Dr. PHilip Chancellors Handbook of Bach Flower Remedies
Dr. PHilip Chancellors Handbook of Bach Flower Remedies
Dr. PHilip Chancellors Handbook of Bach Flower Remedies
9S
HANDBOOK OF THE
BACH FLOWER
REMEDIES
How to use and benefit from a unique system of
natural healing. Includes the famous Rescue Remedy.
Introduction by John Diamond, M.D.
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DR PHILIP M. CHANCELLOR’S
HANDBOOK OF THE
BACH
FLOWER
REMEDIES
ISBN; 0-87983-196-0
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 79-93435
Prescribing
I Prescribing and the Interview • « 15
for Oneself • • 18
for Pregnancy and Childbirth 19
for Children • • 21
for Mental Distress 26
for Animals • « 27
for Plants . • • 29
The Prophylactic Aspects of the Bach Remedies 31
17 Honeysuckle • III
18 Hornbeam I16
19 Impatiens . I2I
20 Larch 126
21 Mimulus . I3I
22 Mustard . 136
23 Oak . I4I
24 Olive 146
25 Pine .
26 Red Chestnut 157
27 Rock Rose 162
28 Rock Water 167
29 Scleranthus 174
30 Star of Bethlehem 179
31 Sweet Chestnut . 185
32 Vervain I9I
33 Vine. 196
34 Walnut 201
35 Water Violet 207
36 White Chestnut . 212
37 Wild Oat . 217
38 Wild Rose. 223
39 Willow . 228
“Let not the simplicity of this method deter you from its
use, for you will find the further your researches advance, the
greater you will realize the simplicity of all Creation,’’
“Take no notice of the disease; think only of the outlook on
life of the one in distress.”
“Final and complete healing will come from within, from
the Soul itself, which by His beneficence radiates harmony
throughout the personality when allowed to do so.”
Edward Bach
INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN EDITION
As one who has used the Bach remedies in practice for quite
some years, there is no doubt of their tremendous efficacy.
They are as potent as any therapeutic substances that we have
for raising the life energy of the individual. Dr. Bach never
meant them to be therapeutic in the sense of primarily curing
physical disease, but rather as overcoming the mental corre¬
lates of physical disease so as to allow the inhibited life energy
to manifest itself and to proceed with the healing process, the
true healing — that which comes from within.
The most important function of the remedies is in preven¬
tion, before there is physical impairment. Here they have
their greatest power. There can be many years of mental im¬
balance, of personality impairment before physical disease
manifests itself In that time the correct use of the remedies
can subtly, beautifully and poetically correct the underlying
personality disharmonies, so that the physical disease will
never manifest itself This is true prevention and it is from the
state of prevention that it is then possible to go into a state of
positive health, of being really well, of having abundant life
energy.
The general descriptions that Philip Chancellor gives of
each of the remedies are very useful and are derived from
Dr. Bach’s “The Twelve Healers and Other Remedies,” the
single most important book for remedy prescribing. For many
years, the Bach Remedies Newsletter has been a great source
of instruction and enlightenment to all of us who use the
remedies. Chancellor has performed an admirable task by
sifting through the newsletters and incorporating them in this
present form.
However, it is important that we see the remedies in the
correct context.lt is not so much seeing the remedies as,“what
can I take because there is something wrong with me,” but
rather seeing the remedies as being our friends throughout
life. We may initially prescribe the remedies for the present¬
ing problem. But as this is relieved, other personality dis¬
harmonies will then manifest themselves and as these are
relieved with the appropriate remedies, yet other imbalances
will reveal themselves. We are all the time, as it were, peeling
off layers of personality imbalances like from an onion, but
unlike an onion, there is no end because none of us are per¬
fect. We can only strive toward perfection and this is the way
the flower remedies open up for us. And this I feel is missing
from Dr. Chancellor’s book.
The remedies should not be seen as specific remedies to be
used over a short-term basis and then discarded. But think
rather of the long-term use of the remedies throughout our
life, changing the remedies as we change and all the time ask¬
ing ourselves what remedy is required at this time to bring us
closer to our state of perfection and balance. Through this
long-term, subtle usage we can then truly see what wonderful
healers Dr. Bach has given the world. The changes which I
have seen in clinical practice over the years with their use
have been most rewarding and most beautiful, and I heartily
recommend them.
Dr. Chancellor’s book can be a most valuable aid and is a
welcome addition to the small but very important body of
literature concerning the Bach remedies. His book is also to
be welcomed because of Nora Week’s description of her in¬
terview procedure. This is a most valuable document in its
own right. Nora Weeks was for many, many years Dr. Bach’s
chief assistant and heir, and to my knowledge this is the only
description we have of her procedure.
The Bach remedies have tremendous power for good and
are completely free of any harmful effects. Would that all of
medicine were as positively therapeutic.
Proem
PRESCRIBING
Note: The Editor asked Nora Weeks for her cooperation in out-
lining the method and procedure which she and Victor Bullen,
and without a doubt many, many other Bach practitioners, use in
interviewing their patients. She graciously replied with a com¬
plete description of her method, and this chapter is written from
her letter:
Case Histories
Girl, age 6. She saw a funeral procession for the first time.
Her questions were answered in a simple and forthright man¬
ner and the process of death was explained to her. However,
she suddenly became obsessed with the fear that her mother
PRESCRIBING 25
would shortly die, and would be taken away from her in a
similar procession. She would not let her mother out of her
sight. She lost her appetite and had morbid thoughts during
the day, and bad dreams at night, red chestnut was pre¬
scribed for her morbid fear regarding her mother; rock rose
for her state of terror. After taking the Remedies for six
weeks, she had recovered completely, and was again a happy,
normal child.
Girl, age 9. From the time she started to study elementary
biology at school, she developed an obsessive fear of dirt. She
was always washing her hands to cleanse them of non-existant
“dirt’’. CRAB APPLE was prescribed as a cleansing Remedy.
Within one month she had recovered completely from the
idea of being unclean.
Girl, age 12. She was very sensitive about spots on her
forehead and chin. She was a pretty girl and was very affec¬
tionate with her family, but reserved toward strangers. At
school she lacked the ability to concentrate. She was dream¬
ing most of the time, and she ignored completely whatever
did not interest her. clematis was prescribed for her day¬
dreams and lack of concentration; crab apple to cleanse her
system of the spots she considered to be so disfiguring. She
was also told to add a few drops of crab apple to some milk
and to bathe her face with it every evening. Within three
months the spots had disappeared, and once again she became
a bright and alert young lady.
Boy, age 9 months. During an air raid in World V'ar II the
child was taken into a dark closet by his mother. The noise
and the darkness had frightened him greatly, so much so that
ever thereafter he could not be left alone in any room,
especially in a small room like a bathroom. When he was six
years old he was brought to us for treatment, rock rose was
prescribed for terror; mimulus for fear of noise and of con¬
fined spaces. He took the medicine regularly for three months.
At the end of that time he had not only lost his fears, but
he became known as the “plucky one” among his school¬
mates.
Mrs. E.L.G. wrote to us from Germany as follows: “My
26 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
niece recently had a little daughter. The baby is regularly
given RESCUE remedy which is specially prepared with
boiled water. She is as good as gold. If she starts to cry during
the night, she is given a few drops of the Remedy in a tea¬
spoonful of water, and she goes back to sleep immediately.
She has never had any of those dreaded crying fits. My niece
also puts some of the prepared rescue remedy on her breasts
when she feeds her, so that the baby gets a few drops in her
mouth together with the milk. We are very proud of the little
girl, and we love her dearly.”
Case Histories
Case Histories
CHAPTER 2
AGRIMONY
Case Histories
ASPEN
The aspen fears are of the mind. They are the fears,
the forebodings that come upon us for no known reason
either by day or night. There might be a sudden
awakening from sleep when terror sets in from no
known cause, perhaps a bad dream which was forgot¬
ten; there might be the dread of going to sleep again
lest the anxiety might recur. Often the aspen type fear
is connected with thoughts of death or religion; it is
the ‘‘goose-flesh” or the “hair-raising” fear of some¬
thing not seen or heard; it is both sudden and un¬
accountable at the onset. It seems just to happen and
the victim is assailed with a sense of disaster which is
often followed by intense terror or emotional panic.
It normally strikes when the person is alone, but some¬
times the cold panic of inexplicable terror will swoop
down when the person is among friends, when,
humanly speaking, he should feel happy and safe.
Those who experience this fear seldom speak of it to
others, because since they can give no definite reason
for their anxiety, they expect the misunderstanding of
disbelief, and to be told that “it is all in the imagina¬
tion”. Dr. Bach wrote: “Fear of such things as an
operation, a visit to the dentist, a thunderstorm, a fire
or an accident are physical fears, and they a,re bad
enough. But, they are nothing compared to an un-
42
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 43
Case Histories
that she had but one attack of fear, and that her heart pal¬
pitations had almost ceased. She said that she felt much
better in general. She continued the same treatment for
another two months, after which time she could say that “she
had never felt better physically” and that she was well able
to face any situation. She had lost her fears to such an extent
that her friends were asking her what treatment she had
taken that brought about such a noticeable improvement.
Woman, age 50. She had suffered since childhood from an
unreasonable fear that she might choke and suffocate. During
the last two years, this fear had so increased that she had
difficulty in swallowing, and she felt as if there were a tight
band around her throat. When she applied to us for treat¬
ment, she had been losing weight, and her vitality was at a
low ebb. An X-ray examination failed to reveal any physical
cause for her condition. She was given aspen as her type
Remedy, for fear without a foundation. She was instructed not
only to take it internally, in the usual manner, but also to
make a lotion of it, and to apply it to her throat three times a
day. The results were rapid and favorable. In three weeks
time she reported that she was able to swallow without dis¬
comfort, and that the unpleasant sensation of the tight band
around her throat had entirely disappeared. She was advised
to continue to use the medicine. Some few weeks later she
wrote to say: “I have completely forgottenthat I ever worried
about choking.”
Woman, age 60. Since childhood, she had been subject to
unreasonable fears which wakened her at night, and left her
in a state of fear and trembling, often with nausea, and a
dripping cold sweat, aspen was prescribed as her type
Remedy, star of bethelehem was added because of a shock
she .had during her teen-age years. One month later, she
reported that she felt much better, but that she was suffering
from indigestion. Her sister had suggested that her symptoms
might be indicative of a cancer, and that terrified her. rock
rose was added to the Remedies prescribed before, to coun¬
teract the terror of a possible cancer. From that time on, her
progress was steady; her health improved greatly, and the
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 45
fears gradually subsided. Treatment was continued for three
months longer, at which time she reported that all of her fears
had vanished, and that she felt very happy again.
Man, age 6o. He was a minister, and he had suffered a
coronary thrombosis the year before. When he came to us for
treatment, he said that he was filled with fear. He stated most
definitely that it was not fear about his heart condition, but a
fear from unknown causes, a fear without ground or reason.
He had become very depressed and fatigued, and he had lost
interest in his parish work. His voice was weak, and often
failed him during his church services. He was given aspen
as the type Remedy, for the groundless fears, and olive for
the exhaustion and its consequent depression. Treatment was
continued for three months. At first he regained his strength
as well as his interest in his parish work. At the end of the
treatment, he reported that his voice was normal again, and
that his old enthusiasm for his work had returned; most
important, that he was no longer obsessed with unpleasant
fears.
Man, age 8o. For the past two years, he had an unreason¬
able fear of fire in his house. This caused him to become very
nervous and irrational, for he would frequently dress himself
during the night, and go downstairs to assure himself that all
was well, aspen was obviously the type Remedy for a ground¬
less fear. He was also given crab apple to cleanse the effect
of his fear-filled mind, which had caused a chest congestion.
After the first month, his wife wrote to say that he had im¬
proved greatly. He no longer went downstairs in the night,
and the chest congestion was much better. He continued to
take the Remedies for another two months when his wife
reported that he was “altogether a different man, both
mentally and physically.”
CHAPTER 4
BEECH
* The Twelve Healers and Other Remedies by Edward Bach, The G* W. Daniel
Company Ltd., Rochford, Essex, England; 12th edition 1969.
46
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 47
case of seeking first the beam within one’s own eye.
Here is a typical statement: ‘‘I have a strong and
deep-rooted aversion to superficialities of all kinds; I
demand and I seek exactness, order and discipline
everywhere.” This tendency toward criticism makes
them rather lonely people, for they cut themselves off
from the friendly, tolerant, companionship of their
fellow human beings. The beech type differs from the
WATER VIOLET person in that the latter are truly wise
and understanding, and for that reason they may feel
superior to those who are not treading the same path
they are. It is this sense of superiority that brings forth
a certain aloofness from the normal plodding mortal.
Yet, the water violet type never attempts to correct
or to criticize those with whom he might disagree or
even those to whom he feels superior.
Dr. Bach said of the positive aspects of the beech
person: “[An example] of perfect tolerance. It was the
Christ allowing the soldiers to place the crown of
thorns on His head, to pierce His hands and feet with
nails without His having one harsh thought. Instead
He pleaded on their behalf, ‘Father forgive them, for
they know not what they do’.”
Case Histories
Man, age 54. He was a bachelor who lived with his mother
and his four sisters. As a person, he was always irritable and
impatient, and could not tolerate his family’s idiosyncrasies;
to escape them, he tried to live in a dream world of his own
making. He started to suffer from sciatica seven weeks before
he applied to us for treatment, beech was prescribed as the
type Remedy, for his intolerant attitude, and clematis for
his attempt to escape into a dream world to avoid what he
thought was unpleasantness. His first report was encouraging;
he stated that he was free from the sciatic pain in the thigh.
48 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
although the leg was still weak and, as he described it,
“erratic”. The same Remedies were repeated, and after two
months he wrote to say: “The trouble in the leg has cleared
up completely. I have decided to seek another job in a dif¬
ferent town, and to live on my own. I shall then have a better
opportunity to think of my family in a more understanding
light.”
