A test of the properties of a proprietary complementary remedy in conditions of temporary, induced, cognitive stress

Objectives: To investigate whether Bach Rescue Remedy® (BRR) is effective in treating negative states of mind (test anxiety), by comparing it to a placebo and a control treatment. Interventions: Participants were assigned to one of three treatment conditions, in which they were either given water, BRR, or water which was labelled as BRR. Design: Three groups of participants completed a states-of-mind questionnaire four times during the course of the present experiment. The third questionnaire followed administration of a treatment. The BRR group was given Bach Rescue Remedy® and so informed. The placebo and control groups were given water, but the placebo group were told that they had been given BRR. Setting: An experimental laboratory setting within a University. Main outcome measures: Self-ratings of a range of stressful states of minds purportedly susceptible to treatment with BRR (e.g 'irritability', 'a sense of emptiness'). Results: Stress scores were significantly reduced following treatment, but there were no significant differences between the treatment groups. Conclusions: This result suggests that the effect of BRR on stress/test anxiety could be no different from drinking a glass of water, even in optimum conditions for fostering a placebo effect.