Page 8, Portland Observer, August 5, 1987
----------------WILDFLOWERS HEALING HARLEM:
Study Shows Promise in Stress Relief
By Louis C. Young
A “ revolution" is occuring among physicians and other health care
professionals nationally, and a Harlem-based psychiatrist is on the leading
edge of this movement.
Dr. John L. Bolling, a Howard University medical school graduate,
former assistant professor and chief resident in psychiatry at New York Uni
versity's Bellevue Medical Center, recently conducted clinical studies with
patients using 38 different preparations made from natural wildflowers.
Bolling, a specialist in behavioral and drug abuse problems, tested
preparations of wildflowers know as the Bach Remedies for their stress
reducing properties. Forty of Dr. Bolling's patients participated in the
study. Each was given a mixture of up to seven Bach Remedies, to treat
their emotional and psychological stress and negative states of mind. After
a three to six month period, "Eighty percent of the group," states Bolling,
"experienced significant improvement in their attitude towards themselves
and others and in their ability to handle stressful situations more easily."
Although other treatment approaches, for example; hypnosis, medita
tion, insight counseling, and relaxation exercises, were used simultan
eously, Bolling is convinced the "Bach Remedies played a significant role
in the end results." Twenty percent of the group tested in the study had
been resistant to treatment prior to the study. But with the inclusion of
Bach Remedies this group "made dramatic improvements," states Bolling.
One particularly difficult case involved a women in her early thirties
suffering from poor self-image, lack of confidence, and deep depression.
She regularly considered taking her life, and all of Dr. Bolling's formal ther
apies failed to give her relief. However, one week after taking a mixture of
several Bach Remedies, "She dramatically improved," states Bolling. "She
lost her suicidal urges and became more outgoing and confident."
Originally discovered in the early 1930's by a prominent British phys
ician named Edward Bach, Bach Remedies have been used worldwide for
over fifty years by physicians and other health care professionals for their
safe and gentle effectiveness in reducing emotional and psychological
stress.
Bach wrote: "A ll emotional, psychological, and phyical disorders
grow out of a conflict between our personality and our soul...for when we
are out of harmony within, disease is the inevitable result."
Dr. Bolling fully agrees with Bach's philosophy. "When the person
ality and higher spiritual self is aligned and balanced the body's highest
healing energies are released."
"The importance of this inner harmony," states Bolling, "has been
Dr. John L. B olling
overlooked in traditional medical models.
Standard medical practice
misses the real healing power that lies within the person's higher self."
Bolling further contends that approaches that take in the patient's
emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being are especially relevant to
the needs and heritage of people of African descent, and represent the
future direction of medicine as a whole. Dr. Bolling is encouraged by the
healing power that the Bach Flower Remedies have demonstrated in his
clinical study. His preliminary findings indicate that these preparations
might be an important tool in regenerating the emotional and mental well
being of people in Harlems across the country.
Several notable Afro-Americans have already successfully used Bach
Remedies. They include Susan Taylor, editior of Essence magazine;
Romare Bearden, internationally renowned artist; Joe Seneca, actor, who
starred in the Broadway show Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and more
recently in the movie Crossroads; Barbara Conrad, internationally ac
claimed opera singer; Dick Gregory, health and human rights activist; and
Dr. Alvenia Fulton, pioneer in natural healing therapies.
Leslie J. Kaslof, a nationally known medical researcher, author, and
authority on the healing properties of plants, is excited about Dr. Bolling's
pioneering study. "W hen this study is complete and properly docu
mented," states Kaslof "the results may indicate a possible solution to
inner-city stress as well as behavioral and drug problems among our young
adults." For Kaslof, Bolling's clinical study is an important sign among
many that we have begun moving from a pharmacological system of chem
ical drug use and abuse to a more natural non-interventive non-addictive
approach based on strengthening the body's own immune response."
Strengthening our own immune system through emotional mental
control and mastery is essentially what Dr. Bolling and other physicians are
researching and what Bach Remedies have been shown effective in aiding
many to achieve.
Bolling plans to publish the results of his study later this year after all
the data is more fully analyzed. "However, you don't need a physician to
benefit from Bach Remedies” states Bolling. "The value of these prepara
tions is that they're natural, safe, gentle acting, and relatively easy to use
especially within the family unit to help stabilize emotional stresses, as a
preventive health measure."
Furthermore, States Bolling, "The Black community needs to know
about remedies like Bach's that are in harmony with our culture and
traditions."
Many health food stores and pharmacies carry these preparations. If
there is difficulty locating the Bach Remedies in you area or for additional
free information, you can contact the U.S. import agent: Ellon Bach USA,
PO Box 320-L, Woodmere, NY 11598.
Reflecting on his work, Bolling is hopeful that more health care pro
viders in the Black community will join him in moving away from the over
use of chemical drugs toward more natural approaches like Bach Remedies.
Also by treating the patient as a whole, considering their physical, emo
tional and spiritual well-being, may be just what is needed to bring about a
positive revolution in the health crisis within Black America.
Help Prevent
Child Abuse
Parents Anonymous, a child
abuse prevention
program of
Waverly Childrens Home, is accep
ting applications for volunteer
parent specialists.
Training will be provided at no
cost to qualified applicants who
wish to share their parenting ex
perience and problem solving skills
on the 24 hour parent Helpline or as
Child Care Specialists for one of
Parents Anonymous weekly parent
support groups.
With the help of dedicated volun
teers and generous contributors.
Parents Anonymous has five parent
support groups meeting in the met
ro area. Volunteer Child Care Spe
cialists provide care and activities
for children whose parents attend
the group to gain support and learn
valuable parenting skills.
The 24 hour Parent Helpline is
staffed by trained volunteers who
work an 8 hour shift each week
from their home, providng support,
information and referrals to parents
who call with questions about par
enting issues, or who wish to join a
group. It is the belief of Parents
Anonymous that prevention is the
best cure for child abuse. If you
would like to take this opportunity
to share the skills and experience
you have with other families, either
on the Helpline or with the children,
call Sue Kaastad or Debi McFeron
at 238-8819.
YWCA Day Camp
Has Openings!!
Looking for a place for your child
this summer that is fun, exciting,
educational and well supervised?
Enroll today in the YW CA Sum m er
Day Camp!
Youth, ages 5 1/ j to 12, can ex
plore, learn about the community
and develop communication and
leadership skills.
Weekly camp
sessions run
through September 4. Arrival time
is from 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. and depar
ture time is from 4 - 5:30 p.m.
Camp activities include games
and singing, in-city field trips, bus
trips, swimming and overnight
campouts.
R egistration is n o w open.
Please call 223-6281, ext. 235, for
the Registration and Health History
form.
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S.E. Cleveland
Avenue Road
Closure
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S.E. Cleveland Avenue (S.E. Divi
sion Street to E. Powell Blvd.) will
be closed to through traffic, July 20,
1987, to September 1, 1987, for
sewer construction.
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And the pleasure lasts
J O
lo n g e r
It's a ll there for you to see”
SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Quitting Smoking
Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health.
17 mg. "tar”, 1.3 mg. nicotine av per cigarette by FTC method
1987 R J R E Y N O tnS TOBACCO CO
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1