One sees then along the path, that the marble plate is lightly corroded. In short, we have to contend with absolutely similar relations between the roots of plants and the animal intestine. The root stock develops various hormones of the intestinal gland, as the liver gland, and the pancreas. It also shows peristalsis. This continues in the overground plant in form of a pulsation, as we know this from the human pulse. We find with plants also nerves, a heart centre, and much which is comparable with animal organs. He who is interested in this, should read the beautiful book, Pflanzenschrift, “Plant Autographs and their revelations.” of the Indian, Bose.
The bark serves for the protection against the attacks of animals, and insects. The greater the attacks, the more capable of resistance is the bark, and the better is its medical usefulness. Thus we apply china-bark for malaria infection which attacks through the skin. One third of the diameter of the China- tree consists of bark, We apply the Ratanhia bark for chapped skin. A large overground development of the plant, and a neglect of the underground parts shows strong relations to the skin and the lungs, e.g. Mallow.
The contents of the bundle of the vessels shows a relation to the blood circulation, e.g. Camphor. When the plant grows on stones, or calcareous earth, the leaves, for instance, of the saxifraga variety, secrete large quantities of carbonate of lime, e.g. thirty leaves of Saxifraga Aizoon secrete more than 0.5 gr. of carbonate of lime. For the working up of the lime, and for the assimilation of the lime in the human body the saps of this plant-class are especially qualified.
The flowers of the plants have relations to the head and the genital organs, i.e. the hypsophills, and the perigone leaves to the brain, and to the skull. I call to mind the development of the poppy head, and its effect on the brain, and the sepals, floral leaves, and stamina on the genital organs. The hypsophill is with some plants of a very characteristic form. It wraps up the flower of Arum triphyllum with a neck like lacing, by which the insects are retained. The power of resistance of the hypsophill against the attacks of the resisting insects is an explanation of the efficacy of this plant against the affection of the neck-organs, especially the larynx. The flower has sometimes a very energetic effect on the genital organs.
One may think of the application of the flower of Crocus sativus which formerly has been misused for abortion. A tree which has been deprived of all its flowers is as ill as a woman practising abortion. A shrub with unfertile flowers is as the case with snowball (Viburnum opulus) has an inhibiting effect on the functions of the womb. With the powder made of the root of this shrub all labour-pains can be brought to a standstill, i.e. to prevent a threatening abortion.
Interesting is the efficacy of fungi growing exuberantly in flowers, and which also display a strong efficacy on the genital organs, viz. the maize mildew prospering on the spadix of the Indian corn (Ustilago maidis) has a specific effect on the uterus, also the ergot (Secale cornutum), which ripens in the flower of the corn, i.e. the genital organs.
The phyto-analytical method of considering allows to appear always in a new light the pathogenesis of the plants, i.e., the picture of the symptoms as applied in homoeopathy.
The approved homoeopathic main symptoms, especially the mental symptoms, may be explained by the growth, the building up, and he mode of life of the plants. When Pulsatilla pratensis allows the large flower heads to droop, thus the mental symptom “the hanging of the head” is no fantasy of a subdued signature theory, but conditioned by the hormonal powers of the plant, which may be genetically established at a later time.
For this a greater co-operation between the botanist and the physician is essential. The physician must again become a botanist, and must regain from studying the symbiose of men and plants, the surety for the right application of the remedies.
I would like to mention, finally, still another claim, which for the practitioner arises from the application of the hormones of the plants. The hormones particular to the plants, not their poisons, are, as well as the vitamins, bound up with the albumen of the plant, they are immaterial, i.e. not to be isolated, but a condition of the albumen. This albumen of the plants is contained unchanged in the fresh sap, or pap of the plants, but it is precipitated by the addition of alcohol. The homoeopathic prime tincture which represents a mixture between the sap of the plant and alcohol and from which all turbidities, and precipitations have been filtrated out, is not the ideal final aim of the form of administration.
If the full effect of a plant is desired, thus one is obliged, as Hahnemann already recommended in the second edition of his book, Chronic Illnesses, volume three, pages 176 and 230, to proceed from the triturations of the fresh leaves. The tests of Conium and Digitalis were undertaken by Hahnemann already with such fully effective triturations. Unfortunately the triturations from fresh plants could not proceed. This was owing to Gruner, who declared in his first homoeopathic pharmacopoeia that one could renounce the prescription of these triturations, as the production would be too complicated.
Today this reason is no more standing the test. We must return to the best form of administration, i.e. the trituration of the fresh plant.
In Germany the triturations are already obtained in mass production.
What concerns the producing of these triturations, Hahnemann has already drawn attention to them on page 268, footnote 2, of his book Organon (sixth edition, page 242) (what has been newly found, one hundred years later, by allopathy, see Trendelenburg, Prescription for Remedies, second edition), that these powders are only then “for ever unperishable” i.e. durable, if they have been relieved of their superfluous moisture. These preparations are, therefore, according to the prescriptions of Hahnemann, to be made as free from water as is, on the whole, technically possible.
This condition has to be observed, when producing triturations from fresh plants. Triturations from fresh plants are to be favoured in the prescription, when it is essential to have the efficacy of the hormones particular to this plant.
Summary as follows:.
The phyto-analysis, i.e. the study of the building up, the growth, the mode of the plant, the test of the animal excrements condensed in the plants, the test of the hormones of the plants, gives the scientific base of the pathogenesis, i.e. the symptom- theory of homoeopathy.