Man, age 40. He was a commercial artist by profession.
For over a year he had suffered from a rash on his face, arms,
and hands. He was most critical of his physicians, and very
irritated with them because they had failed to cure his con¬
dition. He was also critical of many things in general, or as he
expressed it: “of humdrum things and humdrum people.”
He was becoming resigned to the rash, but it made him feel
unclean, beech, his type Remedy, was prescribed for his
critical attitude, crab apple was added as a cleanser for his
skin condition. Sixteen days later, the rash had entirely
disappeared, but he was fearful that it might return again.
gentian was added to the other two Remedies for his dis¬
couraged outlook. Nothing further was heard from him until
two years later. He wrote to say that the skin condition had
never returned, but that now he was suffering from a stiffness
in both shoulders, beech, the type Remedy and crab apple
were once again prescribed, because it was felt that a critical
and rigid outlook remained. He wrote once more the next
month to report that he was completely free of the pain and
stiffness.
Woman, age 46. She wrote to us saying: “I am a reformer
at heart. I like to change people, but I do not have enough
humility to be a shining example. I am too intolerant. I suffer
much pain due to toxins and inflammation caused by an
incurable stomach obstruction.” beech her type Remedy was
prescribed for her intolerance; vervain for her desire to con¬
vert all around her; crab apple because she ended her letter
to us by saying; “I rather dislike myself.” She took the Reme¬
dies for three months. During that period, there was at first
but slight improvement, then suddenly she really became
very much better. Her last report to us stated that she felt
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 49
that she had become a different woman, and was now quite
well.
Man, age 70. He was a most intolerant individual and
critical of anyone who did not think as he did. He literally
wore himself out saying: “Why does so-and-so think like
that?” or “I can see nothing good in that man.” He was
irritable and cranky, and almost wholly without joy in his
life. BEECH, obviously his type Remedy, was given alone.
After some weeks, he was able to say: “I can see the fault in
myself.” He continued to take the Remedy and gradually he
became filled with vitality and displayed quite an extra¬
ordinary sense of humor.
Woman, age 69. She was a thoroughly efficient person
herself, but she was extremely critical of‘other people. She
could not understand why they seemed unable to attend to
details as she did. She did not, however, mention their faults
to them directly, but she always felt very superior to them.
In consequence of this attitude of superiority, she suffered
from a chest congestion and bronchitis, beech was the type
Remedy prescribed for her intolerance; crab apple as a
cleanser, to remove the congestion in her chest as well as in
her thoughts. She took these Remedies for quite a while
before she acknowledged that indeed her outlook had changed
greatly. She said that she had a much better understanding of
the problems of other people, and of their difficulties. The
congestion and the bronchitis had cleared up, and four years
later she wrote to say that they never returned.
Man, age 52. He was retired, and he suffered greatly from
an eczema of the scrotum, the skin of which had become dark
and of a leathery texture. When he came to us for treatment,
he had had the trouble for over two months. He was an
intolerant and highly critical person, especially where the
way-of-living of other persons was concerned. He was given
beech, the type Remedy for his intolerant attitude toward his
fellow men, and crab apple as a cleanser for his system.
Within a month, the eczema had disappeared, and the skin
of the affected area had become normal in texture. He con¬
tinued to take the Remedies for another month. At that time
50 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
he reported that his family said that they found him much
more tolerant, and easier to live with.
Woman, age 55. She had suffered from liver and kidney
trouble which she said had been greatly helped by a herbal
therapy. However, a setback occurred, and she applied to us
for treatment. She stated that she was a reformer at heart, and
that she liked to change others whom she felt were on the
wrong path. She wanted them to think the same way that she
did, and when they did not comply, she became very in¬
tolerant of their lack of understanding, beech was the type
Remedy, and she was also given crab apple to cleanse her
thoughts as well as white chestnut because she said that she
was unable to dismiss worrying thoughts from her mind. She
reported some improvement after the first month, but as she
said, she still lacked tolerance. The same Remedies were
prescribed and after another two months she reported that
her health had improved greatly, and that she had finally
realized that she must let other people go their own way. She
had learned that it was not her business to interfere in their
lives, or to criticize them.
CHAPTER 5
CENTAURY
Case Histories
CERATO
Case Histories
CHERRY PLUM
Case Histories
CHESTNUT BUD
Case Histories
migraine headaches. She had joined an art class, and she great¬
ly enjoyed it, but she could not understand why she should
have the headaches. The prescription was changed at this time
to CHESTNUT BUD, the type Remedy, because she was so slow to
learn that all of her life she had tried to escape from un¬
pleasant realities into a dreamland of her own making. The
next reports which we received were encouraging, and she
finally wrote to say: “I have had no further attacks of
migraine headaches nor of biliousness for the past three
months. I feel much better, and much more alive. I realize
that I had wanted to escape from my worries up to now, but
now I can look them straight in the face, and confront them.”
Woman, age 40, married. She had an ulcer on her right
leg which would not heal. Though the ulcer was painful and
prevented her from sleeping, she was of a placid nature, and
never complained. Various combinations of the Bach Reme¬
dies had been prescribed for her, but the ulcer would heal
only to break out again. She had become unhappy, dis¬
couraged and irritable. Finally chestnut bud was prescribed
for her; it was felt that there was something in her nature
that kept her from learning, and that was what caused the
same condition to recur time and time again, gentian was
added for the discouragement and for the depression her
failure to recover brought about. Her first report was en¬
couraging. She had no pain for three weeks; the ulcer was
definitely starting to heal, and she was sleeping better. The
same Remedies were repeated twice more, and after a period
of about four months, she reported that she was completely
healed. One year later she wrote to say that there had been
no recurrence.
Woman, age 76. For the past seven years, she had suffered
from tic douloureux during the winter. The attacks were so
painful that she could not touch her face without experienc¬
ing excruciating pain. She was in constant fear, day and
night, that an attack would occur. When she came to us for
treatment, she was discouraged and depressed. She herself
said that she must have something to learn, but that she was
apparently slow about learning it, because the attacks came
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 69
every year! She was given chestnut bud the type Remedy,
based upon her own remark about learning slowly; ROck
ROSE for her great fear of the attacks; gentian for depression
and discouragement. Three months later, she wrote to say:
“I have felt exceptionally well thus far through the autumn,
and I am hoping to go through the winter without an attack.”
She did not have an attack that winter, nor for that matter
any other winter. Two years later she wrote again to say that
the attacks had never recurred.
Woman, age 40, unmarried. She suffered from a periodic
eczema in both ears and this made her feel unclean; she also
suffered from headaches on one side of her head. She wrote:
“I make the same mistakes again and again. I never seem to
learn from experience, and each time that I make these
mistakes, my ears break out with eczema.” chestnut bud,
the type Remedy was prescribed because she was so slow to
learn and to profit from her mistakes; crab apple was added
for the sense of uncleanliness brought about by the eczema.
Her first report, one week later, indicated that her ears were
clearing up. Two months later, the eczema had disappeared
entirely, and she had no more headaches. Six months later
she wrote again to say that all was now fine, and that there
had been no recurrence of either the eczema or the headaches.
Man, middle age. He wrote to say that he had had an
accident, and although he was suffering from a concussion,
an X-ray showed no skull fracture. He was sent the rescue
REMEDY immediately for shock and the concussion. He wrote
again and said that his condition had improved within
twenty-four hours and added: “I have had an acid stomach
during various periods of my life and last year I suffered from
an inflamed colon. This has recurred several times. I have
responsibilities in my work, and I find that they are becoming
a strain because I make the same mistakes repeatedly. In
fact, when I look back upon it, I think that this may have
something to do with my abdominal condition. All of my life
I have been either slow of learning, or not observant enough,
so I have had to do things over and over again.” The
Remedies prescribed were; chestnut bud, the type Remedy
70 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
CHICORY
Case Histories
Child, age 6. She was a child who always wanted her own
way and instigated arguments because they drew attention
to her. She was a fussy child, critical and given to saying
unkind things, yet at times, when her true nature showed
itself, she could be most generous and cooperative. Her moods
were subject to sudden changes, chicory the type Remedy
was prescribed for her self-centeredness, together with
SCLERANTHUS for her changeable moods. Her parents reported
that good results were quite noticeable during the first few
days. After a longer period, they wrote to say that the most
remarkable changes had taken place in the child, and all
were for the better.
Woman, middle age, widowed. Her only son was about to
be married, and she suffered from extreme jealousy of her
future daughter-in-law. Her attitude toward her son had
always been most possessive, and now she was doing every¬
thing in her power to stop the marriage. She had developed
various ailments; she said that she could not be left alone; she
said that she would lose her house if he left her, and in any
case her life would be finished, chicory was prescribed as the
type Remedy for her egoism and possessive attitude, and
HOLLY for her jealousy. After taking the Remedies for about
two months, she did go to her son’s wedding, and gave them
her blessing. Nevertheless, it was a long while before she
could forgive her son “for leaving her”. She continued to take
the Remedies for almost two years. She then wrote to say that
74 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
she had made a new life for herself. She was now very fond of
her daughter-in-law, and oveijoyed with her grandchild.
Woman, age 6i. She was a chronic worrier with a most
negative outlook. She was critical of others, and always
wanted to be the center of attention. She was house-proud,
fussy about her garden and she could not stand being alone.
For that reason she always tried to keep friends or relatives
with her. When she applied to us for treatment, she was on
the verge of a nervous breakdown, and she had a suspected
duodenal ulcer, chicory the type Remedy was given for her
self-centred attitude; willow was given for her negative
outlook and for her resentment of the happiness of others.
After the first three weeks her family reported that she seemed
to be much more cheerful. At the end of the first month, they
wrote to say that “the improvement was marked and she was
physically much better”. After the second month they wrote
again to say: “She has become quite a different person in her
nature. She has also been very well physically, and the
suspected ulcer did not develop.”
Girl, age 9. Every Tuesday morning, she had such bad
headaches that she had to remain home from school. When
she was brought to us for treatment, it was discovered that
Tuesday was the day when the assignment was a composition,
and she was very bad at spelling. She disliked composition
intensely, and the headache provided the excuse not to attend
school on that day. The child was filled with self-pity. She
was a little girl who wanted affection and attention, and she
always tried to avoid unpleasantness, or doing anything
which she did not like to do. chicory the type Remedy was
prescribed for the self-pity and the need to be the center of
attention. Her mother was advised to send her to school
whether or not she had a headache. After two months, the
trouble had completely disappeared, and she became a per¬
fectly normal child. Now she is a fully mature young lady of
twenty-five, and for the last fifteen years she has never
reported having had another headache of that nature.
Woman, age 36. She was a professional singer. As a child
she had been without love in her home, and she was greedy
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 75
for affection and attention. She was filled with self-pity, and
jealous to the extreme. When she came to see us, she was
nearing total exhaustion, chicory was prescribed as the type
Remedy for her self-pity and egoism; cherry plum because
she had recently attempted suicide; holly because she ad¬
mittedly became ill with jealousy at the good fortune of her
two sisters. The response to the medicine was excellent. After
a period of six weeks she was able to say that she felt like
another person, and that her concert performances had been
better than ever before. As a result, she had signed a contract
to sing in an opera, and wanted another bottle of the medicine
“to see her through”.
Child, age 6. She always craved attention, and had to have
someone near her all the time. When she could not have her
own way, she became fretful. When she was brought to us,
she had had a sudden outbreak of a rash all over her body.
The rash produced blisters, and she looked as if she had been
burnt, chicory the type Remedy was prescribed for her fret¬
fulness and self-pity, and crab apple as a Remedy to cleanse
her system. After taking the medicine for a month, her
grandmother wrote and said: “The httle girl is quite well
now. The rash has entirely disappeared, and she is much
quieter and less fretful. She responded remarkably quickly,
and now she is a happy litde child.”
CHAPTER 10
CLEMATIS
Case Histories
Girl, age 12. The child had spots on her face. In spite of
the doctor’s assurance to her mother that they would even¬
tually disappear, the child was greatly distressed, and lacked
all confidence. She was a quiet, retiring child anyway, and
always a daydreamer. clematis the type Remedy was pre¬
scribed for her general condition and her dreaminess. The
child responded rapidly. She became much more lively, and
interested in her school as well as in her home. According to
her mother she became ‘‘almost eager” to do things. The
spots faded away completely after the second bottle of medi¬
cine had been taken.
Man, age 37. He was sent to us by the firm which employed
him, and in which he held an executive position of responsi¬
bility. During the last months, he had become indifferent
toward his work, and seemed to be quite unconcerned over
his failure to fulfil either his executive duties or his obliga¬
tions to the firm. His wife had died the year before. He told
us that he had always been a heavy sleeper, and had great
difficulty waking up in the morning. He had been having
difficulty concentrating on his work recently, but he seemed
to be perfectly complacent about the whole thing and
obviously he was not greatly interested in his daily affairs.
His utter unconcern toward possible failure, his general lack
of effort and his dreamy apathy indicated that clematis was
the type Remedy. He took the medicine for two months.
There was a steady improvement from the start, and the man
was able to continue his work with an increasing efficiency.
At the end of the two months, he had regained his normal
state of capability.
—Extract from Dr. Bach’s Case Records
CRAB APPLE
into the house, than she is about their wet feet and
the possibility of their catching cold. It is also for those
persons who “have a bee in their bonnet”; for those
who come for medical help, and report a spot on the
face, but forget to mention a painful lumbago.
Actually, these kind of people feel things so strongly
that they become depressed and despondent with any
treatment which does not quickly result in a cure. The
Remedy is valuable for both internal and external use,
for it can be used as a lotion, a compress or a hot
fomentation. It can also be added to the normal bath;
six drops of the prepared medicine is usually sufficient
for the average-sized tub.
