Donate books to help fund our work. Learn more→

The Rudolf Steiner Archive

a project of Steiner Online Library, a public charity

Fundamentals of Therapy
GA 27

XX. Typical Therapeutic Substances

[ 1 ] We shall now describe and explain the efficacy of a few of our typical medicaments. They are designed for the typical disorders, and in so far as a pathological condition is typical, our medicament will represent the necessary means of bringing about a therapeutic action in the sense explained in this book. A number of our medicaments will be described from this point of view.

I. “Scleron”

[ 2 ] Scleron consists of metallic lead, honey and sugar. Lead works upon the organism in such a way as to stimulate the catabolic action of the ego-organization. If we introduce it into the organism where this action is deficient, it will therefore stimulate it, if administered in sufficiently strong doses. If the doses are excessive, hypertrophy of the ego organization results. The body destroys more than it can build up and must disintegrate. In sclerotic illness the ego organization becomes too weak; it is not itself sufficiently catabolic. Therefore destruction only occurs through the astral body. The catabolic products are precipitated out of the organism and cause reinforcement of those organs that exist in salt substances. In appropriate dosage, lead takes back the catabolic process into the ego-organization. The catabolic products are eliminated and do not remain as hardened areas in the body. All healing of sclerosis can only consist of opening up the way out of the organism of salt forming processes which otherwise remain in the body.

Through the lead the direction of the processes of the ego organization is determined. Further it is necessary that these processes in their course, remain transient to a certain extent. This is accomplished by adding honey. Honey brings the ego organization to the state where it can exercise the necessary mastery over the astral body. Therefore, it takes from the astral body its relative autonomy in sclerosis. Sugar works directly on the ego-organization. It strengthens it in itself. Our remedy, therefore, has the following effect: lead works catabolically in the manner of the ego-organization, not the astral body. The honey transfers the catabolic action of the astral body to the ego-organization and the sugar places the ego-organization in a position to fulfil its specific task. It can be observed that the initial stages of sclerosis express themselves in that the quickness of thought and precise command of memory cease. Applied in this early stage of sclerosis, our remedy will prevent the advanced stages. It proves effective, however, in the later stages too. (Instructions are included with the preparation.)

2. “Bidor” as a Remedy for Migraine

[ 3 ] The head-organization is so constituted that the internal white portion of the brain (the white-matter) represents physically the most highly advanced part of the human organization. This portion of the brain contains a sensory activity, which comprises the other senses and into which the ego and astral body work. [ 4 ] It participates also in the rhythmic system of the organism, into which the astral body and the etheric are working, and it also participates, though to a very small extent, in the metabolic and limb-system in which the physical and etheric work. This part of the brain differentiates itself from the surrounding periphery, the grey matter, which in its physical organization contains far more of the metabolic and limb-system, somewhat more of the rhythmic system, and least of all of the nerves-and-senses system. If now the central brain is impoverished as to nerve-sense activity and richer in metabolic activity because of a repressed activity of the ego-organization, i.e. if the centre becomes more like the peripheral brain than in the normal state, migraine arises. Its cure will, therefore, depend upon: 1. A stimulation of the nerve-sense activity; 2. A transformation of the rhythmic activity from one that inclines to the metabolism, into one that inclines more to the breathing process; and 3. A restraint of the purely vegetative metabolic activity which forgoes regulation by the ego-organization. The first of these results is attained by the use of silicic acid. Silica, in combination with oxygen, contains processes equivalent to those that take place within the organism in the transition from the breathing to the nerve-sense activity. The second result is to be achieved by sulphur. This contains that process whereby the rhythm inclining to the digestive system is transformed into a rhythm inclining to respiration. The third is achieved through iron, which immediately after the (digestive) process guides the metabolism into the rhythms of the blood, which leads to suppression of the metabolic process itself. Iron, sulphur and silicic acid (processed) in an appropriate form must therefore be therapeutic in migraine. This has been confirmed for us in countless cases.

