Anthroposofische Mitteln Anhang 3
http://av.weleda.de/AV/PDF/MonographienKommissionC.pdf
[Ehrenfried E. Pfeiffer and Erica Sabarth]
In medieval chemical manuscripts descriptions of how to produce chemical
and therapeutical substances spoke of the "repetition" of one and the
same procedure, a process which might appear unnecessary to the chemist of
today because seemingly no new transformation resulted from it. This procedure
mainly concerned processes of dissolving and distillation. Yet the old
literature makes it clear that these processes, when repeated in definite
rhythms, have the effect of purifying the substance involved and intensifying
the intended process. The repetition of the distillation process is reported to
purify the substance more and more and, thus, make it receptive to
"fixation" of the world-spirit. When elaborating on the production of
metal mirrors. Dr. Steiner explained that a substance undergoing distillations
is brought back to its cosmic origin and rendered able to receive cosmic
forces.
One can well imagine that a single distillation may not be sufficient
when one considers the strong relationship to the physical conditions, the
permeation with not only material impurities but also with earth processes -
for example, the raw technical production and manufacturing. The purely
chemical rectification requires several repetitions. In the old instructions -
as indicated many times by R.S. - the distillation products are reunited with
the original substance so that no purification - in the sense of "removal
of impurities" - seems to take place. Thus the processes themselves are
influenced.
Can one verify the effects of such distillation processes through an
experimental test? One can study the effects on a human being of a remedy in
its various stages of preparation. Such experiments are time consuming and
difficult to interpret. Or one can study plants in their reaction to growth and
shape, as in growth tests with legumes (peas). This also is time consuming and
shows only a detail of all the possible effects of the remedy.
The most suitable, practical way seemed to be to use the method of
Sensitive Crystallization and to study the "biography" of the remedy
with single crystallization pictures. This provided an opportunity to observe
both an obvious effect and a specific influence.
Concerning the method and its possible applications, we refer to the
book ²Sensitive Crystallization Processes, A Demonstration of Formative Forces
in the Blood” by
E. Pfeiffer in which medical consequences of this method are
specifically represented.
Through the kindness of Weleda, Arlesheim we received an insight into
the production processes of remedy No. 20 (Kalium aceticum cum Stibio.x w).
This remedy is especially suitable for studying the problems referred to
earlier.
In brief, the procedure for the production are as follows:
1. "distilled wine vinegar is
poured onto Tartar (Potassium tartrate) and distilled off several times so
that, after the distillation, it tastes as sour as at the start.
2. then Antimony is finely ground
together with the above end product.
3. Next, an alcoholic extract of Crocus
sativus is added to the powder and this again treated by distillations.
4. Further distillations with pure
alcohol follow until the "spiritus" no longer shows a red color.
5. Then Coral is finely pulverized
together with this intermediate product, covered again with alcohol and
distilled. This has to be repeated several times until finally there results
the finished remedy."
To investigate the effect of the formative forces which might accompany
the whole process, a small amount was taken each time from all the single
intermediate states, added in high dilution to a 5% solution of copper chloride
(CuCI2) and crystallized according to the established method. The resulting
crystalizations showed that, with the help of the obtained form, pictures of
each single stage of the whole process could be clearly fixed as to its effect;
especially the last stage in each case can be observed as a specific and
characteristic form-picture.
The single stages are shown in crystallization pictures:
1. Distilled wine vinegar, 5 drops added to 10 cc of copper chloride
solution This picture shows hardly any activity of formative forces. It
concerns a chemical product without any specific characteristics. In its tendency
the wine vinegar may have something plant-like in the direction of flower and
fruit forms, but they cannot manifest properly. Observe especially the center
area of this picture for a later comparison.
2. 0.05% solution of the salt of tartar added to the CuCl2 solution.