The positive aspect of grab apple is seen in those
people who maintain complete control of their
thoughts, and who have the wisdom to see things in
their correct proportions. They are broadminded
people who do not dwell upon trifles, and who realize
that any manifestation of a physical disorder is due
to an inner disharmony; thus it is within their own
power to transmute it into harmony.
Case Histories
Woman, age 40. When she came to us, she had suffered for
many months with a rash on her hands. Small hard lumps
had appeared at the base of the fingers. The irritation was
intense, and became worse when she felt nervous or tense.
She was a kind woman, and normally a happy one. She was
house-proud, and inclined to worry about trifles; things
tended “to get on top of her” and she seldom found time to
relax. The rash made her nervous about preparing the food
for the family, and made her feel “unclean”, crab apple the
type Remedy was prescribed for her over-concentration on
trivia, as well as for feeling of being unclean; vervain was
added to help her to relax and take things easy. Three weeks
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 83
after starting the treatment, she reported that the rash and
the irritation had ceased, and that the lumps were softening
and starting to disappear. She added that for as long as she
could remember she suffered from constipation; now, much
to her surprise, the Remedies had given her complete relief
from that trouble. She also said that she no longer worried
about the house, and that was “a great relief, as I seem to
have so much more time for other things”. One month later
she wrote again to say that her skin was now soft and healthy,
the lumps had vanished, and she was no longer troubled with
constipation. She said that she looked and felt at least twenty
years younger.
Woman, age 65. Her work was to go to the homes of
elderly people, to help them with the housework. She wrote:
“Seeing so much distress, so much filth and dirt, has weighed
on my mind, and I feel dirty too. I seem to concentrate on
dust and dirt, and to look for it everywhere, even when there
is no necessity to do so.” crab apple the type Remedy was
prescribed both orally, and as a lotion which she was told to
put into her bath. Within two weeks, she wrote again to say
that there had been a great improvement, and that now,
quite often, she was able to shift her thoughts to happier
things. She was not entirely cured, however. She continued
to take the medicine for another two months when she wrote
again to say: “It is wonderful to have clean and happy
thoughts again.”
Woman, age 70, married. By nature she was an active
woman, and impatient with slowness in others, with noise,
or with untidiness. When she applied to us, she was about to
move into a new house. Her chief difficulty seemed to be a
dislike of herself; she felt that there was much about herself
that needed to be cleansed. She suffered from chronic
bronchitis and a pain in the left side of the chest, as well as
asthmatic breathlessness, crab apple the type Remedy was
prescribed for the need she felt to be cleansed; Impatiens for
her impatient and tense temperament. After the first month,
she reported an improvement in the bronchitis, and a
lessening of the chest pain. Next month she wrote again to
84 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
say that there had been a definite improvement in her tem¬
perament. In spite of the annoyance of moving into a new
house, she had remained quite calm about it, but she added
that she felt tired, hornbeam was added to the original
prescription to give her strength. Five months after the start
of the first treatment, she wrote again to say that she was
better in every way. The chest pains had lessened greatly;
the breathlessness was a thing of the past, and she felt quiet
and assured.
Boy, age 12. For the past year he had suffered from fits and
fainting attacks. He had been working very hard at school to
stand at the head of his class. Before the attacks started he
had been well and happy, but now he suffered from frequent
headaches, and had become very irritable. He had been fond
of running, but since the first attack occurred during a cross¬
country run, he had been forced to give up that sport. He had
a very violent reaction to the drugs which were given to him;
the attacks increased, he had double vision, and he started to
lose the use of his right arm. It was then discovered that he
suffered from infected tonsils which the doctors felt were res¬
ponsible for his frequent head colds. The tonsils were
removed; his general health improved slightly, but the
fainting fits continued. He was given more medication with
the result that the attacks recommenced and he lost his
memory. The medication was changed again, and this time
the drugs affected his speech, and caused him to fall into a
deep sleep. He was getting more worried and more irritable,
so medication was finally suspended, and he felt better with¬
out it. Then it was that his parents sought the help of the
Bach Remedies, and he was brought to consult with us. It
was our opinion that the first step should be clear to his
system of the toxic effects of the medication which he had
been given. To this end, crab apple was prescribed as the
cleansing agent; clematis was added for the loss of memory
and the “escape from the present” that occurred during the
attacks; rock rose was added to combat his fear of the fits
returning. After taking the Remedies for one month, he
wrote to his mother from his school that he was getting much
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 85
better, and his mother added in her letter to us that the whole
tone of his letter was much more alive. Two months later she
reported to say: “He is very much better, and working for
his college entrance examinations, but he is worried about his
loss of memory. He has had no more attacks.’’ white chest¬
nut was added to the basic prescription to help him over¬
come any worry either about the possible loss of memory, or
forthcoming examinations. One month later his mother wrote
again and said: “His headmaster describes the result as a
miracle. He has made a remarkable recovery, and he has
even been doing cross-country runs again with no ill effects
at all. He is practically normal now.” The Remedies were
continued for another two months, and since that time there
has been no recurrence of any trouble.
Woman, age 63. She had separated from her husband a
few years before, and she was still very resentful toward him.
Though she had had two operations, and was under constant
medical supervision, a chronic uterine discharge persisted,
and this gave her a feeling of self-disgust. When she came to
consult with us, she was impatient and irritable, crab apple
was prescribed for her feeling of self-disgust; willow for her
continuing resentment toward her husband; impatiens for
her irritability. Her first reaction to the Remedies was an
emotional one; she became decidedly less irritated, and
despite the fact that the discharge persisted, she accepted the
fact more philosophically. She continued to take the Reme¬
dies for six months, at which time she wrote to say: “I am
cured of the discharge after thirty years! I am more con¬
tented, I keep myself busy and active, and I have many
interests in life.”
Woman, age 43, single. Outwardly she appeared to be a
cheerful and friendly woman, but she concealed her true
sentiments from others. Inwardly, she held feelings of self-
loathing because of a bad psoriasis on her face, neck and ears.
She had this condition for many years, and no treatment had
helped it. Recently she had been told at the place where she
worked “not to show her face there again”. This cutting
remark was a cruel shock to her. The Remedies prescribed
86 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
were: crab apple because of the feeling of uncleanliness;
AGRIMONY, her type Remedy, because she was of a friendly,
cheerful disposition; star of Bethlehem for the shock she
had received. She was also advised to bathe her face with
milk in which some drops of the medicine had been mixed.
After two weeks she wrote: “The results are wonderful in
every way. The skin is not so irritated and the flaking is less.
The milk lotion has worked wonders. I am going back to
work again, and I am much calmer now.” The Remedies
were continued for another three months, during which time
she suffered one setback which was due to worry and stress
because she became depressed and discouraged, gentian was
added to the basic prescription for the discouragement.
Improvement was certain and rapid after that. She finally
wrote to us to say: “It has been a very long time since I felt
so well or since my skin has looked so well. You can realize
how confident I am now when I tell you that I am going to
the United States to work.”
CHAPTER 12
ELM
Case Histories
GENTIAN
Case Histories
GORSE
Gorse is for those who have lost heart and suffer from
hopelessness and despair after the failure of many
treatments to help them. It is for those who have been
told that there is nothing more that can be done and
who therefore feel that they must continue to bear
their pain and suffering for the rest of their lives. It is
for the person who feels that it is useless to try further
treatment, but just to please a relative or friend they
will “try once more”, although, as one patient said:
“I know that it will do no good.” The Remedy is also
of value in illness of long duration, especially in those
cases where progress has ceased after some improve¬
ment. GORSE is also very useful to give early in any
chronic case; it will give the patient a hope of recovery,
and that is the first step towards a cure. It should also
be used where the patient is convinced that some in¬
herited condition, or tendency, has condemned him to
a hfetime of suffering. Dr. Bach said of the gorse type:
“They are generally sallow, and rather dark of com¬
plexion, often with dark lines beneath their eyes. They
look as if they needed sunshine in their lives to drive
the clouds away.”
The positive aspect is found in those persons who
have a positive faith and hope, and a certainty that in
the end they can overcome all difficulties. They are not
97
98 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
Case Histories
Woman, age 52, married. During her interview, she said
that all during her life she had been inclined to look upon the
dark side of things. Now she was feehng utterly hopeless; she
had given up trying or even hoping to regain her health.
As a result of this negative outlook, she had suffered for years
from bronchitis and colds. At night, she had the feeling of
suffocation and a chronic cough; she could not sleep well,
and she generally awoke with a headache in the morning.
She had tried every cure that she had heard of without suc¬
cess, and she frankly stated that she had little confidence that
the Remedies could help her. gorse the type Remedy was
prescribed for her hopelessness; hornbeam to help her to
regain the strength to cope with life again. Her first report
was encouraging; she stated that she felt brighter and less
depressed, and that she saw a ray of hope. Her cough had
improved, and she felt less fatigued. The same Remedies were
given for the next two months. This time she wrote to say
that she was much more optimistic; the feeling of suffocation
had disappeared, and she was no longer fatigued. Further¬
more, for the first time in years, she was sleeping well. The
cough remained, but she felt that it was occurring at less
frequent intervals, vervain was added to the original
Remedies to reduce a tension and sense of strain occasioned
by her having to do her own housework, whether or not she
felt up to doing it. She took these Remedies for another two
months, when she wrote again to say: ‘T feel a different per¬
son altogether since I have been taking the Remedies.*’ She
went to Canada, and continued the treatment for another
five months. She wrote once more to say that she felt fine, and
that the cough had finally disappeared and none of the
former symptoms had returned.
Man, age 51. For the last twenty-eight years, he had suffered
from psoriasis on his legs, with irritation and scaling. This
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 99
affliction, which had been brought about by a period of
anxiety and worry, caused him great mental torture and
despair of ever being cured. He was inclined to be over-
serious by nature; although he did have a sense of humor,
he could not suppress a feeling of disgust engendered by the
disease. He was frankly hopeless of being cured, but to please
his wife he agreed to consult with us. gorse was prescribed
for the extreme hopelessness and the long duration and stub¬
bornness of the ailment; agrimony to combat the mental
torture the psoriasis caused him; crab apple for the self¬
disgust and as a cleanser of mind and body. Four weeks later,
he wrote and said: “I feel better in myself, and more hopeful.
My skin is less irritated than it has been for a long time and
the amount of scaling is negligible, while the sores are
decreasing in size.” Treatment was continued for six months,
after which time he was able to write: ‘T have never felt so
well in my life. It is almost impossible to believe that I have
been cured of my long-standing condition. I am getting
better each day.”
Man, middle age. He was a true pessimist who had never
expected much from life, and who was continually depressed.
Ten years before he consulted us, when he was in the Navy,
he suffered from* deeply cracked hands in the winter, and
scaly skin in the summer. These conditions had persisted
since that time, and he was quite despairing and hopeless
that a cure could be effected, gorse the type Remedy was
prescribed for his hopelessness; crab apple to cleanse his
mind and body. He reported that for the first two days he
was sleepy and listless, but that after that he began to feel
more active, gaining vitality. The hands began to heal, but
when the weather turned colder he suffered a setback which
discouraged him. The treatment was continued for another
month when he reported that he had “a feeling of general
fitness, a much more lively mind, and a total healing of my
hands.” The treatment was continued for another two months.
None of the symptoms have returned.
Man, middle age. He said to us that he had never really
felt well in his life. He suffered from numerous minor ailments
100 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
and from severe headaches which annoyed him greatly.
He had tried all kinds of treatments, but nothing seemed to
help. He said that he was only trying the Bach Remedies to
please his friends, that he himself had little faith that he
could be cured, gorse the type Remedy was prescribed for
his hopelessness; impatiens was added to counter his irrita¬
bility and annoyance. At first his progress was slow; after
some weeks, he said that the headaches, which he had all of
his life, were gone. In the following two months he made
slow progress but after that he wrote: “I have gained a sense
of humor and I get a lot of pleasure out of life because I feel
so well.”
Man, age 50. For years he had an agonizing pain and
swelling in his left hand which was almost unbearable, and
at times incapacitated him. He had become depressed and
hopeless after trying many treatments without any success.
At the urging of a friend, who had benefited from the Bach
Remedies, he consented to try them. He wrote saying: “I
cannot get any sleep at night which makes me very depressed
at times.” gorse the type Remedy was prescribed for his
hopelessness, and because of the long duration of the com¬
plaint. He was instructed to use the Remedy both orally and
as a lotion to bathe his hand with. He wrote again, after one
month, to say that he was feeling better; he could sleep again,
and the swelling on his hand was becoming less. He con¬
tinued the treatment, and after another two months he was
able to report: “I am feeling quite well now, thanks to your
treatment. All swelling and pain in my hand has gone.” The
treatment was continued for another month, but the
symptoms never returned.
Man, age 59. He contracted a serious double pneumonia
for which he was given penicillin. The doctor held out little
hope for his survival. During the crisis, his wife gave him
repeated doses of the rescue remedy* and he pulled through
the crisis and lived. When he called upon us for treatment,
he was in a very weak condition; his heart had been strained,
and his breath came in short gasps. He was coughing blood,
♦ For description of the Rescue Remedy and Case Histories, see Chapter 40.
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 101
and he felt hopeless and despairing, gorse was prescribed for
the despair and hopelessness; olive to give him courage and
strength after his grave illness. Within a few days he was able
to sit up for an hour at a time, and he increased the time
every day. His whole attitude had changed. He said that he
knew, now, that he would get well. He gained strength daily,
and the blood in the sputum was almost absent. He con¬
tinued the treatment for four months, at which time he had
completely recovered.
Man, age 63. For as long as he could remember, he had
always had a slight sinus trouble, but it had become in¬
creasingly worse during the last eighteen months. About nine
months before he applied to us for treatment, he had deve¬
loped a thrombosis in his left leg, and he had to be hospita¬
lized for some months. When he called us for treatment, he
was at home in bed because he could not walk. He said that
since his retirement, he had just gone to pieces. Now he was
hopeless, filled with despair, and fatigued, gorse the type
Remedy was given for his great hopelessness and despair.
