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Posted 3/9/2011 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
I'm ready to quit pharmaceuticals...they always stop working on me after about 6 months. I am sick and tired of changing meds; have tried everything and have decided to give something 'natural' a shot.

I had a dream about using medicines from plants for healing. It was a very spiritual dream and I know it was teaching me. I keep thinking of flowers and wanting to have them in my home. So I looked up flower remedies and discovered Bach's Flower Remedies. He uses the particular energy and vibration of 38 flowers to heal particular emotional states. He lived in the 30's.

He also has a rescue remedy that is a conglomeration of 5 flower extracts for extreme anxiety. I tried it yesterday and it took hours to work. I was a bit disappointed. Then I bought 3 bottles of other flowers and mixed them with water in a dropper bottle. It says it can take 1-12 weeks to heal any emotional problem.

Here's my concerns: Is my body so desensitized after years of 'hard' meds to even feel the flower essences?
and are they strong enough to combat Bipolar II ? I also question western meds and the way they fight the disease itself instead of the underlying reasons or problems the individual person.

I want to quit meds and try flowers!

Anyone has any success with this?
Posted 3/9/2011 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
I think it is a dangerous plan. Aromatherapies do have a positive effect; but to use them solely is risky and irresponsible.

Call your Dr., tell him/her your frustration and want to go off meds. And that you want to use CAM (Complementary Alternative Medicine).
Posted 3/9/2011 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
I am going to talk to my Pdoc...however I feel that meds are a frustrating mess. I think it irresponsible to keep trying the same thing over and over without seeking a better alternative. I think it's irresponsible to only listen to my pdoc about my Bipolar, instead of my own inner voice.

Bach flower remedies are not aromatherapy; they are ingested.

I've decided I don't want to 'have' Bipolar anymore. If I don't believe I 'have' it, then I won't. It make take weeks to eliminate the bodily manifestation of the illness as it is much denser than thought forms. But after time my body will heal and follow my thinking which says I am healthy and free of Bipolar.
Posted 3/9/2011 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Bach flower remedies do work as aromatherapy also. I used to have some and used it for anxiety. It was less effective than an anti-anxiety med, but more effective than nothing.

You cannot will yourself free of Bipolar. If it was possible, none of us would be here and the disease would not exist. None of us WANT to have bipolar symptoms!

I do identify with all your frustration and wanting to be off meds. I tried off meds - a resounding catastrophy. I was very angry about the last medication change I had. One more thing that won't work. Another 2 weeks of miserable side effects.

But it was the last part of a "cocktail" that works for me. I'm symptom-free. You never know when it will happen for you.

Tell me why flowers will be more effective than pharmaceuticals.
Posted 3/9/2011 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
I understand you are frustrated, but if you ignore bp, it will own you. and then you won't be calling the shots, bp will be.
Posted 3/10/2011 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
I understand your frustration with meds.  I have been on all but could not or would not tolerate effects/side effects.  It takes a while to get them out of your system.  I decided one day that I had had enough.  Please consult with your PDoc and a regular MD before you do anything, but this is what I do and I have gotten along OK.  First, do not waste your money buying a lot of different herbal remedies that claim to do this or that.  I have no doubts that in their natural state, (not in a plastic capsule in a plastic bottle sitting on the shelf for who knows how long) and ingested as a tea that they probably do have positive effects, they also can very easily have negative effects.  If you start mixing alot of products and still have pharma drugs in your system, you could get very sick.  Please be careful in this area.  I cleaned up my diet, very strictly, no caffeine, very little sugar, no restaurant food, not anything processed or microwavable, lots of water, fresh fruits and vegies, no alcohol. I still have swings but they are far less brutal.  You also have to find a way to stop negative thoughts (devirting your attention, etc).  I also exercise 30 minutes most everyday.  Now do not get me wrong, once a month I have to have a piece of pepperoni pizza, so I do it, then I do not feel like I am depriving myself.  Once you get use to eating like this, it will be very hard to enjoy nutrionally bad food.  I guess the point I am trying to make is clean up your diet, make the lifestyle changes (getting away from self pitying people) and get a Dr. that will listen to you and respect what you are trying to do.  If it does not work out for you and you have to go back on meds, at least you tried and probably educated yourself nicely long the way.  All the positive benefits from the above suggestions does not happen over night, it takes time.  You must be committed and keep your Dr. informed.

I hope this helps.

Gem

Posted 3/10/2011 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
I had similar experience as Gem but could not continue it. I do not know if I was in a hypomania (I don't *think* I was, but I'm often wrong). At some point I broke down - didn't have the self-control to keep going off meds. (I had seen my pdoc while I was off meds). I limped along for a while and had a major trigger and had to get back on meds FAST.

I believe, in theory, it can be done. But I think it is A LOT of mental work and not for most people. I hope that anyone interested would only try under Dr. supervision.

I know there is another person that also had results with major diet change and weaned off meds - both under Dr. supervision. But s/he will have to speak for his/her results. ;)

I don't know of anyone who has sucessfully done this for a long period.
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