The Enigma of Dr Edward Bach and the Flower Remedies.

• The Enigma of Dr Edward Bach and the Flower Remedies.
  
  A Spagyric View
  By
  Ivor Hughes.
  
  
  
  The Man and His Work.
  Dr Edward Bach was born on the 24th of September 1886, In the suburb
  of Moseley, Birmingham, England. He died peacefully on the evening of
  November 27th, 1936. He was only 50 years old. One presumes that his
  mission stood completed.
  
  He studied medicine at Birmingham University and completed his
  training at University College Hospital in London, where he
  subsequently obtained his degree in medicine. He became interested
  in immunology and worked as Assistant Bacteriologist at London's
  University College Hospital. His orthodox medical career was as
  varied as it was successful. He also worked as a General
  Practitioner, maintaining a practice in Harley Street London. Whilst
  working as a bacteriologist and pathologist he helped in the
  development of various vaccines. He also studied Homeopathy, and
  produced a set of Homoeopathic nosodes, which carry his name. However
  his monument is the gift of the `Flower Remedies' A natural
  modality
  that is derived from Spagyric and Homeopathic practices.. They work
  on emotional states by anti-doting them. ` Similia Similibus
  Curantur'. Modern Psychiatric (Crude and Barbaric) treatment uses
  brain chemicals for the same purpose.
  
  Much of what we know of Edward Bach the man, or that which has passed
  into folklore, has been passed on from a small circle of people, who
  surrounded him whilst he worked on the remedies. I am asked to
  accept that some few days before his death, he burnt most of his
  working papers. Therefore any analysis of his work, and its
  intentions must necessarily be based on speculation.
  
  Informed speculation is the basis of circumstantial evidence.
  
  Circumstantial Profile.
  Edward Bach was born during, and lived through the Victorian and
  Edwardian Era. Homeopathy still fresh from its stunning success
  during the London Cholera epidemic of the mid 1850,s, stood on an
  equal footing before the law with that of the orthodox school of
  medicine. It was common to find doctors of the orthodox school,
  training in, and practicing Homeopathy. In fact most of the
  distinguished doctors of that era did.
  
  The nature of orthodox training was quite authoritarian. You know the
  method; "Memorise those 500 bones during your lunch hour, your
  anatomy test is after lunch". We know nothing of Dr Bach's emotional
  entanglements, however his attitude towards women is testified by his
  choice of personal assistant in Nora Weeks. That he was a polymath
  there is no doubt. The boundaries that orthodox medical training had
  placed around him, were courageously pushed back. This at a time when
  the merest whiff of `Vitalism' would earn one a good boiling in
  scientific oil.
  
  Perhaps this is an explanation for his move to the ruralities ? Dr
  Bach seemed to have had a talent for putting his foot in it. A man of
  principle ! We may well understand that his written initial work
  along Spagyric lines ,i.e. The 12 Healers, would have not sat well in
  polite, orthodox, Christian society. Such matters were considered to
  be the work of the Devil, and were anathematised by the religious
  hardliners.
  
  In Dr Bachs day, the corner Chemist shop was a familiar sight in
  Britain. The Pharmacist was also trained in the art of Homoeopathic
  Pharmacy. In addition to the chemicals, a number of plant drugs were
  also official. His task was to fill the doctors prescription. This
  according to the Pharmacopeia standards. Informed of course by the
  Pharmaceutical Society. In other words they held the legal monopoly.
  They stocked the recommended patent medicines but they would not
  stock anything that they thought was snake oil. Bach chose to take
  his remedies to a Homoeopathic Pharmacy. I believe he did so for
  pragmatic reasons. He was a Homoeopathic Physician, and that, he was
  selling homoeopathic potencies of his remedies, more on this later.
  
  
  Hints of Dr Bach's Cosmology.
  
  In 1931 the first edition of `Heal Thyself', the seminal work of
  the
  flower remedy school, was published. In it we may see his Spiritual
  outreach and the framework within which the remedies were developed.
  In Edward Bach's own words ;
  
  "One of the exceptions to materialistic methods in modern science is
  that of the great Hahnemann, the founder of Homeopathy, who with his
  realisation of the beneficent love of the Creator and of the Divinity
  which resides within man, by studying the mental attitude of his
  patients towards life, environment and their respective diseases,
  sought to find in the herbs of the field and in the realms of nature
  the remedy which would not only heal their bodies but would at the
  same time uplift their mental outlook." **
  
  " May his science be extended and developed by those true physicians
  who have the love of humanity at heart**. Five hundred years before
  Christ some physicians of ancient India, working under the influence
  of the Lord Buddha, advanced the art of healing to so perfect a state
  that they were able to abolish surgery, although the surgery of their
  time was as efficient, or more so,
  than that of the present day."
  