3. A Remedy for Tracheitis and Bronchitis—Pyrites

[ 5 ] We will now discuss a remedy which owes its existence to the knowledge which can relate the processes in substances to the processes in the human organism in the right way. In this connection we must bear in mind that a substance is really a process brought to a stand-still, a frozen process, as it were. Properly speaking we should say, not pyrites, but pyrites-process. This process, which is arrested as if frozen in the mineral pyrites, represents what can result from the working together of the iron and sulphur processes. Iron, as we saw in the previous section, stimulates the circulation of the blood, while sulphur mediates the connection of the circulation and the breathing. The origin of tracheitis and bronchitis, and of certain kinds of stammering, lies just where the circulation and the breathing come into a relationship. This process between the circulation and the breathing is also the process whereby the corresponding organs are created in the embryonic period, and continuously renew themselves again during life. This process can be taken over, if it is not working normally in the organism, by the iron-sulphur substance introduced into the body. Starting from this perception, we prepare a remedy for the above forms of disease out of the mineral pyrites; and in preparing the remedy, the mineral is so transformed that its forces can find their way through an internal indication into the diseased organs. We must, of course have knowledge of the paths which the processes of certain substances will take within the body. The iron-process is led from the metabolism as far as the circulation of the blood. The sulphur-process passes on from the circulation into the breathing.

4. Effects of Antimony Compounds

[ 6 ] Antimony has an extraordinarily strong affinity to other bodies, e.g. sulphur. It thus reveals that it will readily accompany sulphur on the path which the latter takes through the organism, for example, into all the breathing processes. A further property of antimony is its tendency to cluster forms of crystals. Here it shows how easily it obeys certain radiations of forces in the earth's environment. This property becomes more evident when antimony is subjected to the Seiger process. Through this it becomes filamentous. Still more significantly this appears, when antimony is brought into the process of combustion and its white vapour develops. This vapour is deposited on cold surfaces and forms the very characteristic flowers of antimony. Now just as antimony gives itself up to the forces that work upon it when it is outside the human organism, so too, it obeys the form giving forces when it is within. In the blood, there is, as it were, a state of equilibrium between the form-giving and form-dissolving forces. By virtue of its properties above described, antimony can carry the form-creating forces of the human organism into the blood, if the way is prepared for it by combination with sulphur. The forces of antimony are therefore the very forces that work in the coagulation of the blood. To spiritual science the process appears as follows: the astral body is strengthened in those forces leading to the coagulation of the blood. For we must recognize in the astral body forces similar to those of antimony, working in the human organism centrifugally from within outward. These antimonizing forces oppose the forces directed from without inward, which liquefy the blood and place the liquefied blood plastically in the service of the formation of the body. The protein forces are also working in this direction. The forces contained in the protein process perpetually hinder the coagulation of the blood. Take the case of typhoid fever; it is due to an excess influence of the albuminizing forces. If antimony is administered in very minute doses to the organism, the forces that give rise to typhoid fever are counteracted. It must, however, be borne in mind that the effect of antimony is quite different whether it is given internally or externally. Administered externally, in ointments and the like, it weakens those centrifugal forces of the astral body which express themselves for instance in the symptoms of eczema; internally administered it counteracts the excessive centripetal forces which manifest themselves in typhoid fever.

[ 7 ] Antimony is an important remedy in all diseases accompanied by a dangerous lowering of consciousness (drowsiness). Here the formative centrifugal forces of the astral body, and hence also the processes of the brain and of the senses, are to some extent excluded. If antimony is administered, the deficient astral forces are engendered artificially. We shall always observe that the absorption of antimony strengthens the memory, enhances the creative powers of the soul and improves the inner poise and composure of the soul. From the strengthened soul the organism is regenerated. In older medicine this was felt. Antimony was thus regarded as a universal remedy. Even if we do not take such an extreme stance, we must see a versatile remedy in antimony as can be concluded from the above.

5. Cinnabar

[ 8 ] We have been able to identify an important therapeutic substance in cinnabar. This is especially a substance that offers an opportunity to study the much defended and much attacked relationship of quicksilver to the human organism. Quicksilver is that solidified process which stands in the middle between those processes of reproduction which, themselves working within the organism, detach it almost entirely from its being (the regenerative processes which, working within the organism, detach themselves almost entirely from its existence). The forces of quicksilver have the peculiar property that they can bring back those detached forces to be re-absorbed into the whole organism. Quicksilver, therefore (in the finest dosage), can be used everywhere as therapy where separating processes develop in the organism which have to be brought back into the dominion of the whole organism. All catarrhal processes are included in this. They arise when one or other tract within the organism is torn away by some external agency from the dominion of the whole organism. This is the case, for example, with tracheitis and other catarrhal symptoms in the same region. Mercury forces, conveyed to this part of the body, will have a curative effect. We have referred already to the characteristic property of sulphur, which makes its influence felt in that domain of the organism where the circulation and the breathing processes border on each other, that is to say, in all that proceeds from the lungs. Cinnabar is a compound of mercury and sulphur; it is an effective remedy for all catarrhal symptoms in these regions.

