The crisis formula
One mix of five remedies for the moments that arrive too fast to think, and the only combination Dr Bach ever made himself. You probably know it by the name of its most famous make, Rescue Remedy, but the formula belongs to no one and every remedy maker sells a version.
The five inside, and why each is there
Each one covers a different face of the same situation, and the blend is all of them together. Read any of them in full to see how much of it is yours, and buy them singly if you would rather mix your own.
Rock RoseFor the terror itself, when fear has gone past nerves and your body has taken over.Check price on Amazon(opens on Amazon in a new tab)
ImpatiensFor the agitation, the wound up feeling that will not let you settle or sit still.Check price on Amazon(opens on Amazon in a new tab)
ClematisFor the floaty faraway feeling that comes with shock, when you are there but not quite in the room.Check price on Amazon(opens on Amazon in a new tab)
Star of BethlehemFor the shock itself, the numb dazed aftermath of bad news or a near miss.Check price on Amazon(opens on Amazon in a new tab)
Cherry PlumFor the fear of losing your grip, when the pressure feels like more than you can hold.Check price on Amazon(opens on Amazon in a new tab)
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When people reach for it
- Before the flight, the exam, the interview, the difficult phone call
- After bad news, a near miss in the car, or an argument that leaves you shaking
- When you are the calm one, helping somebody else through their moment
- The night before something big, when nerves are louder than tiredness
How to take it
From a ready made bottle, four drops on the tongue, or in a glass of water sipped slowly, repeated as often as the moment asks for. It is made for moments rather than schedules, so there is no routine to keep and no known way to take too much.
To mix your own from single stock bottles, put two drops of each of the five into a 30ml bottle of spring water and take four drops from that as needed. And if you are adding a ready made crisis formula to a personal mix, count it as one remedy and use four drops of it rather than two.
The mixing guide walks through the whole method, bottle sizes and all.
The ready made makes
Dr Bach finished the formula in the 1930s and it has been out of anyone's ownership ever since, so each maker bottles it under a name of their own. The best known by far is Rescue Remedy, made by Nelsons, a name so familiar that many people assume it is the name of the formula itself. The others are made the same way from the same five flowers, so the choice between them is mostly price and availability.
- Rescue RemedyNelsons, the best known make
- Five Flower FormulaHealing Herbs, sold in the US by FES
- Recovery RemedyAinsworths
Common questions
Is the crisis formula the same as Rescue Remedy?
Same recipe, different name. Rescue Remedy is the brand name Nelsons sells the formula under, and it is so well known that the two have become interchangeable in conversation. Healing Herbs sells the identical combination as Five Flower Formula and Ainsworths as Recovery Remedy. Crisis formula is the maker neutral name for the recipe itself, and it is the one the Bach Centre uses.
What is in the crisis formula?
Five of the 38 remedies: Rock Rose for terror, Impatiens for agitation, Clematis for the faraway feeling, Star of Bethlehem for shock, and Cherry Plum for the fear of losing your grip. Each one covers a different face of a bad moment, which is why the mix works as a general answer.
How do you take it in the moment?
Four drops on the tongue, or in a glass of water sipped slowly, repeated as often as feels useful. The four times a day routine belongs to personal mixes and longer patterns. In a crisis you simply take it when you need it.
What is Rescue Sleep?
The same five remedies plus White Chestnut, the one for thoughts that circle at two in the morning. It is sold as Rescue Night in some countries, and we cover it in full on the sleep blend page. If nights are the main event, White Chestnut on its own is also worth reading about.
Is there an alcohol free version?
Yes. The pastilles and gummies are alcohol free, and the pet versions are made without alcohol too. The classic drops use the traditional brandy base, though at four drops a time the amount involved is tiny.
Should I use the crisis formula or a personal mix?
Both have a job. The formula is one fixed answer for everyone, built for sudden moments, which is exactly why it lives in bags and glove boxes. A personal mix is chosen to match how you actually feel, which is how Bach meant the system to be used day to day. Plenty of people keep both.
A blend is one answer for everyone
If what you are carrying is a pattern rather than a situation, a remedy chosen for how you actually feel will fit better. The quiz narrows the 38 in about a minute.
Rescue Remedy, Five Flower Formula and Recovery Remedy are trademarks of their respective owners. This site is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any remedy maker.