I took Rescue Remedy Night liquid melts every night for a week to see if they would help me sleep better. I also took the standard Rescue Remedy for a week during the daytime to see what effect that version would have.
Bach’s Rescue Remedy is an unusual alternative medicine that’s widely used around the world. However, reviews of scientific studies have found that it’s no better than a placebo (more on that in the evidence section further in the article).
Despite the lack of research evidence, it’s produced on a commercial level and even sold in supermarkets alongside established medicines.
In this article, I’ll be describing my experience of taking the two versions of Rescue Reemedy, and also when I came back to it seven years later.
After that, I’ll look at what the research evidence says about Bach Flower Remedies, and how it’s supposed to work exactly.
My experience
Small capsules with no smell or taste
The first thing to note is that the Rescue Remedy Night capsules are tiny, as you can see in the photo. They are quite fiddly to keep in your fingers, so people with finger sensitivity issues might find them a bit awkward.
The capsules have no discernible smell or taste. Compared to over the counter sleep aids containing smelly valerian, such as Sominex Herbal, this was very welcome. I also prefer the bland taste to gummy sleep aids, like ZzzQuil Pure Zzzs, which tend to have too much sugar for my liking.
I like the fact that they dissolve on your tongue, which will appeal to people who don’t like swallowing pills. Compared to some of the larger sleep aids, such as the oversized Physician’s Choice capsules, this makes them very easy to take.
Other than the small size then, the Rescue Remedy Night capsules are very convenient to take in comparison to many other sleep aids I’ve tried.
How I judge the effectiveness of sleep aids
I’ll be the first to admit that there is a lot of subjectivity in testing and writing about sleep aids. I can’t take them into a sleep clinic to get hooked up to all their gold standard testing gear, so I’m left to my own observations, along with the data from my wearable sleep tracker.
I always keep a manual sleep diary, which I write notes in when I wake up. And for this particular test, I also used my Fitbit Versa’s sleep tracking to get an idea of how I slept.
At the end of the day though, it can be very difficult to determine whether a sleep aid actually works, whether the placebo effect played a part, or whether it worked better than you think but you just didn’t notice the subtle effects.
Long story short – take my experience with a pinch of salt, because it’s just one person’s observations.
How I slept when taking Rescue Remedy Night
I would have loved to be able to say that the Rescue Remedy Night had a positive effect on my sleep, but I didn’t notice a significant improvement compared to how I was sleeping in the days leading up to trying it.
When I take a new sleep aid, I like to lie in bed reading for a good chunk of time (40 to 60 minutes) to see if I notice any drowsiness or other new sensations.
I didn’t feel particularly drowsy after taking the Rescue Remedy Night, and it certainly didn’t knock me out in the same way a strong pharmaceutical sleep aid would.
Having said that, I believe I slept reasonably well on four of the seven nights the week I took it, which made it a fairly normal week for me. It’s not the case that I slept well every night though, or that I fell asleep quickly after taking the Rescue Remedy Night.
As for my sleep tracker data, it showed the same results. Four nights were reasonably good, and the other three were slightly down on my nightly average over a longer period of time. And it didn’t appear to show that I was falling asleep any faster than normal, or any faster than the previous week in which I didn’t take any sleep aids.
So the reality is that I can’t say either way whether it helped or not. I got the same amount of sleep as the week before, with no noticeable improvements that I could observe, and no change in my sleep tracker data that would suggest I was sleeping any better.
No side effects
One good point about the Rescue Remedy Night capsules is that I had no noticeable side effects. I often get side effects from antihistamine sleep aids, such as a fuzzy head in the morning, dry mouth, headache or vivid dreams.
I was pleased to find that I had absolutely no side effects from Rescue Remedy, as it’s always a nuisance when you feel groggy in the morning after taking a sleep aid.
Stress levels
I can’t say I felt any less stressed in the first week I took the Rescue Remedy. No sense of untouchable calm descended upon me, and I continued to find the main factors in my life that had been stressing me out equally stressful.
Normal Rescue Remedy
After the first week, I decided to try
Once again, I can’t say that I noticed anything different though, either to my sleep or how stressed I felt.
Seven years later – a repeat test
I first wrote this article in 2015, and seven years later in 2022 I decided to buy another pack of Rescue Night to see if it would be any different.
Sadly not. Once again, they didn’t appear to make me feel sleepy, and didn’t help me feel any less stressed – not as far as I could tell anyway. Maybe I’ve just immune to the placebo effect…
My conclusion
Rescue Remedy appears to do nothing for me personally. I’ve tried the standard Rescue Remedy and Rescue Night – twice, seven years apart – and had no results that suggest it was worth spending my money on (I bought them and didn’t receive them for free to review).
That said, the fact that they are so easy to take and didn’t give me any side effects raises one interesting point: if you are the kind of person who is susceptible to the placebo effect to the extent that you’ll sleep better after taking something you believe will help, then you could arguably do a lot worse than the comparatively gentle ingredients contained in the tiny Rescue Remedy capsules.
I almost wish I were that kind of person, as I could do with a stand-by sleep aid that doesn’t leave me feeling groggy the next day!
Many people do say it helps them, and that’s great. Sites like Amazon have many customer reviews saying it helps, there are plenty of comments at the end of this article from people saying it helps, and I have a couple of friends who have tried to convince me I’m a cynical skeptic and that it does work!