6. “Gencydo ” as a Remedy for Hay Fever

[ 9 ] The pathological symptoms of hay fever represent an inflammatory condition of the mucous membranes of the eyes, the nose, the throat and upper respiratory tract. The past history of the hay fever sufferer generally indicates that in childhood there were pathological processes which may be included in the term “exudative diathesis”. [ 10 ] These indications point to the etheric body and to the behaviour of the astral. The forces of the etheric body are dominant, while the astral body withdraws and shows a disinclination to take proper hold of the etheric and physical. The catarrhal symptoms result from the fact that in the diseased parts the regulated influence of the astral body—and hence, too, of the ego organization—is disturbed. The astral body and ego-organization become hypersensitive and show themselves in this way, also in the convulsive reactions to sense-impressions: to light, to heat and cold, to dust etc. A healing process for hay fever must therefore come to the assistance of the astral body, helping it to enter in and intervene properly in the etheric. This can be done by the aid of the juices of fruits that possess a leathery skin or rind. Observation shows in such fruits how strongly they are subject to form-creating forces of the kind that work from without inwards. By applying the juices of such fruits externally and internally, we can stimulate the astral body and urge it in the direction of the etheric; in the mineral constituents of the fruit-juices (potassium, calcium and silica, for example) this influence receives further support from the side of the ego-organization (cf. Chapter XVII). In this way, a real cure of hay fever is effected. Detailed instructions are included with the preparation.

XX. Typische Heilmittel

[ 1 ] Es sollen jetzt einige der von uns zum Teil in den Handel gebrachten, typischen Mittel nach ihrem Heilwerte beschrieben werden. Dieselben sind auch den typischen Krankheitsformen angepaßt, und wenn Typisches im Krankheitszustande in Betracht kommt, so stellt unser Heilmittel dasjenige dar, was im Sinne der Schilderung unseres Buches zur Therapie führen muß. Von diesem Gesichtspunkte aus sollen einige unserer Heilmittel beschrieben werden.

1. Das Mittel «Skleron»

[ 2 ] Dasselbe besteht aus metallischem Blei, Honig und Zucker. Das Blei wirkt auf den Organismus so, daß es die Abbauwirkung der Ich-Organisation fördert. Bringt man es also in den Organismus, der eine zu geringe Abbauwirkung der Ich-Organisation hat, so tritt diese Förderung ein, wenn die Dosierung in der genügenden Stärke vorgenommen wird. Wird die Dosierung zu stark vorgenommen, so tritt Hypertrophie der Ich-Organisation ein. Der Körper baut mehr ab, als er aufbaut und muß verfallen. Bei der Sklerose wird die Ich-Organisation zu schwach; sie baut selber nicht genügend ab. Deshalb tritt Abbau allein durch den Astralleib ein. Es fallen die Abbauprodukte aus dem Organismus heraus und liefern Verstärkungen derjenigen Organe, die in Salzsubstanzen bestehen. Blei in gehöriger Dosierung nimmt den Abbau wieder in die Ich-Organisation zurück. Die Abbauprodukte bleiben nicht als Verhärtungen im Körper, sondern werden ausgestoßen. Alle Heilung der Sklerose kann nur darin bestehen, daß man den salzbildenden Prozessen, die sonst im Körper bleiben, den Weg nach außen öffnet. Durch das Blei hat man die R i c h t u n g der Prozesse der Ich-Organisation bestimmt. Es bedarf des weiteren, daß diese Prozesse in ihrem Verlaufe gewissermaßen flüchtig gehalten werden. Das geschieht durch die Beimengung von Honig. Honig setzt die Ich-Organisation in den Stand, die nötige Herrschaft über den Astralleib auszuüben. Er nimmt daher dem Astralleib seine in der Sklerose relative Selbständigkeit. Zucker wirkt direkt auf die Ich-Organisation. Er verstärkt dieselbe in sich. Unser Heilmittel bewirkt also das Folgende: Blei wirkt wie die Ich-Organisation, nicht wie der Astralleib, abbauend. Der Honig überträgt die abbauende Wirkung des Astralleibes auf die Ich-Organisation und der Zucker versetzt die Ich-Organisation in die Lage, ihre spezifische Aufgabe zu erfüllen. Man kann bemerken, daß die Anfangszustände der Sklerose sich darin äußern, daß die Schlagkraft des Denkens und die exakte Herrschaft über das Gedächtnis aufhören. Wendet man unser Heilmittel schon in diesem Stadium dieser Krankheit an, so wird man die reiferen Zustände der Sklerose vermeiden können. Doch erweist es sich auch wirksam in diesen späteren Zuständen. (Die Anwendung geben wir in Aufschrift dem Präparate bei.)

