Fundamentals of Therapy
GA 27
XIV. An Approach to the Therapeutic Way of Thinking
[ 1 ] Silicic acid carries its activities along the paths of metabolism right into those parts of the human organism where the living becomes lifeless. It occurs in the blood, through which the formative forces have to take their course; it occurs also in the hair, i.e. where the forming and shaping process finds its outward conclusion; and we find it in the bones, where the process of formation finishes inwardly. It appears in the urine as a product of excretion.
[ 2 ] It constitutes the physical basis of the ego-organization. For this has a formative action. This ego-organization uses the silicic acid process, right into those regions of the organism in which the shaping, the forming action borders on the outer and the inner (unconscious) world. At the periphery of the organism where the hair contains silicic acid, the human organization connects with the unconscious outer world. In the bones it connects with the unconscious inner world, in which the will is working.
[ 3 ] In the healthy human organism the physical foundation of consciousness must unfold between these two fields of action of silicic acid. The silicic acid has a dual function. Within, it sets a boundary to the mere processes of growth, nutrition etc. Outwardly, it closes off the mere activities of external nature from the interior of the organism, so that the organism within its own domain is not obliged to continue the workings of external nature, but is enabled to unfold its own activities.
[ 4 ] In its youth the human organism is most highly equipped with silicic acid in those localities where tissues with strong formative forces are situated. Thence the silicic acid unfolds its activity towards the two boundary areas, creating between them the space in which the organs of conscious life can form themselves. In the healthy organism, these are primarily the sense-organs. We must, however, bear in mind that the sensory life permeates the whole human organism. The reciprocal relationship of the organs depends upon the fact that the one organ is continually perceiving the activity of the other. In organs which are not sense-organs in the proper meaning of the term, for instance in the liver, spleen, or kidneys, the perception is so slight as to remain beneath the threshold of consciousness in normal waking life. Nevertheless, every organ, besides serving this or that function within the organism, is in addition a sense-organ.
[ 5 ] The whole human organism is in fact permeated with perceptions which mutually influence one another and must be so if all the different processes are to work healthily in it together.
[ 6 ] All this is dependent upon a correct distribution of the activities of silicic acid. We can even go so far as to speak of a special silicic acid organism, permeating the whole organism; this silicic acid organism conditions the mutual sensitivity of the organs on which the healthy life and activity depend; it determines their correct inward and outward relationships, inwardly their relation to the unfolding of the life of soul and spirit, and outwardly in the sense that it provides in each case for the proper conclusion of the activities of external nature.
[ 7 ] This special organism will only work correctly if silicic acid is present in such quantities in the organism that the ego organization is able to make full use of it. Any remaining amounts of silicic acid, the astral organization which lies beneath that of the ego must have the power to excrete, either through the urine or in some other way.
[ 8 ] Excessive quantities of silicic acid, which are neither excreted nor taken hold of by the ego-organization, must be deposited as foreign substances in the body; through the very form-creating tendency whereby—in the right quantity—they serve the ego-organization, they will then interfere with it. Excessive quantities of silicic acid introduced into the organism will thus impair the workings of the gastro-intestinal tract. It is then the task of the digestive tract to dispose of the excessive form-creating tendency. Desiccation will be brought about where the fluid element should predominate. This is most clearly evident when the excessive introduction of silicic acid is followed by psychological disturbance behind which the corresponding organic disturbances are unmistakable. One feels giddy and is unable to stop falling asleep; one feels unable to direct the perceptions of sight and hearing in the proper way; one may even have a feeling as though the impressions of the senses become congested and held up at the point where they should be continued into the nervous system. All this shows how silicic acid pushes out towards the periphery of the body and how, if it arrives there in excessive quantities, it disturbs the normal formative process by introducing an alien tendency. Disturbances occur also at the inner boundary of the form-creating process. One experiences uncontrollability of one's motor-system, and joint-pain. All these conditions may eventuate in processes of inflammation, arising wherever the alien formative activity of silicic acid is too strong.
[ 9 ] This points at the same time to the healing forces which silicic acid can unfold in the human organism. Assume that an organ, not a sense organ in the proper meaning of the term, becomes over-sensitive in its unconscious power of perception with respect to the parts of the organism external to it. We shall then observe a disturbance in the functions of this organ. We shall be able to deal effectively with the morbid condition if we are in a position to eliminate the over-sensitivity by administering silicic acid. It will, however, be necessary so to influence the organic working of the body that the added silicic acid takes effect only in the neighbourhood of the diseased organ, and does not work upon the whole body with a general influence as described above.
