Anthroposophical Views

iv: Anthroposophical Views

Lip service

Dora Wagner

You may lie with your tongue, but you tell the truth with the mouth you draw.

Nietzsche (1886)

Eating, drinking, suckling, chewing, sucking, licking, smacking, slurping, nibbling, swallowing, spitting, talking, screaming, laughing, singing, whistling, pouting, kissing. As a communication centre, database, research laboratory, amusement park, energy supplier, and health hub, the mouth performs a multitude of vital specialised tasks. The lips, teeth, and tongue of the oral cavity constitute a uniquely diverse facility; one that is not only an extremely attractive, pleasurable, and passionate part of the body, but also one of its most versatile organs.

From a sensory perspective, our mouth is an information giant. Like no other organ, it is peppered with sensory cells that constantly transmit an incredible amount of highresolution motion, temperature, touch, and taste data to our nervous system. The precision of detail of these stimuli is unsurpassed— greater even than the sensation of our fingertips. In fact, the receptors on our lips and tongue are so sensitive and plentiful that two stimuli generated only half a millimetre apart are nonetheless separable and distinct (Schwegler, 2016). The abundance and subtlety of perceptions that tongue and lips transmit to the brain correspond to the variety of tasks these organs undertake.

The movements of the mouth and lips during speech must be extremely finely controlled and constantly readjusted. Without the complex interplay of tongue and lip muscles, precise positional perception, and lightningfast tracking, we would at best slur our words, and never manage to sing. Speech articulation is formed in the interaction of jaw, lips, tongue, and soft palate. By opening and closing, rounding, and spreading our lips, we can make different sounds from the passage of breath. Rounding the lips, for example, is particularly important in the articulation of spoken vowels. The curving of the lips gives more resonance to the voice, acting like a sound funnel, in a similar way to a megaphone. The soft palate regulates the participation of our noses in making sounds. By lowering it, our nasal cavities also become spaces of resonance, gifting some spoken languages particular speech sounds, but also changing the timbre, and character of the noises we make. Our tongue is considered the most active organ of articulation. It is extremely mobile and can change its shape remarkably. All vowels are formed through the interaction of lips and tongue, and the tongue is also decisive in the shaping of most consonants.

Being mucous membranes of the mouth turned outwards, our lips are very sensitive. Their signalling effect and contrast to the surrounding skin is unique. In all cultures the lips are seen as an intimate space, conveying sexual stimulation. They are one of the most groomed and made-up parts of our bodies; we often colour them intense shades of red as a symbol of sensuality. Indeed, no other area has as many nerve endings as the tongue and mouth. The lips are also among the first parts a human can move and control. So, in the first months and years of life, the ‘oral stage’, children learn best about their environment by exploring it with their mouths. In Freudian psychoanalysis, the infant's mouth is described as the primary erogenous zone (Freud, 2009).

Our oral cavity is also involved in digestion and in supporting our immune system. The tongue, lips, and teeth are fully occupied during food intake. Food must first be picked up and retained, then chopped, crushed, and mixed with saliva into a liquid pulp before the swallowing reflex forces it out of the oral cavity and into the oesophagus. In all of this process, the tongue does some really hard graft: it checks the temperature to prevent burning of the palate and oesophagus; presses the food between the teeth; contributes saliva from special glands as a lubricant; senses whether there are dangerous foreign bodies such as fish bones or bone splinters in the food pulp; shapes the liquefied food pulp; and, finally, pushes it to the ‘swallowing position’ in the throat. On the way, with the help of its countless taste buds, the tongue has ensured that only tasty substances, not unsavoury or dangerous ones, enter the stomach. What tastes sour may be unripe, spoiled or too acidic; bitter foods may contain toxic substances; overly salty foods threaten to attack the stomach. Sweet foods, in contrast, have a purely recommendatory character— they indicate carbohydrates and, thus, important energy supplies.

Saliva is a valuable tool in the work of teeth, lips, and tongue. In addition to the three large salivary glands, many tiny glands distributed in the oral mucosa ensure that our mouths become wet. Saliva is actually 99.5% water; the rest is mucus, enzymes, fluorides, bicarbonates and antibodies. If you chew on a dry piece of bread for a long time, you will eventually notice a slightly sweet taste. This is the digestive enzyme amylase breaking down the starch into sugar. As well as providing the lubrication for chewing, swallowing, and speaking, spittle performs a considerable range of tasks: it keeps the oral mucosa moist; dissolves flavours from food making them perceptible to us; protects the oral cavity and teeth from aggressive substances; and supports the body's immune defence with germ-killing substances. In one day, our bodies may produce up to two litres of this important liquid (Schwegler, 2016), with the largest amount produced before and during eating. However, other things can make our mouth water. The flow of saliva can be triggered by just a thought, an image, or a sound that reminds us of something we crave. This was famously demonstrated by Russian physiologist and Nobel Prize winner Ivan Pavlov, in experiments with his dogs. Pavlov had a bell ring at the same time as he fed his dogs, and discovered that, after only a short time, the dogs began to drool at the sound of the bell alone.

Our mouth, lips, and teeth also have significant external and social functions. Stimulated by the mimic muscles and moved by a complicated and constantly active muscular system, specific movements of our lips express our emotions. We pout when angry, pull the corners of the mouth upwards when smiling, pull them downwards when sad. In fact, it even works the other way round. If we make an effort to move our mouths into a smile, it lifts our mood and those of the people around us. Relaxed lips radiate serenity; a tense mouth or compressed lips look nervous and insecure; and if you grit your teeth, you have a lot to bear. And, last but not least, our lips give us one of the most beautiful experiences of all: kissing! For that alone, we should celebrate them every now and then.

