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DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1785480
Fundamentals of Biochemistry in the Light of Spiritual Science by Otto Wolff
“Life is metamorphosed light”. – Otto Wolff, MD [1]
The pedigree of this book is a bit of an enigma.
In the introductory remarks, the German edition is mentioned but not referenced in the bibliography: it is Grundlagen einer geisteswissenschaftlich erweiterten Biochemie (1998, 2013). The editor, whose name is not clearly stated nor printed on the colophon page, offers remarks in her ‘Foreword to the 2nd Edition,’ which confused me. In the end, after several emails, it all became clear as her foreword is to the 2013 German language edition. That should have been stated, of course. Just to be clear, this review is for the first English edition (2023). Creating clarity out of this is good as we now know that this book is readily available in the German language.
The translators are Arie van Ameringen, a former Waldorf teacher, who studied biology and linguistics and is the owner of Les Editions Perceval, the publisher of this book. Judith Erb, a biochemist, researcher and now translator, was also a former Waldorf teacher. Their translation is quite good.
The bibliography is rather sparse yet the index is a good one despite some errors. Also reference-cited errors are present within the text. What I mean by that, is a page number in parentheses is cited but that page number is in error as it directs the reader to material unrelated to what is being discussed. Fortunately, this does not happen often but I mention it because it does occasionally occur.
My final criticism, and I can't recall the last time I began a book review in this fashion, is that the entire book is set in a sans-serif font. [2]
Despite these points, which indicate poor editing, this is a remarkable volume, in that it is especially helpful to those studying the more refined aspects of chemistry and biochemistry and, in homeopathy, the elemental approach of Dr Jan Scholten, et al. Numerous aspects of nutrition and biochemistry as they relate to carbohydrates, fats and proteins are discussed; the metabolism of minerals is also included. More importantly perhaps is the help which Wolff offers the reader in rediscovering the associations which humankind has with the fundamental laws of the living world.
“He presents proteins, sugars and fats as we know them, but adds elements of observation that allow us to understand the action of these substances according to laws related to the processes of life where light and warmth are determining factors. The constituents of the human being, according to anthroposophy, are related to the different substances and medicines. This provides clues for a pharmacology of the living and allows for a broadening of therapeutic actions”. – van Ameringen and Erb, p. 19.
In the 80-page introductory chapter, the author discusses life, substances and matter while exploring hydrogen, oxygen, water, carbon and nitrogen individually before wrapping it all in a neat bundle in the sub-chapters, The Elements of Life, Combustibility, Acids and Bases, Polarities and Salt Formation. In the carbohydrate chapter, the author discusses sugar, starch and cellulose and formic acid. Before going into those aspects, his numerology chapter, ‘Concerning the Essence of Numbers,’ is most illuminating.
“From these relations it can be clearly seen that it is not the atomic structure of carbon, which expresses the four, that causes the function, which expresses the six. It is, rather, that the function uses the substance and binds it into higher laws. In other words: the primacy of the function over the substance appears here. It uses matter after it has arranged it accordingly. Still differently expressed: life cannot come from the substance but is higher than the substance and uses it. The substance is the function engraved into earthly matter”. – Wolff, pp. 88,9.
“The mentioned universality of carbon makes possible not only the infinite variety of life, but also the transformation of biological life into spiritual life. An image of this development can be the diamond. By extraordinary compression and the resulting hardness, it has absorbed intensively earth forces, but has led these to purity, clarity and permeability for the light. Therefore, since the ancient times it has been a symbol of the goal of the noblest development of humankind. Therefore, in the late Middle Ages, it was the goal of the Rosicrucian alchemists to reach wisdom through a spiritual knowledge of matter. So, they saw in the carbon or the diamond the philosopher's stone as a picture of this aspired development”. – Wolff, p. 378.
Carbon is the carrier of structure. Like in the construction of a house, the framing allows all other substances their proper places in order to make a whole. This idea is of utmost importance as organic chemistry is often referred to as the ‘chemistry of carbon.’ ‘Only carbon can unite, absorb and retain this forming and living power of light, which can then be found in its structure’.
