Bach Original Flower Remedies

Not so long ago people thought that as more and more work was done by machines so people would need to do less.  It was even suggested that the main problem for late 20th century man would be finding ways to fill up his increasing leisure time. The reality has proved rather different, however. The trend in many Western countries is for employees and employers alike to work longer hours than ever before.

Stress, stress-related illness and overwork are more common now than at any other time in human history. Stress can be caused by almost anything, even before you get to work. Getting yourself or your children ready in the morning, hearing a car backfire, or hitting a speed trap whilst driving over the speed limit, all cause stress in their own way. Family life too is no haven, as personality clashes and petty disagreements have their own effects on your stress levels. And the problems caused by excessive levels of stress vary as widely as the causes. They can include anxiety, asthma, depression, indigestion, heartburn, insomnia, high blood pressure and tension.

There are many reasons why modern man is particularly at risk from stress. One of them, peculiar to our age is the sheer amount of stimulus all around us.  Advertising and entertainment for example all owe their impact (and a great deal of their appeal) to the fact that they cause stress, making us feel more alive and alert. But most men would agree that the stresses associated with entertainment and advertising are relatively minor compared with the stress at work. And there seems little doubt that work is probably the single main cause of preventable stress among men of working age. It is hardly surprising that millions of working days are lost every year due to stress-related illnesses brought on by overwork and the unbearable pressure to succeed.

Bach Flower Remedies can help to deal with stress and the effects of overwork. The obvious first choice in many cases would be Original Bach Rescue Remedy, since it contains the five individual remedies that help deal with many of the immediate stress-related problems encountered at work. Overwork leading to tiredness could be helped using Olive, for example, while people who are being held back for some reason and so feel frustrated and irritated might benefit from Impatiens.

Someone who finds it hard to switch off and suffers from endless mental arguments might benefit from White Chestnut. The Agrimony remedy can help you to face up to your worries instead of always trying to run away from them. 

People who are particularly prone to stress include Elm and Oak men, who can find that simply because they are good at coping with responsibility they are inclined to take on too much. Under stress, Elm people sometimes feel overwhelmed by their commitments and so begin to doubt their abilities. Oak men are slightly different in that they will carry on regardless, so that when they do break down the situation is all the worse.

Other remedies that might help in specific cases of work-related stress are Pine, Centaury and Rock Water. Pine is for those men who are never content with what they have achieved and who tend to take the blame for things going wrong, even when it is not their fault. Men who find it hard to say ‘no’ could in many cases benefit from Centaury. This is the remedy for those people who are naturally eager to help others but who finds this leaves them open to exploitation by others who take advantage of their good natures. Rock Water is the remedy for those men who set themselves impossible standards and so put themselves under stress when they fail to meet them.

The Bach Remedies can be used in any case where overwork and stress are making working life a strain on health. In all cases, successful stress management involves looking at the elements in your character that lead you into stressful situations.

For those who suffer with more than one stress-related condition, one can mix up to seven Bach Flower Remedies. Add 2 drops each of the chosen remedy to about 30ml distilled water in a glass dropper bottle, and use 4 drops of this solution, 4 times daily for as long as you feel it necessary.

Source: Bach Flower Remedies for Men, by Stefan Ball can be ordered directly from Vital Health Foods for R138.70

Submitted by Janine Tassi