The Rudolf Steiner Archive

20. Typical Remedies

[ 1 ] We shall now describe some of the typical remedies, some of which are marketed by us, according to their curative value. These are also adapted to the typical forms of the disease, and if something typical comes into consideration in the state of the disease, then our remedy represents that which must lead to therapy in the sense of the description in our book. Some of our remedies will be described from this point of view.

1. the remedy "Scleron"

[ 2 ] This consists of metallic lead, honey and sugar. The lead acts on the organism in such a way that it promotes the degradation effect of the ego organization. So if it is introduced into an organism that has too low a degradation effect of the ego organization, this promotion occurs if the dosage is taken in sufficient strength. If the dosage is too strong, hypertrophy of the ego organization occurs. The body breaks down more than it builds up and must deteriorate. In the case of sclerosis, the ego organization becomes too weak; it does not break down sufficiently itself. Therefore degradation occurs solely through the astral body. The decomposition products fall out of the organism and provide reinforcements for those organs that consist of salt substances. Lead in the correct dosage takes the decomposition back into the ego organization. The degradation products do not remain in the body as hardenings, but are expelled. All healing of sclerosis can only consist in opening the way to the outside for the salt-forming processes that would otherwise remain in the body. The lead has determined the direction of the processes of the ego organization. It is also necessary that these processes are kept to a certain extent fleeting in their course. This is achieved by the addition of honey. Honey enables the ego organization to exercise the necessary control over the astral body. It therefore deprives the astral body of its relative independence in sclerosis. Sugar has a direct effect on the ego organization. It strengthens it within itself. Our remedy therefore has the following effect: Lead acts like the ego organization, not like the astral body, degrading it. The honey transfers the decomposing effect of the astral body to the ego-organization and the sugar enables the ego-organization to fulfil its specific task. It is noticeable that the initial stages of sclerosis manifest themselves in the fact that the power of thought and the exact control of memory cease. If our remedy is applied at this stage of the disease, the more mature states of sclerosis can be avoided. However, it also proves effective in these later states. (The instructions for use are enclosed with the preparation.)

2. The Migraine Remedy "Biodoron" (in Germany "Kephalodoron".)

[ 3 ] The organization of the head is such that the inward, greyish-white part of the brain is physically the most advanced part of the human organization. It contains a sensory activity that summarizes the other senses, into which the ego and the astral body work.

[ 4 ] It participates in the rhythmic system of the organism, into which the astral body and the etheric body work, and it also participates, but to a very small extent, in the metabolic limb system, into which the physical and etheric bodies work. This part of the brain differs from the peripheral brain that surrounds it, which in its physical organization contains much more of the metabolic-limb system, somewhat more of the rhythmic system, but least of the nervous-sensory system. If the central brain becomes poorer in nerve-sense activity and richer in digestive activity, i.e. if it becomes more similar to the peripheral brain than it is in its normal state, migraine develops. Their cure will therefore depend: 1. on a stimulation of the nerve-sense activity; 2. on a transformation of the rhythmic activity from one that is inclined towards metabolism to one that is inclined towards respiration; 3. on a containment of the purely vital metabolic activity that lacks regulation by the ego-organization. The first is achieved by silicic acid. Silicon in combination with oxygen contains those processes which are similar to those in the organism during the transition from respiration to nerve-sense activity. The second is achieved by sulphur. It contains the process by which the rhythm inclined towards the digestive system is transformed into that inclined towards respiration. And the third is achieved by iron, which immediately after the process leads the metabolism over into that of the blood rhythm, whereby the metabolic process itself is suppressed. Iron, sulphur and silicic acid in a corresponding manner must therefore be a remedy for migraine. This has been confirmed in countless cases.

3. A Remedy for Tracheitis and Bronchitis. Pyrite

[ 5 ] We will now discuss a remedy that owes its existence to the knowledge that can bring the processes of substances into the right relationship with the processes of the human organism. It must be borne in mind that a substance is actually a process that has been brought to a standstill, a solidified process so to speak. One should actually not say pyrite, but pyrite process. This process, which is captured in the mineral pyrite as if in solidification, corresponds to what can arise from the interaction of the iron process and the sulphur process. As already shown in the previous section, iron stimulates blood circulation, while sulphur mediates the connection between blood circulation and respiration. The origin of tracheitis and bronchitis, as well as certain forms of stuttering, lies precisely where blood circulation and respiration enter into a relationship. This process between blood circulation and respiration, which is also the process from which the corresponding organs are formed in embryonic life and are renewed again and again in later life, can be taken over by the iron sulphur substance supplied to the body if it does not proceed normally in the organism. On the basis of this knowledge, we prepare a remedy from pyrite for the above form of disease by transforming the mineral into a preparation in such a way that its powers find their way into the diseased organs when taken internally. Of course, one must know the path that certain substance processes take in the organism. The iron process is led from the metabolism into the blood circulation. The sulphur process passes from the blood circulation to the respiratory process.