2. Das Migräne – Mittel  «Biodoron»  (In Deutschland «Kephalodoron».)

[ 3 ] Die Kopforganisation ist so beschaffen, daß der nach innen gelegene, gräulich -weißliche Gehirnteil das physisch am weitesten vorgeschrittene Glied der menschlichen Organisation ist. Er enthält eine die übrigen Sinne zusammenfassende Sinnestätigkeit, in die das Ich und der Astralleib hineinwirken.

[ 4 ] Er nimmt Anteil an dem rhythmischen System des Organismus, in das der Astralleib und der Atherleib hineinwirken, und er nimmt auch Anteil, aber in sehr geringem Maße, an dem Stoffwechsel-Gliedmaßensystem, in welches der physische und Ätherleib hineinwirken. Dieser Gehirnteil unterscheidet sich von dem ihn umschließenden peripherischen Gehirn, das in seiner physischen Organisation viel mehr vom Stoffwechsel-Gliedmaßensystem, etwas mehr vom rhythmischen System, aber am wenigsten vom Nervensinnessystem enthält. Wird nun durch eine zurückgestoßene Tätigkeit der Ich-Organisation das zentrale Gehirn ärmer an Nervensinnes-tätigkeit und reicher an Verdauungstätigkeit, d.h. wird es ähnlicher dem peripherischen Gehirn, als es im normalen Zustande ist, so entsteht die Migräne. Ihre Heilung wird daher abhängen: 1. von einer Anregung der Nervensinnestätigkeit; 2. von einer Transformation der rhythmischen Tätigkeit aus einer solchen, die dem Stoffwechsel zugeneigt ist, in eine solche, die der Atmung zugeneigt ist; 3. in einer Eindämmung der rein vitalen Stoffwechseltätigkeit, die der Regulierung durch die Ich-Organisation entbehrt. Das Erste wird erreicht durch Kieselsäure. Silicium in Verbindung mit Sauerstoff enthält diejenigen Prozesse, die gleich sind denen im Organismus beim Übergange der Atmung in die Nervensinnestätigkeit. Das Zweite wird erreicht durch Schwefel. Er enthält denjenigen Prozeß, durch den der dem Verdauungssystem zugeneigte Rhythmus verwandelt wird in den, der der Atmung zugeneigt ist. Und das Dritte wird erreicht durch Eisen, welches unmittelbar nach dem Prozeß den Stoffwechsel hinüberleitet in den des Blutrhythmus, wodurch der Stoffwechselprozeß selbst unterdrückt wird. Eisen, Schwefel und Kieselsäure in entsprechender Weise müssen daher ein Mittel gegen die Migräne sein. Das hat sich uns in unzähligen Fällen bestätigt.

3. Ein Mittel gegen Tracheitis und Bronchitis. Pyrit

[ 5 ] Wir wollen nunmehr ein Mittel besprechen, das sein Dasein der Erkenntnis verdankt, die die Prozesse der Stoffe in die rechte Beziehung bringen kann zu den Prozessen des menschlichen Organismus. Man muß dabei berücksichtigen, daß ein Stoff eigentlich ein zum Stillstand gebrachter Prozeß ist, gewissermaßen ein erstarrter Prozeß. Man müßte eigentlich nicht Pyrit sagen, sondern Pyritprozeß. Dieser Prozeß, der im Mineral Pyrit wie in Erstarrung festgehalten ist, entspricht dem, was aus dem Zusammenwirken des Eisenprozesses und des Schwefelprozesses entstehen kann. Das Eisen regt, wie schon in dem vorigen Abschnitte gezeigt ist, die Blutzirkulation an, der Schwefel vermittelt die Verbindung zwischen Blutzirkulation und Atmung. Gerade da, wo Blutzirkulation und Atmung in ein Verhältnis treten, liegt der Ursprung der Tracheitis und der Bronchitis, sowie auch gewisser Formen des Stotterns. Dieser Prozeß zwischen Blut-zirkulation und Atmung, der zugleich der Prozeß ist, aus dem die entsprechenden Organe im Embryonalleben gebildet werden und im weiteren Leben sich immer wieder erneuern, kann von der dem Körper zugeführten Eisenschwefelsubstanz übernommen werden, wenn er im Organismus nicht normal verläuft. Von dieser Erkenntnis ausgehend bereiten wir aus dem Pyrit ein Heilmittel gegen obige Erkrankungsform, indem wir das Mineral so zum Präparate umgestalten, daß seine Kräfte bei einer innerlichen Indikation den Weg in die erkrankten Organe finden. Man muß natürlich den Weg, den gewisse Substanzprozesse im Organismus nehmen, kennen. Der Eisenprozeß wird von dem Stoffwechsel bis in die Blutzirkulation geführt. Der Schwefelprozeß tritt von der Blutzirkulation in den Atmungsvorgang über.

