Anthroposophical medicine

At the beginning of the twenties, a form of medicine based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner. Anthroposophical medicine sees the human being as a four-membered being, consisting of physical body, etheric body (life body), astral body (soul) and I (spirit). It seeks to restore the balance between these limbs through natural healing powers. Various natural remedies are used, such as minerals, plants and animals, but also artistic therapy such as making music, painting, speech therapy or eurythmy therapy. Anthroposophic medicine is part of integrative medicine and has been anchored in the German Medicines Act since 1976. Since 1989, it has been legally recognized in the German Social Security Code V as a "special therapeutic direction".

Depending on the collective agreement, anthroposophic medicine is covered by health insurance companies, both private and statutory. Physicians can acquire the additional training anthroposophic medicine, in addition to conventional medicine.

In the summary assessment of the German Medical Association, the 1993 memorandum on drug treatment in the context of "special therapeutic directions" states:

"It is characteristic for objectively effective treatment procedures that they are compatible with the generally accepted ideas of the etiology and pathogenesis of diseases and that they are based on a concept that is supported either experimentally or by reproducible experience independent of the respective therapist. This is not true of the procedures of the special therapeutic directions of homeopathy and anthroposophy."

Anthroposophic medicines are intended to restore the disturbed limb balance. They are prepared according to special procedures. The best known medicinal plant is mistletoe. Due to its unnatural way of life, it does not root in the ground, blooms in winter, it is supposed to be able to suppress the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells.

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925)

1. German Medical Association. Drug treatment in the context of "special therapeutic directions". 2nd ed. Cologne: Deutscher Ärzteverlag; 1993.
2. https://www.gaed.de/aam/ausbildung/anerkennung