“...numbers in the biological field have not only a quantitative, but above all a qualitative value.’ Qualitative insights into the relational aspects of numbers will help one understand deeper aspects of biochemistry and physiology. Wolff makes the point that a substance is formed from the ‘essential forces of a number.” An example of this is hemoglobin:
“...Not only does it show that the underlying porphyrin skeleton of heme (‘heme’ is the name given to the iron porphyrin molecule) is built up of four pyrrole rings, but that the hemoglobin molecule is formed of four peptide chains, two of which are identical to each other. Finally, the enzyme catalase, which decomposes hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, shows that it contains four heme groups in the molecule”. – Wolff, p. 222.
As further evidence, he cites Svedberg's Rule which simply states that many molecular weights of protein are about 17,000 to 17,500 or multiples thereof.
The author, with equal and apparent affection, talks about cholesterol in much the same way as he does about carbon: he calls cholesterol a ‘universal substance’ and from the ‘Fats’ sub-chapter he offers:
“Cholesterol the more complicated, universal substance, is formed in the organism first, and is then modified and specialized, by highly specific degradation processes. The resulting derivatives, especially hormones, have a ‘simpler’ structure. They are not built up into cholesterol, but from the one universal substance, that is cholesterol, many specialized products are formed by degradation. Here again: in the beginning there is the ‘unit,’ the undifferentiated...” [Wolff continues on the final page of this chapter]
“Thus, it is not a matter of avoiding cholesterol in nutrition or even condemning it emotionally, since it imparts essential anabolic functions. Rather, it is a matter of not mistreating it as an anabolic, and thus naturally unstable substance, through unsuitable preparation which misdirect or alienate it from the anabolic sphere of life. For this purpose, it is necessary to recognize that, apart from exceptions, it is not the stimulation of the building-up processes that prevents aging, but the correct degradation of cholesterol through mental-spiritual activity that provides the organism with the necessary secondary products, whereby premature aging can be prevented”. – Wolff (pp. 190 and 196, respectively).
Wolff further explores cholesterol in the sub-chapter ‘Cholesterol Degradation.’ This is a rather detailed biochemical view and to be enjoyed by one appreciative of those details. The same could be said for the ‘Fats’ sub-chapter, ‘Double Bonds:’
“...the double bond in a compound reduces the relative proportion of hydrogen and increases that of carbon, which means the substance should become more solid, the melting or boiling point should increase. However, the double bond causes the opposite to occur. The double bond is by far ‘more substantial’ than hydrogen; it outweighs the loss of hydrogen by internalization! The hydrogen was represented as a warmth substance with minimal matter. The double bond is, so to speak, a ‘hydrogen without matter.’ It is pure, internalized, cosmic forces. The double bond does not make a substance more energy-rich, but it makes it more reactive, it is biologically more active. The internalization of imponderables such as warmth, light, etc. is not only shown in the lowering of the melting point, but also in the fact that the introduction of a double bond is an endothermic process which lies at the foundation of plant metabolism”. – Wolff, p. 142.
Other sub-sub-chapters under ‘Double Bonds’ include Omega-three and -six Fatty Acids, Cis- and trans- Configuration, Fat Hardening, Fat Quality and Prostaglandins.
‘One can look at the whole periodic system as a picture of the cosmic-earthly development of the substances and also of the human being. According to this, the life-bearing elements form the dynamic center of the whole system between heaven and earth. Within these elements, carbon as the real life-bearer forms the actual center of the earthly substances, of all life and therefore also of the development of humankind’. – Wolff (p. 378).