Within three weeks, he reported that he was certainly feeling
better; he was sleeping well, and his appetite had returned.
GENTIAN was added to the original Remedy to give him fur¬
ther encouragement, and in another month he reported feel¬
ing wonderfully well. He was walking, although his knee was
stiff, and he had to have physical therapy for this condition.
Three months later, he was very well and felt an entirely
different person. He was anxious to resume his activities, and
his hopelessness was a thing of the past. His sinus no longer
bothered him, and his knee was perfectly well.
Mote: In every case, it will be observed that when the patient
began to feel brighter and happier, more hopeful and less depressed,
the body responded quickly, and the cure was assured, p.m.c.
CHAPTER 15
HEATHER
Case Histories
HOLLY
Case Histories
Child, age 3. He felt that his new little sister was receiving
all of the attention, and that he had to play by himself. To
attract attention, he began to pinch and push the baby and
make her cry. When he was scolded, he would throw himself
on the floor and kick and scream, holly the type Remedy
was prescribed for the child’s jealousy. Within a few weeks
there had been a definite change in his attitude and actions
towards his little sister. He became so happy that his mother
had to caution him against singing too loudly and waking
the baby.
Man, age 65, widower, a retired army Colonel. Seven
years before we saw him, he had a cancer of the throat which
had been successfully operated on, and up to this time, had
not recurred. The Colonel was very devoted to his only
daughter. Although he liked her fiance, whom she planned
to marry soon, he dreaded the thought of her leaving home.
He became ill. In order to play upon his daughter’s sym¬
pathy, he would not eat, and he complained of his throat
continually. He also developed a jealous and intense disUke
for his daughter’s fianc6. His attitude caused his daughter
g^eat distress; she was torn between her duty toward her
father, and her love for her fiance. Her father refused to see a
doctor, because he feared that the cancer might have re¬
turned. He was referred to us for treatment, holly was pre¬
scribed for his jealous attitude toward the young man;
CHICORY for his possessive attitude towards his daughter.
One month later, the fianc6 wrote to us and said: “The
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 109
Colonel has made great strides in the right direction. He now
joins us in discussions about the forthcoming wedding. He is
much more like his old self. He is eating better, and alto¬
gether he has made a remarkable recovery.’’ His daughter
says that “it is simply amazing.” The Remedies were con¬
tinued for another month. The Colonel gave his daughter in
marriage and wished the young couple great happiness.
Since then he has been eating well, and has not complained
about his throat.
Man, middle age. When he applied to us for treatment, he
had a severe rash on his arms and hands. He was a hate-filled
man of violent temper, and had become depressed and
fatigued in his work which he thoroughly disliked, holly was
prescribed for his strong hatred; olive for his fatigue and lack
of interest; crab apple to cleanse him from the toxins of
hatred which caused the rash. Within two months, he wrote
to say: “I am so much better in every way; I sleep well and I
have regained an interest in my work. I have become much
more tolerant of my fellow workers. The rash has dis¬
appeared, although at times there is a little irritation.” One
month later, he wrote to say that the irritation had disap¬
peared entirely, and that he felt normal and well.
The following extract is from a letter written to us by a
wife, about her husband: “My husband has been a deep-sea
diver for thirty years. He worked on unexploded bombs and
shells in Plymouth Harbour during the war. He retired seven
years ago. These deep-sea divers all become ill due to
breathing compressed air whilst they are working in the dark
on the sea-bed. It makes them hard and cruel, as it did my
husband, who is by nature a kind and generous man. Now,
he is silent, and tormented by hatred. He has no feelings of
compassion for anyone who is in trouble or who is ill. He is of
course a very brave man, but he is filled with self-pity and
speaks of himself as ‘poor me’ quite frequently. He suffers
from claustrophobia, and he keeps all of the doors and win¬
dows in the house open, even in winter. He is always restless,
and cannot stop moving about, and he is very unsociable.”
HOLLY was prescribed for the hatred and hardness which was
no HANDBOOK OF THE BAC2H FLOWER REMEDIES
against his nature; chicory for his self-pity; mimulus for his
fear of closed places. Within six months, he responded
excellendy. First he overcame the claustrophobia, and he
could remain in the house with the doors and the windows
closed. He became much calmer and happier and so pleasant
that finally his family wrote to say: “He has changed so very
much that we all love him, and like to be with him.”
Woman, age 73, a widow. She wrote to us saying: “I get
suddenly exhausted as if I had nothing at all inside me. I
think that it is due to my nasty thoughts. I am discontented
and not counting my blessings. I really hate my neighbor
who has such a happy life.” holly was given to overcome her
jealousy; olive for the fatigue. Two months later she was a
different woman. The fatigue had left, and she wrote to say:
“I am making a friend of my neighbor. I have found out
that she is such a nice woman, and so understanding.”
CHAPTER 17
HONEYSUCKLE
Case Histories
Woman, age 50. When she was a small child, her drunken
father had threatened to choke her, and ever since she had
suffered from the fear of choking and suffocation. The onset
of the climacteric had increased these fears, and she began
to feel that her throat was closing up. An JST-ray examination
showed no physical cause for the sensation. Although she was
cheerful and kind by nature, she nevertheless felt a deep
resentment toward her father, honeysuckle was prescribed
as the type Remedy, to counteract the childhood memories;
holly for the resentment she felt towards her father; rock
ROSE for her great fear of suffocation. Within three weeks she
was able to report that she could swallow normally and that
she had lost the sensation of having a tight band around her
throat. Two months later she wrote to say that she neither
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 113
resented her father, nor did she dwell upon the unpleasant
memories of her childhood any more; she did say however
that her throat never bothered her unless she was overtired.*
One month later, all symptoms had disappeared, and a friend
of hers wrote to say: “I have never seen such a change in
anyone in such a short time.”
Woman, middle age, a widow. Her husband had died
three years before she applied to us for treatment. After his
death, she began to suffer from periodic and severe attacks
of colitis. She wrote: am so depressed, and I miss my
husband so much. I feel that there is no more interest left in
life.” HONEYSUCKLE was prescribed for her thoughts of the
past, and loss of interest in the present; star of Bethlehem
to counteract the shock of her husband’s death, even though
his illness had been one of long duration. Her first report
indicated that she was less depressed and that the colitis had
ceased to trouble her; she seemed to have gained more interest
in life, and more vitality. She continued to take the Remedies
for another three months, when she wrote again to say that
she was cheerful, and that she was working; her stomach
trouble had not returned.
Woman, middle age, a nurse by profession. When she
applied to us for treatment, she was very tired, and felt
depressed. She liked her work at a County Hospital, but for
some years she suffered from catarrh. During her conversation
with us, it was discovered that while she was a probationer at
the same hospital, she would become very nervous when the
doctors made their rounds. She remembered that she always
had to blow her nose, and to clear her throat, honeysuckle
was prescribed, because we felt that the memory of those days
still persisted in spite of the fact that she was now an ex¬
perienced and efficient nurse; crab apple was added as a
cleanser of the mind and body. Much to her surprise, the
catarrh which had been termed chronic, cleared up within
three weeks, and never returned to trouble her again!
♦ Dr. Bach always said: “Never get overtired, never get cold, and never go
hungry.” These are conditions which affect the psychic system; especially in a
patient under treatment.
114 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
Woman, age 40, a widow. Three years before she came to
us for treatment, her husband had been hit by a truck, and
was fatally injured. She nursed him until his death. Shordy
after that, she herself suffered a fall, and although there were
no broken bones, one of her legs continued to ache. The pain
seemed to be most severe whenever her thoughts turned back
to her husband’s illness and death. She told us that she was
lonely and that she missed him greatly, and thoughts of their
happy years together would often enter her mind. She was
depressed, she suffered from continual headaches, and she
was sleeping badly, honeysuckle was the Remedy indicated
for the thoughts of the past; star of bethlehem for the long
lasting shock of her husband’s death; chicory for the effects
of self-pity. The next month she reported that she felt much
better and that she was brighter in spirit; she had much less
pain in her leg. She continued the Remedies for another two
months, when she wrote to say that she was now fine; she
was sleeping well again, she had no headaches, and all of the
pain had left her leg. The following year she wrote to say that
there had been no relapse, and that she was happily re¬
married.
Man, age 46. His job called for long hours of tedious but
light work. The year before, he had a failure in business, and
as he said: “The memory of that keeps returning very often.”
He was tired and depressed, and he suffered from indigestion.
HONEYSUCKLE was prescribed for the memories of the past;
gentian for the depression. Emotionally, he responded well
to the Remedies, but he complained that they gave him a
rash on his chest. It was evident that the Remedies were
giving his system a thorough cleansing! crab apple was
added, and the rash quickly disappeared. After a long period
of time, he wrote to say that none of the symptoms had
returned.
Man, middle age, a placid person by nature. He told us
that he had lost his temper only once during fifteen years of
married life 1 He complained that he tossed about in his sleep,
and that he had troublesome dreams which he could not
recall. What he could remember concerned being confined in
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 115
a small space, and trying to fight his way out; this was an
actual experience from his childhood. His situation was
aggravated by the fact that the ship in which he had been
serving in the Korean war was hit by a bomb; he had been
blown to the deck below, and badly injured, honeysuckle
was prescribed to help him forget the events of the past;
AGRIMONY was his type Remedy, and that was added also.
The next month he wrote to say that he had been sleeping
better, and had only three disturbed nights since he started
the treatment. After another two months, he could write that
he felt fine; that he was again sleeping deeply and peace¬
fully, and that he was perfectly happy.
Woman, age 6o. She was referred to us by a physician. She
lived completely in the past, and wept and fretted about her
relatives who had died. She talked incessantly about them,
and of the happy times they had spent together, honey¬
suckle the type Remedy was prescribed. The effect was
immediate, and remarkable. She recovered completely
within one week.
Woman, age 40. During the past years when she had been
visiting with relatives, twice she had been called to help a
sudden illness in the night. Now she found that whenever she
was in a strange house she would awaken in fear, and it took
her some time before she could go back to sleep again.
HONEYSUCKLE was prescribed, because it was believed that
the fear was what might be called “a memory fear”; mimulus
was added to allay any actual fear that might come upon her.
Within two months she wrote to say: “The Remedies have
been most successful. I spent Christmas with relatives, and I
have been away on visits quite a number of times since then,
and I have slept well every night.”
CHAPTER 18
HORNBEAM
Case Histories
IMPATIENS
Dr. Bach himself had found that this Remedy had a very
quick acting effect. He had, of course, an intimate knowledge
and an understanding of the Remedies and their possibilities.
There were times when he was inclined to become impatient,
when others were not as quick as he was, and were slow to
follow his line of thought. When this occurred, he had an
immediate physical reaction, and a red and very irritating
rash would suddenly appear. He would say; “You see, my
being irritable with you hurts me more than it hurts you!”
A dose of impatiens would restore his good humor, and
within a short time the rash would disappear.
From the case records of F. J. Wheeler, m.b. : “Woman, age
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 123
first two weeks, she was able to say: “I feel soothed, and I am
so happy, because I was really very upset.” She continued
to take the medicine for another month. At that time she said
that she was her old self once more, and that she could listen
to her employer’s complaints without snapping back or even
becoming irritated.
Extract from a letter received from a patient for whom we
prescribed impatiens. “Having taken the Remedy impatiens
for irritability for over a week, I am pleased to say that I am
not so irritable as I was before I started, in spite of the fact
that the cause of the irritation is exactly the same; some family
trouble.”
CHAPTER 20
LARCH
Case Histories
Man, age 50. Since childhood he had always been self-
conscious. He liked to be alone because he felt that he could
not do as well as the other boys his age. Five years before he
wrote us, he suffered a nervous breakdown. Now, in middle
age, he felt that he was a failure, larch the type Remedy was
prescribed for his lack of self-confidence; mimulus because of
his fear of failure. After two months he wrote: “I can honestly
say that I feel a great deal better than when I first wrote to
you. I have a zest for life now, something that I never had
before, and I am attempting to do many things that I have
always wanted to do.”
Boy, age 9. He was very unhappy at his school. He lacked
confidence in everything he attempted, and worried himself
into a state of nervous tension over the simple things that he
thought he could not do. He feared swimming lessons, be¬
cause he felt he was not as good at it as his companions were.
For that reason he wanted to stay home every Tuesday, the
day the swimming lessons were given. When his grandfather
died, he became very upset emotionally, because he felt that
he had lost understanding and support, larch the type
128 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
Remedy was prescribed for his lack of confidence; mimulus
for his fear and nervousness; star of bethlehem for the
shock of his grandfather’s death. Within a month, his
mother wrote to say: ‘‘You have no idea how much he has
changed. He now loves swimming, and can hardly wait until
Tuesday comes for his lesson. He is happy in his school
now.”
Children, it should be noted, respond very rapidly to the
Remedies, and usually with excellent results. They do not
resist the help the Remedies can give them, nor do they
reason about them. Children simply want to get well and to
be happy. Is there not an object lesson in this attitude?
Woman, middle age. She had never achieved the full
success she was capable of, because since childhood she had
lacked confidence in herself. She had always remained in a
subordinate position because she was unable to take either
initiative or responsibility. When she came to us, she suffered
from a stiffness in her back, and became easily tired. The
condition was chronic, and the treatment lasted over a long
period of time, but finally her ailments were completely
cured. The Remedies prescribed over this period were as
follows: LARCH first, for some months until her confidence
became such that she was able to break away from her
subordinate position. She found a new position which re¬
quired both initiative and enterprise, and demanded that
she make her own decisions, olive was then given, because at
the start of her new work she became exhausted; white
CHESTNUT was added because she worried about her work.
Progress continued to be slow but sure. She finally was able
to report that she was well again, and that she had gained the
respect and admiration of her associates.