4. Wirkungen von Antimon-Verbindungen

[ 6 ] Das Antimon hat eine außerordentlich starke Verwandtschaft zu andern Körpern, z. B. zum Schwefel. Dadurch zeigt es, daß es in leichter Weise den Weg mitmachen kann, den der Schwefel im Organismus durchläuft, so z. B. den zu allen Atmungsprozessen. Eine weitere Eigenschaft des Antimons ist seine Neigung zu büschelförmiger Kristallbildung. Es zeigt dadurch, daß es leicht gewissen Kräftestrahlungen in der Erdumgebung folgt. Diese Eigenschaft tritt noch mehr hervor, wenn das Antimon dem Seigerprozeß unterworfen wird. Durch ihn wird es feinfaserig. Und noch bedeutsamer kommt das dadurch zum Vorschein, wenn das Antimon in den Verbrennungsprozeß übergeführt wird und sein weißer Rauch sich entwickelt. Dieser Rauch legt sich an kalte Körper an und bildet die charakteristischen Antimonblumen. Gerade so, wie das Antimon außer dem menschlichen Organismus den auf dasselbe wirkenden Kräften folgt, so im menschlichen Organismus den formbildenden Kräften. Man hat nun im Blute gewissermaßen den Gleichgewichts-zustand zwischen formbildenden und formauflö senden Kräften. Das Antimon kann wegen seiner beschriebenen Eigenschaften die formbildenden Kräfte des menschlichen Organismus in das Blut überführen, wenn dazu der Weg durch die Verbindung mit dem Schwefel gebahnt wird. Daher sind die Kräfte des Antimons diejenigen, welche in der Gerinnung des Blutes wirken. Geisteswissenschaftlich stellt sich die Sache so heraus, daß der astralische Leib in denjenigen Kräften, die zur Gerinnung des Blutes führen, verstärkt wird. Man muß im astralischen Leibe in den Antimonkräften ähnliche Kräfte sehen, die im Organismus von innen nach außen zentrifugal wirken. Diesen antimonisierenden Kräften wirken entgegen die von außen nach innen gerichteten Kräfte, die das Blut verflüssigen und verflüssigtes Blut plastisch in den Dienst der Körperbildung stellen. In der Richtung dieser Kräfte wirken auch diejenigen des Eiweißes. Die im Eiweiß-prozeß enthaltenen Kräfte verhindern fortdauernd die Gerinnung des Blutes. Man nehme den Fall des Typhus; er beruht auf einem Überwiegen der albuminisierenden Kräfte. Bringt man dem Organismus in feinster Dosierung Antimon bei, so wirkt man den Typhus-bildenden Kräften entgegen. Es ist aber zu berücksichtigen, daß die Wirkung des Antimons eine ganz verschiedene ist, je nachdem, ob man es innerlich oder äußerlich anwendet. Bei einer äußerlichen Anwendung, wie Salben oder dergleichen, schwächt es die zentrifugal wirkenden Kräfte des Astralleibes, die sich z. B. in Ekzembildungen äußern; bei innerlicher Anwendung stellt es sich den zu stark zentripetal wirkenden Kräften, wie sie im Typhus zum Vorschein kommen, entgegen.

[ 7 ] Ein wichtiges Heilmittel ist Antimon in allen Erkrankungen, in denen eine gefährliche Herabdämpfung des Bewußtseins (Somnolenz) eintritt. In diesem Falle sind die formenden zentrifugalen Kräfte des Astralleibes und damit die Gehirn- und Sinnesprozesse zum Teil ausgeschaltet. Führt man dem Organismus Antimon zu, so schafft man die fehlenden Astralkräfte künstlicherweise. Man wird immer bemerken, daß die Antimonaufnahme Gedächtnisverstärkung, Hebung der schöpferischen Kräfte der Seele, innere Geschlossenheit der Seelenverfassung hervorrufen. Der Organismus wird von der verstärkten Seele aus regeneriert. Das fühlte man in der älteren Medizin. Ihr war daher das Antimon ein Universalmittel. Wenn wir auch nicht auf diesem extremen Standpunkte stehen, so müssen wir doch, wie aus dem Obigen hervorgeht, in dem Antimon ein vielseitiges Heilmittel suchen.