The methodology used by anthroposophic authors is explained in considerable detail in the final section of the book. It may be helpful to those less familiar with this approach to consult this chapter before delving into the middle part of the book where substances and metabolic processes are elaborated in greater detail. The prose of Wolff and other anthroposophic authors can be difficult for one to understand as their writings are infused with anthroposophic jargon. An example of this is the last sentence in this paragraph:
“The four basic elements of life do not occur arbitrarily in the protein but reflect their affiliation with one another: the connection of carbon with oxygen on the one hand and nitrogen with hydrogen on the other hand. The versatile linkage between the carbon-oxygen group and the nitrogen-hydrogen group makes possible the high molecular weight structures that provide the infinite diversity of protein formations. As the proteins form, the peculiarity of the four elements totally recedes. Only through this plasticity is the openness for other higher forces possible. In the protein, life does not work alone, but together with the soul and in humans also with the spirit”. – Wolff (p. 242).
It is for this reason that one needs extra time, concentration and deeper reflection in order to completely digest Wolff's ideas. One of the reasons for this is that Rudolf Steiner's jargon and anthroposophic (spiritual science) explanations and methods of analysis are present throughout.
Another example concerns the process of photosynthesis, in which plants transform light, warmth and carbon dioxide into sugars and starches to create their bodies (leaves, fruits, seeds etc.) and shape them into plant structural elements, leaves, fruits and seeds. In turn, plants offer us nutrients and sources of warmth and light for animals and humans. In that sense, glucose cannot really be referred to as a nutrient but is in a category of its own. Of the many variations in hexoses, man and animal have a preference for d-glucose. A carefully moderated level of glucose in human blood allows the carrier of the ego-organisation to occur. This singular human trait endows us with uprightness (the will life), thinking (the intellect life) and memory (the feeling life). [See side-bar]
The current teaching of biochemistry considers only matter. It considers functionality as a result of the interaction of matter, elements and chemical bonds. In other words, substances and metabolic pathways have been elucidated in depth yet the student experiences them abstractly, from a one-dimensional perspective. Biochemistry as it is taught today provides little awareness of the energetic aspects, the energy which flows through chemical formulae which act as templates (‘vessels of life’ as one reviewer commented) – templates for the energies causing functionality. When recognised in this manner, biochemistry then becomes a spirit-into-matter realisation. Various templates (chemical formulae) are present and energy flows through them which in turn brings about functionality. [3]
Due to space limitations all of the chapter's sub-chapters cannot be listed. Despite that, I've decided to do so for the one hundred page ‘Protein’ chapter. They are: The Role of Proteins, Amino Acids, Protein Synthesis and Rhythm, Protein Breakdown, Enzymes, Crystals and Life, Urea, Amino Acid Breakdown, The Aromatic Ring Formation, Colorfulness, Aniline, The Aromatic Amino Acids, Synthesis of Biogenic Amines, Folic Acid, Nucleic Acids and Uric Acid.
Trying to understand this from another angle, let us examine August Kekule's (1829–1896) discovery of the benzene ring which, I am sure, many of you are familiar with. In his own words, he describes a vision which he had while traveling in an omnibus in London:
“The atoms fluttered in front of my eyes. ...Today I saw how two smaller ones often joined together to form pairs. ...I saw how larger ones formed a flow and only dragged smaller ones along at the ends of the chain... I spent part of the night to at least put sketches of those dream structures on paper. This is how the structure theory came about. [and later while in Ghent, Belgium] ...The atoms again wobbled before my eyes... long rows, many times joined together, everything in motion, twisting and turning like a snake. ...And see what was that? One of the snakes took hold of its own tail and the structure whirled scornfully before my eyes. I woke up as if by a bolt of lightning. This time, I spent the rest of the night working out the consequences of the hypothesis”. – Wolff, p. 250.
The idea for ring formation came from his imaginative realm and the result of intensive mental activity. Kekule was able to observe his own intellectual activity, a faculty which Steiner talked about and said could be developed via meditative exercises which he suggested and described in his writings. Kekule made his discovery through a breakthrough not unrelated to Steiner's suggestions.
Anthroposophic writers, including Wolff, describe life itself, its cosmic or heavenly origin and the nature of substances (matter) that serve life. The current way of thinking, which has little or no regard for the spiritual,...