  " Such men as Hippocrates with his mighty ideals of healing,
  Paracelsus with his certainty of the divinity in man, and Hahnemann
  who realised that disease originated in a plane above the physical-
  all these knew much of the real nature and remedy of suffering." **
  "
  What untold misery would have been spared during the last twenty or
  twenty-five centuries had the teaching, of these great masters of
  their art been followed,** but, as in other things, materialism has
  appealed too strongly to the Western world, and for so long a time,
  that the voices of the practical obstructors have risen above the
  advice of those who knew the truth."
  ============== ============== ============== ==========
  
  ** My emphasis. I feel that the first paragraph was almost a mirror
  image of Bach himself. Indeed Dr Samuel Hahnemann (1755 - 1843) was
  Dr Edward Bach's model. Who could have wished for a more apt pupil ?
  
  His original work `The 12 Healers was based upon the 12
  Astrological
  types. In a later edition of the book of the same title he introduced
  a further 26 remedies to the Materia Medica. Interestingly enough the
  emotional states to be treated were classified under 7 headings. Now
  it is interesting to speculate, that he went about his search, in one
  of two ways. Firstly by the classical method of a healthy prover. Or
  secondly, that he himself suffered from those mental and emotional
  storms and strode the countryside seeking relief. There are 7 inner
  planets and 7 days in a week. Thus we may see that much of his
  writing is replete in Hermetic teaching and symbolism.
  
  Dr Bach's Approach.
  We are informed that Edward Bach used the Classical Homoeopathic
  approach to the proving's, and like all genuine physicians he first
  tried the substances on himself.
  
  Like cures like, therefore one presumes that the substances which he
  tested, produced in him the malaise which it was intended to
  antidote. Or that it antidoted the malaise. He then reduced the
  actual amount of the active substance by dilution. Up to now this
  sounds like homeopathy.
  
  He was a Homeopathic Physician. Dr Hahnemann had already signposted
  the way. It led to Paracelsus. There we find the root of
  Homoeopathy. There we find the moon distilled drop that mingles with
  the dew drop on plants. A and at dawn a little natural lense pointed
  at the Sun. The lense was a magnifying lense. The heat generated by
  the early morning sun through the lense ,acts like a hot poultice,
  and draws to the surface of the petal and then absorbs its medicinal
  potential. This was living essence direct from the flower. This was
  an Anabolic process. The effect of the Sun on an anabolic process is
  stimulant rather than destructive.
  
  The Spagyric practitioners draw muslin cloths across stands of wild
  plants of the same specie. An hour or so past dawn. The collected
  liquid is then potentised by rotation through the influences of sun
  and moon for a period of 7 days. It was enclosed in a sealed opaque
  container to protect it from the rays of the sun. this was left
  outdoors. The heating effect of the sun, sets up a flux of
  evaporation and condensation. Thus we have a rhythmic natural
  rotation, which slows to, almost imperceptible during the hours of
  night.
  
  We are informed that Bach used an eye dropper to collect the sun
  ripened dew drops. This because he had no need of the quantities of
  dew that were needed before the time of Hahnemann. For example 5ml
  (Imperial 84.5 minims) added to 50ml of dilutent would produce the
  first 55ml of a 1:10 Homeopathic Mother Tincture.
  
  If we proceed on the basis of Hahnemanns Centesimal scale (C) 1ml of
  mother tincture is added to 100 mil of the diluting medium and
  sucussed. That is 1C or 2x on the Hering scale. Then 1ml of the 1C is
  added to another 100ml of dilutent. Each 1ml of a potency becomes 100
  ml of the next potency. Therefore the original 55ml of mother
  tincture increases by 100 increments at each level of potency. On a
  good day a 5ml eye dropper represents about 30 minutes work.
  
  By hand a 30C (60x) potency will take circa 3 hours to produce.
  However as a homoeopathic physician he would have been more than
  familiar with the variety of mechanical succussion apparatus that was
  available at that time. So it will be well understood, that neither
  quantity of the original substance, or the labour involved in
  potentising presented any kind of problem.
  