So I’ll leave you to make your own mind up about Rescue Remedy, but stand by my personal opinion that there are more effective options out there for me.
What evidence is there that Rescue Remedy works?
In 2010, British researchers published a research paper reviewing clinical trials of Bach Flower Remedies. They analyzed six placebo-controlled studies and found no support that it works, saying in their paper:
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.
Edzard Ernst
Furthermore, researchers in Austria came to a similar conclusion in their 2009 study, saying:
Most of the available evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of BFRs (Bach Flower Remedies) has a high risk of bias… Our analysis of the four controlled trials of BFRs for examination anxiety and ADHD indicates that there is no evidence of benefit compared with a placebo intervention.
Thaler et. al.
The same researchers also go on to conclude that the current evidence suggests Bach Flower Remedies are no more effective for psychological issues than a placebo, but are probably safe.
However, they caution that even this conclusion is made with “a high level of uncertainty” due to the lack of methodologically sound trials.
No evidence it helps with cancer
On a final note about evidence, if you’re considering taking Rescue Remedy while undergoing cancer treatment, I highly recommend reading the article about essence therapy at cancerresearch.org.
They point out that although essence therapy is safe to use, “Essences do not prevent, control, or cure cancer or any other physical condition.”
Having been through cancer myself, I’m very aware of the many alternative treatments out there. While I think it’s a good idea to find additional ways to help you through the journey, I also think it’s important to pay attention to what the experts say.
Why do so many people say it helps them?
With a lack of peer-reviewed conclusive evidence that Rescue Remedy works, why is it that so many people say it helps them?
At the time of writing, there are 8,153 customer ratings on Amazon.com for the standard Rescue Remedy dropper, scoring an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars. 77% are five star ratings, and just 4% are one star. Some clearly love it, calling it “Absolutely amazing”, whereas others are distinctly less impressed, calling it “Snake oil”.
Interestingly, Rescue Night scores slightly less, with 4.2 out of 5 stars from 4,470 customer ratings. 8% gave it one star this time, so I wonder if people have higher expectations when it comes to their sleep rather than daytime use?
Since I first published this article, many readers have shared both positive and negative experiences in the comments below (thank you – please keep them coming!). Some interesting positive comments are from people who found it helps their dogs. If a dog doesn’t know it’s getting a medicine, how can it be the placebo effect?
I spoke to a dog trainer to get his opinion about this. His view is that it’s likely the owner is transmitting their own placebo effect – the dog is likely to feel calmer when the owner is too.
Further information
Ingredients
The ingredients of the Rescue Night version that I described in my experience above are:
- Prunus cerasifera HPUS (Crab Apple)
- Clematis vitalba HPUS (Clematis)
- Impatiens glandulifera HPUS (Impatiens)
- Helianthemum nummularium HPUS (Rock Rose)
- Ornithogalum umbellatum HPUS (Star of Bethlehem)
- Aesculus hippocastanum HPUS (White Chestnut)
- Carnauba wax
- Coconut oil
- Gelatin (fish)
- Grapeseed oil
- Orange oil
- Natural vanilla flavor
- Pectin
- Sorbitol
The standard Rescue Remedy, which I took after my first week’s test of the Night version, contains the following ingredients:
- Impatiens glandulifera HPUS (Impatiens)
- Ornithogalum umbellatum HPUS (Star of Bethlehem)
- Prunus Cerasifera (Cherry Plum)
- Helianthemum nummularium HPUS (Rock Rose)
- Clematis vitalba HPUS (Clematis)
- 27% grape-based brandy
Note that Rescue Remedy contains alcohol, but Rescue Night does not. Rescue Plus is another version that doesn’t contain alcohol.
Possible side effects
When I bought mine, there was no information included about possible side effects to expect. My view then is that if you feel unwell after taking Rescue Remedy, you should stop taking it and seek medical advice immediately.
If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, thinking of giving it to a child, or taking any other medication, I always think it’s wise to consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any sleep aid.
What is Rescue Remedy?
Rescue Remedy is the most famous of many remedies sold under the brand Bach Flower Remedies. They were developed by Edward Bach, an English homeopath, in the 1930s.
According to information on the website Rescueremedy.com (not a sponsored link – none are in this article), Rescue Remedy isn’t technically a remedy, but a blend of five different remedies. The idea is that it’s a one-size-fits-all solution when you’re in need of some help with stress or anxiety.
And that’s where I think the name ‘Rescue Remedy’ itself is genius. It’s interesting to read discussions about it on sites like the mumsnet.com forums. You’ll find people admitting they were attracted to the name or the tagline of ‘comfort and reassurance’.
Whether you have an important event, like your driving test or a key exam, or are just in need of a little help with the stresses of daily life, Rescue Remedy is on hand to help you get through it.
When you look at one of the several websites which use the brand name Bach Remedies, you’ll find information about how the individual ingredients are supposed to help.
If you search online, you’ll find more than one website that looks like it could be the official Bach Remedies website. To be honest, it’s so confusing, I’m not even sure if there is one official website, or several!
Looking around, I’ve found some of the explanations to be very esoteric. I consider myself to be fairly open-minded person, but I find some explanations lack a bit of substance, such as this excerpt for Cherry Plum on bachflower.com:
For those who fear losing control of their thoughts and actions and doing things they know are bad for them or which they consider wrong. Teaches trust in one’s spontaneous wisdom and the courage to follow one’s path.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a little cynical at times, but I try my best to keep an open mind to counteract it. Still, this explanation left me wondering exactly how a Rescue Remedy capsule would ‘teach me to trust in my own wisdom’.
