Bach flower remedies: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials.
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.
Ernst
Edzard
E
Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter 25 Victoria Park Road, Exeter EX2 4NT, Devon, UK. edzard.ernst@pms.ac.uk
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D035264:Flowers; D006801:Humans; D008419:Materia Medica; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008419:Materia Medica; D010936:Plant Extracts