[ 10 ] Through the combination of silicic acid with other substances it can be brought about that on its introduction into the organism the silicic acid reaches just that organ where it is needed, whence it will be carried out again as a product of excretion without doing harm to other organs.
[ 11 ] In another case the sensitivity of an organ to the activities of the remaining organs may be unduly lowered. We are then dealing with an accumulation of the silicic acid activity in the neighbourhood of this organ. It will be necessary, therefore, to find a means of influencing the silicic acid activity of the whole organism, so as to deprive the localized action of its power; or again, the removal of the silicic acid may be stimulated by the use of medicines that encourage excretion. The former method is preferable; for an accumulation of silicic acid in one locality generally calls forth a corresponding deficiency in another. The distribution of the localized silicic acid activity over the whole organism may be brought about for instance, by a sulphur therapy. The reader will perceive why this is so if he will refer to the effects of sulphur in the organism in another part of this book.
XIV. Von der therapeutischen Denkweise
[ 1 ] Die Kieselsäure trägt ihre Wirkungen durch die Stoffwechselwege bis in diejenigen Partien des menschlichen Organismus, in denen das Lebendige zum Leblosen wird. Sie findet sich im Blute, durch das hindurch die Gestaltungskräfte ihren Weg nehmen müssen; und sie kommt in den Haaren vor, also dort, wo sich die Gestaltung nach außen abschließt, man trifft sie in den Knochen, in denen die Gestaltung nach innen ihr Ende findet. Sie erscheint im Harn als Absonderungsprodukt.
[ 2 ] Sie bildet die physische Grundlage der Ich-Organisation. Denn diese wirkt gestaltend. Diese Ich-Organisation braucht den Kieselsäureprozeß bis in diejenigen Teile des Organismus hinein, in denen die Gestaltung, die Formgebung an die äußere und innere (unbewußte) Welt grenzt. In dem Umkreis des Organismus, wo die Haare die Kieselsäure tragen, wird die menschliche Organisation an die unbewußte Außenwelt angeschlossen. In den Knochen wird diese Organisation an die unbewußte Innenwelt angeschlossen, in der der Wille wirkt.
[ 3 ] Zwischen den beiden Wirkungsfeldern der Kieselsäure muß sich im gesunden menschlichen Organismus die physische Grundlage des Bewußtseins entfalten. Die Kieselsäure hat eine zweifache Aufgabe. Sie setzt im Innern den bloßen Wachstums-, Ernährungs- etc. vorgängen eine Grenze. Und sie schließt nach außen die bloßen Naturwirkungen von dem Innern des Organismus ab, so daß dieser innerhalb seines Bereiches nicht die Naturwirkungen zur Fortsetzung bringen muß, sondern seine eigenen entfalten kann.
[ 4 ] Der menschliche Organismus ist in seiner Jugend an den Stellen, wo die mit den Gestaltungskräften versehenen Gewebe liegen, am meisten mit Kieselsäure ausgestattet. Von da aus entfaltet die Kieselsäure ihre Tätigkeit nach den beiden Grenzgebieten hin und schafft zwischen ihnen den Raum, in dem sich die Organe des bewußten Lebens bilden können. Im gesunden Organismus sind das vornehmlich die Sinnesorgane. Aber man muß eingedenk dessen sein, daß das Sinnesleben den ganzen menschlichen Organismus durchzieht. Die Wechselwirkung der Organe beruht darauf, daß immer ein Organ die Wirkung des andern wahrnimmt. Bei denjenigen Organen, die nicht in der eigentlichen Bedeutung Sinnesorgane sind, z. B. Leber, Milz, Niere etc., ist die Wahrnehmung eine so leise, daß sie im gewöhnlichen wachen Leben unter der Schwelle des Bewußtseins bleibt. Jedes Organ ist außerdem, daß es dieser oder jener Funktion im Organismus dient, noch Sinnesorgan
[ 5 ] Aber es ist doch der ganze menschliche Organismus von sich gegenseitig beeinflussenden Wahrnehmungen durchzogen und muß es sein, damit alles in ihm gesund zusammenwirkt.
[ 6 ] Alles das aber beruht auf der richtigen Verteilung der Kieselsäurewirkungen. Man kann geradezu von einem dem Gesamt-Organismus eingegliederten speziellen Kieselsäure-Organismus sprechen, auf dem die der gesunden Lebenstätigkeit zugrunde liegende gegenseitige Empfindlichkeit der Organe und deren richtiges Verhältnis nach innen zu der Seelen und Geist-Entfaltung und nach. außen für den richtigen Abschluß der Naturwirkungen beruht.
