Bach Original Flower Remedies

Life is full of emotional ups and downs and everyone experiences the "blues" from time to time. But when the "down" times are long lasting or interfere with an individual’s ability to function at home and at work, that person may be suffering from a common, serious illness -- depression.

Clinical depression affects mood, mind, body and behaviour. Research has shown that 5 - 6% of the population will have a depressive disorder during the course of their lives, and nearly two thirds do not get the help they need. Yet, because it often goes unrecognised, depression continues to cause unnecessary suffering.

Signs of Depression

• Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
• Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
• Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
• Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
• Restlessness, irritability
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

What Causes Depression ?
Just as depression takes many different forms, it has many possible causes. In fact, depression is often caused by a combination of factors: external events, genetics, physiological or "biochemical" factors.
Extract from The South African Depression and Anxiety Group web page, http://www.anxiety.org.za/

Bach Flower Remedies to the Rescue
Bach Flower remedies, are very useful in treating depression because they work on a mental-emotional level.  It is not suggested that one should stop medication if on a treatment plan but the flower remedies can be incorporated, as they do not have any side effects.  The flower remedies would be used to treat the emotional state of the person suffering from depression. 

One would need to look at the circumstances, look at what has lead up to this state of depression and examine the symptoms of the current emotional state, look at what underlies that current emotional state:

• Has the person suffered a loss of a loved one or financial loss
• Health status: ailments
• Traumatic experiences (house burglary, hijacking)
• Personality traits
• High expectations; feeling of disappointment when these are not achieved
• Introspective
• Alienating tendencies
• Tendency to have mood swings
• Disturbed sleeping patterns

These are just a few suggestions of the lines of questioning that would be taken to approach finding out the underlying factors to the depression. In the case of depression it is recommended that one works through a complimentary health practitioner that incorporates Bach Flower Remedies into their practice so that it becomes part of your treatment plan for depression.

Bach Flower Remedy Recommendations
There are number of flower remedies that can be used for treating depression:

• Bach Mustard

For sudden depression which descends out of the blue and lifts just as suddenly for no apparent reason.  The sufferer is completely taken over by gloom and unable to shake it off at will.
The positive potential of Bach Mustard is the return of joy, supported by an inner stability and peace which cannot be shaken or destroyed under good circumstances or bad.

• Bach Gentian

The remedy for those whose outlook is negative and who suffer from deep depressions and dark melancholia.  Bach Gentian is for doubt and a negative outlook.  Sufferers are easily discouraged and depressed when things go wrong or when faced with difficulties.  Unlike Mustard, their depression is always from an identifiable cause.  They may in fact be making good progress in illness or in life but are easily disheartened by small setbacks. Bach Gentian may be indicated for those people who feel despondent with a long-term or recurrent illness; by giving encouragement, it is often a good tonic for convalescents.  The positive potential of Bach Gentian is the realisation that there is no such thing as failure when one is doing one’s best, not matter what the results 

• Bach Gorse

Bach Gorse may be used for that feeling of hopelessness that is associated with depression. The Gorse state that is one step further downhill from the Gentian state.  Where Gentian people feel like giving up, Gorse people actually do, sinking into a state of hopelessness from which they find it impossible to extract themselves.
The Bach Gorse remedy encourages a sense of optimism and purpose, triggering the hope that people lack in this state.