Anthroposophical medicine 3552463 224320510 2008-07-08T09:38:25Z 71.196.207.235 /* Other */ {{Template:Anthroposophy}} '''[[anthroposophy|Anthroposophical]] medicine''' is a [[complementary medicine]] founded in the 1920s by [[Rudolf Steiner]] in conjunction with doctor [[Ita Wegman]]. Its advocates see it as a [[holistic]] and [[salutogenesis|salutogenetic]] approach to medicine which focuses on ensuring that the conditions for health are present in a person. Therapies are intended to enhance the organism's capacities to heal.<ref name="Klotter">Klotter, Jule (May 2006). Anthroposophical Medicine. ''Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients'', '''24'''(1):274.</ref> Anthroposophical medicine is employed as an extension to conventional [[medicine]], not as an alternative to it; conventional medical treatments such as [[surgery]] and [[medication]] are employed as necessary.<ref name="Klotter"/> Anthroposophical physicians must have a conventional medical education, including a degree from an established and certified medical school, as well as supplementary training in the anthroposophical approach.<ref name=vR>von Rohr et al., [http://www.smw.ch/docs/pdf/2000_34/2000-34-245.PDF "Experiences in the realisation of a research project on anthroposophical medicine in patients with advanced cancer"], Schweiz Med Wochenschr 2000;130:1173–84</ref><ref>Cantor, I. S., and Rosenzweig, R. (December 1997). Anthroposophic perspectives in primary care. ''Primary Care'', '''24'''(4):867-87. PMID 9386260 [http://jdc.jefferson.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=emfp Reprint copy]</ref> ==Origins== [[Image:Ita Wegman vor1900.jpg|thumb|Ita Wegman, co-founder of the movement, before 1900 in Berlin.]] The first steps towards an anthroposophical approach to medicine were made before 1920, when homeopathic physicians and pharmacists began working with Rudolf Steiner, who recommended new [[Anthroposophic_Pharmacy | medicinal substances]] as well as specific methods for preparing these. In 1921, Dr. Ita Wegman opened the first anthroposophic medical clinic, now known as the [[Ita Wegman Clinic]],<ref>[http://www.wegmanklinik.ch Ita Wegman Klinik] (German). Accessed 2007-12-26.</ref> in [[Arlesheim]], [[Switzerland]]. Wegman was soon joined by a number of other doctors. They began to train the first anthroposophic nurses for the clinic. At Wegman's request, Steiner regularly visited the clinic and suggested treatment regimes for particular patients. Between 1921 and 1925, he also gave several series of lectures on medicine. In 1925, Wegman and Steiner wrote the first book on the anthroposophic approach to medicine, ''Fundamentals of Therapy''. The clinic expanded and soon opened a branch in [[Ascona]]. Wegman lectured widely, visiting Holland and England particularly frequently, and an increasing number of doctors began to include the anthroposophic approach in their practices. A cancer clinic, the [[Lukas Clinic]],<ref>[http://www.lukasklinik.ch/cms.asp?IDN=133&H='106'&T=0&Sprache=en Lukas Clinic]. Accessed 2007-12-26.</ref> opened in Arlesheim in 1963. ==Methodology== Anthroposophical medicine approaches disease as an imbalance in the biological organism and employs treatment strategies intended to restore this balance. Anthroposophical approaches include [[Anthroposophy|anthroposophical]] medicines based upon modified [[homeopathy|homeopathic]] principles, physical therapies including [[massage therapy]] and [[art therapy|artistic]] therapies. Many of these are intended to support the patient's capacity for self-healing. Anthroposophical medicine is based upon the [[anthroposophy|anthroposophical]] view of the human being which considers the patient's:<ref name="Klotter"/> * physical constitution; * life or [[etheric body]], seen as the organizing principle directing growth and regeneration; * [[astral body]], understood as the bearer of [[affect]] and [[consciousness]]; * and [[ego]], seen as the capacity for self-reflection and [[free will]]. Anthroposophical doctors generally restrict the use of [[antibiotics]], [[antipyretics]], and [[Inoculation|vaccinations]]. Most children treated by anthroposophic doctors are vaccinated only against tetanus and polio, and most vaccinations are given later than recommended by health authorities.