To ensure that no discomfort or harm is caused in our oral cavity, good oral care is important. There are countless microorganisms in our mouths, which together form the ‘oral flora’. An imbalance here can lead to caries, gingivitis or bad breath. These inconveniences can be prevented with the support of herbal helpers, and some plants can alleviate the discomfort of existing problems and disorders. Ratanhia (Krameria lappacea), Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), Sage (Salvia officinalis), Calendula (Calendula officinalis), and Echinacea (E. spp.) are found in anthroposophical remedies for the care, treatment, and support of the oral cavity. Three Coneflower species, in particular, are used: Narrow-leaved Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia), Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) and Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). These iconic herbs, also praised for their beauty, have been adopted by European phytotherapy from indigenous North American folk medicine (Kindscher, 1989).

In Europe, Coneflowers are cultivated mainly for their ornamental value, transforming our gardens into a sea of pink and purple for most of the summer. At the top of each metre-long stem, single, large, truly impressive composite flowers bloom from July to September. The contrast between the brownish-orange tubular florets and the pinkish-purple dropdown marginal ray leaves characterises these headstrong beauties. When fully open, fifteen to twenty pendulous ray florets enclose a spherical, domed flower base, like the brim of a hat. Like many of our own medicinal plants, from Daisies (Bellis perennis) to Arnica (Arnica montana), Coneflowers belong to the family of composite plants (Compositae). Whereas our native Asteraceae form a flat flower disk in which individual florets are grouped into a unity, the individual florets of Echinacea consist of amazingly hard, pointed flower tubes that prickle spikily in all directions. This explains why in Germany a Coneflower is also called ‘Hedgehog Head’. I wonder if the Native Americans knew the resemblance to these animals, these masters of defence, and surmised that this plant would strengthen our own defences against invading strangers. Is this Paracelsus’ Doctrine of Signatures at work?

Long, narrow, drooping pale-pink petals are characteristic of Echinacea pallida, which is cultivated as a medicinal plant in anthroposophical herb gardens. Thriving best in a sunny, warm, not moist site, rich in nutrients, it is the only Echinacea species that has white pollen. On windy days, the almost walnut-sized flower heads demand all thepower of its deep root and its strong, slender, stem, which, like its lanceolate leaves, is very rough-haired. Another special feature of this herb is revealed in the amazing behaviour of its scent. At the beginning of flowering, when the tongues of the marginal flowers are stretched upwards, the capitulum is almost scentless. When fully developed, however, the tongues fold back and hang somewhat limply downwards, now exuding a delicate honey bouquet, which magically attracts bees, butterflies, and other insects. As soon as the capitula's flowers are pollinated by their busy helpers, the scent takes on a beguiling vanillalike aroma, till the plants form offspring by self-seeding.

Inflammation in the mouth is not primarily caused by viruses or bacteria, but can be the result of food intolerances, ingredients in toothpaste, stress, injuries to the oral mucosa, or even a sign of a weakened immune system. Acute respiratory infections are among the most common illnesses in all age groups. The mucous membranes of the entire upper respiratory tract are usually affected to varying extents. Clinical symptoms are often a sore throat and pain in the mouth and pharynx. Echinacea Mouth and Throat spray is an anthroposophical remedy to support acute and chronic inflammations in the oral cavity. The spray contains a tincture of Echinacea pallida ex herba, which has been proven to stimulate the immune system and to help overcome local inflammatory processes. It is composed with extracts of Calendula officinalis e floribus to promote granulation— the formation of new connective tissue as wounds heal —and Sage (Salvia officinalis e follis), well known for its astringent properties. The remedy further contains a homeopathic dilution of Eucalyptus leaves (Eucalyptus globulus), which has an antimicrobial effect against various microorganisms and whose essential oil has a calming effect on the human warmth organisation. According to anthroposophy, the spray has a harmonising effect on inflammatory changes in the mucous membranes of mouth, throat, and tonsils. In acute processes it stimulates healing, prevents or reduces susceptibility to diseases and infections, and even counteracts chronic inflammatory processes (Vogel, 1994).

As the plants are also successfully cultivated in almost all garden soils in our countries, it is easy to prepare your own formula. To produce a home-remedy for oral ulcers and inflammation, you will need equal parts of Echinacea, Calendula and Sage tinctures. Mix the three in a spray bottle, and spray into your mouth three to five times a day. The pain should be relieved immediately, and the discomfort completely cured in a few days. All three of these herbs have a strong cleansing effect, as well as antiseptic, antibiotic, and antiviral properties. The purifying properties of each contribute to erasing irritation and enhancing healing: Calendula soothes our aches and pains; Sage helps us get back into shape; Purple Coneflower is a supportive and powerful guardian angel, helping our immune system become strong again, supporting the fight against inflammation and healing our wounds.

Images

Drawings and collages made by Dora Wagner using Wikipedia commons

References

Freud, S. (2009) Drei Abhandlungen zurSexualtheorie. Frankfurt am Main

Kindscher, K. (1989) ‘Ethnobotany of Purple Coneflower and Other Echinacea Species’, in Economic Botany, 43 (4): 498-507

Nietzsche, F. (1886) Jenseits von Gut und Böse; transl. Dora Wagner

Schwegler, J. et al. (2016) Der Mensch, Anatomie und Physiologie. Thieme: Stuttgart

Vogel, H-H (1994) Finding Remedies– a contribution towards understanding Anthroposophical Remedies, an example of WALA remedy compositions. Bad Boll