Rock Rose
Terror and panic, when fear has gone past the point of ordinary nerves
What it feels like
This is fear at full volume. The moment the car skidded, the phone call at three in the morning, the nightmare you wake from with your heart going. Your body takes over before your mind catches up. You may freeze completely, or go cold, or find that your voice will not work. It is the fear that spreads to everyone in the room, so the people around you feel it too. Rock Rose is not for the ordinary nervousness of a busy week. It is for the moments that are genuinely frightening, and for the aftermath, when you are still shaking an hour later.
Signs you might need it
- Sudden terror rather than everyday worry
- Your body reacts before you can think, frozen, shaking or cold
- Panic after an accident, bad news or a nightmare
- You cannot speak or explain what is happening
- Nightmares that wake you in a fright
- Others in the room start to feel panicky too
What it helps with
The panic loosens its grip enough for you to think again. People describe it as the moment your body stops running the emergency and hands control back to you. It is the first remedy to reach for in a crisis, for you or for anyone else in the room.
Not to be confused with
Mimulus, which covers everyday fears you can name. Rock Rose is the stronger version, for terror rather than nerves. If the fear is of losing control of yourself, Cherry Plum is the closer match.
The remedy of emergency for cases where there even appears no hope. In accident or sudden illness, or when the patient is very frightened or terrified, or if the condition is serious enough to cause great fear to those around.
The plant
A low, sprawling rock rose with papery yellow petals, found on chalk grassland and dry sunny banks. The flowers are famously short lived, opening in the morning sun and dropping their petals within the day, which suits a remedy meant for moments that pass.
How to take it
The usual way is two drops from the stock bottle into a small glass of water, sipped through the day. If you are mixing several remedies, put two drops of each into a 30ml bottle of spring water and take four drops from that, four times a day.
There is no need to time it around meals, and you can take it as often as you like. Most people give it two weeks before deciding whether it is doing anything. The full guide to taking them covers mixing bottles, timing and the alcohol question.
Often mixed up with Rock Rose
Often taken alongside
Blends that include Rock Rose
Combinations mixed for a situation rather than for a person. Each one is shown with the reason Rock Rose is in it.
- The crisis formulaFor the terror itself, when fear has gone past nerves and your body has taken over.
- The anxiety blendFor the point where it stops being nerves and becomes panic, when your body gets there before you do.
- The sleep blendFor nightmares that wake you in a fright, and the nights that follow something frightening.
- The children's blendFor nightmares and the panic afterwards, when comfort takes a long time to land.
- The crisis formula for petsFor terror. The dog under the sofa when the fireworks start, trembling, cowering, or bolting for the door.
- The pet sleep blendFor the nights after a fright, when the fireworks are over but the dog has not agreed they are over.
Common questions
These are about Rock Rose. The questions about the remedies in general, alcohol, children, timing, live in the FAQ.
Is Rock Rose in Rescue Remedy?
Yes. It is the lead remedy in that famous crisis formula, alongside Impatiens, Clematis, Star of Bethlehem and Cherry Plum. If you already own a bottle of the blend, you have Rock Rose in it.
What is the difference between Rock Rose and Mimulus?
Strength, mostly. Mimulus suits the everyday fears you could name in a sentence, like a dentist appointment or a flight. Rock Rose is for terror, the kind that takes over your body. Many people keep both, one for the appointment and one for the emergency.
Can I use Rock Rose for panic attacks?
People do use it that way, and it is the traditional choice for sudden overwhelming fear. It is a comforting thing to keep in a bag or a pocket, and many people find that simply knowing it is there helps.
Can I give it to someone else in a crisis?
Yes, that is exactly what it was intended for. Four drops in a glass of water, sipped, or dropped straight on the tongue if there is no water to hand.
Not sure Rock Rose is the one?
Choosing works by recognizing yourself in a description, so if this one only half fits, it is worth seeing what else comes up. The quiz narrows all 38 in about a minute, and the fear group holds the nearest neighbors.
Where to buy Rock Rose
Bach remedies are widely stocked. If you are buying online, check the bottle says Rock Rose and comes in the standard 20ml stock size.
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