Explanations like that feel more like unused segments of the Matrix movie script than an explanation for how a health product bought in a supermarket would help me.
How exactly does Rescue Remedy work?
After reading about the individual ingredients, I needed to know more. And that same website offers an interesting account:
The Bach Flower Remedies…gently restore the balance between mind and body by casting out negative emotions such as fear, worry, hatred and indecision which interfere with the equilibrium of the being as a whole. The Bach Flower Remedies allow peace and happiness to return to the sufferer so that the body is free to heal itself.
And that’s it. In the FAQ section, this is the full explanation for how Rescue Remedy works its wonders.
How Bach himself worked
To find out more, I turned to the Wikipedia entry and several other websites with articles about the origins of Bach’s flower remedies and how they work.
Here’s a curious quote explaining how Bach himself actually worked:
Rather than using research based on scientific methods, Bach derived his flower remedies intuitively and based on his perceived psychic connections to the plants. If Bach felt a negative emotion, he would hold his hand over different plants, and if one alleviated the emotion, he would ascribe the power to heal that emotional problem to that plant.
So the bottom line, apparently, is that Rescue Remedy works by transmitting the flower’s energy or vibrational nature to you. This positive energy can then help heal conditions which involve negative energy, such as anxiety or stress.
How Bach Remedies are made
One of the most useful sources of information I’ve found about Bach Flower Remedies is the official Bach Center in Mount Vernon, England. The center still exists in the place where the remedies used to be made in the past by Dr. Bach.
They explain how they used to make the Rescue Remedy at the center where they grow the plants, but demand outgrew capacity and they partnered with a company called Nelsons, which is now responsible for bottling. That’s also why some of the Bach websites selling the remedies online are run by Nelsons.
The Bach Center now focuses on education instead, and they have some interesting explanations for how Bach Remedies are made on the Bach Center website. They explain how there are two methods: the sun method and the boiling method.
Both involve transferring the plants’ energy to water using heat. The energised water is filtered to create a mother tincture, which is in turn diluted further to create the product that ends up in the customer’s hands.
If you’d like to learn more about the Remedies, I recommend taking a look at their website. They have information about all 38 Bach Flower Remedies discovered by Dr. Bach. If you’re in the UK, you can even visit the center if you book in advance.
Final thoughts
My personal experience means I’m not totally convinced by Rescue Remedy, but I can see why it appeals to many people. There’s a very simple reason why major supermarkets keep stocking it: people keep buying it.
Personally, I’m a believer in the power of the placebo effect. I know from personal experience that chamomile tea relaxes me, despite only limited evidence that it has strong sedative properties.
I think in that case it’s partly the relaxing ritual which goes with it. Simply taking time out helps me relax. Could it be that a similar thing happens with Rescue Remedy?
Perhaps by planting the idea in your mind that you’re going to be ‘rescued’ and receive a feeling of ‘comfort and reassurance’, your mind and body will meet you half way.
Ultimately, I think it boils down to personal belief and choice. The universe is a mysterious place, so I don’t think there’s any harm in trying Rescue Remedy yourself. And if the placebo effect works for you, with no side effects and minimal expense, then who am I to convince you not to try it.
Your opinion
I’d love to hear your opinion about Rescue Remedy. Have you tried it before? Did it have any effect? Please leave a comment below with your thoughts about it.
Howdy Ethan,
Thanks for the review. I’m a long term sufferer of anxiety and insomnia mostly due to night shifts. I’ve been eating the pastilles for a while now and I’ve been unsure of anything bar a placebo effect. Although I can report a similar experience to a previous one I’ve seen here. Eating an entire tub of pastilles in a short period does seem to have an odd effect. I’m guessing the ingredients themselves do have an extremely weak sedative effect which results in predominantly placebo like state of relaxation. Ordinarily, when consuming the recommended dosage the effect is not actually a noticeable feeling like barbiturates or a sleeping pill. It’s more of an inability to become agitated or anxious in situations that would normally call for it. I’d be interested to read your experience in eating an entire container. More so if it suppresses your ability to become stressed or anxious rather than a noticeable feeling. Also same thing can be reported using alot more of the spray than recommended.
Kind regards,
Chris
Hi Chris
Thanks for your comment and for sharing your experience. Although I regularly test sleep aids, I’m not keen on the idea of taking an entire pack at once as an experiment! Even though I don’t personally think it would do much, it would still be a bit irresponsible of me to do that kind of test and write about it.
My opinion on what you say is that it’s likely to be a scaled-up placebo effect.
Regards
Ethan
Can I use rescue remedy for my 2 yr 4 months child for ADHD…
Hi Robinson
It’s not my place to advise you on giving any remedies to your child. I recommend checking the guidance from the manufacturer, and asking your personal doctor/physician for their advice.
Regards
Ethan
I am taking anti depressant meds (lexapro) is it safe to take rescue remedy while on anti dep meds?
Hi Yeth
Thanks for your comment. It’s not for me to say if it’s safe or not for you. If you’re unsure, I’d check with your personal doctor.