“...assumes the primacy of matter and tries accordingly to explain the properties of substances, from living plants to humans, from the atomic ‘arrangement.’ However, the starting point is not matter, but life. It is a fact that life can never arise ‘by itself’ from dead matter, but comes from light, that is from preceding and superordinate forces.” – Wolff (p. 375).
Spiritual creative forces have created materiality and understanding this is one of the goals of this important book. This aspect may be found in mythologies from around the globe yet it is accessible to all through the teachings of Rudolf Steiner. One can uncover some of these caveats by being attentive to anthroposophy's teachings as contained in the ‘Methodology’ chapter. One might consider tackling this chapter soon after reading some of the introductory pages. [4]
“Sugars, proteins, lipids, and minerals are systematically elaborated in terms of structure, synthesis and degradation in the core chapters of the book. Rather than being mere ‘building blocks’ which can be analyzed down to their chemical and atomic structure, these carriers of life, soul, and spirit become threads in the tapestry of creation. The statement by Francesco Redi (1626–1697) that “life comes only from the living,” ascribed to medieval mysticism by conventional biology, is entirely confirmed in the living pictures masterfully narrated by the author”. – Branko Furst, MD (http://www.editionsperceval-ca.com/our-books/6q3dth01ojo5nqu3y1j6uqis80fbcv -accessed 21 November 2023.
American anthroposophic physician and noted expert in mistletoe therapy, Peter Hinderberger, MD, knew and worked with Dr Wolff. By way of email (18 November 2023), Peter offers this comment:
“[This book]...brings the elements alive in a higher, logical way. Otto Wolff had a box of notes from his spiritual scientific research on substances and the periodic table of elements. 30 years ago I took a three month sabbatical and helped him organize these notes and create the first draft of the book in the German language. When the book was published in German, he wanted me to translate it into English...”
Unfortunately, circumstances of a personal nature did not allow Dr Hinderberger to participate in that translating work. In a more recent email (26 January 2024) Peter offered a further comment: ‘I am still amazed about Otto Wolff's take on the periodic table: he redeemed the elements from their bonds of analytical thinking’.
This book, which is the culmination of Otto Wolff's researches, will hold your interest for many years. It will, no doubt, complement your studies and continue to inspire whenever you decide to pick it up here and there.
Despite those aforementioned flaws described in the beginning of this review, you will find yourself being rewarded with bold insights which occur on nearly every page.
Notes:
1) Otto Wolff (3 April 1921–4 September 2003) was a noted German anthroposophic physician and author who grew-up in Glatz, Poland. He was a medical doctor who also conducted research in the field of biochemistry. In 1950, he became a member of the German Anthroposophical Society and began presenting lectures at the Lukas-Klinik (Arlesheim, Switzerland) and at the Filderklinik (Stuttgart, Germany).
He married Gudrune Wolff (nee Hoffman) who was also a medical doctor. In 1981, he became the first editor of the Journal of Anthroposophical Medicine (JAM). Wolff gave summer courses in Wilton, New Hampshire, and with the enthusiasm and assistance of Dr Karl-Ernst Schaefer (1912–1981), the two became intimately connected to the growth and development of anthroposophic medicine in North America.
Dr Wolff participated in the development of new remedies for the Weleda Company (Schwaebisch-Gmuend) and served as mentor to many as well as providing his expertise to the dental section of the General Anthroposophical Society (the International Association for Anthroposophists). He gave countless lectures in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, United States and South Africa.
It is said that Wolff was a lively lecturer and...
“His wit was legend and the subject of many anecdotes that circulate to this day. My wife's favorite was his visit for dinner to our small apartment in Arlesheim at the time. We had an old chair with defective caning concealed by a thin cushion. When he sat on it and almost fell through, he simply exclaimed 'Zis is a very good chair for hemorrhoids!' thus transforming embarrassment into good-humored laughter”. – Christian Wessling (Newsletter of the Anthroposophical Society in America, Fall 2003, p. 19).