Here appears quite a different character of forms: sharply contoured needles,
concentrated to small but not very clearly delineated centers which are
distributed over the surface. However, a unifying centralization towards one
center is missing. It is the typical picture of a substance which has
precipitated after fermentation. Such forms are obtained with the
crystallization of substances resulting from various fermentation or
putrefaction processes; that is, one can recognize a phase of a certain natural
process but without being able to see any specific, individual characteristics
of the substance in question.
Whoever is surprised by such conclusions is referred to the book
mentioned above on how far-reaching conclusions can be drawn from the form
pictures and also consider that we can look back on an empirical
material of many thousands of crystallization pictures.
3. After 1st distillation with wine vinegar. A strong change
can be observed in this picture. The sharp tartarus-type needles are still
retained near the border; but towards the center of the picture a new form
reveals itself: this has a more plant-like character. We can recognize a
tendency in picture No. 1 - even if not quite distinct - is apparent in the
center. Here this form manifests itself more obviously.
4. After 2nd distillation. The needles are more and more
overwhelmed from the other, new form principle and kind of
"ennobled." The hard, sharp fermentation character loses itself.
5. After 3rd distillation. The character of the single
needles, due to the tartarus, vanishes. Also, the form of the wine vinegar
cannot be found any more. Instead, a new principle enters, a unifying element,
which arranges the crystals more and more towards one center.
6. After 4th distillation. As compared with the previous one,
this picture shows no more improvement in centralization. The single forms
become slightly finer and again approach the more plant-like forms. Judging
from this picture, no more distillation is necessary.
7. Addition of Antimony, 0.005 g to 5% CuCl2 solution. A new form
element is now introduced. Considered by itself, this shows a striking
character: a very distinct general center with fine, feathery, wing-like forms,
the picture of the pure effect of etheric forces out of the vegetative growth
sphere.
8. The preparation which had undergone the four distillations is now
triturated with Antimony and a small amount of the mixture added to the
crystallization. At first, there appears a complete chaotization of the forms,
a kind of regression. In spite of this, the centered character remains.
9. A further element is introduced: Crocus sativus, three drops added to
the crystallization. The resulting picture shows abundant chaotic plant forms
which, again, have as their single distinguishing characteristic a tendency
towards the plant-like.
10. Crocus sativus., extracted with alcohol, is added to the
mixture of the preparation gained at stage 8 and distilled for the first time.
As a result, we see a battlefield of different forms, struggling and superimposing
on one another, forms which we saw in details from the earlier pictures.
11. After 2nd distillation with alcohol. The form picture
starts to order and balance itself.
12. After 3rd distillation. One could say a new creation of
forms becomes visible. The previous little centers disappear more and more and
make room for a completely new kind of form - the product of all the previous form
elements working together.
13. After 4th distillation. The new form character receives
still more fixation and creates a form now completely directed to one center
point. From the character, one recognizes that the Antimony has asserted itself
completely on the plant level. The mixture is now again able to take up a new
element.
14. Addition of Coral., 0.05% to the crystallization. Here again the
feathery type of disordered crystals.
15. The trituration of the substance with Coral reveals again a
completely chaotic picture as a first reaction. One could nearly think that all
the previous efforts were in vain.
16. After distillation of above mixture with alcohol. The chaos starts
quickly to take form.
17. After the second distillation the center point is clearly revealed.
We have now very finely-formed crystals.
18. A completely unified picture radiating from one center results out
of the third distillation. All the different forces are brought into balance
with each other. It is striking for the knowing observer to see the
relationship of this picture to a normal human blood picture. It shows that the
highest possibility of balance is reached and the remedy is, in fact, finished.
The process has reached its desire end.
This experimental series shows that, with the help of the Sensitive
Crystallization method it is possible to follow up the separate stages in the
preparation of a compound remedy and especially observe the interaction of the
formative forces, their progressive accommodation to one another and the
ultimate harmonization. Furthermore, it is evident that such a process gives an
image of the whole path of development towards the normal.
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressum