Bach's system lays emphasis on the patient not the disease. There are no diseases, only sick people. It disregards physical symptoms altogether and considers only the mental symptoms. Though British in origin, the system seems to correspond to the Indian thought that everything springs from the mind.

Mental conditions are supposed to precede the disease. Continued worry depletes one's energy and the body loses its resistance to disease. Any disease then may result depending upon the individual susceptibility. An appropriate flower remedy will then bring back peace and harmony to the mind, and, health and strength to the body.

There are thirty eight flower remedies. Actually there is the thirty ninth also which is called the Rescue Remedy. This composite remedy is composed of five flower remedies and is meant for emergencies like accidents and shock.

Various moods and feelings call for different Bach remedies. For example, if you worry and conceal it from others, you need the remedy `agrimony'. If you are too self concerned, and self centred, you need `Heather'. If resentment and bitterness are the cause of your problems, `willow' will cure you. Corresponding physical problems will also go away.

Bach used the flower remedies in alcoholic solution, given as a few drops in water a few times a day. These days, dilutions of these medicines are also used as in the Homoeopathic system. Thus a hybrid system made up of homoeopathy and flower remedies has come into vague. Phillip Chancellor in his book on Flower Remedies has given some very illuminating case studies. Here are some.

A man 70 years of age had suffered from constipation for 60 of these years. He said that this was because of his indecisive nature. He took three months to decide to take the help of flower remedies and that too because the recent shock of the death of his wife made him lonely and helpless. The remedy `Scleranthus' was prescribed for his indecision and remedy `Gorse' for his helplessness. The remedy `Star of Bethlehem' was added for shock. Within three weeks, his indecision disappeared. Scleranthus was continued, and within two months constipation also vanished never to return.

A woman was suffering from leucorrhea and indecision and was always feeling unclean. She was prescribed `crab apple' for this feeling of uncleanliness and `Scleranthus' for her indecision. Her leucorrhea disappeared along with her colitis, and her mind became clear.

A young man of 19 had severe acne on his face. He resigned himself to this condition, felt fatigued and lost interest in everything. The remedy `Wild Rose' was prescribed for his hopeless resignation, `crab apple' as a cleansing remedy and `mustard' for his gloomy depression. After six weeks acne disappeared and he started taking much more interest in life.

A woman had great resentment towards his son-in-law who she thought was neglecting her daughter. She became depressed and could not eat or sleep and started looking much older than her age. The resentment remedy `Willow' restored her sleep and appetite. Her resentment disappeared and she started showing understanding towards her son-in-law's problems.

One of the crew of a boat in storm had to remain in cold sea for many hours, became unconscious and blue in face. His lips were moistened with rescue remedy. He soon regained consciousness.

A cat was given flower remedies for her illness in her water bowl which was later washed and washing thrown into a flower bed. Not only did the cat grow healthy, the flowers blossomed profusely too!

The Rescue Remedy consists of `Star of Bethlehem' for shock, `Impatiens' for stress and tension, `Rock Rose' for terror and panic, `Cherry Plum' for desperation, and `Clematis' for the dreamy look which may be followed by unconsciousness. These are the conditions which are likely to occur after an accident. This remedy can be used for emergencies like sudden bad news, shock of bereavement and accident shock.

With the increase in the pace of living in modern times, the remedy `Vervain' offers a soothing balm. It is a remedy for over-effort and for those who `live on their nerves'. They are fanatics, new converts, reformers and martyrs, with their over enthusiasm and overspeed. They are strongly opinionated and want others to follow their ideas at great speed. These highly strung keyed up people eventually get into physical problems and sometimes regard these problems as the price they have to pay for their success, fortune and fame.

Chancellor quoting from the records of an English doctor gives a case study of a middle aged man who was very tense, energetic and opinionated. He had spasmodic pain in his left groin for years. X-ray examination showed a stone in the left kidney. He was given `Vervain' indicated by his personality profile and within one and half hours, he passed the stone in urine. He became much healthier since he started taking Vervain.

From the above it is clear that remedies can be given to men, women, children, animals and plants. You can take them when you are `not quite yourself', a period of warning before the disease actually strikes. They can be taken as preventives and as agents to improve personality.

As moods change, you can change the remedy. If remedies are available at home, even children may take them on their own according to their moods.