Regards
Ethan
I have been tracking my sleep on Fitbit, wanting to improve my Deep And REM sleep. Placebo or not (although at least consciously I didn’t expect it to do anything) for the first time in weeks i reached the average levels for my group and gender age! Yay! I therefore conclude that it does work for me.
Hi Kasia
Thanks for your comment. If you plan on continuing to take the Rescue Remedy, it will be interesting to hear back from you to see if that sleep tracking data remains constant, or was a coincidence. And then if you stop taking it, if the data changes again after a week or two.
Regards
Ethan
Hi I’m not a fan of these so-called remedies. So I’ll tell you an unbiased nonplacebo effect on me.
I have had a tin of rescue remedy pastilles in the cupboard for a few years. A flatmate left them behind. Anyway, in afternoon I had a craving for something sweet, I searched the pantry and found the tin. I then proceeded to eat the whole tin as they were yummy.
After about an hour I was feeling tired and very disoriented. Like I had been given a sleeping pill.
So without being biased or taking because I thought it would work placebo effect.
How to explain that!
Hi Diane
Thanks for your comment. It’s kind of a strange thing you describe here – didn’t you see on the label that they weren’t sweets??
And after a few years, they shouldn’t have worked any more as sleep aids and herbal remedies lose their potency.
As to why you felt tired, who knows. Maybe it was a coincidence and you were just tired that day anyway. Maybe your brain had a different placebo – a satiation effect from thinking it had just eaten a whole tin of yummy sweets, thus releasing happy hormones in your brain, making you feel sleepy. But really, I’m just throwing some guesses out there.
Be careful what you eat a whole tin of next time – if it had been a stronger sleeping pill, you might have ended up in hospital.
Regards
Ethan
Why did I have nose bleeding after 3rd day of consuming?
Hi Eunice
I don’t know – it might have been something completely unrelated and you are associating the two things incorrectly. But if you’re worried about your nose bleed, and the safety of rescue remedy, the best step is to talk to your personal doctor about it.
Regards
Ethan
My granddaughter (5 years old) took the drops two nights in a row and immediately had nose bleeds. The company said they had never heard of that.
Hi
I’m wondering if there are any side effects like weaker memory after long term consuming the rescue sleep? I have been taking it for the past 1 week so I’m worrying that this may lead to a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Kindly please advice.
Thank you and appreciate ^^
Hi Eunice
Thanks for your comment. From what I know about it, I don’t think you have anything to worry about! I’ve never seen anything to suggest it can cause memory problems or other serious side effects. And personally, knowing what the ingredients are, I very much doubt it will do anything bad to you.
Regards
Ethan
I’ve used rescue Remedy for a long time for day and night. It’s brilliant and a lifesaver and enables me to sleep well with no nightmares. I’m looking for a kids version for my 3 1/2 year old granddaughter who has never had a proper nights sleep. She wakes 2 or 3 times screaming and crying and we wonder if she has nightmares. Can you advise please?
Hi Sharon
Thanks for your comment and for sharing your experience. I don’t think there is a kid’s version, at least not that I know of. Perhaps you could go their website and contact them to ask if it’s ok to give it to her.
Regards
Ethan
I’ve just returned from Paris and I bought a kids version for my daughter who is anxious about flying. Not sure if it’s available in other countries but worth having a look
I used Bach Star of Bethlehem before, taking it internally upset my system but rubbing a little behind my ears and/or on the inside of my wrist was calming. Can I do the same with Rescue Remedy when I go to bed?
Hi Marion
Thanks for your comment. To be honest, I don’t know. It’s not what the instructions advise, but I can’t personally think of a reason it would do harm. It just probably wouldn’t do much!
Regards
Ethan
I have found this product great and it really works. I am just getting over the bacterial flu that is going around, and was really sick with it. i coughed so hard, i burst a blood vessel in my nose, and since i am on Blood thinners i lost an awful lot of blood, the doctor could not stop the bleeding, so he had to pack my nose.
Due to all the blood loss, when i came home i was hyperventilating so badly, and it woke me up at night. it was so bad i felt i couldn’t breathe, so i took my Rescue Remedy and have been taking it all day. it certainly does help with the hyperventilating because it relaxes me, i have not been hyperventilating since and will continue to take it.
Hi Daria
Thanks for your comment. It sounds like you had a very unpleasant experience there! I hope you recover quickly.
Regards
Ethan
Well similar to above on 19/02/18 I started heavy coughing over night and by 21/02/18 I had full blown chest infection.I could not sleep at night for about 10 weeks just an odd night here and there and a doze off some times mainly up walking the floors of my home. My GP gave me antibiotics started to work but needed more antibiotics. In all from 21/02/18 to 23/04/18 I was given 4 different antibiotics and a nasal spray to heal my sinus said that would take 2 months to clear . During this period of not sleeping I was hyperventilating and found one of my medications for irregular heart beat was affected by what was going on probably all the antibiotics My heart rate crashed to 32 beats per minute and I was admitted to hospital over night and taken off the drug which cause this heart rate collapse. not sleeping all this time I tried allsorts of over the counter remedies as my GP didn’t want to prescribe sleeping pills. Most contain Valerian but didn’t work for me. I’ve been taking Rescue Night drops for about 1 week now to 16/05/18 and they seem to have worked for the last week anyway.I also take blood thinners and had some slight nose bleeds during this time,. Sleeplessness was particularly bad for me as at 70 years I have never had any form of sleeplessness.