<ref name=Lancet>Alm, J. S., Swartz, J., Lilja, G., Scheynius, A., and Pershagen, G. (1999). Atopy in children of families with an anthroposophic lifestyle. ''Lancet'', '''353'''(9163):1485-8. PMID 10232315 [http://www.waldorflibrary.org/journal_articles/rb5103.pdf Reprint copy].</ref> ==Studies of efficacy== *A study of the effectiveness of anthroposophical medicine found long-standing improvements of disease symptoms and quality of life in patients with mental, respiratory, and musculoskeletal diseases and other chronic conditions; the study did not compare results with other treatment regimens. <ref>Hamre, Harald J., Claudia M. Witt, Anja Glockmann, Renatus Ziegler, Stefan N. Willich, and Helmut Kiene. "Anthroposophic medical therapy in chronic disease: a four-year prospective cohort study." ''B M C Complementary and Alternative Medicine'' 7.10 (April 23, 2007)</ref> *A study of anthroposophic treatment of chronic illness found that "Anthroposophic therapies were associated with long-term reduction of chronic disease symptoms, improvement of health-related quality of life, and health cost reduction."<ref>Hamre et al., "Anthroposophic therapies in chronic disease: the Anthroposophic Medicine Outcomes Study (AMOS)". Eur J Med Res. 2004 Jul 30;9(7):351-60. PMID: 15337636</ref> *The multicenter [[PARSIFAL study]], involving 6,630 children age 5 to 13 in 5 European countries, concluded that certain practices of anthroposophical doctors, such as restrictive use of antibiotics and antipyretics, are associated with a reduced risk of [[atopy|allergic disease]] in children.<ref>Flöistrup, H., Swartz, J., Bergström, A., Alm, J. S., Scheynius, A., et al. (2006). Allergic disease and sensitization in Steiner school children. ''The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology'', '''117'''(1):59-66. PMID 16387585 [http://www.louisbolk.nl/downloads/mhuber/0601allergic.pdf Reprint copy]</ref> *A comparison of the effectiveness of treatments of chronic lower back pain found that anthroposophically treated patients showed at least comparable improvements to conventionally treated patients, and significantly more pronounced improvement on three scales: mental health, general health and vitality<ref>Hamre et al., "Anthroposophic vs. conventional therapy for chronic low back pain: a prospective comparative study." European Journal of Medical Research, 2007, 12(7), 302-10</ref> Anthroposophical medicine has been criticized by some current day advocates of [[evidence based medicine]] such as Wallace Sampson<ref>Wallace Sampson, MD, "Alternative Attraction". http://www.pbs.org/saf/1210/features/attraction.htm </ref> and [[Edzard Ernst]]<ref name=Edzard/> who have argued that practitioners of anthroposophical medicine and other forms of alternative medicine deliver treatments for which the efficacy or safety hasn't been adequately demonstrated through strictly controlled medical and scientific testing.