DR BACHS TWELVE REMEDIES FROM A LAY POINT OF VIEW


They are really living in the past, with their memories, or with someone who had passed over, so that the present has no interest for them. Watch them in the streets. The remedies should be prepared near the place where the plant grows, as the flowers should be put straight into the water after gathering, whilst they are quite fresh and full of life.


(Second Article).

Clematis. The dreamy, indifferent. You notice these people everywhere amongst children and adults, and there is frequently a Clematis phase during illness and convalescence. “She is such a dreamy sleepy person, her thoughts always seem so far away, she does not hear half you say.” People who need so much sleep and do not wake quickly in the mornings and then do not feel fresh or rested; those who drop asleep frequently in quiet moments during the day, the day-dreamers, who have no active interest in the things around them, are apathetic, listless, indifferent, live wrapped up in their own thoughts, in whom it is difficult to arouse any enthusiasm.

They are really living in the past, with their memories, or with someone who had passed over, so that the present has no interest for them. Watch them in the streets. They will cross a busy road without looking for the traffic, and walk along the pavement so oblivious to their surroundings that they bump into others.

You can see by the far- away look in their eyes and their dreamy expression that their attention is not held by the present, you may hear them say, “Since my brother or sister died I have nothing to live for, no interest in life at all.” When ill, they often do not care whether they get well or not.

Chicory. The self-pity attitude of mind is one we all suffer from at times. When we feel badly used and really deserve better than this, that nobody loves us, we are neglected and we feel very sorry for ourselves, that no one else suffers as much, has such pain, such hardships, such difficulties, in fact that whole world is against us. Then we become reserved and restrained, bottle up our feelings, suppress them so that we become congested both mentally and physically and we feel ” hurt and pained”.

The diseases correspond with that particular state of mind, of bodily congestion and of suppression. The patients colour is high and congested. They often say, “My looks dont pity me.”.

Cerato. Self-distrust results in many foolish actions because, against their better judgment, patients are led to try, and do, much that is wrong for them through the advice of others. They are irritating, because they will so often quote other people, instead of saying what they themselves think or want. They are apt to follow conventions and fashions, and to them public opinion is very important.

They make foolish excuses for their actions when they should know better. When ill, they will take anyones advice and seriously put it to the test, not like the Scleranthus people, who are too undecided to act on any advice.

The Cerato class may make themselves very unhappy and uncomfortable wearing someones patent belt or elastic stocking trying some rigid diet or some special food because a friend advised them to try it, when they known perfectly well what kind of food or clothes or exercise suits them most and that they had much better trust to their own instincts. They are imitators, even likely to contract a disease if it is a fashionable one at the moment. They are too conventional to be themselves.

Gentian. The discouraged, depressed state of mind is very, very common and results in much illness. We are all apt to pass though this phase when up against difficulties. Many diseases throughout their whole course require Gentian. The melancholic, disheartened, pessimistic frame of mind lowers the whole tone of the body leaving it open to any form of attack.

In convalescence and chronic disease, too, even though the patient is doing well, he may suffer from depression and become disheartened and discouraged and feel inclined to give up fighting and, unless this phase is overcome, it will naturally prolong the illness.

Vervain. The strong, self-willed type cannot be mistaken. They suffer from over-much enthusiasm, the opposite of the Clematis people. They are so convinced they are right that they will not listen to advice. They always know what is best for them and do not like to admit they are wrong. This very obstinacy causes them to suffer much. In illness they are difficult people to treat and need tact, their obstinacy often making them refuse help or medical attendance.

They insist upon carrying on with their work, even when too ill to do so,and when they do go for advice, they mostly tell the doctor what treatment they think they ought to have. Their will is such a driving force that they wear themselves out.

Impatiens. The impatient frame of mind. These people cannot wait, are always impatient to be doing, to see a thing finished. They rush at things and, if interfered with, become irritable. They cannot understand why others do not see as clearly, or are not as quick as they, and this makes them impatient. In illness and convalescence many go through this phase. In fact it is a general idea that patients are well on the road to recovery when they become irritable and impatient.

It shows they want to be doing things themselves and are fretting to be up and about, for nothing that is done for them pleases them, the food is wrong, the room is wrong, etc. Most people in pain are very impatient, and in many diseases where there is great pain accompanying this irritable state, Impatiens will give almost instant relief. In chronic disease the patient may become impatient of inaction or lack of progress, not realizing that this very impatience retards the recovery because it is exhausting and uses up vitality unnecessarily.

Water Violet. This quiet, proud, aloof phase is not so usual, but is a very definite one. These people take all that comes to them, pain, hardships, difficulties, wit a calm quiet courage,never complain or pity themselves, but are patient, know their own minds, and see to it that they are as little trouble to others as possible. They prefer to be much alone in health and sickness.

They suffer because of their pride which attacks them in many subtle ways. They are quietly proud of their aloofness, of the way they can look after themselves, of their capabilities ( which are great) , of their ability to overcome difficulties. They are proud of their family, pride themselves even upon being proud. All is done not in a boastful talkative manner, but in a calm quiet gentle way so that others do not suffer through their pride, though they themselves may suffer greatly. Once this pride is overcome, they are very fine characters indeed.

Centaury. Those who are so exhausted, weak and limp that they have no power left to help themselves. They are apt to give in because they have no strength left, they are too weak to make any effort. It is the “peace at any price” state of mind. They are too tired ever to claim their rights. They are the weak- willed, the opposite of the self-willed Vervain people.

They look drained of vitality, often pale and insignificant. You should once have said they needed an iron tonic. In sickness they put up no fight, are passive. Centaury will help them and can be given in any disease which shows particularly this state. Sometimes after an acute attack during a prolonged illness or in convalescence you will notice these signs.

These are the twelve diseases against which we must be on guard. The way in which the body is attacked is only of importance in that it shows us that our healthy normal outlook is on the sick list.

Watch several people do the same thing, such as order tea in a restaurant, and you will notice that each one does it in a different way, one acts confidently, one timidly, one impatiently, one calmly and so on. Then you will understand how that, although several people may suffer from the same bodily disease, each will have it differently according to his nature so that the remedy required for the cure of each patient will need to correspond with his particular type. I have seen haemorrhage in three patients treated and cured by three different remedies.

The first, a child with severe nose-bleeding, was in a state of utter exhaustion and weakness and required Centaury. Then a lady suffering from uterine haemorrhage who belonged to the self-pity class was given Chicory which gave her back her health and prevented a major operation. The third was an acute intestinal haemorrhage which might in the ordinary way have proved fatal but for Rock Rose.

During the course of an illness the patient may pass through many phases needing the specific remedy for each phase. In the acute stage it may be terror, then fear, and as that stage passes exhaustion or sleepiness, followed in convalescence by indecision, self-pity or impatience, or depression according to the personality of the patient. On the other hand a single remedy may be all that is required to restore health.

No disease belongs exclusively to any particular remedy, but each remedy corresponds with a definite state of mind or mental attitude. I would like to stress this fact. Study the patient himself, not his bodily disease. In fact, you encourage your patient more by not dwelling on his illness, and encouragement is what he needs above all.

MY TWELVE REMEDIES.

By DR. EDWARD BACH.

N. weeks