Rescue Remedy - Why Everyone Should Have It

By request from my sister I will now explain the ins and outs of why I think Rescue Remedy is a must for all households. For those who don't know about flower essences, let me give a brief introduction. Flower essences are essentially energy medicine, they are similiar to homeopathics in that there is actually none of the flower left in it by the time we consume it, rather just the essence of the flower. In my basic understanding of how they are made I will attempt to explain it here. The flowers are picked at the height of bloom, placed in a bowl of water, let to soak in the sun or some other heat source. The infused water is then used as the base, where only minute amounts are added to a much larger base and then preserved with brandy. Voi-la!

Not too convincing huh? And yet after years of anecdotal research of people in the industry and the personal experiences of thousands, the conclusion is that flower essences are nothing less than amazing. Now Edward Bach himself only came up with 38 remedies and only made 1 combination of those remedies in his lifetime. That one combination is - yep you guessed it...Rescue Remedy.

The 38 remedies originally founded by Edward Bach are not the only flower essences ever discovered. There have been hundreds since his death, made by other companies. However, in my experience you can do a whole lot with just these 38. But let's get back to the matter at hand...why Rescue Remedy for all?

Rescue Remedy is the name brand for a 5 flower essence combination made for stress. It can also work for anxiety, depression, insomnia, wild acting children, and trauma. This is not an exhaustive list, and also Rescue Remedy is NOT a sedative. One very important thing to remember about flower essences, namely Rescue Remedy, is that it acts as a mediator towards balance. It helps our body come back to it's own state of balance - whatever that looks like - and does not impose some false state of happiness or euphoria. Whatever state of balance our body has the potential to be in, on an emotional level, Rescue Remedy can help to guide us there. And that's it. Nothing fancy, nothing too exciting really. Just a nice simple way of helping us to find our way of processing and dealing with what's in front of us the best way we can. Sometimes it's not the right remedy, and that's why we have 38 other flower essence alternatives, as well as all sorts of other medicines. Though with that said, time after time, I have watched Rescue Remedy come to the rescue of our little ones, our stressed out momma-ones, our furry ones, and even our plants. So I recommend it. And here is exactly how I recommend it...

1. I prefer the "generic" version from the company that is not the name brand by BACH FLOWER ESSENCES. I know this seems counter-intuitive, but Bach was bought out a few years back and made into a much larger company. Because of this, in my opinion, there is no longer the personal attention paid to the production of their products as there is at the smaller company that I now prefer. Here is a link to the company I prefer...

FES Flower Essences

This company makes many other flower essences - that are considered the "North American" remedies. Pay no mind to them. The remedies in the blue bottles are the same as the original 38 Bach remedies. The name for Rescue Remedy at this company is "Five Flower Formula."

2. Now with #1 in mind, I also acknowledge that the original Rescue Remedy can be found in almost any natural food store and then some. So it may be a whole lot more accessible to just buy the Rescue Remedy that looks like so...


Also the original Bach brand happens to make very fun and easy to use creams, sprays, candies, etc, etc. Which can be very enticing to the little ones... so I understand the appeal. So the truth is I recommend whichever company you can get your hands on- as both will work just fine.

3. When it comes to flower essences, more is NOT necessarily better. What I mean by this is depending on the need at hand, you may require a smaller amount over a longer period of time, or in times of acute stress one squirt directly into the mouth may suffice.

So for stressful periods of time like a move, or new family member the best way to give rescue remedy is 2-4 drops in everyone's water or beverage over several weeks whenever you remember. It doesn't matter the size of the bottle- you can put 2 drops in an 8 oz cup or a gallon size jug and it will have the exact same effect. This can be done each time you fill up the glass or bottle of liquid and taken throughout the day.

For more acute times, like transitions from school to home, someone falls off the jungle gym, acute moments of separation anxiety when mom or dad leaves the house, nighttime wakings, -then squirting 1 or 2 drops- if they'll let you- directly into the mouth is fine too. But also having a sip of the Rescue Remedy water you have already created- will again have the exact same effect. Again, when it comes to flower essences, more is not necessarily better.

(**One special note here. For infants, administering Rescue Remedy can seem a bit harder, as we are not typically feeding them water from a glass, sippy cup, or bottle. And if the baby is solely breastfeeding, which is of course best, how then do you give them the remedy if it becomes necessary? Well you can still use the water route. Just place a few drops of the water/Rescue Remedy mixture into a plastic syringe or eye dropper and drop a few drops onto their tongue. Simple enough.)


4. I recommend whatever form of Rescue Remedy you carry- creams, sprays, or the generic blue bottle, be sure to have a few bottles lying around. One in mom's purse, on the kitchen counter, near where baby sleeps. You get the idea. So it's easy to grab and easy to remember to use.

5. Lastly, even though I have seemed to say that Rescue Remedy is the cure-all for many emotional upsets - I want to remind you not to overuse it. Don't forget the old adage - "Too much of good thing..." well you know how it goes. It should be used when needed and then appropriately forgotten about until the next time. It should not be used preventatively on a regular basis.

And on that note over time people do forget about this remedy, even those who have faithfully used it for years. In times of stress it's hard to remember the simple and easy remedies that can help make life just a bit easier. I get phone calls all the time and questions asked in my office about what to do in the middle of the night and what can help baby through a difficult growth spurt or times of tantrums in the "terrible twos." And always the first thing I say is Rescue Remedy - Rescue Remedy for all! Don't forget the terrible twos, and the night time difficulties of babies, and illness throughout the whole house is difficult for mom and dad, sister and brother, and not just the person going through the stressful change.

To wrap up my shpiel on why Rescue Remedy is the amazing thing it is I will leave you with a list of some of the many times I think Rescue Remedy can fully shine. Good luck everyone and remember the simplest remedies are often the right ones.

When is Rescue Remedy at its best?

1. Night time wakings
2. Insomnia
3. New baby
4. The In-laws are coming to visit
5. Other house guests are coming to visit
6. Work changes
7. Tantrums
8. Illness
9. Don't forget its great for pets during stressful times too
10. Plants are being repotted
11. Baby experimenting with boundaries
12. Trauma
13. Falling
14. Moving (houses, rooms, etc)
15. Transitions- from school to home, home to school, from any activity to another really where things seem to get a little hairy.
16. Road trips
17. Plane rides
18. Doctor visits! Don't forget doctor visits.
19. Labor & delivery (thanks Juli!)