Bach flower remedies: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials

Swiss Med Wkly. 2010 Aug 24:140:w13079. doi: 10.4414/smw.2010.13079. eCollection 2010.

Abstract

Bach flower remedies continue to be popular and its proponents make a range of medicinal claims for them. The aim of this systematic review was to critically evaluate the evidence for these claims. Five electronic databases were searched without restrictions on time or language. All randomised clinical trials of flower remedies were included. Seven such studies were located. All but one were placebo-controlled. All placebo-controlled trials failed to demonstrate efficacy. It is concluded that the most reliable clinical trials do not show any differences between flower remedies and placebos.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Flowers*
  • Humans
  • Materia Medica*
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Stress, Psychological / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Materia Medica
  • Plant Extracts