  The `Nelsons Connection.
  Let Nelsons introduce themselves, the following is taken from their
  website http://www.nelsons.co.uk/
  
  
  Background
  In 1860, a young pharmacist and student of Samuel Hahnemann, Ernst
  Louis Ambrecht, came to London and opened a homeopathic pharmacy in
  Ryder Street where he could put into practice the principles learned
  from his teacher. The pharmacy soon outgrew its original premises and
  in 1890 it was moved to Duke Street where it still remains today
  supplying homeopathic medicines to customers all over the world.
  Ernst's son Nelson, who changed the name of the company to
  A. Nelson and Co succeeded him. As its reputation has grown so has
  the demand for its products. As Europe's oldest and the UK's largest
  manufacturer of homeopathic medicines, Nelsons now produces the most
  comprehensive range in Britain from its specialised manufacturing
  laboratories in Wimbledon.
  
  Quality
  Nelsons has two laboratories licensed by the Medicines Control Agency
  (MCA), where all of its remedies are produced. Top quality plant
  materials are sourced from around the world. The ingredients are all
  thoroughly tested under strict quality controls.
  
  Nelsons is distinguished as the oldest Homeopathic Pharmacy in
  Europe with over 140 years of knowledge relating to Dr Hahnemanns
  system of medicine in all of its aspects.
  
  Enter Dr Bach
  I would imagine that Edward Bach was well received at Nelsons. With
  him he would have taken a sample of his products. His provings, and
  very importantly, his original clinical case notes. Without which
  Nelsons would not have entertained Dr Bach. The Bach Centre copy has
  disappeared, perhaps Nelsons still have the case files in their
  archives. ? Perhaps they were selling Dr Bach's new homoeopathic
  remedies ? Again a search of the company archives would settle the
  question.
  
  
  The Enigma.
  The names of `Hippocrates, Paracelsus and Hahnemann, roll from
  Bach's
  pen like a eulogy. He plainly states that they ` knew the truth
  ` Dr
  Bach was a trained Homoeopathic Physician. He thought as a Hermetic
  Scientist he was a `Vitalist'. He of all people, would have
  understood the importance of the strict procedural method of
  producing a remedy. Without which, reproduction of a remedy is not
  possible, for very common sense reasons, which will be explained.
  
  We are given to understand that the Dr Bach method for producing
  these remedies is of two orders.
  
  (1) The Sun Method. (2) The Boiling Method. Let us look at both
  methodologies. Reproduced below is 2 communications from `Nelsons
  USA' The American distributors of the `Bach Flower Remedies'
  
  From Nelsons USA.
  Dear Ivor Hughes,
  My apologies for the delay in responding to you email. I was waiting
  on the answer from our mother company in England since I myself was
  not sure on the ratio.They responded; for the sun method a 500 ml
  bowl is filled with spring water and covered with flowers. The boil
  method, a stainless steel saucepan is filled with the flowering twigs
  or specified part of the plant, covered with water. The exact ratio
  of plant to water in each case is not specified in Dr.Bach's
  writings, although a ratio of 50:1 for sun method and 10:1 for the
  boil method was given by the Bach Center. I hope this answers your
  question. If you need to talk to me please call
  800-319-9151.
  
  Kind regards,
  Denise M. Eaton
  Retail Training Coordinator
  deniseeaton@nelsonbach.com
  
  This was a follow up on the above Email.
  
  There are two methods of preparing the Mother Tinctures for the Bach
  Flower Essences®.
  The Sun Method: Dr. Bach used this method to make 20 of the
  Essences®, most of which are delicate blooms in the height of
  summer.
  
  The Boiling Method: Dr. Bach used this method to prepare the
  remaining 18 Essences®, from trees and bushes and plants, most of
  which flower in the early part of the year.
  
  A three step process - preparing the Bach Flower Essences®
  
  Step One - Mother tinctures are prepared from plant material and
  natural spring water using either the sun or boiling method as
  defined by Dr. Bach's instructions.
  
  Step Two - The mother tincture is made up of the energized spring
  water (Step one) mixed with an equal quantity of 40% brandy. The
  brandy acts purely as a preservative for the water.
  
  Step Three - To make the stock bottle, two drops of mother tincture
  are added to 30ml of 27% brandy, which is also known as 'grape
  alcohol'.
  