[ 7 ] Dieser Spezial Organismus wird nur richtig wirken, wenn die Kieselsäure in einer solchen Menge im Organismus vorhanden ist, daß der Ich-Organismus .in voller Art sie ausnützen kann. Für alle übrige Kieselsäuremenge muß die astralische Organisation, die unter der Ich-Organisation liegt,. die Kraft haben, sie durch den Harn oder auf andere Art auszuscheiden.
[ 8 ] Die nicht ausgeschiedenen überschüssigen, von der Ich-Organisation nicht erfaßten Kieselsäuremengen müssen im Organismus als Fremdstoffe sich ablagern und wegen ihrer Neigung zur Gestaltung, durch die sie - in richtiger Menge - gerade der Ich-Organisation dienen, diese stören. Zu viel Kieselsäure dem Qrganismus beigebracht, gibt daher Anlaß zu Magen- und Darmverstimmungen. Die Aufgabe des Verdauungsgebietes besteht dann darin abzuscheiden was zur überschüssigen Gestaltung drangt Wo das Flüssige vorherrschen soll, wird Vertrocknung bewirkt Am deutlichsten zeigt sich dies, wenn die Störungen des seelischen Gleichgewichtes, hinter denen die organischen unverkennbar sind bei zu reichlicher Kieselsäurezufuhr stattfinden. Man fühlt Schwindel-Gefühle, kann -sich vor dem Verfallen in den Schlafzustand nicht behüten, empfindet Unlenkbarkeit der Gehör- und Gesichtswahrnehmbarkeit; ja man kann geradezu etwas verspüren, wie wenn sich die Wirkungen der -Sinne vor der Fortsetzung in das Innere des Nervensystems stauten. Das alles zeigt, daß sich die Kieselsäure nach dem Umkreis des Körpers drängt, aber, wenn sie zu reichlich dorthin kommt, die Normal-Gestaltung durch eine Fremdneigung zur Gestaltung stört. Ebenso tritt nach der Seite des inneren Abschlusses der Gestaltung die Störung ein Man empfindet Unlenkbarkeit des Bewegungssystems Gelenkschmerzen. Das alles kann dann übergehen m entzündliche Vorgange die dort entstehen, wo die Fremdgestaltung der Kieselsäure zu stark eingreift.
[ 9 ] Man wird dadurch auf das verwiesen was die Kieselsäure im menschlichen Organismus an Heilkraft entwickeln kann. Man nehme an, ein Organ, das nicht eigentliches Sinnesorgan ist, werde in seiner unbewußten Wahrnehmefähigkeit für die außer ihm gelegenen Organismuspartien überempfindlich. Man wird dann bemerken, daß in den Funktionen dieses Organs eine Störung auftritt. Ist man in der Lage, durch Zuführung von Kieselsäure die Überempfindlichkeit zu beheben, dann wird man dem krankhaften Zustand beikommen können. Es wird sich nur darum handeln, die organische Körperwirkung so zu beeinflussen, daß die Kieselsäurezufuhr gerade um das krankhaft gewordene Organ herum wirkt, und nicht durch eine Allgemeinwirkung im Sinne des oben Geschilderten den ganzen Organismus beeinflußt.
[ 10 ] Durch die Kombination der Kieselsäure mit anderen Mitteln kann man es dahin bringen, daß die Kieselsäure beim Einführen in den Organismus gerade an dasjenige Organ herangelangt, in dem sie benötigt wird, und von dort auch wieder als Ausscheidung nach außen zu befördern ist, ohne daß sie anderen Organen zum Schaden wird.
[ 11 ] Ein anderer Fall ist derjenige, in dem ein Organ für die Wirkungen der anderen Organe in seiner Empfindlichkeit herabgestimmt wird. Dann hat man es mit einer Anhäufung von Kieselsäurewirkung im Umkreis des Organs zu tun. Man hat dann nötig, auf die Kieselsäurewirkung des ganzen Organismus zu einem solchen Einfluß zu gelangen, daß die lokale Wirkung ihre Kraft verliert, oder man kann auch durch Ausscheidemittel die Fortschaffung der Kieselsäure fördern. Das erstere ist vorzuziehen, weil die Anhäufung der Kieselsäure an einem Orte in der Regel einen Mangel an einem andern hervorruft. Die Verteilung der lokalisierten Kieselsäurewirkung auf den ganzen Organismus wird man z. B. durch eine Schwefelkur bewirken können. Man wird einsehen, warum das der Fall ist, wenn man die Schwefelwirkungen im Organismus an einer andern Stelle dieses Buches nachliest.