Hi Roger
Thanks for your comment and for sharing your experience with Rescue Remedy. It sounds like you’ve really been through it. I hope you recover fully and quickly.
Regards
Ethan
Hi Ethan, I came across this review as I am researching natural ways to develop better sleeping habits and ultimately be able to improve the quality of my sleep. I liked the review and I think there was a good attempt to give it a go and test any potential benefits in spite of the lack of scientific evidence to back up the product’s claims. I’m definitely in two minds about natural products versus prescription medications. There seems to be a belief amongst some that all pharmaceuticals are bad and all natural products are good, but I don’t think that is the case. Some natural products can be harmful either directly or indirectly, and some can be extremely beneficial, the same goes for pharmaceuticals. I absolutely believe that natural products can support health and wellbeing, perhaps even cure some conditions or illnesses, and I would much prefer something natural for anxiety related issues given that most if not all related pharmaceuticals come with a barrage of side effects which often exacerbate anxiety.
With respect of rescue remedy, I have severe anxiety and PTSD, and I tried rescue remedy, and really really wanted it to work for me. Sadly it had no effect whatsoever. I suspect that any benefits whether placebo or actual would be for much milder forms of my affliction, notwithstanding that placebo can be very powerful depending on the individual’s belief system.
Hi Kurani
Thanks for your comment and your kind words. I’ve had a few comments criticizing my attitude towards the product, so it’s nice to hear from someone who doesn’t think I was set out to rubbish it from the start. I actually really wanted it to work too, as I usually prefer to avoid strong pharmaceuticals, and plant-based products usually appeal to me more. But as you and I both discovered, it just didn’t do much. As you say, for some people the placebo might work wonders. But not for me.
Regards
Ethan
Dear PTSD,
DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH, but Neurofeedback worked for me. It did take about 10 sessions to feel the positive effects, and about 20 to start making a real difference, and it can be abou $100/session, but some clinics have a take home option, and it’s getting cheaper as it’s getting better known. Neurofeedback works for anxiety, depression, bipolar, ADD, ADHD, and they’re doing studies now for other brain-related issues such as Alzheimer’s & Parkinson.
I also personally know at least 4 other patients with trauma that it has changed their lives and allowed them to return to work and lead normal lives.
Best wishes in your struggles.
I tried this some years ago and was surprised that it seemed to work but then looked at the ingredients and saw that it was based on brandy so I tried just having a very small amount of brandy (cognac actually) and found that it worked the same for me.
I would be more interested in seeing how a small a dose of brandy would work and given that it would seem to be the only active ingredient then it may just be easier to have shot when needed with the main question being how much is enough to get a good sleep and how much is too much.
I think it helps me because of the strong flavour. Like having a mint or chewing ginger helps with car sickness.
I have this but what if u sprayed it in ur mouth too much, in one go, it says to only have 2 sprays but what if u did it over 10 or 20 times? Could u die? Or go unconscious? And would u need to be in hospital? Is it a serious matter ?
Hi Keira
I don’t think anything bad can happen from 10 sprays of rescue remedy.
Regards
Ethan
I’m an anxious person, so was my mother and my adult daughter isalso. My mother took rescue remedy & it worked for her. I took it when my children were young & I wouldstress ,also I took it during menopause which I suffered badly fromfor 13 years, and it was a lifesaver as far as I am concerned & today @ 76 I still take it whenecessary . My daughter, on the other hand says it doesn’t wrk for her.i wouldn’t be without it and while in Australia I found they make r.r. In pastilles which are easy to suck so I’m a huge believer In Rescue Remedy
Hi Shona
Thanks for your comment and for sharing your positive experience. It’s always useful to hear from people who do get good results from a sleep aid.
Regards
Ethan
You should review Yogi Bedtime Tea if you haven’t already. It knocks me out, like can’t even finish the cup, don’t know what hit me, knocks me out. We sent it to my fiance’s family in Russia they didn’t realize it was for sleep, drank it in the morning and said they could barely make it to work. It’s one of the few herbal remedies that consistently has the same effect on me too, night after night. It must be some synergistic effect in the formula as I have experimented with most of those herbs individually for one reason or another without the same effects.
Hi Brandon
Thanks for your comment. I love Yogi tea too, and do talk about it in my article about bedtime teas!
Regards
Ethan
Just wondering, why does this product ask you to spray on the top and bottom of tongue? What happens if you spray and swallow the content and drink water?
I imagine it’s to do with absorption into your system.
I am diagnosed with mental illness and prescribed heavy dosage of antipsychotic medication including zeldox. I noted that once every 1-2 months on a random night I would be unable to relax to fall asleep. My legs tremor and cannot relax. I tried spray my tongue with the Rescue product but didn’t seem to note the effect immediately. Its already 2am, so I just took the sleeping pill prescribed by my psychiatrist. About 1-2 hours later I was knocked out and slept. I dont know if it is the effect of the spray or the sleeping pills, but I hope I wont become dependent on the pill or the spray
Hi Plumtart
Thanks for your comment. I imagine if you were knocked out, it was the sleeping pill. Perhaps taking the rescue remedy had an effect in one way or another too. But a strong knock-out is not what rescue remedy is capable of.