  Bach Flower Essences® are produced exactly according to the
  methods
  set out by Dr. Edward Bach. The Essences® are energized by the sun
  or
  boiling method. No further potentization is carried out.
  ================ ================ ================= =======
  
  My overall reaction on reading this was one of disbelief. Is this
  it ? The sum total of Dr Edward Bach's lifetime work ? Dr Bach's
  working papers have disappeared, therefore we have no means of
  verifying if the above was his intention or not. Unless of course
  Nelsons still have the original formula monographs ?
  
  My most overwhelming impression was that the instructions for steps
  1, 2 and 3 have been very carefully worded from a legal angle. The
  words raise a some questions marks.
  
  The word `Essence' as applied in pharmacy can apply either to an
  essential oil, or if the term is used in the USA, to a spiritous
  suspension of the oil. That being the case, the 18
  `Decoctions'
  produced by the boiling method can hardly be designated as essences,
  or can they ? I am not sure that the Sun `Infusions' would be
  accepted as an essence either.
  
  The first Email states, that the Bach Centre, had informed Nelsons
  USA, that the ratio of plants to water for the Sun method is, 50:1
  and for the boiling method 10:1. Now that means 50 parts or 10 parts
  respectively to 1 part of water. That is a physical impossibility.
  
  So are we to assume that the Bach Centre do not know what they are
  doing, or have they made a mistake ? I think what the Bach flower
  centre meant, 1:50 for the sun method and 1:10 for the boiling method.
  
  It will also be seen, from the preparation instructions from the Bach
  Centre, is that they use a 500ml bowl. (1 pint approximates 568ml)
  this means 50 grams of fresh petals per 500ml of water. The drying
  ratio of flower petals is a ratio of 10:1 theoretically the 50 grams
  of petals contain 45ml of water. However this is not a fixed quantity
  but will vary according to the weather conditions such as wet and
  gorged with water or parched from lack of rain. Therefore the
  integrity of the menstruum which in this case is water is called
  into question. Further information on menstruum integrity may be
  obtained from my articles on pharmacy on the main page of my website.
  
  The integrity of the menstruum is further compromised by the addition
  of an equal amount of 40% by volume Brandy. This will produce a 20%
  by volume alcoholic menstruum. This means that the original 1:50
  mother tincture is now 1:100. Then unbelievably we are further
  informed that a stock bottle is comprised of 2 drops of the 1:100
  tincture which are added to 30ml of 27% Brandy. So far the menstruum
  has been changed 3 times. If there are any soluble constituents in a
  solution and one changes the composition of the solution
  precipitation will occur. On that basis of Vibrational Medicine, as
  in homeopathy, we could assume that there is some kind of magnetic
  precipitation.
  
  Vibrational or Energy Medicines are potentised in a menstruum or a
  solid, which retains the molecular memory or information of the
  original substance that it contained. If one then changes the
  menstruum the information is also altered. On that same basis it may
  be seen that the mix and match system advocated e.g. The Rescue
  Remedy would also produce a confused energy field which would
  antidote the remedy. Nelsons then further inform us as follows;
  
  Rescue Remedy
  "Dr Bach created an emergency combination containing five flower
  remedies - Impatiens, Star of Bethlehem, Cherry Plum, Rock Rose and
  Clematis.
  
  Rescue Remedy combines these five Bach Flower Remedies and can be
  used to help you cope with immediate everyday situations such as
  going to the dentist, interviews, making a complaint or wedding day
  nerves. It can also help in times of crisis or trauma such as
  bereavement, a relationship breakdown or redundancy.
  ============= =============== ================ =========
  
  I can find no other reference that Dr Bach was responsible for the
  creation of the `Rescue Remedy' Neither do I believe that as a
  physician he would have claimed such a wide ranging action. `Shot
  Gun Remedies' have a very poor reputation.
  
  It is Spagyric and Homoeopathic insistence on a single remedy, and
  if a complex of symptoms are present. Then the remedies are given
  individually with a suitable interval between each. Much like peeling
  and onion.
  
  If Bach were responsible, then he is also guilty of committing every
  beginners mistake, that of combining 2 or more herbs of the same
  therapeutic class. Yet he was a trained physician. To even think that
  he would advocate that his precious remedies be treated as though
  they were a box of mixed chocolates is ludicrous in the extreme.
  
  So What is Wrong ?
  Based on the matters already placed before you. I believe that Dr
  Bach was producing Spagyric remedies incorporating Dr Hahnemanns
  methodology.
  