<ref name=Edzard>[http://healthwatch-uk.org/awardwinners/edzardernst.html Healthwatch Award 2005: Edzard Ernst]</ref> ===Double-blind studies=== [[Robert Todd Carroll]] claims that, because of the individualized nature of treatment and for [[Ethics|ethical reasons]], Anthroposophical physicians do not conduct [[Blind experiment|double-blind]] [[Experiment#Controlled_experiments|controlled]] [[Scientific method|scientific]] [[Experiment|experiments]],<ref>Carroll, Robert ''Anthroposophic Medicine'' The Skeptic's Dictionary, accessed March 5, 2007 [http://www.skepdic.com/anthroposophicmedicine.html]</ref> and that it is thus nearly impossible to evaluate their success rates. ==Mistletoe treatment for cancer== Anthroposophical medicine includes a [[cancer]] treatment based on [[mistletoe]] extracts developed by anthroposophical researchers. This treatment is widely used in [[Central Europe]], where up to two-thirds of all oncology patients' treatment regimen includes mistletoe.<ref>Ernst E, Schmit K, Steuer-Vogt MK. Mistletoe for cancer? A systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Int J Cancer 2003;107:262-7, cited in BMJ 2006;333:1293-1294 (23 December)[http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7582/1293?ijkey=56e55886cc53e0c478801e74001edc3bea1c322e&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha]</ref> ===Medical studies=== *A number of studies support the efficacy of mistletoe in treating cancers.<ref>Mistletoe studies: PMID 3409209, [http://intl-cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/50/11/3322 1990 study], PMID 8067703, PMID 9179366, [http://www.biochemj.org/bj/195/0481/1950481.pdf 1981 study], PMID 9042260, PMID 16101142, and for background: PMID 10550903.</ref> *A prospective, randomized study from 2004 demonstrated significant improvement in patients' quality of life and a 50% reduction in undesirable side-effects of chemotherapy.<ref>Piao BK, Wang YX, Xie GR, Mansmann U, Matthes H, Beuth J, Lin HS.: ''Impact of complementary mistletoe extract treatment on quality of life in breast, ovarian and non-small cell lung cancer patients. A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.'' Anticancer Res. 2004 Jan-Feb;24(1):303-9. PMID 15015612</ref> *One review of studies of mistletoe concludes that Iscador (mistletoe) has been shown to be effective against cancers in animals, but that its efficacy in humans is unclear.<ref>Review of mistletoe studies, "Iscador / Mistletoe / Viscumalbum / Plenosol / Helixor / Iscucin", published by the BC Cancer Agency (2007). [http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/UnconventionalTherapies/IscadorMistletoeViscumalbumPlenosolHelixorIscucin.htm Article]</ref> *The National Cancer Institute has concluded that mistletoe extract has been shown to kill cancer cells in the laboratory and to boost the immune system in animals,<ref>Overview of mistletoe findings, published by National Cancer Institute (2006). [http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/mistletoe/patient Article]</ref> that there is evidence that mistletoe can boost the immune system in human beings, but that almost all of the studies done on human beings have major weaknesses that raise doubts about the reliability of their findings.<ref>Questions and Answers About Mistletoe, published by National Cancer Institute (2006). [http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/mistletoe/patient/Page2 Article]</ref> *The [[American Cancer Society]] website says, "A number of laboratory experiments suggest mistletoe may have the potential to treat cancer, but these results have not yet been reflected in clinical trials. Available evidence from well-designed clinical trials that have studied mistletoe did not support claims that mistletoe could improve length or quality of life. Review of evidence from carefully conducted controlled human clinical studies indicates that mistletoe does not have any significant anti-tumor activity. Most of the studies that have found positive results from mistletoe extract in the treatment or prevention of cancer are not considered scientifically dependable."