Okay, my friend’s girlfriend’s psychologist (isn’t this a nifty sentence?) believes in something called (at least here in Brazil) Bach Florals.
These are potions made from flowers that apparently help to cure diseases and unhappiness by “harmonizing the lower and higher selfs”.
The other day I became tangled in an argument with said girlfriend about the effectiveness of said florals. I remenbered having read that there was no evidence of the damm things working or having any effect other than placebo.
Okay, she answered, show mw evidence.
So I turn to you fellow dopers to please help me fight ignorance. What’s the dope on florals?
It’s apparently also known as “Floral Therapy.” There’s not a lot of hard scientific information out there, as is typical of alternative therapies, but lots and lots of mumbo-jumbo.
There’s so much rambling on about negative energy that it’s difficult to tell whether you’re supposed to drink it, or dab a little of it behind each ear.
Generally speaking, with “homeopathic” remedies, what you’re getting is basically water. Ask your friend’s girlfriend whether the Bach Florals have any fragrance. If they don’t, then I’m betting that they’re basically water.
Anyway, when you take away all the mumbo-jumbo, a “floral extract” or a “floral elixir” is still just either perfume or tea, and although some herb teas may have definite physiological effects, as far as I know there are no documented health benefits to wearing perfume.
Nothing to do with perfume, DDG. Absolutely nothing to do with it. Zero, zip, nada. Herb teas definitely have physiological effects, not necessarily all benign. Did you just google all this?
Bach flower remedies are a form of homeopathy following the law of similars. The essences supposedly reflect the flowers or plants they are made from. There’s Australian bush essences and jewel essences becoming very popular among the type of people who believe in this kind of thing.
Because they are used to treat emotional states, there’s probably a strong placebo effect, rather than a measurable physical effect. Everyone I know who uses them, swears they work. I swear they worked on an especially ornery cat I once had but it’s very subjective, rather than hard proof stuff.
I’d say, from this info, that there is no scientific info that Bach remedies work, except possibly as a placebo effect. That is all. Just that : there is no information that they are effective.
I know a lot of pet owners who swear by Bach Florals “Rescue Remedy” to calm pets. They use it for agression, anxiety, behavior problems, and the like.