Wolff wrote the comprehensive and succinct, Anthroposophical Medicine and Its Remedies (1988) and a number of other works including, Remedies for Typical Diseases (1996), Home Remedies: Herbal and Homeopathic Treatments for Use at Home (1991) and What Are We Really Eating? (2010). Most importantly, Wolff assisted in the production and editing of Friedrich Husemann's classic, fundamental work, The Anthroposophical Approach to Medicine, Volumes 1, 2 and 3. He is thus considered a major contributor to these seminal volumes.
2) Why publishers continue to choose sans-serif fonts baffles me. In case you don't know, serif refers to those small hooks and appendages of letters which assist the eye in identifying words. Since a sans-serif font has none of those elements the eye must strain, work harder in order to process the word. As a result the eye tires more easily. Thus, it is recommended that sans-serif fonts be used only when emphasis is required such as in a title, side-bar or special quote.
3) How about another, perhaps mundane, example with a bit more relevance, athletics. If a person has a good and well developed/trained body, energy will be able to flow through that athlete causing a powerful level of performance when compared to the less trained or gifted person. To go a bit further, for example, a runner relies heavily on his feet. If he possesses a well-constructed foot with a good arch and accompanying strong foot musculature, he will be better able to function and move, to run. If that is not the case, that deficiency can be overcome or overcome to some degree, but it will still be a more difficult process to attain commanding or superior performances. One can think of further examples and could go more deeply along these lines once one brings into the discussion other considerations such as nutrition, mentoring, karma and other idiosyncratic intangibles.
4) There are several books which, having read, would serve you well before tackling this work. For instance, Henk van Oort in his Anthroposophy: A Concise Introduction to Rudolf Steiner's Spiritual Philosophy (2008) discusses all aspects of anthroposophy while also including a brief biography of Steiner. Henk has written several works and Anthroposophy A-Z: A Glossary of Terms Relating to Rudolf Steiner's Spiritual Philosophy (2012) is another which you might find relevant.
Dr Victor Bott's An Introduction to Anthroposophical Medicine: Extending the Art of Healing (various editions, dates) is excellent and comes highly recommended.
There are, of course, other intermediate and advanced texts, many of which I have previously reviewed for this journal.
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Final Note:
In some sense, writing a book review is both easy and hard. It can be frustrating, as in just a few pages, one must capture enough of the book in order to convey an adequate amount of information to allow the reader to make an informed purchase.
This book is an impressive compilation of Wolff's end-of-life thought but it is by no means a book to be read by just anyone. First of all, it requires one to have a spiritual bent, a stance which allows an acceptance of numerous intangible ideas, at least initially, on faith. If one isn't in that category, anthroposophic writings may tend to be confusing but at least one will have been introduced to terms and aspects particular to anthroposophy.
Generally, whenever I review anthroposophic books, I suggest the reader obtain those two books mentioned in Note 4. Then, with some of that foundational information, one may proceed to the more advanced literature. Just like homeopathy, the anthroposophic water is deep and requires adequate time, powerful digestive juices and reflection, in order to explore these two vast seas.
The author wishes to thank Henk van Oort and Peter Hinderberger, MD, for their helpful suggestions in making this a more useful review.
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Side-bar
‘I’ organisation (sometimes erroneously referred to as Ego-organisation), soul, etheric, astral and karma are all terms which can be found extensively throughout anthroposophic literature.
More often than not, many, if not most of us, tend to take our lives for granted – our bodies, our minds are utilised with little thought or regard, and we don't truly appreciate nor understand them. It is not possible in this short space to explain it thoroughly but since the term ego-organisation was mentioned let its meaning be somewhat elucidated now.
Ego-organisation simply refers to that force or energetic pattern which governs us. It organises or gives overall structure and thus function to the human being. So, if your Ego-organisation is healthy, you will, in general, be a healthy individual. But if not, one will experience noticeable imbalances, ill-health or disease in various ways and intensities. The ‘I’ governs all of the components which make up the entelechy of the human being. The instrument of the ‘I’ is called the Ego-organisation.