Man, age 35. For the past eight years, he had been trying
to pass his final examinations in medicine. He had taken the
examinations three or four times a year, and he had always
failed. He said: “I know that it is sheer examination nerves.
I know my subject well.” The last time that he went to
London to take the examination, he was given larch for lack
of confidence in himself; mimulus for his fear of failure. He
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 129
took the Remedies for two days previous to the examinations,
and even during them. This time he passed.
Woman, age 76, a widow. She had a bad fall which bruised
her face, cut her mouth and twisted her ankle; the injury to
the ankle reactivated an old arthritic condition in her back.
The accident happened three weeks before she came to us for
treatment. When we talked with her, she said that she had
lost confidence in her ability to walk safely, and that she
could not face the idea of taking a bus, or of even leaving the
house. She said: ‘T am not afraid, but I have lost my confi¬
dence, if you can understand the difference.” larch was
given to restore her confidence in herself; star of Bethlehem
was added to counter any remaining effects of shock. One
month later she wrote again to say that she was feeling guite
fit again, and that she had fully regained her confidence.
What was more, a bronchial condition which she had had for
the past year was now completely gone, much to her sur¬
prise!
Young man, age 16. He completely lacked confidence in
himself. He told us that his father was continually criticizing
him, telling him that he was no good, and that he would
never “get ahead in life”. What was worse, the father often
made these discouraging remarks before other people. Con¬
sequently, the boy did not try to do anything; not even those
things which he could have done easily. He was diffident in
the presence of other people, and shy with girls at parties and
dances, larch was prescribed for his lack of confidence;
MiMULUS for his fear and nervousness. The response was
immediate, and good. Within the month he wrote to tell us:
“The Remedies have worked wonders. I am much more
confident, and I am thinking more clearly than before. I
enjoy myself at parties and at times I can even come up with
a philosophical remark!”
Man, middle age, a vicar. Five years before he came to us,
he had a nervous breakdown, and he felt that he had never
regained his self-confidence. He continually recalled an incit
dent in his childhood which he said was so vivid in his
imagination that it destroyed what little confidence he had
130 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
MIMULUS
Boy, age 8. He had never been a strong child, and had suf¬
fered from birth with an itching eczema around his knees,
shortness of breath, and general listlessness. He feared going
to the motion pictures, and he disliked having stories read to
him lest they turn out badly. He was much too frightened to
sleep alone, and seldom slept the night through, mimulus the
type Remedy was prescribed for his fears and anxieties;
CLEMATIS for his dreamy, listless condition. One month later,
his mother wrote to say that he was a little better; the eczema
was slightly improved, but he still slept badly. The next
month she wrote again and said: “Philip is much better in
every way. He now sleeps through the night, and is in a room
by himself, a thing which he never could do before.” Finally,
in her last report, three months later, she described her son as
being most energetic, without any fears; the eczema had
disappeared entirely.
Boy, age g. His mother wrote: “He is afraid of the teacher
at his school, and the work is too difficult for him. He worries
about it. He is a very sensitive, kindhearted boy, very sturdy
and masculine. This terrible anxiety about school has resulted
in his not sleeping well.” mimulus was prescribed for the boy’s
fear of his teacher; agrimony for the mental torture and
worry about his schoolwork. After the first month, his mother
had written to say that the child had lost his fears and was
sleeping peacefully again. He had become much more inde¬
pendent, and had said on several occasions: “I can do that for
myself.” Previously he had been very dependent upon his
mother, to whom he was greatly attached.
Boy, age 6. He was very frightened of the dark, and of
going up the stairs alone at night. He insisted that a light
be always left burning in his room, and that the door remain
ajar. During the day he was very energetic, and would not
rest; at bedtime he was completely exhausted. His appetite
was poor, mimulus was prescribed for his fear of the dark;
VERVAIN for his excessive energy and his inability to rest. The
first report, three weeks later, showed that he was eating
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 133
better and that he was less exhausted at night. After another
two months, his mother wrote to say that he no longer feared
the dark; in fact, he even enjoyed switching off the light at
bedtime.
Woman, age 29, unmarried. She suffered from arthritis in
her left wrist, which had been in a cast for the past two years,
and because of that, she had to give up the work she had done
on a farm. She was depressed and irritable when she came to
us. All her life she had been an unreasonable worrier, ner¬
vous, shy, and overconcerned about what other people
thought about her. mimulus was prescribed for her nervous¬
ness, fear and shyness; impatiens for her irritability; gentian
for her depression and discouraged attitude. Her first report
indicated that there was no change in her wrist, but she said
that she was feeling better, and the headache which she
usually had during her menstrual period was gone. She had
not mentioned the headache during her initial visit, but she
was “thrilled” to be without it. The same Remedies were
repeated, and four weeks later she wrote to say that she felt
hke a different person, and the wrist was showing signs of
improvement. She said that she had fewer worries and greater
happiness than she had had for months. The Remedies were
repeated; she again reported an improvement in the wrist,
and total absence of headaches during the menstrual period.
Her next letter to us related a great setback, and all of her
symptoms had returned. The man she had hoped to marry
had married another woman, mimulus the basic Remedy was
prescribed again; star of bethlehem was added for the
shock; WILLOW because of the resentment which she bore
towards her former fiance. Within a month, she showed a
substantial improvement. Her wrist was still stiff, but not
painful. Following this letter, the original prescription was
repeated. This resulted in a definite improvement in the
wrist, and she herself was much less worried. The same treat¬
ment was continued for another three months. She then wrote
to say: “The cast has been removed from my wrist. I often
forget that there was ever anything wrong with it at all. I am
no longer nervous, and I have not had one single headache
134 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
all of this time. I now no longer worry about what other
people say about me.”
Boy, age 7. He had just started to go to school, and he was
very nervous. He was not sleeping well, and every morning
he complained of a pain in his stomach so that he could not
eat breakfast. He could not eat his lunch at school, because he
was nervous about eating in the presence of strangers. When
we saw him, he was pale, listless, and was losing weight.
MiMULUS the type Remedy was prescribed, and within a
month he was sleeping better. He now not only ate his break¬
fast, but his lunch at school, and he had gained weight. Most
important of all, his mother wrote to say that he liked school
and he had said: “I feel as bold as a lion now.”
Woman, age 53, married. For many years she had lived in
a busy town, and now she found that she could not sleep be¬
cause of the traffic noise. Noise frightened her, and after
working hard all day, she dreaded going home because of it.
She was very run down and suffered from morning head¬
aches, as well as a chronic catarrh which blocked her nose.
MIMULUS was prescribed for her fear of noise; crab apple as a
cleanser of her system; hornbeam to give her strength. After
a month, she wrote that she did not feel nearly so tired and
that she was sleeping better, but the catarrh persisted. The
same Remedies were repeated for another two months. Again
she wrote to say that now the fatigue was completely gone,
and that she could do twice the amount of work that she
normally did; she had lost her fear of noise, and the catarrh
had almost cleared up. The next month she wrote again and
said that the catarrh had disappeared entirely; she was sleep¬
ing well, and she no longer dreaded noise.
Boy, age 13. The boy was a chronic enuretic, and a very
heavy sleeper. He was of a cheerful, happy-go-lucky dispo¬
sition, but his father was a stern disciplinarian and that added
to the boy’s nervousness, mimulus was prescribed for his fear
of his father; agrimony for his attitude which concealed his
mental torment. During the first three weeks after the treat¬
ment started, he wet his bed only once. Four months later,
his mother wrote: “A wonderful improvement has taken
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 135
place. He no longer wets his bed, and he is standing up to his
father,’*
Woman, age 45. She was a business woman whose work
entailed standing for long hours, and she suffered from vari¬
cose veins. She had lost confidence in herself, and she feared
that she might not be able to continue in her business. She
wrote to us saying: “I am of a nervous disposition, timid by
nature.” mimulus the type Remedy was prescribed for her
nervousness; larch for her lack of self-confidence. Her first
report was encouraging; she said that she felt much more
confidence in herself, and that the veins had improved and
the pain stopped. After another four months, she wrote again
to say that she felt great confidence in herself and her ability,
that she was no longer nervous, and that she was hardly
aware of the varicose veins.
CHAPTER 22
MUSTARD
Case Histories
OAK
Case Histories
OLIVE
Case Histories
Woman, age 64, married. Within the last few years, all her
family, those close to her, her husband, her child and her
brother had died. Since that time she had felt completely
exhausted and life seemed to hold little for her. She said: ‘T
am not particularly interested in anything, and I do not have
the energy to do anything about it.” She was depressed, and
she slept badly, olive was prescribed for her utter exhaus¬
tion, her loss of interest and her depression. She took this
regularly for three months; she was soon able to report that
she was sleeping better, and for longer hours, and that she
was eating again, and gaining weight. At the end of four
months she wrote to say: “I am much better, and I am getting
about once again. I sleep wonderfully well. The depressions
are things of the past.”
Woman, age 50, a widow. She was the mother of two grown
sons, for whom she kept house. The house was large, and the
work overtaxed her strength. She became very tired, and
suffered from severe depressions. She told us that she had
never fully recovered from a hysterectomy the year before.
olive was prescribed for her state of exhaustion; mustard for
148 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
the severe black depressions. After three months, she wrote to
say that she was feeling much better and that she was well
able to cope with all of her household duties without getting
overtired. Most important of all, she had not had any depres¬
sions for the last six weeks.
Woman, age 73, a widow. She had recently been under a
strain due to family difficulties. She said to us: “I suddenly
get exhausted, as if I had nothing at all inside of me.’’ The
years of worry had left her feeling weak, and unable to cope
with the problems life posed, olive was prescribed, and she
took this for a long while. Gradually her strength returned,
and she was once again able to face the problems that con¬
fronted her.
Woman, age 60, a widow. She was an active and intense
person by nature, and inclined to overtax her strength. For
the last three years, she looked after her daughter’s baby,
while the daughter was at work, and this had brought her to
the point of exhaustion. Her life had been a difficult one. Her
husband had died after a lingering illness, and she had to
earn her own living to support her child. When she came to
us, she was near complete exhaustion, and she had been
spitting blood for some months. She was resentful of many
things, although, as she admitted, she had no reason to be.
OLIVE was prescribed for her exhausted condition; willow
for her resentment; crab apple to cleanse her system from
the toxins of fatigue. After taking the Remedies for one
month, she reported that she no longer spat blood, and
although she was still tired, she was much less resentful. She
continued to take the Remedies for another two months.
Once during this period she had a return of the bloody
sputum, but only for a short while. She said that she had
recovered her full strength again, and that she was once more
a cheerful, happy person.
Woman, age 73, married. By nature, she was a kind and
gentle person, much giving to daydreaming. For the last
three months, she had been extremely busy and overworked.
Suddenly she found that her right hand could not hold a pen
or a teacup; when she tried to write, the letters were all
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 149
PINE
Case Histories
Woman, age 45, unmarried. During an interview she said:
“I am always blaming myself for not having done something
I feel that I ought to have done, or now, because I am ill and
I have to stay away from work and others will have more to
do. I feel terribly ashamed, and have a sense of guilt. I have
sagging internal organs and much discomfort; also I am tired
and feel that I shall never be well again.” pine was prescribed
for the sense of guilt and self-condemnation; gorse for the
hopelessness. She took these for one month, and at the next
interview she said; “I am very much better in many ways,
but I am still inclined to feel guilty, and I feel that I ought
to return to work although I am still very tired, and I have
little interest in things”, olive was added to the prescription
for her fatigue, and the results were good. After another
month she said; “I have more vitality and strength, but I
have overdone things, and that put me back. But, strangely
enough, I am not blaming myself for that!” The Remedies
were repeated for another three months. She said in her last
interview, that she had had no more discomfort in her abdo¬
men for several months, and ‘T see how foolish it is to keep
blaming myself for so many things; I am learning the lesson,
thanks to you.”
Woman, middle age, widowed. She had a grown son who
lived with her. Recently she had begun to blame herself for
not being able to make him happy in his home because he
thought of going to the United States to seek work. She was
suffering from leukorrhea and that made her feel unclean.
PINE was prescribed for her sense of guilt; crab apple to
cleanse her mind and body. At the end of the first month she
wrote: ‘T have derived great benefit. The leukorrhea has now
disappeared and I am feeling really well again. I feel happy
for my son who went to the United States and has been doing
well there.”
154 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
Woman, age 65, married. She had suffered from acute
sciatica for the past six months. The pain was so severe that
at times she would scream. She had tried several treatments,
but mostly without success. By nature, she was shy and diffi¬
dent. She was overwhelmed with the idea of guilt, and she
was certain that she was being punished, and that she deserved
to be. She recently had a great shock when a friend of hers
died during the night, and she was not aware of it until the
morning when she found her body, pine the type Remedy was
prescribed for the feeling of guilt; star of bethlehem for the
shock her friend’s death occasioned; mimulus for her diffi¬
dence and shyness. After the first three weeks, she felt greatly
improved, although she still had a pain in her left leg. The
same Remedies were repeated, and the next month she re¬
ported: “I see now that I could not have saved my friend,
and I do not blame myself any more. The pain has all
cleared wonderfully ; it has just gone away.”
Man, age 59, a dental surgeon by profession, in private
practice. He was by nature a calm and painstaking man who
would do almost anything to avoid a disagreement. He wor¬
ried unduly about things he could do quite well, and his life
was a continual stress. His wife had nine nervous breakdowns
since their marriage many years before, and he blamed him¬
self for these. He worked hard at his practice, and also did
the housework and tended the garden when his wife was
indisposed. When he talked with us, he said that his chief
concern was that he could not do more for his wife. He felt
frustrated. He was fatigued and held himself responsible for
anything that went wrong. He suffered from a high index of
uric acid in his blood and he was subject to acute attacks of
gout. PINE was prescribed for his self accusations; crab apple
to cleanse his system of the excess uric acid; agrimony as his
type Remedy. After about six weeks, he reported that the
gout had almost disappeared and that he could work in the
garden again, and also he was sleeping better than he had
been able to do for years. The next month he wrote again to
report a setback. He had been under a terrible strain; one of
his daughters had married, and his wife had another break-
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 155
down. The gout had returned, but it was milder than usual.