Regards
Ethan
I take two melts every night it does help me to relax n get to sleep ,but I still waken up a few times ,but it helps a lot
Ethan
You seem to have a negative approach to this subject. If it works for people that is positive and should be treated so. Who is bothered about clinical tests and all that. If it works it works
Hi David
Thanks for your comment. When I write reviews I try to tell it how it is – both in my experience and with background research where I feel necessary. And sometimes that means a negative review. It’s the same for anyone who writes reviews.
Admittedly I usually don’t linger too long on the negatives, but in this case I feel it was important to point out to my readers some key background information.
You might be surprised to hear that there are in fact a lot of people who are bothered about clinical tests – myself included. The percentage of my readers who click on links I include to research studies is very high.
I recommend thinking about doing the same rather than just taking a product because the manufacturer says it works.
Regards
Ethan
I studied a science degree into animal nutrition and I have to disagree on the placebo point you made. Plants are proven in many scientific peer reviewed papers to be effective for many ailments. Is it that different from mould being a well used ingredient in antibiotics? Most western medicines can be traced back to their plant origins if you dig deep enough. If plants can poison you they can also heal you!
I have used (with great success) herbal supplements for years with horses, dogs, my children and myself and there is a very obvious reason why they seem to show greater effect in the animal world…they dont research and subsequently doubt any benefits. As a placebo is known to work to make someone better, it is also known that negativity breeds negativity. If someone calls you stupid enough times you will (even if just fleetingly) doubt your intelligence. I put to you firstly a week is not enough time to ascertain the benefits of a cumulative product and the fact that you immeditly tried to find fault through research didnt allow you to feel for benefits. Cumulative supplements take time but in my experience (also tested on police hotses and dogs) they work.
Hi Tai
Thanks for your comment. I don’t doubt that some herbal supplements can be effective. I just don’t have much faith in this particular one, or various others that are meant to work in a similar way. In terms of research, I usually look into the products I try. It’s not about specifically looking for fault though – it’s just that that’s what I found!
Regards
Ethan
Well said and my thoughts precisely. Natural medicines are valuable and work well as an adjunct therapy to pharmaceuticals also.
I have anxiety. I tried a million different remedies incl medication from my doctor and nothing really worked. On my way to the city in peak traffic I had a very bad anxiety attack. The day before I bought resque remedy. I used it and immediate my panic was gone. The first time ever that a panic attacked stopped without splashing ice cold water in my face. I am still using it.
Hi Riaan
Thanks for your comment. It’s good to hear from someone who has a positive experience with Rescue Remedy.
Regards
Ethan
Hi. Just wanted to say that a friend of mine’s dog has crazy anxiety for car rides. He gives him a couple sprays now before going in the car, and he’s calm. I just bought it for myself but after reading your review, I’m a bit discouraged. I hope it works (placebo or otherwise lol)
Hi Karyl-Lyn
Thanks for your comment. Yes, I know my review isn’t very positive at all. To be honest, I really don’t understand how it can possibly help animals. My only thought is that perhaps it makes the owner feels more in control and calm, believing they have something that can help their pets. And the animals then perceive that calmness and lack of usual edginess that people sometimes transmit to their pets. I’m sure the dog whisperer from the TV would say something like that!
Anyway, let me know if you find it helps you or not. Even if it is placebo, that can have a surprisingly powerful effect!
Regards
Ethan
bach flowers &homeopathic mostly acts on oversensitive person
taking only rescue remady for all problems /situation is wrong
Hi Ethan,
I do not have any personal experience of rescue remedy but I do have some information for you which I hope you find useful.
To really begin to understand how homeopathy works you have to delve into the world of energy medicine and the interesting world of quantum physics, and to recognize that at the most basic level we are an information and energy system.
The material world disappears completely….. this is not woo woo but a scientific fact. Once you get into the world of sub atomic particles and beyond matter simply ceases to exist and all you are left with is empty space.
So delve into the world of quantum mechanics to start with. Also look up the history and discoveries of one of India’s greatest scientists, Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose and his work with plants and other materials and how they responded to different stimuli such as thoughts, intentions, physical trauma etc….makes fascinating reading…….and this goes back as early as the late 1800’s.
You could also get a copy of Christopher Birds book, The Secret Life of Plants, and discover amazing research about plants and energy, and information, that has been going on for centuries.
Also Professor Keith Scott Mumbie’s book, Medicine Beyond, is a major eye opener and a great intro to this world of energy,…..there is a huge amount of research being done around the world in all these amazing areas by very qualified scientists. It has been going on for centuries.
The answers you are seeking will not be found at the materialist level because it ignores the fundamental fact that everything in this universe runs on information, order and energy. Life is an electromagnetic phenomena.
You have to leave Newton behind and walk into the amazing world of quantum mechanics and consciousness………..as Einstein said…”all matter is condensed energy.”
This is the area which will begin to give you legitimate answers…..hope you make the leap.
All the best
Greg
Hi Greg
Thanks for your comment and for sharing these ideas. I do know of the area you talk about, and accept that the universe is a complex thing which still has many unanswered questions and much to discover still. I don’t doubt that. You’re right in that the materials you mention do make fascinating reading. When I was a vegetarian I was once presented with that book by a friend who thought it would be funny to challenge my principles with evidence that plants have emotions! However, at the end of the day, despite being fascinating, many of these ideas just haven’t been replicated, which makes it hard for me to accept them.