It can be that simple, yet the subject is much more complex as one can imagine. If one wants to gain a fuller picture, one must consider other influential topics such as environment, karma and heredity etc. The ‘I’ is the individuality which travels from incarnation to incarnation. It does not incarnate but remains in the spirit world looking down from the heavens above, so to speak. It is the mirrored image of this ‘I’ which incarnates. The mirror image is called the Ego (our Earthy ‘I,’ or lower-self). The ‘I’ (or higher-self) cannot fall ill, cannot be victimised in whatever way.
The lower-self learns, develops and enriches itself with all earthly experiences during an incarnation. The lower self, as opposed to the ‘I,’ can fall victim to all sorts of urges of a passionate, sensual nature. The anthroposophic term for this nature is ‘astral’ and includes all aspects dealing with our sense nature. If the lower-self reigns too heavily, damage to our body occurs causing health problems. Our ‘I’ (higher-self) can also be referred to as our ‘entelechy,’ (entelligent' –‘having its goal in itself,’ is the captain of this ship). Hereditary, environmental and karmic elements play roles in our lower-self but not in the ‘I.’ The ‘I’ is our divine/spiritual nature which is healthy and cannot be corrupted.
Again, the Ego-organisation governs, organises, executes functions in our three bodies, astral, etheric (an energetic concept likened to ‘chi’) and physical, and is responsible for preserving the individuality of the human being. Often anthroposophic texts use the terms ‘I’ or ‘Ego’ interchangeably which is imprecise and tends to confuse.
In a lecture by Rudolf Steiner of 8 April 1911 held in Bologna, Italy, much of this is explained. He gave this lecture to a group of international philosophers. The title of this lecture is ‘Das Gespiegelte Ich’ (‘The Mirrored I’; English translations are available).
Perhaps now what is necessary is to offer an answer to the question, ‘What is anthroposophy?’
Anthroposophy is a philosophical discipline, a spiritual science with applications of a practical nature whose aim is to lead human beings to be acutely aware of their spiritual, Godly nature, which is our basis. It tells us that we are spiritual beings possessing a body which is at our service for this lifetime on Earth (that is, if one accepts the precepts of reincarnation). And once that finite period is over, our energy, our soul, if you wish, returns to the spirit world, its rightful place, its home.
Anthroposophy suggests that we are already home, yet in this part of our life, our journey, we are existing in material form as human beings. It further suggests that we can connect with that spirituality (our roots) in order to bring or develop those gifts here during our Earthly existence; gifts which were learned while traveling in the spirit realms between incarnations.
Rudolf Steiner was an evolved being—a master, who lived in order to plant fruits of the spirit world into ourselves and also into the Earth. This was accomplished through his influential and inspiring writings and countless lectures which he gave. As a consequence of this, it caused people to enter into dialogues with him and to pose questions. An example of this can be found in the medical and pharmaceutical realms—in the development of anthroposophically—extended medicine (AXM). In this regard, he was asked by many medical professionals (in the early 1920s; he died in 1925) how they could improve medical care and also produce remedies of a more profound healing capability. When asked this and other basic questions, Steiner responded by presenting numerous medical lecture series and wrote a seminal book, Fundamentals of Therapy (1925), with his close associate, the Dutch medical doctor, Ita Wegman. These detailed writings were well-springs of knowledge which stimulated (and continue to do so) many to embrace those concepts and to develop new, creative initiatives to take what Steiner offered further. And so this is how AXM evolved and continues to develop. Steiner, though critical of conventional medicine, did not wish to necessarily replace but rather improve and revitalise it.
Similarly, this is how biodynamic agriculture and other anthroposophic initiatives, i.e., the arts, education and religion and specialised spiritual studies came about.
When I say he was a master, it is meant that he was an enlightened human being, who, via special meditative techniques which he developed, was able to connect or commune with the spirit world, i.e., ‘Akashic record.’ He did this in order to source and share information and then communicate it in his lectures and writings; material which could be of help to mankind during its Earthly existence.
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Publication History
Article published online:
27 September 2024
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