  Bach would have been fully aware that his dropper method of
  collecting dew from living flowers was far superior to producing a
  sun infusion of maimed and dying flower petals. Yet we are given
  stories of crystal bowls, flower petals, and pure spring water being
  gently potentised by the sun.
  
  There is no pure natural water anywhere on the planet. The planet is
  contaminated from pole to pole with hormone and endocrine disrupters.
  Also the composition of any water depends upon the strata through
  which it has risen. Its chemical composition will vary from location
  to location. Its chemical variability will affect the composition of
  the substance it contains. That is why, of using distilled water.
  Distilled water may be energised by the correct rotation procedures.
  
  Metabolism is of two orders Anabolism or the building up of complex
  structures, and Catabolism which is the breaking down of complex
  structures. Tissue, either plant or human, when it is dying, is in
  the catabolic state. There is some polygraph evidence that plants
  react to pain and its trauma. So the type of vibration being absorbed
  into the spring water is not of health, but the sounds of dying. This
  in an order of vibrations of many magnitudes above that of the
  standard tincture or extract.
  
  Direct sunlight accelerates the catabolic process, that is why
  medicinals are stored in amber bottles. However when the mother
  substance is collected by a dropper from the living flower, it is an
  Anabolic process. This is common sense.
  
  Irrespective of ones personal concept of what constitutes vibrational
  medicine. One may not escape the physical constraints placed upon the
  menstruum that holds that energy. The physical state of the solvent
  has an effect for good or worse upon the substance which is dissolved
  in it. If you change the menstruum one changes the nature of the
  remedy.
  
  This is common sense. Dr Bach would have been fully aware of those
  constraints. Therefore it does not make sense, that he would fly in
  the face of his experience, and abruptly change the physical nature
  of the solvent, by diluting it half and half with 40% brandy.
  
  That is also the reverse of the procedures followed by Dr
  Hahnemann. Bach quite clearly states that Hahnemann ` knew the
  truth' and then further, " May his science be extended and developed
  by those true physicians who have the love of humanity at heart"
  
  I am quite sure that Dr Edward Bach would not consider the
  methodology described by The Bach Centre, or Nelsons, to be a
  development of Dr Hahnemann's work. Quite the opposite in fact.
  
  We have all had some experience of the archetype kitchen herbalist. A
  pinch of this, and a dash of that, a splash of this, and another
  pinch of that. Hubble bubble toil and trouble.
  
  The so called boiling method is called a `Decoction' There are
  definite rules that need to be followed for such preparations.
  Decoctions are still official in many Pharmacopeias. Once again the
  methodology is based on the physical constraints of the plant part
  being treated. Decoctions are water extracts of barks and woods and
  seeds.
  
  I dread to think, what such a process would inflict on such a
  delicate structure as spring blossom. After all we are not boiling
  potatoes. We are supposedly preparing a delicate energy medicine.
  
  The Spagyric Method of Flower Remedies.
  Each drop of dew that is harvested by the dropper method would
  contain ethereal traces of essential oils alcohols and esters.
  Accordingly the menstruum should be a minimum of 90 % alcohol by
  volume.
  
  The alcohol should be prepared from the green parts of the plant from
  which the flowers were taken. This requires some forethought for
  spring blossom, because the alcohol must be prepared from the leaves
  of the plant just before the fruit is formed. Therefore it must be
  prepared in the previous season.
  
  In this way synergy is maintained. 1ml of the collected flower dew is
  added to 10ml of the 90% by volume alcohol. That is the 1:10 mother
  tincture. The mother Tincture is then potentised by the rotation
  method. The mother tincture may be prepared in any units of ten
  e.g. 1 litre of dew in 10 litres of alcohol. The tincture is
  potentised to the Hahnemann 3C that means that the original 1ml will
  produce many litres.
  
  In Conclusion.
  There are many people for whom the Bach Flower Essences® just do
  not work. On the other hand there are many for whom they do. The
  short answer to that is `Placebo'
  
  I feel that Dr Bachs work has been corrupted. I note from the Bach
  Centre FAQ's that they are of low church and that a Devils Advocate'
  such as I, will not deter them from the simplicity of their methods.
  
  I for one, do not believe that the methods described, are those that
  Dr Bach used. This for all of the reasons that I have stated.
  
  Ivor Hughes
  Auckland NZ. Dec 2002.
  www.herbdatanz.com

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