Regards
Ethan
Hello. I have just been giving my daughter of almost four, the rescue night spray for app. 5-6 nights. The last two nights she have been waking up crying and opening herself up, about how she have felt it during the divorce from her father. She cried so much and really told so many detailed things, that I could not belive it. I comforted her and told her she was brave and amazing. I thought tonight i would research about these effects, as i know, that homeoptahic medicine can open up for the trauma/sickness, that one is suffering from. I first didnt put the two things together, as I just wanted to give her something that she could have a well rested night with, but after the second time her crying started i had the thought if it was the medicine. I will not give her more the next days, but then try again. I see it as a good sign and my darling will be heard from the bottom of her heart. Many greetings to all
Hi Aquarius
Thanks for your comment. Whether or not the rescue remedy helped her open up is hard to say, but the important thing is that she did. Perhaps it was also the extra love and attention she felt from you? You could also try experimenting by not giving her the remedy, but still giving her extra attention and seeing if she continues to open up.
Regards
Ethan
I’ve used Bach Rescue Remedy and it worked for me.
And I am convinced it really does work, not just a placebo, because family and friends have given it to their children, (without the children knowing), and it helped all of them in various ways.
Also I have used it on my two dogs, who presumably don’t know about placebos, and it worked on them too.
I love it! :)
Hi Laura
Thanks for your comment. It’s good that you feel it helps you! I’m curious as to what effect you feel it had on your dogs?
Regards
Ethan
Hi Ethan, my mother in law has taken herself off her anti depression medication and replaced them with Rescue Remedy. We are all concerned because it is so very close to Christmas and I’m sure she should not be stopping her prescribed meds without first consulting her GP.
Thought please?
Hi Carol
Thanks for your comment. Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply – I hope you have found a solution to the issue by now – how did she do over Christmas?
Regards
Ethan
Hi Ethan,
Thank you for your review and for this site. I believe you are bang on with everything you wrote. I too have suffered from insomnia for years and have tried many products. Interestingly enough, the first few times I tried Rescue Night, I actually slept well. I then made the mistake of researching the product and just how it works. I was less than impressed by the lack of science just as I imagine you were. I had stopped using this product all together because it did not seem to work as well after the research (lol go figure), however, as I have an almost full box, I’m going to try it again. There is a tremendous psychological factor attached to this kind of “remedy”. Whether or not a person understands the concept of the placebo effect and perhaps just believes that some guy who knew about flowers made something magical, if their brain lets them sleep then great. Sometimes it’s the psychology that makes the difference, not the science. So long as the product doesn’t do them any harm, I have no problem with that. I’ll bet you agree. I’ll bet that anyone who has gone more than a few nights in a row without significant sleep would agree.
Thanks again,
Rick
Hi Rick
Thanks for your comment, and I’m glad you like the site. I do actually agree with you in the most part. When I first found out how it worked, I was amazed that something like that was allowed to be sold in shops. Then I remembered that you can find tarot card readers telling people’s fortunes on national television, and people who pay a premium telephone number, so it shouldn’t surprise me that much!
At the end of the day, I guess if it does no harm, and people do find it helps then there’s perhaps nothing wrong with that. As you say, the mind is an amazing thing and I think sometimes just feeling like we have something external helping us can go a long way. And I also guess it wouldn’t work if people went to the shops and saw a brand called “placebo sleep aid”. Unless, of course, they didn’t know what placebo was.
I know my comment might sound flippant to some, especially those who believe in – or have a work interest in – Bach flower remedies. At the end of the day, there’s definitely some truth to what you say – if people who struggle to sleep find it helps, that’s the main thing.
Regards
Ethan
My husband died suddenly and unexpectally in my arms 1 month ago. I am stressed to the max. I will try Bach Rescue Night Liquid Melts tonight. Will be the first time I’ve tried anything like this. Will be interesting to see if it works.
Hi Donna
Thanks for your comment. I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I can only imagine how you must feel. Hopefully they will help in a way. Have you also considered taking something natural which does have a stronger evidence base for its efficacy, such as a Valerian product? You might find that helps keep some stress at bay. I’d also highly recommend speaking to a grievance counselor if you can access one.
Regards
Ethan
Very sad to hear that..hope you are doing ok there!
Hi I tried rescue remedy for my driving test and Its worked !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I have passed my driving test today. Like all medicines I had some after affect such as headache and moody .I still used it to try and I am pleased I did.
Hi Gurwinder
Thanks for your comment. Congratulations!
Regards
Ethan
i have insomnia anxiety stress i tried rescue remedy sleep and white chestnut before sleep i slept trough the night that made me very happy i am using it already a few months it made me a great believer in bach flower remedies if it helped me it can help anybody PAULA P
Hi Paula
Thanks for your comment. It’s good to hear from people who had a difference experience from me, and I’m sure other readers will appreciate it.
Regards
Ethan
Hi Ethan,
Interesting read as I just purchased the Rescue Remedy Pastilles after reading many positive reviews. I suffer from anxiety disorder and am hoping this product will help me when I’m having a bad anxiety day. I just took one for the first time so we shall see what happens! I am a big believer in trying natural remedies before drugs so I hope it works!
Hi Abby
Thanks for your comment. It would be interesting to hear back from you in a few days when you’ve had a chance to see if it works for you or not. Even though I didn’t have much success with rescue remedy personally, I agree that it’s a good thing if we can find a natural solution before taking stronger meds.