5. Zinnober

[ 8 ] Wir konnten in dem Zinnober ein wichtiges Heilmittel finden. Gerade an diesem Stoffe bietet sich Gelegenheit, die viel verteidigte und viel angefochten e Beziehung des Quecksilbers zum menschlichen Organismus zu studieren. Das Quecksilber ist derjenige erstarrte Prozeß, der mitten darinnen steht zwischen den Fortpflanzungsvorgängen, die innerhalb des Organismus dessen Wesen von ihm selber fast völlig absondern. Die Quecksilberkräfte haben nun die Eigentümlichkeit, diese abgesonderten Kräfte wieder zur Resorption im ganzen Organismus zu bringen. Man kann also das Quecksilber (man muß es in feinster Dosierung tun) therapeutisch überall dort anwenden, wo im Organismus sich absondernde Prozesse bilden, die wiederum in die Herrschaft des ganzen Organismus geführt werden sollen. Es sind dies alle katarrhalischen Prozesse. Sie entstehen dadurch, daß durch äußere Einwirkung irgend ein Trakt des Organismus aus der Herrschaft des ganzen Organismus herausgerissen wird. Beim Luftröhrenkatarrh und allen in der Nähe befindlichen katarrhalischen Erscheinungen ist das der Fall. Führt man dahin die Quecksilberkräfte, so wirken sie heilend. Es ist eine schon mehrfach erwähnte Eigenschaft des Schwefels, daß er sich wirksam erweist in dem Gebiete des Organismus, wo Zirkulation und Atmung aneinander grenzen, also bei allem, was von der Lunge ausgeht. Zinnober ist eine Verbindung von Quecksilber und Schwefel; es ist ein wirksames Heilmittel für alles Katarrhalische in den bezeichneten Gebieten des menschlichen Organismus.

6. Das Heuschnupfen-Mittel «Gencydo»

[ 9 ] Beim Heuschnupfen haben wir als Krankheits-Symptome entzündliche Erscheinungen der Schleimhäute von Augen, Nase, Rachen und der oberen Luftwege. Und die Anamnese bei den an Heufieber leidenden Patienten weist häufig darauf hin, daß auch in der Kindheit Krankheits-Prozesse vorgelegen haben, die in das Gebiet der «exsudativen Diathese» gehören.

[ 10 ] Wir werden somit auf den Ätherleib und das Verhalten des astralischen Leibes verwiesen. Der Ätherleib überwiegt in seinen Kräften, und der astralische Leib zieht sich zurück, hat die Tendenz, nicht richtig in den ätherischen und physischen Leib einzugreifen. Und die katarrhalischen Erscheinungen sind die Folge davon, daß in den erkrankten Partien die geordnete Einwirkung vom Astralleib - und dadurch auch der Ich-Organisation - gestört ist. Astralischer Leib und Ich-Organisation werden überempfindlich, und erklären sich auf diese Weise auch die krampfartig und anfallsweise auftretenden Reaktionen auf Sinneseindrücke wie Licht, Wärme, Kälte, Staub und ähnliches. - Der Heilungsprozeß muß also dem Astralleib entgegenkommen und ihm zum richtigen Eingreifen in den ätherischen Leib verhelfen. Dies ist möglich durch Anwenden von Fruchtsäften aus Früchten, die lederartige Schalen haben. In solchen Früchten zeigt sich schon der Anschauung, wie ges taltende, von außen nach innen wirkende Kräfte besonders stark tätig sind. Und äußerlich und innerlich angewendet erreicht man mit solchen Säften eine Anregung des Astralleibes in der Richtung nach dem Ätherleib hin; ihr Gehalt an mineralischen Bestandteilen wie z. B. Kalium, Calcium und Kieselsäure bewirkt gleichzeitig eine Unterstützung vonseiten der Ich-Organisation (vergl. Kap. XVII), sodaß eine wirkliche Heilung des Heufiebers erzielt wird. - Nähere Angaben über die Gebrauchsanweisung werden dem Präparat beigelegt.

XX. 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.