PINE was prescribed again; elm for his many responsibilities;
CRAB APPLE and AGRIMONY. The gout cleared up quickly.
He said that he could cope with his responsibilities once more.
After another month, he wrote: ‘T have really been benefited.
I do not reproach myself, or worry about my wife any more.
It seems strange not to worry like that after all of these years.
I now take things easier, and the general condition of my
health is excellent.”
Woman, age 58, unmarried. She was the secretary to an
important health organization. When she came to us, she was
completely exhausted from overwork, and on the verge of a
nervous breakdown. Interviewing patients and answering the
telephone all day seemed beyond her capabilities. She suf¬
fered from palpitations, weakness of the knees, cold shivers
and insomnia. Her chief concern was that she was letting
down her employer with whom she had worked for many
years. She blamed herself for not feeling well, and for not
being able to do her work as usual, pine was prescribed for
her self-blame; olive for exhaustion, and she was advised to
take a long vacation to regain her strength. At first she
refused even to consider this, because the Remedies had
given her strength. Finally she reahzed that in spite of that,
she must rest because she was still weak, and not able to work
at full capacity. She retired from work and went to live by
the sea. She regained her health completely and has been well
since that time. Now she is over seventy and is the picture of
good health and happy spirits.
Woman, age 50, unmarried. In her interview with us she
said; ‘T have a great sense of guilt and shame for no reason;
it makes me most unhappy. I have sagging abdominal organs,
and although I am under the care of an osteopathic physician,
I feel that I shall never really improve.” pine the type Remedy
was prescribed for her sense of self-condemnation; gentian
for her doubt that she would get better. The response was
rapid, and she felt so well that she overtaxed her strength and
suffered a setback, hornbeam was added to give her strength.
After another two months, she was able to report that she had
156 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
no further abdominal discomfort, nor was she reproachful of
herself. Much later she wrote to say that she had had no
recurrence of her physical or emotional difficulties.
Woman, young, married. She had adopted twin boys, four
years old. They were lively youngsters, always on the go, and
she found it exhausting to keep up with them all day long;
nevertheless she tried to, because she loved them dearly. She
reproached herself severely and blamed herself for becoming
impatient and irritated with them. Because of constant ten¬
sion she could not sleep at night, and was exhausted during
the day. She had developed a mastitis in her left breast which
troubled her greatly, pine was prescribed for her self-
reproach; IMPATIENS for her impatience and irritability. She
took the Remedies for one month, and was able to report
excellent results. The mastitis was completely cured; she no
longer blamed herself, and she did not become impatient or
irritated with the twins.
CHAPTER 26
RED CHESTNUT
Case histories
ROCK ROSE
Case Histories
ROCK WATER
Case Histories
Woman, age 70, a widow. She was very strict with herself
and had established a rigid pattern of life; she seemed
unable to see any other point of view. She was a daydreamer
and a fanatic. Since her husband’s death, she worked as a
typist at home, but chilblains, summer and winter, impeded
her efficiency. Her feet were also affected, and at night she
suffered severe cramps which often wakened her, rock
water the type Remedy was prescribed together with
CLEMATIS for her dreamy state. Within four weeks, she re¬
ported that although the cold weather had set in, the chil¬
blains had almost disappeared from both hands and feet;
she had some cramps on occasions, but they were not as
severe as before. She said that she felt more relaxed in mind
and body. She took the Remedies for six months, and wrote
to say: “I have worked in an unheated house during all the
winter months, and without gloves during this last cold
spell. The chilblains have not returned, and I have not had
any more cramps at night. I am so grateful to be free from
these lifelong troubles! I find too that I am being kinder to
myself. I now realize that in the past I have been far too
rigid in my outlook and that I neglected the ordinary
comforts in life.”
Man, age 53, bachelor. He did not drink or smoke and he
was fanatical about his diet. He would not eat food that he
might have enjoyed, because he feared it would disagree
with him. He drove himself unmercifully at his office, and
if he could not finish the day’s work, he brought it home to
complete it. He was always on the go; this, he felt, was the
duty that he owed to himself in order to satisfy the high
standard he had set. He was intolerant of noisy people, of
“litter-bugs”, and of what he considered to be stupidity on
the part of others. Physically, he suffered from a mild heart
trouble, arhythmic tachycardia; he also had insomnia,
170 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
nervous tension, and indigestion, especially after eating late
at night, rock water the type Remedy was prescribed for
his stern self-discipline; beech for his intolerance of other
people. He felt better after the first month; he was more
relaxed, and less driving in his work. He began to enjoy some
of the pleasures of life, and to grow in tolerance and under¬
standing. After another three months he was cured. His
heart condition had normalized, his digestion improved and
he was eating well, and most important, he acted and felt
like a human being again.
Woman, age 33, a registered nurse. She was studying to
become a visiting nurse. She had formerly worked in the
Bahamas, and there she had rheumatoid arthritis in her
joints and suffered great pain. When she applied to us for
treatment she had improved somewhat, although recently
she had suffered from a severe attack. This had occurred
while she was visiting her relatives, whom she said had
disappointed her greatly; they had not lived up to her
ideals. She said that she had always kept a tight rein on
herself. She allowed herself few pleasures, and was, as far
as she was concerned, a severe taskmaster. She said: ‘T have
discovered that my difficulties are arrogance and pride. I
believed that I could journey through life without the help
of God or man if I kept to my own ideals of perfection.”
ROCK WATER, the type Remedy was prescribed for her stern
self-discipline; water violet for her pride. During her next
visit, she said: “The pain in my joints is lessening, and
strangely enough, I want to pray and be humble, but I
still find it difficult. That depresses me very much.” gentian
was added to the basic prescription for her discouragement.
This helped to a certain extent; when she came again, she
said: “1 find myself in very real conflict with what my
instructors tell me to learn, as I believe they are wrong. I
feel so panic-stricken that I doubt whether I will be able to
finish the course. I feel angry, and resentful too.” Another
prescription was given consisting of the following Remedies:
ROCK water; water violet; plus rock rose for panic and
willow for resentment. She took these Remedies for three
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 171
months. When she wrote to us after that time, she said that
she had finished her course, and was now working as a
visiting nurse. She said: “My life has changed so much
since I first took the Remedies. I am getting stronger every
day. If I had not experienced the effect of the Remedies, I
could not believe it! They took my pain, and turned it
into joy.”
Woman, middle age. She was a strict self-disciplinarian
and very hard on herself. She said that she had suffered
from constipation ever since she was three years old, and
that since that time she had never had a normal movement
without a purgative. Emotionally, she suffered from fears of
unknown origin, and from indecision, rock water the type
Remedy was prescribed for her strict self-discipline;
SCLERANTHUS for her indecision; aspen for the fears of
unknown origin. Within three weeks she reported that for
almost the first time in her life, her bowel action was normal,
and that she did not need any laxatives. She also said that
she was free from her fears, and now well able to make up
her mind. She said that she was a very happy person indeed!
Many years later she wrote to say that there had been no
recurrence.
Man age 54. He was a businessman. For the past eighteen
months, he had an increasing pain in his neck, which ran
up the head and over the left ear. An AT-ray examination
indicated spondylitis, and he was being treated by an
osteopathic physician. By nature he was active, purposeful,
impatient; he Hked and sought quietness. He had very high
ideals, and denied himself many of the joys of life because
he feared that they might impede his spiritual progress. He
likened himself to a bull, standing with his head down and
ready to defend the high principles he had set for himself.
He applied this idealism to his business and took his responsi¬
bilities seriously, rock water was prescribed for his self-
discipline; IMPATIENS for his naturally impatient nature;
elm because he took his business responsibilities too seriously.
Improvement was slow, but after two months he said that
the stiffiiess in his neck had become less, and his wife later
172 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
wrote: “My husband can now laugh when he is home.” He
continued the treatment for several months more, and the
stiff neck gradually began to loosen. During this period, he
faced a crisis in his business, and this caused an immediate
return of the pain and stiffness, and he felt panicky, rock
ROSE was added to the prescription for the feeling of panic;
STAR OF BETHLEHEM for the shock. During another interview,
he said that he thought it was pride which caused his pain,
for he prided himself on his ideals and way of life, as well
as on his work, water violet was added to the original
prescription of rock water, impatiens and elm. After
another period of time, he wrote to say that he felt the
progress was gentle but certain. He said that in spite of
doing heavy gardening work, the neck and the shoulder did
not trouble him any more, and he added: “I wish that I
could have a quiet life in the country. I no longer have the
ambition to be a successful businessman, but I want to enjoy
my life and my home.” His neck had become entirely free
from any stiffness, and his wife wrote to say that he was a
different man. He was gentle, kind, and no longer impatient.
He was in fact taking life much more easily than before, and
he had even modified his impossibly high ideals!
Woman, middle age, married with three children. She
said of herself: “I follow a life of self-discipline and the
development of the Inner Life, which is my real self.” Her
medical history was long and complex. She suffered from
indigestion; she would suddenly develop a terrible pain in
the stomach. The last attack had lasted for ten weeks. Her
physicians could discover no pathological reason for the pain,
and could only give her drugs to relieve it. The pain kept
returning periodically, and although she had seen several
speciahsts, they too were unable to help her, although they
did suggest that she learn to live with it. She had a very
active nature, and the drive of the perfectionist; yet she
could sit in a chair and fall asleep in the presence of other
people. ROCK WATER was prescribed for the harshness she
displayed toward herself; vervain because she forced her¬
self to keep going; clematis for her uncontrollable sleepi-
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 173
SGLERANTHUS
Case Histories
STAR OF BETHLEHEM
Case Histories
SWEET CHESTNUT
Case Histories
Man age 70, a widower. His life had been most difficult
for the last forty years; it was filled with disappointments,
shocks and sorrows, all of which he had borne with fortitude
and without despair. But when his wife died, he felt that he
could no longer withstand the stress of life, and that he had
reached the end of his endurance. He had become desperate,
depressed, lonely and hopeless. He felt that there was nothing
left for him to hold on to. When he came to us, his physical
health was good except for chronic constipation which forced
him to take a laxative every day. sweet chestnust the type
Remedy was prescribed for the depression and hopelessness.
After one month his report was encouraging. He said: “The
depression is lifting, I am grateful to say. I can see daylight
ahead, and my faith is returning.” He continued to take
SWEET CHESTNUT for another two months. He wrote again
saying: “The hopeless depression has quite gone and the
constipation has improved beyond measure. I no longer need
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 187
to take laxatives. Above all, I have gained a true peace of
mind.”
Woman age 56, married. She had married when she was
very young, and quite without any knowledge of sex or
conjugal relations. She had three babies in rapid succession,
and then practised birth control. However, someone told her
that this practice was akin to murder, and she became very
troubled in her own mind as her guilty feelings increased.
She was never able to liberate herself from the feeling of
guilt, and all the time she felt that she would never be
forgiven. When she came to us, she was suffering from
insomnia and terrifying nightmares. She feared that at times
she would lose all control of herself and harm somebody,
and she would not allow her youngest child to sleep in her
bed for that reason. She was a desperately unhappy woman
who felt she had come to the end of her rope, and that she
could not bear the strain much longer. She saw no help for
her plight. She could see no peace, no hope, no future; just
the despairing blackness of the great unknown, sweet
CHESTNUT the type Remedy was prescribed for her great
despair; cherry plum for the lack of emotional control.
Her improvement was gradual. After two months, she could
say that the feelings of violence were abating, and that she
was sleeping slightly better, but she was still filled with
self-reproach and the idea that she would never be forgiven.
PINE was added to the original prescription to neutralize
that state of mind. After another two months, she wrote to
say that she was feeling ever so much better and that she
had begun to have hope again. Two months later she wrote
again to say: ‘T have felt better this month than I have for
years.” Treatment was continued for some months more,
and no relapse has ever been reported.
Man, age 70, a widower. When he came to see us, he
related the series of misfortunes which had made his life
miserable for many years. His two sons had been killed in
the war. Recently his wife and his oldest friend had died
within weeks of each other. He was alone, and he felt that
there was nothing to live for. He said that he lacked friends
188 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
and affection since his wife had died. He felt that even God
had forsaken him, and he did not think that he could endure
the mental anguish much longer, sweet chestnut the type
Remedy was prescribed for his feeling of despair and mental
anguish. His reaction to the treatment was slow, but cer¬
tain; gradually he began to see a little light, a thin ray of
hope. At this point, fate took a hand in the appearance of a
little stray dog which he took in and cared for. This was
the turning point. Some months later he wrote that he had
regained his faith in God, and that he was able to face the
future boldly,
Man, age 26, an army sergeant. During the war he had
served most of the time in North Africa. He was a fine,
strong and sensitive man who was much liked by his men.
He had been wounded three times, and was often decorated
for bravery. When he was demobilized, in 1946, he began
to feel a reaction from the many terrible experiences he and
his men had gone through in the war. He could not erase
from his memory the sights of the battlefields where he had
fought. He started to have terrifying nightmares, and would
wake up shaking with fear and screaming aloud. He with¬
drew into himself and began to shun the company of other
people. He said that he felt he was alone in the darkness
where there was no light, no joy, nothing in fact but a
terrible anguish of his soul, and sorrow. He said that he
did not know for how long he could continue to remain
sane, and that he felt God had deserted him. In spite of
this, he had to work, because he had a wife and family to
support. SWEET CHESTNUT was prescribed for his mental
anguish; rock rose for his terror. Gradually, as the weeks
passed, he began to regain his courage and a faint hope.
