Bach Rescue Remedy: Every handbag and man-bag should have one
Explore the contents of any handbag, satchel or backpack and you’re likely to find a strange potpourri of personal belongings and other curiosities.
We toss our everyday essentials - phones, keys, wallets and purses - into sometimes seemingly ancient jumbles of makeup and medications, dog-eared magazines, headphones, disposable face masks and (yuck) used tissues. Almost always there’s a supply of something minty-fresh to disguise the unavoidable aftermath of a spicy curry or to sweeten the enjoyment of chance encounters and secret liaisons…
Like Mary Poppins, I have a large ‘hobo’ bag. I haven’t pulled out a hat stand, not yet. But I’ve worked that bag pretty damn hard for many years. I don’t know what’s in it, exactly.
What I can tell you is that since the unexpected passing of my mother almost 11 years ago, I haven’t left home without a bottle of Bach Rescue Remedy in my handbag. Not even once.
What is Rescue Remedy?
Many people have heard of Rescue Remedy and used it. But not many people know that Rescue Remedy belongs to a complete healing system of 38 flower remedies which help to balance our emotions. The original Bach Flower Remedies were created right here in the UK by Dr Edward Bach in the 1930s.
I’ve been using Rescue Remedy since my twenties and that feels like quite a long time ago. Whether I’m dealing with minor irritations or true emergencies, it keeps me steady and always brings me comfort.
My family and friends, work colleagues, my pets and animal charges, even total strangers have found relief after taking Rescue Remedy directly on the tongue or diluted in a glass of water.
In cases where the patient is difficult to dose, perhaps in deep shock or unresponsive, it can also be applied to pulse points (or paw pads) with impressive results.
Rescue Remedy helps us find balance and calm providing comfort and reassurance in states of panic, shock, terror, confusion and agitation or when we feel that we are losing control.
On numerous occasions, I’ve observed how Rescue Remedy can quickly change a demanding or stressful situation into something much more manageable.
I no longer carry Rescue Remedy just for myself but for anyone who needs help.
The original combination remedy
Doctor Bach believed that we are all unique and therefore, require personalised treatment. His 38 flower essences provide numerous individual or combination remedy mixtures for specific personality types or passing moods.
Bach also recognised that everyday life comes with different types of stress. Certain situations are more demanding than others. And sometimes, we find ourselves in the midst of a genuine emergency.
In these circumstances, it would not be possible or practical to mix remedies from individual essences. Something simple was required for quick and effective results in acute situations.
Often referred to as the 39th remedy, Dr Bach created Rescue Remedy, a blend of five individual essences from the complete system of 38 to support us through such occasions.
The power of five
The five remedies combined to create Rescue Remedy are:
Star of Bethlehem for the after-effects of shock and loss
Impatiens for restlessness and agitation when there is mental or physical tension
Clematis for disconnected feelings, confusion or feeling faint
Cherry Plum for hysteria and loss of self control
Rock Rose for panic and terror
What’s your rescue situation?
If any of the following situations resonate or bring you out in a cold sweat, Bach Rescue Remedy is for you!
Driving tests
Exam nerves
Fear of flying
Job interviews
Medical and dental appointments
Sudden illness
Public speaking or performance
Competitive events
First dates
Being in crowds or confined spaces
Feeling unduly uptight or irritated
Arguments with partners or family
If you are a casualty or have witnessed an accident
If you are a victim or witness an assault or crime
Natural disasters
Receiving bad news
Sudden bereavement
*Please note that Rescue Remedy is not a substitute for medical attention but it does help to ease mental and emotional distress until the appropriate treatment can be provided and therefore, the body’s natural ability to heal has a beneficial head start.
Rescue Remedy dosage couldn’t be easier
Four drops of Rescue Remedy can be sipped from a glass of water, cup of tea or any beverage, as required. Rescue Remedy can also be taken neat on or under the tongue, rubbed into pulse points and even applied to cuts and wounds when diluted.
Don’t forget your pets!
Rescue Remedy can also help pets in any of the following situations. And, if you witness an animal in distress, don’t forget to take dose or two of Rescue Remedy yourself. You’ll be better-equipped to help.
Car journeys, air travel, confinement, vet visits, pre and post surgery, grooming appointments, fireworks, loud noises, visitors and tradespeople or moving house, attack from other animals, fright, shock (following RTA) or extreme fear.
I would suggest using glycerin based remedies for animals. In most cases, you are more than likely to use Rescue Remedy in an emergency situation when a safe, undiluted remedy will be the quickest and most efficient way to provide relief.
Rescue Remedy products
Almost 100 years after Bach Flower Remedies were created, numerous Rescue Remedy products are now available. From lozenges and pastilles to balms and a variety of fusions, Rescue Remedy is available from producers such as Nelsons, Ainsworths and Healing Herbs. I’m a Bach purist and favour the Nelsons range using original dosage methods, just as Dr Bach intended.
Standard alcohol-based remedies are simple and safe but I also use glycerin-based remedies for those with cultural sensitivities or for patients who prefer the essences without alcohol. I choose to use glycerin-based remedies for all my animal patients.
Introduced in the 1960s, Rescue Remedy Cream is also available for skin irritations and minor wounds. It contains one additional flower remedy, Crab Apple, known as the cleansing remedy and is often recommended for poor self image. It can also be used safely on animals.
Keep in mind…
Rescue Remedy is intended for isolated, emergency situations when we need… rescuing!
All Bach Flower Remedies are safe, gentle and the continued use of Rescue Remedy will do no harm. But if you feel the need for regular, perhaps daily support, there’s probably something else going on that requires exploration. A full consultation will help you identify any underlying issues which can be addressed with a more appropriate remedy or mixture.
Tiny bottle, huge support
There’s no escaping it. Our lives are full of challenges and it’s helpful to be prepared, as we can ever be.
Rescue Remedy doesn’t need much space at home or when you’re on the go. In difficult circumstances, the support it lends from just a few drops can make a huge difference to your response and the outcome of your emergency.
Rescue Remedy™ is the most widely used of all the Bach Remedies and Rescue® is the world’s #1 natural stress and sleep support brand.
It’s safe, simple to use and so effective. Go on, help yourself or someone else when the going gets tough and pick up a bottle of Bach Rescue Remedy for your handbag or man-bag today.
To book a full Bach Flower Remedy consultation for yourself (or your pets), click here .
For additional information about Dr Bach, his life’s work and the full international register of Bach Foundation Registered Practitioners, visit the Bach Centre website.
