The Corner Pharmacist
Dear Mary: Like many of my friends, I travel quite a bit for business. All the news from back East has been very troubling to me. Maybe I shouldn’t be watching the TV and reading ever newspaper article on the subject, but I can’t seem to stop. I’m feeling edgy and have even had difficulty sleeping at night. Is there something I could buy over-the-counter (OTC) that would help settle my nerves?
Greg, Los Altos
Dear Greg: Severe emotional traumas can effect us in various ways. While there are very effective prescription anti-anxiety products on the market and many people use OTC antihistamines for short-term insomnia, you do have some other options.
It’s widely accepted now by the medical community that emotional trauma can be just as devastating as physical trauma. When these invisible emotional wounds don’t heal well, they can reopen at seemingly irrational times. What’s important to realize, is that emotional traumas are real and unique for each of us, the degree of which is determined by our own previous life experiences.
Holistic practitioners use a variety of methods to treat emotional traumas. I don’t have the space to cover them all; therefore, I’m going to introduce one very popular modality, Bach Flower Remedies. It falls into the category of “energy medicine,” such as acupuncture and homeopathy. If you believe that our essence is not merely physical, but perhaps also energetic, then this might be a good choice for you.
Dr. Edward Bach developed his remedies 70 years ago in England. He was a pioneering medical thinker who understood the extent that our emotions play with our total health. His remedies, derived from 37 flower essences, are widely used to treat emotional issues. Dr. Bach’s healing system is very user- friendly for the lay person. Anyone can pick-up the Bach Flower Questionnaire, determine which emotional issues they most want to work on, and prepare their own personal remedy. Practitioners are available as well. People really enjoy this hands-on, customized approach to healing. The most popular Bach Flower Remedy, “Rescue Remedy,” is a mixture of five flower essences, and can be used in any emergency or traumatic event where we feel beside ourselves. Millions of people world-wide swear by it. Bach Flower Remedies are not herbal medicines, do not interact with any drugs and have no side effects. For more information, visit www.bachcentre.com.
Kundert is available by appointment only for 10 minute consultations sponsored by Los Altos Pharmacy.
