Anthroposophic Pharmacy
Encyclopedia
Anthroposophic Pharmacy is the discipline related to conceiving, developing and producing medicinal products according to the anthroposophic
understanding of man, nature, substance and pharmaceutical processing.
Anthroposophic medicinal products are used in anthroposophic medicine, but not only. Anthroposophic medicine
is now taught at the University of Witten-Herdecke
.
products are conceived, developed, and produced following the investigation of the relationship between man and nature in a process-oriented way: Raw materials are considered to be the result of the formative forces of the mineral, plant, and animal worlds. These forces are similar to the formative forces acting on the human organism, whether healthy or diseased. The study of formative forces is the specific discipline within anthroposophic pharmacy.
According to the starting hypothesis the relationship between the human being and the origin of the substances exists at “three plus one” levels:
Furthermore it asserts that man and nature have an interconnected evolutional history during which gradually man has emancipated himself from nature. In illness though man finds himself becoming similar to the processes in nature. This constitutes the rationale why in order to regain control over his humanity, transformed natural substances can be administered as medicines. Raw materials from nature are then to be processed in such a way to be incline to stimulate the „overcoming“ of the nature-similar processes characteristic of the diseased state.
Anthroposophic medicinal products are defined in the German Drug Law, article 4 (33).
pharmaceutical procedures. Examples of pharmaceutical processes regarding raw materials of botanical origin:
Another pharmaceutical process widely used in anthroposophic pharmacy is potentisation (also widely used in homoeopathy): Potentised preparations are gradually diluted substances, whereby at each diluting step a rhythmic succussion (liquid potencies) or trituration (solid potencies) has been carried out. During this process the surface of the vehicle and the substance to be potentised are expanded and the mixing is thorough.
Anthroposophic preparations are described in the Swiss Pharmacopeia.
Anthroposophy
Anthroposophy, a philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner, postulates the existence of an objective, intellectually comprehensible spiritual world accessible to direct experience through inner development...
understanding of man, nature, substance and pharmaceutical processing.
Anthroposophic medicinal products are used in anthroposophic medicine, but not only. Anthroposophic medicine
Anthroposophical Medicine
Anthroposophical medicine is a complementary approach to medicine that integrates the theories and practices of modern medicine with homeopathic medicines, physical and artistic therapies and biographical counseling...
is now taught at the University of Witten-Herdecke
Witten/Herdecke University
Witten/Herdecke University is a private university in Witten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Unlike most other German universities, it is a private enterprise with about 1100 students and 400 employees...
.
Anthroposophic medicinal products
Anthroposophic medicinalAnthroposophical Medicine
Anthroposophical medicine is a complementary approach to medicine that integrates the theories and practices of modern medicine with homeopathic medicines, physical and artistic therapies and biographical counseling...
products are conceived, developed, and produced following the investigation of the relationship between man and nature in a process-oriented way: Raw materials are considered to be the result of the formative forces of the mineral, plant, and animal worlds. These forces are similar to the formative forces acting on the human organism, whether healthy or diseased. The study of formative forces is the specific discipline within anthroposophic pharmacy.
According to the starting hypothesis the relationship between the human being and the origin of the substances exists at “three plus one” levels:
| Human | Nature |
| Physical level, visible and measurable | mineral world |
| Life- maintenance level, maintenance of biological identity, regeneration and physiological functions | plant world |
| Impulse level, passion, feeling, movement and psychological organisation | animal world |
| Individual level, biography, self consciousness, creativity and self-determination | unique to humanity |
Furthermore it asserts that man and nature have an interconnected evolutional history during which gradually man has emancipated himself from nature. In illness though man finds himself becoming similar to the processes in nature. This constitutes the rationale why in order to regain control over his humanity, transformed natural substances can be administered as medicines. Raw materials from nature are then to be processed in such a way to be incline to stimulate the „overcoming“ of the nature-similar processes characteristic of the diseased state.
Anthroposophic medicinal products are defined in the German Drug Law, article 4 (33).
Pharmaceutical processing
Pharmaceutical processing involves specific anthroposophic and typical homoeopathicHomeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
pharmaceutical procedures. Examples of pharmaceutical processes regarding raw materials of botanical origin:
| Pharmaceutical process | Heat /cold degree | Raw material | Reference Pharmacopoeia or Pharmaceutical Codex |
| Cold maceration | 2-8 °C | fresh or dried plants, all parts | German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Codex |
| Maceration | ca. 15-20 °C | fresh plants, all parts | European Pharmacopoeia, German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Codex |
| Rhythmic processing | 4 / 37 °C | fresh plants, all parts | German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Codex |
| Digestion | 37 °C | fresh plants, leaves, flowers | German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Codex |
| Infusion | 60-90 °C | dried leaves, flowers | German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Codex |
| Decoction | ca 100 °C | dried roots, barks, seeds | German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Codex |
| Distillation | steam, ca 100 °C |
fresh or dried plants, all parts | European Pharmacopoeia, German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia, Anthroposophic Pharmaceutical Codex |
Another pharmaceutical process widely used in anthroposophic pharmacy is potentisation (also widely used in homoeopathy): Potentised preparations are gradually diluted substances, whereby at each diluting step a rhythmic succussion (liquid potencies) or trituration (solid potencies) has been carried out. During this process the surface of the vehicle and the substance to be potentised are expanded and the mixing is thorough.
Anthroposophic preparations are described in the Swiss Pharmacopeia.
External links
- IAAP - International Association of Anthroposophic Pharmacists. Center of information for anthroposophic pharmacists
- ECHAMP - European Coalition on Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medicinal Products
- Facts about Anthroposophic Medicine