An unnatural natural remedy? (Bach Rescue Remedy Pastilles)

Member Name: OllieCourts

Product:	Bach Rescue Remedy Pastilles
Date:	08/07/09 (118 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice tasting, taught me to relax mentally

Disadvantages: Pricey, only brief psychological 'stress' relief

I bought these during school/college when I used to panic heavily over presentations in front of my classmates. I also figured when I started driving they'd help me control my nerves in my driving test. I was sad enough to research these before getting them and remember people saying there is no scientific proof of them working, but figured I'd rather just try them than take peoples word!

I paid about £4 for 50g of pastilles in a stylish little tin that can fit easily in a bag or pocket. I think the first time I took them was in preparation of a presentation when my heart beats crazily and my hands shake. My first impression was good, they taste nice and sweet, apparently a 'natural flavour' of elderflower and orange. However the pastilles were very hard and I made the mistake of chewing it in half. They were so sticky they got stuck on my teeth and I spent about 5 minutes trying to pick it off! My heart did calm down, although it continued to beat fast, and my hands didn't stop shaking. Having said that though, it did take my mind off the presentation and I got it done!

I carried on taking them in moments of stress but found they were only useful for no more than 10 minutes before the nerves crept back. Obviously I can't expect wonders of a pastille, but I got in to the mindset of believing the stress relief was just psychological of me sucking a pastille, and before long I focused my efforts on just breathing slower and trying to calm down mentally than bothering to get a packet of Bachs out. For some people, the ease of mind may justify using these consistantly, but once I had the mindset that the pastilles weren't anything scientific then I just began to calm down naturally and still have half a tin left in my room which I have no intention of using.

I'm not saying the pastilles are bad, because they did help me overcome nerves briefly, and in the long run they told me to take matters in to my own hands and not use them, so they were effective to me, just probably not how Bach's predicted! I'm sure some people do rely on these as they are useful for them, but for me they weren't worth it for long.

Summary: I wouldn't buy them twice