(Original title: Carbo Juniperi e summitates. Der Merkurstab 1996; 49: 527-8. English by A. R. Meuss, FIL, MTA. )

The alchemist searched a long time for the philosopher's stone before carbon was found to be the substance that comes closest to the ideal. Much is known today of its infinite variety of compounds and potential, and there is plenty of room for pharmacists and physicians as well as chemists to give free rein to their imagination. Rudolf Steiner worked with more than 20 types of Carbo, as shown in the valuable work by Krueger. Weleda produces 13 today, 14 with Carbo Juniperi.

What actually is Carbo? Carbonization causes a plant or animal substance to release its "accidentals" in smoke, and there remains an approximate image of the life form as it was - leaf, for instance, or similar. Further heating causes this to fall apart into ash; and, being a salt, this will quickly and easily become the basis for new life. Carbo marks the transition from life to death.

The drug picture accordingly shows great weakness, icy coldness, cyano- sis, collapse, incipient sepsis. The "human being" substance (the physical body) is still there; the "accidentals" -  life, warmth, color  - have almost gone in extreme cases but can be taken up again (there are tremendous powers of absorption of medicinal charcoal). Rudolf Steiner often spoke of Carbo in his medical lectures; among other things it creates "inner light." The homeopathic drug picture has "fear of darkness" and "frightful dreams" (possibly in conjunction with flatus, intestinal disorders?).

Case reports

Two patients with Crohn's disease responded well to local s.c. injections of Carbo Juniperi 20x in the abdominal wall over the affected region.

With one female, age 40, considerable Crohn-type resistances that had been palpable regressed remarkably quickly after just a few injections.

In the other case (male, age 45), subjective improvement was quickly achieved. Follow-up was not possible in either case as they moved to somewhere else.

Case 3. Female, age 70, with vague abdominal symptoms of uncertain etiology for years, also chronic gastritis of the antrum, also craurosis vulvae. I suspected precancerous intestinal changes. She was given Carbo Juniperi 20x s.c. and later also per os (from ampules) with excellent and lasting results. Follow-up: 4 months.

Case 4. Female, age 65, with painful intestinal colics and meteorism. Distinct improvement after just 2 injections of Carbo Juniperi 20x.

Case 5. Female, age 52, in reduced general condition. Intestinal polyps removed twice, and 3 hepatic hemangiomas. The highly sensitive, intelligent patient (former nurse) reported distinct improvement (also improvement of persistent epigastric pain) after a few injections of Carbo Juniperi 20x, again locally s.c. into the abdominal wall. She is also taking Carbo anim. e sang. lOx trit. Weleda by mouth.

Summary

Carbo Juniperi seems a good medicament for disorders/weakness of life ether in the abdomen. The prescription should be written as C. J. e summitates 20x ampules O.P. Weleda (add: Special preparation).

Dirk Arntzen, M.D. Ribeckweg 24 D-14165 Berlin Germany