Open AccessHealing With Bach® Flower Essences: Testing a Complementary Therapy
Author(s) -
Robert A. Halberstein,
Lydia DeSantis,
Alicia Sirkin,
Vivian Padron-Fajardo,
Maria Ojeda
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
complementary health practice review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1552-3845
pISSN - 1533-2101
DOI - 10.1177/1533210107300705
Subject(s) - placebo , anxiety , situational ethics , trait anxiety , clinical psychology , psychology , medicine , physical therapy , psychiatry , alternative medicine , social psychology , pathology
Bach ® Original Flower Essence (BFE) Rescue ® Remedy, a modality used since 1930 but not yet thoroughly investigated scientifically, was evaluated for the reduction of acute situational stress. A double-blind clinical trial comparing a standard dosage of BFE Rescue Remedy against a placebo of identical appearance was conducted in a sample of 111 individuals aged 18 to 49, randomized into treatment ( n = 53) and control ( n = 58) groups. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was administered before and after the use of Rescue Remedy or placebo. Downward trends in anxiety level measurements were discovered in both the treatment (Rescue Remedy) and control (placebo) groups. Statistical analyses indicated that only the high-state anxiety treatment subgroup demonstrated a statistically significant difference between pretest and posttest scores. The results suggest that BFE Rescue Remedy may be effective in reducing high levels of situational anxiety.