The progress was slow, but sure, and he persevered until
he was once again his old calm and courageous self, and the
memories of the past had faded away. Twenty-three years
have passed since then, and he has never had a relapse, nor
any further trouble. Today he is a fit and happy man.
Woman, age 63, unmarried. Her childhood had been
unhappy, and all of her life difficult. One of her parents had
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 189
committed suicide, and her early years had been those of
stress, poverty and unhappiness. She was a professional
musician, and an artistic and highly sensitive person. When
she came to us, she said that she lived with a friend who was
always ill, and a very difficult person at best. She was
starting to have severe depressions, and she was afraid that
she would not be able to carry on with her work. The
depressions had increased as her health deteriorated, and
now she was on the verge of collapse. As she said, she had
nothing to look forward to; the depressions were becoming
unbearable and there was nothing but darkness all about
her. There was no help or relief in sight, sweet chestnut
was prescribed for her hopelessness and despair; olive to
strengthen her mind and body. Although the response was
slow, she began to play the piano again, and this led to the
hope that she would be able to regain her happiness once
more. Her strength gradually returned, until finally she was
able to accept a few pupils. The depressions were becoming
less severe and less frequent. She took the Remedies for
over a year, and finally she was cured. She wrote: “How
worth while was the struggle to get well! I am busy again
with my music which I love. I am playing at concerts again!
My friend has gone into a hospital where she will have all
the attention she needs.’*
Woman, age 66, married. Throughout most of her life
she was a normally cheerful person who enjoyed life. How¬
ever, for the past four months she had been suffering from a
painfully afflicted throat and tongue. The throat was con¬
tinually sore and the tongue was dry with tiny white spots
on its surface. She herself was fully convinced that she had
cancer, and she refused to believe the assurances of her
physician to the contrary. She was overwhelmed by a black
despair which she could not get rid of. It was fast becoming
unendurable, and she was beginning to feel that she would
be unable to bear the stress for much longer. She had told
her husband nothing about all of this, and she was trying
to bear her misery alone. When we first saw her, she had
about lost all hope, sweet chestnut was prescribed for the
190 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
black depression and despair; star of Bethlehem for the
shock the thought of having cancer produced. After the
first month, she reported that she had been lifted out of the
black despair into a more calm and happy state of mind,
as she said: “much to my surprise and gratitude.” Her
tongue had improved, and was almost cleared, while her
throat was no longer sore. During the next interview she
had with us, she said: “I must not make my illness my
dominant thought, otherwise my trouble will become the
god of my mind. I have too much of a tendency to dwell in
the past.” HONEYSUCKLE was added to the next prescription
to combat the tendency to live in the past. She continued
the treatment for the next six months. There were occa¬
sional setbacks, but they were of a minor nature, and
became less frequent as time went on. Finally, she was able
to report: ‘T am progressing right ahead now. My throat
is well and my tongue is clear, and now, of course, I know
that it was not cancer after all.”
CHAPTER 32
VERVAIN
Case Histories
VINE
Case Histories
WALNUT
Case Histories
Woman, age 50, married. When she came to us, she was
passing through the menopause. She was suffering from a
uterine discharge, soreness, hot flushes and constipation.
She was irritated and depressed, resentful and hopeless, and
she felt at loggerheads with everyone. Each month she had
severe headaches and bilious attacks. Formerly, she had been
a well adjusted, energetic and hard working woman, but
now she felt that she could hardly get through the day, and
that life was a burden, walnut was the Remedy indicated
for the radical change of the climacteric; gorse for the
depression. The first three weeks brought about no change in
her condition, but towards the end of the first month she
noted that the discharge had stopped, and the soreness had
lessened. She had neither headaches nor bilious attacks
that month. At this interview, she said that she was perhaps
overpossessive towards her daughter. She had felt so very
lonely since the girl left home, chicory was added to the
two former Remedies for her overpossessiveness. She re¬
ported again one month later. She said that the discharge
had stopped altogether and the soreness had disappeared;
she felt better in every respect. She continued the treatment
for another three months, at which time she said: “I am so
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 203
very much better and more energetic and far happier and
brighter. It is indeed a ‘change in life’ in its best sense! I can
now think only of my daughter’s happiness.”
Woman, age 45, unmarried. She had been under the
domination of a friend for many years, and only recently
had she been able to free herself from this association. Since
that time she had suffered from constant ill health, and bad
fortune. When she came to us for treatment, she was greatly
depressed. She had a series of colds, sinus trouble, and a
stiffness in her neck. She told us that previously she “had a
keen interest in life. Now, everything seemed to go wrong.”
She had tried many kinds of treatment, but without results.
The patient thought that she had freed herself from the domi¬
nating influence of her friend, but the link was not broken;
she was still filled with fear and hatred of her former com¬
panion. WALNUT was prescribed to protect her from any
unwanted influences, and to help her to achieve the final
break; rock rose for her fear which amounted to terror.
Her health began to improve almost immediately; she could
recover from the colds quicker, but the stiffness remained
in her neck. She slept better, but she would often awake in
an acute state of melancholia, mustard was added to the
original prescription to neutralize the melancholia. She
continued to improve, and hope, as well as an interest in life,
returned. It was at this point that she realized she must
eliminate both fear and hatred if she wished to be entirely
free from the influences of the past, walnut, rock rose,
and CENTAURY formed the next combination of Remedies;
these were to give her strength and to fortify her determina¬
tion. She continued to take the Remedies for some months
thereafter, until her health was fully restored. What was most
important, she felt that she was now free to live her life as
she herself had always desired to live it, free from any out¬
side influences.
Woman, age 40, unmarried. She was a businesswoman
and she held a responsible position; her character was very
strong. In the early part of 1957, she became subject to
sudden and severe attacks of Meniere’s disease and this
204 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
interrupted her work. She would become dizzy, and vomit,
and she could no longer walk straight. When she called upon
us, she was apprehensive and nervous, walnut was pre¬
scribed for the interference in her life caused by her physical
condition; mimulus for her fears; scleranthus to neutralize
her dizziness and unsteady walk which indicated an un¬
certainty in her nature. She was given the medicine, but she
decided to take it only when she felt ill, and to discontinue
it when she felt well. This was distinctly contrary to the
instructions which had been given to her. Consequently, she
did improve somewhat, but the symptoms returned in the
autumn, when she had frequent though slight attacks. After
a further consultation, she decided to take the Remedies
according to our instructions, and regularly. The prescrip¬
tion was changed to walnut, scleranthus and oak, the
latter because she had persevered in spite of her disability.
MIMULUS was eliminated because she had lost all fear of the
attacks. Her condition now improved steadily, and in Janu¬
ary of i960 she wrote to say: “I am happy to tell you that I
have had no serious attacks since Christmas 1957. Now I
can give you some more good news. The ear noises, which
I did not mention to you, and which started some four years
ago before the attacks, have stopped. So the hearing is
showing improvement too!”
Woman, age 50, married. She was passing through the
menopause and was bothered with uncomfortable hot flushes.
These interfered with her duties as a social worker in the
town where she lived. She told us that she was being influ¬
enced unduly by others who counselled her to give up
working and take a rest. This she did not want to do, even
though the pressure put upon her was strong, walnut was
prescribed to counteract the pressure from others, as well as
for the change in her physical condition which altered the
routine of her normal life, (walnut is the Remedy to
neutralize the effect of any change which interferes with the
normal activities of a person’s life. Such changes could be
caused by teething, adolescence, the menopause or even a
new mother-in-law.) After about six weeks, she wrote: “The
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 205
medicine worked wonders for me. It is like a dream, I am a
new person now. I have no more hot hushes.*’
Woman, age 84, a spiritual healer. She found that she had
become so hypersensitive that she was taking on herself the
physical conditions of those who came to her for healing.
Her own body was growing weaker, and more open to the
contagion of others’ diseases. She was beginning to feel that
her own weakness was so great, and interfered with her
healing work to such an extent that she thought she would
have to give up her practice, walnut was prescribed to
protect her from the influences of other people. Within a
few weeks, she said that she felt much better, and stronger,
and she added that she was no longer subject to the illnesses
and diseases of her patients.
Man, age 22. As a child, he had been a prodigy, and had
been able to read at the age of four. He had taught history in
a big school, but he had to leave because he began to hear
voices and to have frightful nightmares. He attributed his
condition to the influence of a man he had met some years
before, walnut was prescribed to free him from the influ¬
ence the man had upon him, for this was interfering with the
work he liked; rock rose for the terror of the nightmares
and the voices. His first report informed us that he was able
to relax his whole body; that he could sleep without having
any nightmares and that the voices were receding. He
continued the treatment for seven months altogether and
during this time he made good progress in spite of some minor
setbacks. The medicine always included walnut, and other
Remedies were prescribed according to his state of mind.
He finally felt a free man again, and he had completely
broken with the man who had caused him the trouble. He
was offered an excellent teaching position, and he accepted
it.
Woman, age 39, unmarried. She was a career woman.
She lived with an aunt who was very domineering and
quite unsympathetic toward her profession; in fact she
did everything possible to prevent her from working. When
she came to us for treatment, she was in very poor health.
206 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
WATER VIOLET
Case Histories
WHITE CHESTNUT
Case Histories
WILD OAT
Case Histories
She said that her chief trouble was her inability to decide
what she wanted to do. She was in charge of a grocery
store, and she was conscientious and thorough in her work,
but she had lost interest in it. She felt that she could not be
bothered making decisions, so she let others make them for
her, and this made her dissatisfied and unhappy, wild oat
was prescribed for her dissatisfaction and for the lack of a
sense of achievement; centaury for the temporary state
of allowing others to influence her life. Shortly after she
started to take the Remedies, she wrote to say: “I was just
called upon to face quite a problem and I am happy to say
that I solved it in a satisfactory manner. Also, I have met a
singing teacher and a painter, just out of the blue. I feel that
there is a purpose behind all this because I am interested in
painting and singing.” The Remedies were repeated, and
within another month the patient was able to write: “I feel
much better and stronger; I am much more positive, and
I am happy again.”
A young married woman who lives in the United States,
wrote to us as follows: “About a month ago I felt myself
going down and down. I felt so many things amiss with me
that it seemed to call for five or six Remedies. Then I
remembered wild oat and that you had advised me to find
my place in life, and when I did, to give myself to it whole¬
heartedly. So last week I took wild oat. The next morning
a cold that was beginning to develop suddenly cleared up.
My interest in life returned, and I began to feel myself once
again. I knew that I must take up the many interests I
have outside of my home, and I could feel the wrappings of
self-concern falling away, so that I could see and move in the
larger world of love.”
Woman, age 49, unmarried. She was an American by
birth. She wrote a series of letters to us which are para¬
phrased below. By nature she was confident, courageous,
and quick in thought and action. But recently, she said, a
complete reversal had taken place. She had lost all confi¬
dence in herself; she was haunted by fears, and she had
become restless and confused. She started to make mistakes,
220 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
was given for her indecision. She finally made up her mind
that color-healing was what she wanted most to do. She
went to Germany to study, and after she was qualified, she
returned to England to practice. Now she has found her
vocation in life, and she is a very happy person.
CHAPTER 38
WILD ROSE
Case Histories
Man, age 40. By nature he was a quiet and reserved
person who was inclined to be secretive about himself.
Conversation did not interest him, and he made no attempt
to pursue it. He said: “I am weary of all that, so why bother
to try to talk with others?” He was resigned to his physical
condition, but every now and then he would “blow up”
and become irritable and tense. During the last twelve
months, he had worked in a tannery, but he had developed
red spots which appeared first on his elbows then spread over
his entire body. He had been hospitalized for three weeks,
but there had been no improvement. He then changed his
work. He liked his new job, and the skin condition almost
cleared, only to return again. The intense irritation kept
him awake at night, wild rose the type Remedy was pre¬
scribed for his resigned feeling and his “why bother”
attitude; cherry plum for his loss of control over his
repressed emotions; impatiens for his irritability; crab apple
to cleanse his system. Within the first month, he reported
that he was feeling better and sleeping well once again, and
the skin condition was becoming better; he had but one
THE THIRTY-EIGHT REMEDIES 225
slight “blow up” during that period. After a total of four
months, he reported that he was fine in every way, and that
the skin irritation had disappeared entirely. He wrote to us
again after fourteen months, and said that there had been
no recurrence of any of his symptoms.
Woman, age 6o, unmarried. By nature, she was a quiet,
efficient person who enjoyed her work although she had
periods when she felt tired and apathetic. She wrote: “I
suppose I must work on, but at times it seems only some¬
thing that I must do; my usual enthusiasm evaporates. This
is not normal for me; I am perfectly fit, I love my work,
and I hope to continue for a long while yet.” wild rose was
prescribed for the feeling of apathy. After one month she
wrote again to say that the Remedies had an excellent effect
on her. She had lost the apathetic feeling, and she was once
again a normal and happy woman. One year later, she
wrote again and said that she was fine, and had no further
trouble.
Man, middle age, retired. He had been a District Com¬
missioner in Southern Rhodesia, but he was now living in
England. He had always felt that he was neither as clever
as others in his family, nor was he as tough as his com¬
panions. He had become resigned to this negative mental
attitude and he made no attempt to overcome this defect. He
just gave up. He drifted through life, and left the decisions
of his daily life to his wife. Two or three times a year, he
was seized with an ague; he ran a temperature, and he was
beset with pains and aches. During these attacks, he would
just turn his face to the wall and refuse all cooperation. His
physician could find no physical reason for these seizures.
When he applied to us for treatment, he was suffering from
frequent colds, and violent coughing attacks, wild rose the
Remedy was prescribed because of his apathetic surrender
to conditions imposed upon him; hornbeam to give him
strength to overcome this resignation. After the first two
months’ treatment, he indicated good progress. His health
had improved, and he had recovered sufficient interest to
aid in arranging a pageant in his village. Two months
226 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
later, he reported that he was free of the attacks of ague, of
asthma and of coughing. He had no more colds, and he felt
able to face the difficulties in life with a bold front, and much
more determination than he had ever shown before.
