Biodynamic Movement

Erika Riese who was the Director of the Information Centre in Domach, and one of the official representatives of the biodynamic farming method, faced quite a different situation compared to Laurentia Dombrowski. On the basis of anthroposophy in general and the biodynamic movement in particular. Miss Riese was able to gradually discover horticultural methods through research and breeding activities over a period of three decades. But at the same time, Erika remained loyal to the Anthroposophic Society. 

This loyalty is reflected in her reaction when Sister Laurentia mentioned in a letter that Maye E. Bruce was one of her advisors and in the following letter asked her to show understanding for Bruce s behaviour. In 1937 there was a quarrel between Maye E. Bruce and the representatives of the Anthroposophic Society in England because Miss Bruce used the same herbs that were specially prepared for biodynamic preparations and combined them in a simpler method in her Quick-Retum-Preparation, which she then sold. For Erika Riese this conduct was inexcusable, as we know from a handwritten note on Dombrowski s letter Maye Bruce s behaviour is hardly fair and she does not understand the preparation. Incidentally, we also appreciate collaboration With we, Erika Riese clearly shows her affiliation to the biodynamic movement and, thus, the Anthroposophic Society. It shows that Miss Riese felt solidarity with the anthroposophist movement over her solidarity with women. Perhaps, under certain circumstances she would have joined forces with men against women. 

At about the same time, Rudolph Steiner, the founder of the spiritualistic doctrine of Anthroposophy, gave a series of lectures to a group of German farmers worried by the new developments in agriculture and from this developed the biodynamic movement. Koepf summarised the basic concepts of the movement as ... 

Can the phenomenon of H" "-flux mediated electro-osmosis provide the biodynamic principle which we have been looking for It is clear that cellular transport processes such as axonal transport and cytoplasmic streaming could directly result from proto-osmosis if the ATPases inject protons into the filamentous systems. Ciliary movements could possibly result from a periodic proto-osmotic insurge of fluid in the cilia. A relative (contractile) movement of two sets of filaments could be caused by a proto-osmotic loop flow between the pairs of the filaments by means of the associated visous drag couple. But the question of the relevance of the effect can be solved only if it can be shown that the magnitude of the effect is sufficient, quantitatively, to explain at least one biodynamic phenomenon. The best-studied system in this context, from structural and biochemical aspects, is that of muscles. The necessary quantitative data for the comparision of theoretical result with experiments is available, but it has to be first confirmed that the conditions for the proposed electro-osmotic flow obtain in muscles. 

Biodynamic models of the human musculoskeletal system have direct implications on device tool design and use and the modeling of normal and/or abnormal (or undesired) movements or movement patterns (the techniques with which a device or tool is used). Applications of the models can provide a better understanding for soft and hard tissue injuries, such as repetitive strain injuries (RSI), and can be used to identify and predict the extent of a musculoskeletal injury (Peterson, 1999). 

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