Pros and Cons of Rescue Sleep

Bach flower remedies are primarily used to treat emotional and “spiritual” conditions including stress, depression, anxiety and insomnia. But are these “vibrational medicines” effective for these conditions?

What Research Says About Bach Flower Remedies

While some studies have found Bach flower remedies effective, the vast majority of unbiased, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled studies found these “vibrational medicine” no more effective than placebos.

A 2002 review of past studies done on Bach flower remedies concluded that the efficacies of Bach flower remedies are not supported by data from rigorous clinical trials.

A 2001 study published in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders as well as a 2005 study published in the European Journal of Pediatric Neurology also reached similar conclusions and determined that any perceived therapeutic effect from Bach flower remedies was only due to placebo effect.

These conclusions are also echoed by a 2009 review published in the journal, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine and a 2010 meta-analysis published in the Swiss Medicine Weekly .

Is Rescue Sleep Effective?

Strangely, none of the active ingredients of Rescue Sleep can improve sleep.

Sure, active ingredients such as impatiens have been shown to have certain medicinal properties but none of these involve sedation. For example, impatiens is known for its antifungal activities as well as its anti-inflammatory properties. But not for relieving stress or anxiety and not for improving sleep.

Even if the plants and flowers included in Rescue Sleep have medicinal effects, they are unlikely to persist in this sleep aid.

For one, the flower essences of these plants are used in formulating Rescue Sleep. Most herbs usually have the most bioactive phytochemicals in their leaves, roots, barks and stems. Flowers are rarely used in herbal remedies.

In addition, the process of extracting the essences of these flowers is rather too simple to extract any significant amount of phytochemicals.

Lastly, Bach flower remedies are not considered as herbal remedies. They are “vibrational medicines” believed to transmit healing energies from flowers to users. The evidence to support this theory is sorely lacking.

In fact, researchers have concluded that people for whom Bach flower remedies were effective were only experiencing placebo effect.

There is really no scientific way to determine that Rescue Sleep is effective. There is no clinical trial data and no support for the sedative effect of all of the 6 ingredients in the product.

Curiously, the most likely ingredient of Rescue Sleep that may promote sedation is alcohol.

At 27%, the alcohol content of Rescue Sleep is rather high and may actually make users drunk if the product is taken in significant amounts. Such a high alcohol concentration can actually promote sleep even though it would be an uneasy sleep.

And there are indications that Rescue Sleep causes alcohol-induced sedation. Some users complained that they suffered from fitful sleep with violent dreams and nightmares when taking the sleep aid.

These are some of the same signs of sleep disruption and improper sleep structure experienced by alcoholics.

Furthermore, the alcohol-free versions of Rescue Sleep products are poorly received by users.

This can only mean that the alcohol content of the Bach flower remedy is primarily responsible for any form of sedation it promotes.

Alcohol is definitely a bad sedative. Although it relaxes the muscles and depresses the central nervous system, it is also a stimulant. Therefore, users may pass out from alcohol but they will not stay asleep for long and may have difficulty getting back to sleep during the night.

Certainly, there are some positive feedbacks from past users. In fact, about half of its users reported getting to sleep better.

It is unclear if the sedation experienced is due to placebo effect or the high alcohol content but that success rate is too low for a sleep aid.

To its credit, Rescue Sleep is quite affordable and no serious side effect has been reported from its use.

However, its negatives far outweigh its positives. As a sleep aid, it is a weak, unproven formula. Therefore, Rescue Sleep cannot be recommended to help sleep and/or anxiety problems.