Flower Remedies - Rock Rose

People often ask for Rescue Remedy by name, and our naturopaths are happy to talk it through honestly, including what the trials found and what might suit you better.

A good fit if

• You already use the Bach tradition and want its go-to formula for an exam, a flight or a speech
• You understand it's a tradition, and the trials haven't shown it works better than a placebo
• You'd like something very unlikely to cause side effects, in the format that suits you

Check with us first if

• You're pregnant or breastfeeding. No trial has studied it in pregnancy and no warning applies to the five plants, which isn't the same as evidence that it's safe. The alcohol in the standard drops is the practical concern.
• It's for a child. The one trial in children ran for three months with no safety concerns reported, and an alcohol-free format is the sensible choice.
• Your nerves are frequent or ongoing rather than the odd tense moment. That's worth a proper chat, and some herbs have done better than placebo in trials.
• If you take prescription medicine, check with your doctor, pharmacist or our naturopaths before you start.

• Rescue Remedy drops. Best known for: The original format: a few drops in a glass of water. Absorption: Not applicable. There's no meaningful dose to absorb. Typical use: Four drops in water is the amount most trials used. The drops are preserved in alcohol, which matters for kids, pregnancy and anyone avoiding alcohol.
• Rescue Remedy spray. Best known for: The same essences sprayed into the mouth, with no glass of water needed. Absorption: Not applicable. Typical use: A convenience choice. No trial has tested the spray on its own.
• Rescue Pastilles and other alcohol-free chewables. Best known for: No alcohol, and easy to take on the go. Absorption: Not applicable. Typical use: The alcohol-free way into the same tradition. No trial has tested this format.
• Individual Bach remedies (the 38). Best known for: A personal blend chosen for you, rather than the fixed five. Absorption: Not applicable. Typical use: The Bach Centre describes the crisis formula as being for immediate problems and suggests a personal blend for anything ongoing.

Reference values. There aren't any. Rescue Remedy isn't a nutrient, so there's no reference intake and no deficiency to correct.

Typical supplemental range. Follow the directions on the pack, as we haven't checked Australian pack directions for this page. In the published trials, the usual amount was four drops in water, from a single time up to four times a day for three months.

Upper level. Australia's permitted ingredients list (Schedule 1) sets no daily maximum for any of the five plants. With the standard drops, the practical limit is the alcohol base rather than the essences.

Worth knowing. What you need depends on your age, diet and health, so talk to one of our naturopaths.

Food first, where the diet allows it.

• None. The five plants aren't foods and aren't eaten as such: rescue Remedy has no dietary source, and it isn't something you can run low on

If any of these sound like you, talk to one of our naturopaths or your doctor before you start.

• You're using it instead of effective treatment. As Ernst noted in 2010, in severe illness this "could become life-threatening". It's the only serious risk with these remedies.
• You're pregnant or breastfeeding. There's no pregnancy data and no Schedule 1 warning either way, and the alcohol base is the practical issue. Get advice rather than assuming it's fine.
• Children. Schedule 1 sets no age limit, and one trial in children (3 months) reported no safety concerns. Alcohol-free formats are the better choice.
• You avoid alcohol, including if you're in recovery or for faith reasons. Standard drops are alcohol-based; we couldn't confirm the exact percentage.
• You're expecting a proven effect. Two systematic reviews found no benefit over placebo.
• Interactions with medicines. None were found in any source, and with no meaningful dose one is unlikely. The real risk is using it in place of treatment.