XIV On the therapeutic way of thinking
[ 1 ] Silicic acid carries its effects through the metabolic pathways into those parts of the human organism in which the living becomes the inanimate. It is found in the blood, through which the formative forces must make their way; and it occurs in the hair, that is, where the formative process closes off outwardly; it is found in the bones, where the formative process ends inwardly. It appears in the urine as a product of secretion.
[ 2 ] It forms the physical basis of the ego organization. Because it has a formative effect. This ego organization needs the silicic acid process right into those parts of the organism in which the shaping, the forming borders on the outer and inner (unconscious) world. In the area of the organism where the hair carries the silicic acid, the human organization is connected to the unconscious outer world. In the bones, this organization is connected to the unconscious inner world in which the will works.
[ 3 ] The physical basis of consciousness must unfold in the healthy human organism between the two fields of action of silicic acid. Silicic acid has a twofold task. Internally, it sets a limit to the mere processes of growth, nutrition, etc.. And it closes off the mere natural effects from the inside of the organism, so that the organism does not have to continue the natural effects within its own sphere, but can develop its own.
[ 4 ] In its youth, the human organism is most equipped with silicic acid in the places where the tissues with the formative powers are located. From there the silicic acid develops its activity towards the two border areas and creates the space between them in which the organs of conscious life can form. In a healthy organism these are primarily the sense organs. But it must be borne in mind that sensory life pervades the entire human organism. The interaction of the organs is based on the fact that one organ always perceives the effect of the other. In the case of those organs which are not sense organs in the proper sense, e.g. liver, spleen, kidneys, etc., the perception is so slight that in ordinary waking life it remains below the threshold of consciousness. Moreover, each organ is still a sensory organ
[ 5 ] But the whole human organism is permeated by mutually influencing perceptions and must be so, so that everything in it works together in a healthy way.
[ 6 ] But all of this is based on the correct distribution of silicic acid effects. One can actually speak of a special silicic acid organism integrated into the organism as a whole, on which the mutual sensitivity of the organs and their correct relationship inwardly to the development of the soul and spirit and outwardly for the correct conclusion of the effects of nature is based.
[ 7 ] This special organism will only work properly if the silicic acid is present in the organism in such a quantity that the ego-organism can utilize it to the full. For all remaining silicic acid, the astral organization, which lies below the ego-organization, must have the power to excrete it through the urine or in some other way.
[ 8 ] The excess amounts of silicic acid that are not excreted and not grasped by the ego organization must be deposited in the organism as foreign substances and, because of their tendency to form, through which they - in the right amount - serve precisely the ego organization, disturb it. Too much silicic acid introduced into the organism therefore gives rise to stomach and intestinal upsets. The task of the digestive area then consists in separating out what urges to form excessively Where the liquid should predominate, drying up is caused. This is most clearly shown when the disturbances of the mental balance, behind which the organic ones are unmistakable, take place with too much silicic acid. One feels dizzy, cannot prevent oneself from falling asleep, feels the inability to hear and see; indeed, one can almost feel something as if the effects of the senses had accumulated before continuing into the interior of the nervous system. All this shows that the silicic acid pushes itself towards the periphery of the body, but if it gets there too abundantly, it disturbs the normal formation by a foreign tendency to form. Likewise, the disturbance occurs on the side of the inner conclusion of the formation. All of this can then lead to inflammatory processes that arise where the foreign formation of silicic acid intervenes too strongly.
[ 9 ] This refers to the healing power that silicic acid can develop in the human organism. Let us assume that an organ that is not an actual sensory organ becomes hypersensitive in its unconscious ability to perceive the parts of the organism outside it. It will then be noticed that a disturbance occurs in the functions of this organ. If one is able to eliminate the hypersensitivity by supplying silicic acid, then one will be able to remedy the pathological condition. It will only be a matter of influencing the organic body effect in such a way that the supply of silicic acid acts precisely around the organ that has become diseased and does not influence the whole organism through a general effect in the sense described above.
[ 10 ] By combining silicic acid with other agents, it is possible to ensure that the silicic acid, when introduced into the organism, reaches the organ in which it is needed and can be excreted from there without harming other organs.
[ 11 ] Another case is that in which an organ is down-tuned in its sensitivity to the effects of the other organs. Then we are dealing with an accumulation of silicic acid effects around the organ. It is then necessary to achieve such an influence on the silicic acid effect of the whole organism that the local effect loses its power, or one can also promote the removal of silicic acid by means of excretory agents. The former is preferable because the accumulation of silicic acid in one place usually causes a deficiency in another. The distribution of the localized silicic acid effect on the whole organism can be achieved, for example, by a sulphur cure. You will see why this is the case if you read about the effects of sulphur in the organism elsewhere in this book.