<ref>[[American Cancer Society]] website (2007) [http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3X_Mistletoe.asp]</ref> *Side effects of mistletoe injections have been reported to include redness, pain or, in a few cases, inflammations under the skin<ref name=BMJ>Finall, A.J., McIntosh, S. A., and Thompson, W. D. (2006). Subcutaneous inflammation mimicking metastatic malignancy induced by injection of mistletoe extract. ''British Medical Journal'', '''333'''(7582):1293-4. PMID 17185712 [http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7582/1293 Reprint copy]</ref>, but it is not clear from the cited report whether it was [[Homeopathy|homeopathic]] Iscador or another of the 30 types of mistletoe extracts<ref>Ernst, E. (2006). Editorial: Mistletoe as a treatment for cancer. ''British Medical Journal'', '''333'''(7582):1282-3. PMID 17185706 [http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7582/1282 Reprint copy]</ref> that was used. ===Editorial comment=== *In a newspaper editorial, [[Edzard Ernst]] suggested that mistletoe can have negative side-effects and some patients may choose to abandon other cancer treatments, which he sees as dangerous.<ref>Ernst, Edzard, "Medicine man", ''The Guardian'', December 21, 2004, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1377721,00.html Article]</ref> ==Other== Steiner's descriptions of certain [[Organ (anatomy)|bodily organs]] and their functions sometimes differ significantly from those found in medical textbooks of his time. He stated, for example, that the [[heart]] is not a pump but a regulator of circulatory flow, since osmotic pressure at the capillary level generates more blood pressure than the heart itself,<ref>Marinelli, Ralph and others ''The Heart Is Not A Pump'' Frontier Perspectives 5(1), 1995</ref> a view that has been confirmed by recent medical research.<ref>"Thus, the valveless embryonic heart does not drive circulation through peristalsis." {{cite journal | last = Forouhar et. al | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Embryonic Vertebrate Heart Tube is a Dynamic Suction Pump | journal = Science | volume = 312 | issue = 5774 | pages = 751-3| date = 5 May 2006 |url= http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/312/5774/751 | accessdate =}}</ref> ==Present-day clinics and doctors== There are currently anthroposophical medical practices in more than 60 countries. Anthroposophic medicine has been integrated into a traditional hospital in Switzerland.<ref>[http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/dyn/wissen/medizin/821493.html "Ich habe den Eindruck, das bringt den Patienten etwas"], ''Tagesanzeiger'', Dec. 25, 2007</ref> Clinics in English-speaking countries include: ===England=== *[[Blackthorn Medical Centre]] in Maidstone, Kent *[[Botton Village Health Centre]] in Danby, Whitby *[[Hale Clinic]] in London [http://www.haleclinic.com/treatments/anthroposophical_medicine/] *[[Helios Medical Centre]] in Stoke Bishop, Bristol *[[Park Atwood Clinic]] in Worcestershire [http://www.parkattwood.org/] *[[Raphael Medical Centre]] in Tonbridge, Kent [http://www.weleda.co.uk/rmc/rmc.htm] *[[St. Luke's Medical Centre]] in Stroud, Glos. ===Ireland=== *Holywood Community Health Initiative in Holywood, Co. Down ===Scotland=== *[[Camphill Medical Practice]] in Bieldside, Aberdeen ===USA=== *Fellowship Community Medical Clinic in Chestnut Ridge, NY *Raphael House in Fair Oaks, California [http://www.raphaelassociation.org/] *Rudolf Steiner Health Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan [http://www.csamwebsite.org/TherapyCenter.htm] == References == <!