Youth, age 19. He had suffered from severe acne on his
face for over four years. He had been told by his physicians
that the acne would disappear when he was older, but
instead of disappearing, it became worse. He resigned
himself to this disfiguring condition, with the result that he
was always fatigued, and that he had lost interest in every¬
thing, When he came to us, he was a very unhappy young
man. wild rose the type Remedy was prescribed because
of his rather hopeless resignation; crab apple to cleanse
his system; mustard to neutralize his dark and gloomy
depressions. The Remedies acted rapidly. After six weeks the
acne had disappeared, and he was happy and taking much
more interest in life. He studied for the National Mechanic’s
Certificate which he obtained. He became a happy and a
successful man,
Man, age 64. Some years before he came to us for treat¬
ment, his wife had died from a lingering illness of twelve
years’ duration. Four and a half years before he had a
nervous breakdown from which he never fully recovered,
and he was forced to go to bed every afternoon. His physi¬
cians could not account for the need of this daily rest
because outside of having low blood pressure, he appeared
to be healthy in every other respect. He told us that since
his wife died he had lost all interest in life, and that from
that time on he had made no effort to recover his health,
WILD ROSE the type Remedy was prescribed for his apathetic
attitude toward his health; honeysuckle to help eradicate
the tie of past memories; olive to aid his condition of mental
exhaustion. He continued the treatment for six months. At
that time he reported that he felt very well and that he had
much more vitality and endurance; he had taken up playing
golf again.
Woman, age 54, married. She wrote to us as follows: “I
just accept life as it is. I take things lying down, and I will
THE THIRTY-EIGH'r REMEDIES 227
do anything to keep the peace. My husband is a very
domineering man and I have no life of my own, nor do I
seem to want to make the effort to make one.’* She suffered
from attacks of migraine and vomiting every month; these
attacks lasted two or three days, and always left her feeling
weak and exhausted, wild rose was prescribed for her
resignation; centaury to give her the strength she needed
to stand up for herself. The first reaction was that while the
headaches remained, she was free from the vomiting. After
two months she reported that she had only one headache
during that period. After taking the Remedies for four
months, she wrote to say that the headaches and the vomit¬
ing attacks were things of the past, but most important she
said: “The biggest change is a mental one. I have lost that
hopeless, dull feeling, and I am able to face up to circum¬
stances. I have joined the Women’s Voluntary Service, and
I am making friends.”
Man, age 39, an artist by profession. For more than a year
he had an irritating rash on his hands, arms and legs. The
treatments which he had tried were ineffective, and he had
resigned himself to the fact that his condition could not be
cured. His father had died of cancer at the time the rash
appeared; he told us that he had not felt hopeless then, but
frustrated and irritated at his fate. Now, he had lost interest
in his work even though he liked it greatly, and made his
living by it. wild rose was prescribed for his hopeless
resignation and lack of interest in his work; crab apple as
a cleanser of mind and body; star of Bethlehem because
we believed that he had suffered great shock at his father’s
death. The response to the treatment was rapid. Within
four weeks, he wrote: “There was an aggravation at first,
but after sixteen days the rash had disappeared entirely. My
only anxiety now is that it might return,” gentian was
added to the original prescription to help him overcome
any doubt of his being permanently cured. Two years later
he wrote to say: “The skin trouble has never returned since
taking your prescription.”
CHAPTER 39
WILLOW
Case Histories
sis ted. It was not until after another four months that he was
able to write: “My health is so much better in every way.
My blood pressure is normal, as is my breathing. I am
grateful, for I have completely lost my resentful feelings.”
Woman, age 77. She wrote to us saying: “I have had a
misunderstanding with old friends which I have not, been
able to clear up, and I am suffering from insomnia. I belong
to a Christian prayer group, and these old friends and I are
the leaders. My friends misconstrued some suggestions that
I made, and they said so in front of our group. I am resentful
about this, and I am filled with self-pity which I cannot get
out of my mind.” willow was prescribed for the resentment;
CHICORY for the self-pity; white chestnut for the recurring
thoughts which kept her awake at night. Within three weeks
she wrote again to say that she was most grateful for the
Remedies. She said that her resentment toward her old
friends had been replaced by an understanding of their
attitude; she was sleeping well again. But, most important
of all, she had met with her old friends, and they had
resolved all of their difficulties. Now the group is working
happily together again.
THE COMPOSITE REMEDY
CHAPTER 40
THE COMPOSITE
RESCUE REMEDY
Formula
The five Remedies which compose the Rescue
Remedy are:
STAR OF BETHLEHEM, for shock.
ROCK ROSE, for terror and panic.
IMPATIENS, for mental stress and tension.
CHERRY PLUM, for desperation.
CLEMATIS, for the bemused, faraway, out-of-the-body
237
238 HANDBOOK OF THE BACH FLOWER REMEDIES
Case Histories
•5
■N
1
5
t
1
'j
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i
•1
I
INDEX
Leaf-curl, 29
Leukorrhea, 144, 153, 178
Listlessness, 99, 132, 134
Hands, cracked, 99
Liver trouble, 50
Hatred, 109, no, 203, 230, 231
Hay Fever, 145 Living in the Past, 114, 115, 129, 149,
Headaches, 54, 58, 69, 74, 84, 98, igo* 232
Locchia, 21
100, 114, 133, 134, 142, 159, 163,
Loneliness, 73, 74, 104-106, 114, 138,
164, 197, 200, 202, 208, 214, 227
140, 175, 18^188, 200, 202, 230
Heart trouble, 169, 183, 210, 211
Loss of Feeling in limbs, or use of, 84,
Heartburn, 164
148, 159, 181
Hemorrhoids, 145, 220
Lumbago, 140, 198
Hopelessness, 65, 98-101, 119, 137,
i53» i75> *84, 186, 189, 198,
200, 202, 215, 216, 226, 227, 231
Hurt, desire to, 65, 187 Mastitis, 156
Hyperacidity, 194 Melancholia, 94, 138-140, 203
Hypersensitiveness, 205 Memory, lack or loss of, 38, 70, 79,
Hysterectomy, 93, 147 84, 94
Memories, unpleasant, 112-115, 118,
129, 163, 188, 211, 226
M^^re’s Disease, 94, 203
Menopause, 202, 204, 206, 220
Imaginary Ailments, 104
Menstruation, 123, 133
Impatience, 41, 47, 63, 83, 122-124,
Mental Anguish, Tension and Toi-
156, 171, 209
ture, 39, 40, 63, 99, 132, 134, 149,
Incompatibility, 47, 62, 95, 160, 189
183, 188, 193
Indecision, 55, 60, 94, 1x7, 120, 164,
Migraine, 67, 142, 176, 194, 227
171, 175-178, 214, 219-221
Mind in a desperate state, or turmoil,
Indigestion, 44, 58, 94, 114, 119, 142,
63, 181
i59> 170, 172, 215
Mind in a whirl, 64, 176, 221
Inferiority, feeling of, 59, 127, 225
Misunderstanding among friends, 233
Inflammation, 48, 158
Mistakes, and misplacing things, 58,
Influence by others, 203-205, 219,
69, 219, 220
220
Moods, variable, 33, 62, 64, 73, 95,
Influenza, 54, 198, 209
176
Injuries, 28, 240
Insomnia, 38, 53, 89, 90, 104, 123,
142, 155, 160, 169, 187, 208, 233
Interest and joy in Life and/or Work, Nausea, 44, 176
lack of, 45, 49, 64, 67, 78, 79, 95, Negative Outlook, 74, 93, 95, 98, 225
109, 113, 137, 138, 147, 149, 153, Nervous Breakdown, 40, 65, 74, 93,
158, 183, 187, 203, 219, 225-227 105, 127, 129, 143, 155, 160, 226
Internal Organs, sagging, 153, 155 Nervous Tension, 89, 93, 123, 127,
Intestinal trouble, 198 139, 140, 164, 170, 180, 194
Intolerance, 47-50, 169, 170, 209 Nervousness, 43, 45, 59, 64, 82, 104,
Irritability, 47-49,59,68,84,85,100, 113, 128, 129, 133-135. 143. *58.
II7, 122, 125, 133, 156, 199, 202, 165, 182, 197, 204, 208
224, 227 Nightmares, 63, 118, 139, 163-165,
Irritation, 27, 82, 86, 98, 109, 122, 187, 188, 205
158, 165, 224, 227 Noise, fear of, 25, 79, 134, 208
250 INDEX
Observation, lack of, 69, 70 Seif, absorption in, centeredness, and
Obsession, 65, 105, 130 concern for, 73, 74, 103-106, 219
Opinionated attitude, 192, 194, 199 Self-assertion, 52-55
Opinions of others, desire for, 57-60 Self-blame or reproach, 67, 153, 155,
Osteopathic Treatment, 855,171,221 156, 187, 193, 194, 208, 232
Over-concern, 133, 159-161 Self-confidence, lack of, 60, 127-130,
Over-weight, 106, 198 135, 143, 164, 177, 178, 219
Over-work, 55, 78, 79, 118, 147-150, Self-consciousness, 127
*55» *78, 199 Self-discipline, 53, 16^173
Self-dislike, disgust, distrust and dis¬
satisfaction, 48, 60, 70, 83, 85, 99,
Pain, 28, 29, 39, 57, 63, 68, 83, 100, 219, 220
106, 114, 119, 120, 123, 154, 164, Self-pity, 67, 74, 75, 109, 114, 233
no-nSy *78, 192, 194» *97* *99* Shaking, Severing, 155, 188
200, 210, 214, 215, 221, 225, 240, Shock, 28, 39, 44, 63, 69, 85, 86, 89,
242 113, 114, 118, 123, 128, 129, 133,
Palpitations, 43, 104, 150, 155 *49, *54* *58, *64, 172, 175, 180,
Panic, 21, 123, 163, 164, 166, 170, 184, 186, 190, 194, 2x0, 215, 227,
172, 239, 240 239, 240
Paralys^ Intestine, 163, 182 Shock Treatment, 63
Paralysis, 145 Shyness, 129, 133, x 54
Penicillin, 40, 100 Sinus trouble, 54, 57, 63, 101, X44,
Perfectionism, 170, 172, 173, 194 203
Perseverance, 204 Skin troubles, 39,48,98,99, X58, X65,
Pessimism, 93, 98, 99, 138, 200 224, 226
Phlebitis, 165, 2x6 Slavish attitude, 53
Phenobarbitol, 149 Sleep, disturbed, 38, 40, 55, 63, 68,
Piles, 105, 198, 199 98, xoo, 1x4, X18, X19, 132, X34,
Pleurisy, 143
*39* *47* *54* *56, *58, 159* *83*
Pneumonia, 100, 166 164, x8i, 193, 205, 206, 2X3-2X5,
Possessiveness, 73, 108, 181, 202, 230 224, 231
Pregnancy, 20 Sleep, heavy, 78, 84, 134
Pride, 170, 172 Sleep, taiki^ in, 163
Pruritis, 165 Sleep, walking in, X63
Psoriasis, 85, 98, 229 Sleepiness, 52, 67, 79, 84, 90, 99, 172
Sleeping Pills, 90, 124, X39
Slow to realise or learn, 67-70
Rash, 40, 48, 75, 82, 105, 109, 114,
Sores and Soreness, 99, xo6, x X7, 202,
122, 123, 158, 224, 227
215, 240
Relaxation, 53, 82, 90, 139, 145, 169,
Spondylitis, X71
170, 180, 193, 205, ao8
Spots on face or body, 25, 78, 224
Resentment, 40, 41, 74, 85, 105, 112,
Sprain, 123, 209
*23, 133* *48, 170, 194* 202, 206, Stiffness, 39, 48, xox, 123, 128, X71,
229-233
172, 203, 220
Resignation, 48, 79, 93, 224-227
Sting, wasp, 242
Responsibility, and an overwhelming
Stomach trouble, 69, X34, 172,
sense of, 69, 78, 89-91, 128, 142-
X77, x82, X94, 198
144, 155, 159, 171, i^, 203, 208
Stone, Kidney, 173, 192
Restlessness, 63, 109, 132, 163, 206,
Strain, Stress, 70, 86, 98, 1x7, 124,
219
X42, 143, 148, 154, 159, 160, x86,
Rheumatic Pain, 39, 58
187, X89
Rigid outlook, 48, 169, 220
Strength of Mind and Body, lack of,
Ringworm, 27
40* 45* 53* 54* 59* 84* 80,84,90,9X,
95, 98, xox, XX7-X20, X24, X34,
Sciatica, 47, 154 143, X44, 155, X65, X83, X89, 198,
Screaming, 62,65,108,154,164, 165, 203, 2XX, 2x6, 225, 227
188, 240 Streiigth overtaxed, X47, X48
INDEX 251
Strictness with self, 53, 169-173, 220 Ulcer, 68, 74, 105, 123, 182, 215
Struggle against odds, 142-145, 215 Uncleanliness, feeling of, 25, 69, 79,
Suffering secretly, or without com¬ 82, 83, 86, 123, 153
plaint, 3S-40, 67, 68, 85, 93, 134, Uric Acid, 154
142-144, 165, 189, 210, 211, 224
Suffocation, 44, 98, 112
Suicide, 63, 64, 75, 189 Varicose Veins, 91, 105, 118, 135
Superiority, attitude of, 49 Violence, 62, 63, 65, 108, 109, 187
Swallowing, difficulty in, 44, 213 Visceroptosis, 119
Sweat, Cold, 44 Vitality, 44, 49, 54, 94, 99, 113, 118,
Swelling, 29, 100, 118, 123, 180, 181, 144, 153, 210, 226
209 Voice, failure of, 45, 84
Voices, hearing, 205
Vomiting, 62, 106, 164, 176, 204, 227
A Keats Health Be
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