Regards
Ethan
Interestingly enough I’ve just tried Rescue Remedy for the second time in my life. I suffer from ME/Chronic Fatigue, which means that my system is in a constant state of chronic stress and anxiety, and depressive thought cycles, which manifest as some of the less pleasant symptoms. Being thoroughly skeptical, I tried it once using the dose stated on the pack, and I didn’t notice any change whatsoever. Little over a year later and I’ve just tried again, as my partner had a bottle lying around the house. This time I used three times the recommended dose (basically, two and a half droppers on the tongue), and to my immense surprise, it really took the edge off my anxiety and stress, which resulted in my thought patterns returning to normal. That was three weeks ago, and I’m still testing this out now. So far, so good. It’s not a ‘miracle cure’, for me at least, but it actually is taking the edge off and allowing me to carry on with my daily life, in a way that SSRI medication never did. I’ve heard a lot of rumours about the alcohol level being the only ‘active’ ingredient in Rescue Remedy, but I would have to say that this is false, as alcohol in any average quantity actually makes my symptoms worse (as well as forcing other non regular symptoms to emerge). It’s an interesting one. I’ll keep experimenting. As of right now, it gets my vote.
Hi Raye
Thanks for your comment. It’s good to hear from someone who finds rescue remedy really helps them. Whether it’s real or just a placebo doesn’t really matter in my opinion. If it helps you feel more on top of things, that’s all that counts!
Regards
Ethan
Hello
My son 5yo has SPD and ADD.I needed to start with something before getting into medicine , so I decided to give it a try ..it worked for him ! And he doesn’t know about placebo :)))
He is calmed now, relaxed, you can sit with him and talk and he listens ! This drops changed this family for better …Definitely would recommend for kids
Hi Nancy
Thanks for your comment. It’s great that it’s helping your son. One thing to note though is that not knowing about placebo makes it even more likely that it will work! If he thinks he’s being given something which will help, but doesn’t understand that some things help just because you think they will, then it’s even more powerful. I imagine you could probably switch out the remedy for pure water and it might have the same effect. Give it a go and see if it keeps working…
Regards
Ethan
Hi,great post – open to unbiased discussion. I have been trying Bach remedies in many cases during my therapies. My experience shows that Bach remedies work wonder on children and animals. Also, on adults where problem seems not ‘deep’. I have given Rescue spray to a woman who went into great panic and fear in the moment of losing control over a boat with people on a board. That was a moment of life and death for her. I gave her few sprays of Rescue (the only medicine I had with me) put her back to herself and she was smiling and joking in 5 min!
When people have long standing emotional problems, i.e. insomnia due to family/work problems, self image/perception, grief for month or years – Bach remedies seems to help less. To be more correct, the may have worked at the beginning, but looses its effectiveness after.
What Bach did not mention is that the power of the remedy must be greater than the degree of “illness”, which could be emotions, fears, loss of sleep, control, etc.
Therefore, there is no discussion on does Rescue help or not, all depends on circumstances of the case.
When Bach remedies fails, I suggest to find good classical homeopath, who works with high potentized homeopathic remedies and prescribe single doses (not combination, those are low potencies).
Hi Natasha
Thanks for your comment, and compliment about the article. And thank you for adding your views – as you say, I do like to have open discussions after the articles, so it’s good to hear from people who have a positive attitude towards a topic in cases where I perhaps don’t.
Regards
Ethan
I’ve just bought night spray remedies and tried it. Don’t know yet but I think it works.
I also ordered star of bethel and will try it tomorrow.
I suffer from anxiety.
Hi Clint
Thanks for your comment. Let me know how you find it in a few days time if you get the chance to come back. It’s always interesting to hear from people about how they got on with remedies, especially if they have a different experience from mine.
Regards
Ethan
What is Star of Bethel? Tried googling it but couldn’t find it.
I bought rescue remedy today as I have a driving test tomorrow. I have heard so much about it was colleagues that have tried it and claimed it to being this wonder remedy, so thought I’d give it a try.
I am very sensitive to most stimulates and recreation drugs so a perfect person to experiment on, as I don’t need too much to feel the effects. Also I do suffer with anxiety now and then and have very bad PMT.
Well, I took the day rescue remedy about an hour ago, four drops on my tongue and I felt the effects after 2 minute. I felt as throw id had a glass of wine, then I likened it to feeling like being on my nicotine patches, feeling high on nicotine; that kind of spaced out feeling. Its starting to ware off now and I’m currently very conscious of my eye lids as though I’m slowing sobering up. I think ill try two drops later to see if I feel any different later.
NB: just read back through my note and could make head or tale of them so have to edit.
It seems a great calmer but probably not best used when a great deal of concentration is needed – I like a driving test!!!
The remedy is mainly to clear stress and sleep problems due to over-thoughts. It depends on the reason of sleepless.
I tried my 1st capsule of rescue remedy night capsules 2 nights ago before bedtime. It gave me instant sleep but woke 2 hours later at 1am. When it normally happens that I wake up during the night I always have difficulty getting back to sleep. With the 2nd capsule I was able to go straight back to sleep for another 4 hours. I was mainly awake then for the rest of the morning with out taking anymore. An outstanding remedy For an essential nap. I probably will need about 3/4 capsules for a full 8 hours.
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your comment. It’s always good to hear from people who have had either a negative or a positive experience with a sleep aid. Do you think it works by way of the ingredients having sedative effect, or do you think it worked as a placebo? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on that.
Regards
Ethan