1 Name: Zae12Mcmorrow
Unit 23-
Comple
mentary
Therapi
es for
Health
& Social
Care
Assignment 1- The range of complementary therapies versus orthodox
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P3- Explain the principles and practices for complementary therapies.
In this task, I’ll be explaining the principles and practices for two complementary therapies,
different from those discussed in task 1: Bach Flower Remedies and the Alexander
Technique, by preparing a detailed factsheet.
Bach Flower Remedies
Bach Flower Remedies are thought to help balance emotional state and are commonly
recommended by practitioners for psychological problems and pain (ncbi.nlm.nih, 2021).
Also, Bach flower remedies are a type of complementary or alternative medicine. They're
made from watered-down extracts of wild plant flowers. These remedies were developed in
the early 1900s by Edward Bach, a medical doctor and homeopath. Homeopathy is the
belief that the body has the ability to heal itself. It treats the body or mind with small
amounts of natural substances such as plants and minerals. The concept of Bach flower
remedies is similar to that of homeopathy. However, they use fewer materials and focus on
emotions rather than physical symptoms. Bach believed that healing negative emotions aids
the body's own healing. His approach consists of 38 remedies, each of which addresses a
different negative emotion (webmd, 2021). The emotions are divided into seven categories,
each of which has its own psychological cause of illness:
Fear
Uncertainty
Lack of interest in present circumstances
Loneliness
Oversensitivity to influences and ideas
Sadness or despair
Cares for others at the expense of self (webmd, 2021).
Choose a flower remedy based on the emotional issue
or issues that are at the root of your problem. You can
use one remedy or a combination of remedies. You
can purchase them at a health food store or work with
a professional or someone who has been taught to
use them. They're also available from some
naturopaths, homeopaths, herbalists, chiropractors,
and acupuncturists. There's also a Bach-developed
combination remedy. It is used by people to help
them keep calm in stressful situations. Bach remedies
are commonly sold in dropper bottles as liquids. You can either drop the remedy on your
tongue or combine it with water and drink it. The dosage varies, but most people take a few
drops several times throughout the day (webmd, 2021).
Some remedies are also available in pill form, spray form, skin cream form, and bath salt
form. Bach remedies have been used to treat a variety of ailments, including anxiety,
depression, stress, mental and physical trauma, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. These claims are not
supported by reliable research. When it comes to whether they help with mental concerns
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or pain, the results are mixed. They appear to make some people feel better, but it's unclear
whether or not this is due to the placebo effect. The placebo effect indicates that something
is beneficial because people expect it to work (webmd, 2021).
One of two methods is used to develop the remedies. Dr. Bach developed the sun method
for specific plants, mostly delicate flowers. The sun method entails floating the flower heads
in pure water in direct sunlight for three hours. And for other remedies – mostly woodier
plants and those that bloom when the sun is weak – he invented the boiling method, in
which a remedy maker boils the flowering parts of the plant in pure water for half an hour.
Heat transfers energy from the flowers to the water in both cases. After that, the energised
water is filtered, and an equal amount of brandy is added as a preservative. This results in
the mother tincture. To make the stock bottles that you see in shops, mother tincture is
further diluted at a ratio of two drops to every 30 ml (bachcentre, 2021).
Making remedies is a simple process that requires no special preparation or skills. All that is
required is willingness and understanding, as well as sunlight and water, and the right plant
at the right time. If you want to make a remedy for yourself, Dr. Bach taught us not to
handle the flowers because the remedy should be influenced solely by the flowers. Choose a
morning that is clear and sunny. Fill a small fine glass bowl halfway with pure spring water,
then gently and simply snip the flowers directly onto the water's surface, or cover your palm
with a broad leaf and tip the flowers onto the water without touching them (bachcentre,
2021). Flower essences, unlike pharmaceuticals and some herbal medicines, work on the
principle of resonance within the subtle human energy field, which influences one's physical
and emotional health (endeavour, 2021).
Bach remedies have been found to be safe in studies. Some contain a trace of alcohol, so
read the label if you want to avoid it. Do not use Bach remedies in place of any prescription
medication. Inform your doctor if you have any problems (webmd, 2021). Because flower
essences are diluted solutions, they are generally regarded as safe. However, as with all
remedies, essences can have unfavourable side effects (healthline, 2021). According to
practitioners, this could include:
Skin rashes
Fatigue
Headache (healthline, 2021).
These side effects, according to flower therapy, may occur when the flower essence "wakes
up" your emotions. The effects, according to reports, will be gone within a day. In addition,
most flower essences contain a trace of alcohol. While most practitioners say they're safe to
use if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, it's still best to proceed with caution. Check with
your doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or use an alcohol-free version
(healthline, 2021). Flower essence services are offered by a range of providers, including:
Spiritual coaches
Massage therapists
Herbalists
Nutritionists
