 38 flowers from wild plants, bushes and trees which when distilled could alter and improve these states of mind and therefore assist the recipient in his or her own healing. Whether or not one believes, as Dr. Bach apparently came to do, that illness is actually the result of mental states, it is certainly true that taken properly his Remedies do have an effect on feelings, moods etc.
The best known of his Remedies is "Rescue", made up of five herbs combined, and designed to be a composite for the relief of the immediate effects of shock, anguish or apprehension. Dr. Bach described it as "comforting, calming and reassuring to those distressed by startling experiences". The mistake people commonly make, however, is to suppose that Rescue Remedy is effective for everything, instead of for the specific states described. Many times I have heard people bemoan, "I've taken a whole bottle of Rescue Remedy and it hasn't worked..." Well, no, it wouldn't, if it's the wrong remedy. And taking more of the wrong remedy isn't going to help!
The most effective way to take a Remedy is to put four drops into half a glass of cold water and drink slowly - over a period of about ten minutes. These are subtle essences and work subtly, so don't expect a flash of light and an immediate change. After about half an hour you will find that, all unaware, your mood has begun to change; where you were thinking for instance, "I can't face doing that..." your mind is beginning to make organized plans to do it. How it works, goodness knows, but something in the brain responds. A placebo? Perhaps. Or perhaps Dr. Bach's experimentations really did come up with something!
The following are examples of what some of the remedies can do. These are all ones I have experienced working or observed working on others.
Larch for lack of self-confidence and fear of failure.
Mimulus for fear of known things, panic over some task which needs to be undertaken.
Aspen for apprehension for no known reason.
Gentian for despondency when you know the cause; a cheerer-upper when you are depressed by something specific.
Mustard for the other kind of depression, the black cloud which descends for no known reason.
Walnut assists in adjustment to transition or change.
Olive for feelings of extreme fatigue.
Oak for the normally strong who have reached the end of their tether.
Elm for the feeling of being overwhelmed by responsibility.
White Chestnut for persistent unwanted thoughts and preoccupation with worry.
Try them and see how they work for you. There are many others besides the above; choose one which reflects the state of mind you are in. You can mix more than one remedy (but don't go over the top and try too many at once) and the dose can be repeated after about three hours if you need a further boost. For emergency treatment, you can put two drops straight on the tongue - but four drops in water drunk slowly is BETTER!
A SIMPLE MEDITATION
receive the healing.