-- ---------------------------------------------------------- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for a discussion of different citation methods and how to generate footnotes using the <ref>, </ref> and <reference /> tags ----------------------------------------------------------- --> {{reflist}} ==Bibliography== ===Journal review articles=== *Ernst, Edzard (2004). Anthroposophical medicine: A systematic review of randomised clinical trials. ''Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift'', '''116'''(4):128-130, ISSN 0043-5325, PMID 15038403. *Kienle, G. H., and Kiene, H. (2007). Complementary cancer therapy: A systematic review of prospective clinical trials on anthroposophic mistletoe extracts. ''European Journal of Medical Research'', '''12''':103-119, PMID 17507307. [http://wissenschaft.mistel-therapie.de/Dateien/Downloads/Studien/Kienle_2007_Mistel.pdf Reprint] (accessed 10/29/2007). *[http://www.townsendletter.com/Oct_2002/mistletoecancer1002.htm Mistletoe and Cancer], ''Townsend Letter'', October 2002 ===Books=== *Bott, Victor, ''An Introduction to Anthroposophical Medicine'', ISBN 1-85584-177-0 *Bott, Victor, ''Spiritual Science and the Art of Healing''. ISBN 0-89281-636-8 *Douch, Geoffrey, ''Medicine for the Whole Person: A Guide to Anthroposophical Treatment'' ISBN 0-86315-362-3 *Evans, Michael and Rodger, Iain, ''Complete Healing'' ISBN 0-88010-489-9 *Goebel, Wolfgang and Glöckler, Michaela, ''A Guide to Child Health'', ISBN 0-86315-390-9 *Hauschka, Rudolf, ''The Nature of Substance'' ISBN 1-85584-122-3 *Hauschka, Rudolf, ''Nutrition'' ISBN 1-85584-117-7 *King, Francis X., ''Rudolf Steiner and Holistic Medicine'', ISBN 0-89254-015-X. *Leviton, Richard, ''Anthroposophic Medicine Today'' ISBN 0-88010-265-9. *Mees, L. F. C., ''Blessed by Illness'' ISBN 0-88010-054-0 *Mees, L. F. C., ''Secrets of the Skeleton: Form in Metamorphosis'' ISBN 0-88010-087-7 *Murphy, Christine (ed.), ''Iscador: Mistletoe and Cancer Therapy'' ISBN 1-930051-76-X *Murphy, Christine (ed.), ''Practical Home Care Medicine: A Natural Approach'' ISBN 1-930051-09-3 *Murphy, Christine, ''The Vaccination Dilemma'' ISBN 1-930051-10-7 *Renzenbrink, ''Diet and Cancer'' ISBN 0-85440-766-9 *Steiner, Rudolf and Wegman, Ita, ''Extending Practical Medicine''. ISBN 1-85584-080-4 ** also published as ''Fundamentals of Therapy'', ISBN 0-7661-4688-X *Steiner, Rudolf and Weisz, Paul B., ''Angiogenesis: Key Principles-Science-Technology-Medicine'' ISBN 0-8176-2674-3 *Wolff, Otto and Husemann, Friedrich, ''The Anthroposophic Approach to Medicine'' ISBN 0-88010-031-1. *Wolff, Otto, ''Home Remedies: Herbal and Homeopathic Treatments for Use at Home'' ISBN 0-88010-362-0 *Zieve, Robert, ''Healthy Medicine'' ISBN 0-88010-560-7 *Zur Linden, Wilhelm, ''A Child is Born'' ISBN 1-85584-192-4 ===Lectures by Rudolf Steiner=== *''Broken Vessels : The Spiritual Structure of Human Frailty'', Michael Lipson (ed.). ISBN 0-88010-503-8. *''Fundamentals of Anthroposophical Medicine'', ISBN 0-936132-80-9. *''Geographic medicine: The secret of the double''. ISBN 0-936132-06-X *''The Healing Process : Spirit, Nature & Our Bodies'', Catherine E. Creeger (ed.). ISBN 0-88010-474-0 *''Introducing Anthroposophical Medicine (Foundations of Anthroposophical Medicine, v. 1)''. ISBN 0-88010-463-5 *''Medicine: An Introductory Reader'', Andrew Maendl (ed.). ISBN 1-85584-133-9 *''Occult Physiology'' ISBN 1-85584-141-X *''Pastoral Medicine: The Collegial Working of Doctors and Priests''. ISBN 0-88010-253-5 ==External links== *[http://www.ivaa.info International Federation of Anthroposophical Medical Associations] *[http://www.paam.net Physician's Association for Anthroposophical Medicine] (North America) *[http://www.efpam.org European Federation of Patients' Associations for Anthroposophic Medicine] [[Category:Alternative medicine]] [[Category:Anthroposophy]] [[de:Anthroposophische Medizin]] [[es:Medicina antroposófica]] [[fr:Médecine anthroposophique]] [[it:Medicina antroposofica]] [[hu:Antropozófus orvoslás]] [[pt:Medicina antroposófica]] [[ro:Medicină antroposofică]] [[fi:Antroposofinen lääketiede]] [[sv:Antroposofisk medicin]]