4. Effects of Antimony Compounds

[ 6 ] Antimony has an extraordinarily strong relationship to other bodies, e.g. to sulphur. This shows that it can easily follow the path that sulphur takes in the organism, e.g. to all respiratory processes. Another property of antimony is its tendency to form clusters of crystals. This shows that it easily follows certain force radiations in the earth's environment. This property becomes even more apparent when the antimony is subjected to the segregation process. It becomes fine-fibered as a result. And it becomes even more significant when the antimony is subjected to the combustion process and its white smoke develops. This smoke clings to cold bodies and forms the characteristic antimony flowers. Just as antimony outside the human organism follows the forces acting on it, so in the human organism it follows the formative forces. In the blood we now have, so to speak, a state of equilibrium between form-forming and form-dissolving forces. Because of its described properties, antimony can transfer the formative forces of the human organism into the blood if the path is paved by the combination with sulphur. Therefore, the forces of antimony are those which act in the coagulation of the blood. From the point of view of spiritual science the matter turns out in such a way that the astral body is strengthened in those forces which lead to the coagulation of the blood. One must see in the astral body in the antimony forces similar forces that act centrifugally in the organism from the inside out. These antimonifying forces are counteracted by the forces directed from the outside inwards, which liquefy the blood and place liquefied blood plastically at the service of body formation. Protein also acts in the direction of these forces. The forces contained in the protein process continually prevent the coagulation of the blood. Take the case of typhoid fever; it is based on a predominance of albuminizing forces. If antimony is added to the organism in minute doses, the typhoid-forming forces are counteracted. It should be noted, however, that the effect of antimony is quite different depending on whether it is applied internally or externally. When applied externally, such as ointments or the like, it weakens the centrifugally acting forces of the astral body, which express themselves, for example, in eczema formations; when applied internally, it opposes the centripetally acting forces that are too strong, as they appear in typhoid fever.

[ 7 ] Antimony is an important remedy in all diseases in which a dangerous reduction of consciousness (somnolence) occurs. In this case, the formative centrifugal forces of the astral body and thus the brain and sensory processes are partially switched off. If antimony is added to the organism, the missing astral forces are created artificially. It will always be noticed that the intake of antimony strengthens the memory, raises the creative powers of the soul and brings about an inner unity of the soul's constitution. The organism is regenerated from the strengthened soul. This was felt in older medicine. Antimony was therefore a universal remedy for them. Even if we do not take this extreme standpoint, we must, as can be seen from the above, look for a versatile remedy in antimony.

5. Cinnabar

[ 8 ] We were able to find an important remedy in cinnabar. This substance in particular provides an opportunity to study the much defended and much contested relationship of mercury to the human organism. Mercury is the solidified process that stands in the middle between the reproductive processes that almost completely separate the essence of the organism from itself. The mercury forces now have the peculiarity of reabsorbing these separated forces into the whole organism. Mercury can therefore be used therapeutically (it must be used in the finest dosage) wherever excretory processes form in the organism, which in turn are to be brought under the control of the whole organism. These are all catarrhal processes. They arise when some tract of the organism is torn out of the control of the whole organism by an external influence. This is the case with tracheitis and all related catarrhal phenomena. If the mercury forces are applied there, they have a healing effect. It is a property of sulphur, which has already been mentioned several times, that it proves effective in the area of the organism where circulation and respiration border on each other, i.e. in everything that emanates from the lungs. Cinnabar is a compound of mercury and sulphur; it is an effective remedy for all catarrhal conditions in the designated areas of the human organism.

6. The Hay Fever Remedy "Gencydo"

[ 9 ] The symptoms of hay fever are inflammatory manifestations of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, throat and upper airways. And the medical history of patients suffering from hay fever often indicates that disease processes belonging to the area of "exudative diathesis" were also present in childhood.

[ 10 ] We are thus referred to the etheric body and the behavior of the astral body. The etheric body predominates in its powers, and the astral body withdraws and tends not to intervene properly in the etheric and physical bodies. And the catarrhal phenomena are the result of the fact that in the diseased parts the orderly influence of the astral body - and thus also of the ego organization - is disturbed. The astral body and the ego organization become hypersensitive, and this explains the convulsive and paroxysmal reactions to sensory impressions such as light, heat, cold, dust and the like. - The healing process must therefore accommodate the astral body and help it to intervene correctly in the etheric body. This is possible by applying fruit juices from fruits that have leathery skins. In such fruits it is already clear to the eye how formative forces working from the outside inwards are particularly active. And applied externally and internally, such juices stimulate the astral body in the direction of the etheric body; their content of mineral components such as potassium, calcium and silicic acid simultaneously support the ego organization (cf. Chapter XVII), so that a real cure for hay fever is achieved. - More detailed instructions for use are enclosed with the preparation.