Bach flower therapy
Bach flower therapy, according to the U.K. study, assumes that flowers contain the life force of the plant and this is imprinted into water through sun infusion which is used to make the flower remedy. Flower remedies are often used to help patients let go of negative thoughts; usually flower remedies are ingested.[1]
Bach therapy and phytotherapy
While Bach remedies are derived from plants, the principle is different than phytotherapy (i.e., herbalism). Herbalism assumes that there is a significant healing ingredient(s) in the plant extract.
Bach remedies, however, are more related to the "signatures" of Paracelsus; Bach indeed uses the term "signature". The remedies work on a mental level that tranfers the "vibrations" or signature; the vibrations resonate with inherent vibrations believed to be in human cells. The remedies do not have detectable levels of active chemicals. [2]
Bach therapy and aromatherapy
While there may seem to be a similarity in that flowers contain essential oils, the preparation methods are quite different. Bach extracts use, in chemical terms, solvent extraction, while essential oils are usually extracted with steam distillation
Bach therapy and homeopathy
Bach flower therapy and homeopathy have similarities in that they involve remedies intended to improve a vital force, and they both have a concept of potentizing. At that point, they diverge significantly. Preparation of the remedies, however, is different. Bach remedies are not selected using the homeopathic principle of the Laws of Similars.
The means of Bach remedy preparation uses a method, described in the British Homeopathic Pharmacopeia, that is used to prepare homeopathic mother tinctures. One involves extraction using ethanol, of a specific type of brandy and extracting with sunshine, while the other involves boiling the flowers with water. Once extracted, however, the tincture is used in a very different manner than in homeopathy. [3]
Bach potentizing
There is dilution, but to what homeopaths call a 5X dilution, which gives a much higher concentration than used in homeopathy. [4]
References
- ↑ Select Committee appointed to consider Science and Technology, U.K. Parliament (21 November 2000), Chapter 2: Disciplines examined, Definitions of the Various CAM Therapies, Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- ↑ The Principles of Bach Essence
- ↑ The Production of Bach Flower Essences
- ↑ The Theory of Bach Flower Therapy