Anthroposophic Medicine

 Homepage of the Medical Section at the Goetheanum with information about anthroposophic medicine

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The Position of Anthroposophic Medicine

Anthroposophic medicine is based on scientific medicine and therefore practised only by qualified medical doctors. In addition to the knowledge of the physical body, which is based on natural sciences like anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, it adds knowledge of life-processes, and the influence of soul and spirit on the human being. This is achieved through the methodology of Steiner’s anthroposophic spiritual science.

Postgraduate training in anthroposophic medicine

As anthroposophic medicine is practised only by qualified medical doctors, the ordinary medical training at University medical schools is the pre-condition for extending the basic medical knowledge by training in anthroposophic medicine. This supplementary education may also be applied to the usual postgraduate specialisation of medicine e.g. surgery, general medicine etc.

The additional training in anthroposophic medicine includes the study of anthroposophic spiritual science and its methods of research, training in anthroposophic pharmacy, basic knowledge of eurythmy therapy, and other art-therapies including painting, modelling, music, singing and creative speech. The training in theory and practice takes at least three years. Detailed study-programs are available from the National Anthroposophic Doctors Associations in various countries. Special training centres exist in clinics in England, Germany, Holland, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland.

At university level there are regular training courses of anthroposophic medicine in medical schools in USA (San Francisco), Germany (Witten/Herdecke) and Switzerland (Bern) and sporadic lectures at universities all over the world.

The therapeutic spectrum

The practice of anthroposophic medicine includes all medical disciplines from surgery and general (internal) medicine to psychiatry and primary care.

However, in addition to ordinary pharmaceutical products used in medicine, anthroposophic medicine uses special medicines which are produced according to the anthroposophic understanding of the human being and it’s connection to nature. These medicines may include substances from minerals, plants or animals, prepared in different dilutions and for different routes of application, external, oral or parenteral. Some medicines are similar to herbal medicinal products, some are prepared according to the guidelines of homeopathic pharmacopoeias. However, a remarkable part of anthroposophic specialities is produced using specific pharmaceutical procedures according to the anthroposophic understanding of the human body. Therefore anthroposophic medicines represent a unique entity of medicinal products. This has caused difficulties in the application and harmonisation of European law on the registration of these medicines.

The manufacturing of anthroposophic specialities is undertaken by specially qualified producers, who produce these medicines according the standards of good manufacturing practice. Among the best known anthroposophic medicines are the mistletoe preparations for the treatment of cancer (Abnova viscum®, Helixor®, Iscador®, Iscucin®, Visorel®).

In addition to the treatment with medicinal substances, a range of art-therapies represent a significant part in anthroposophic medicine. These treatments include painting, sculpture, music, singing and creative speech. A special treatment is curative eurythmy or eurythmy therapy, which was inaugurated by Rudolf Steiner as a new movement-therapy in medicine.

Further treatments like Bothmer-gymnastics (also called spacial dynamics), counselling and biographical work, exercises for self-development and meditation complete the wide spectrum of anthroposophic medicine.

Social therapy and curative education of people with learning difficulties is practised in more than 350 institutions all over the world including those of the Camphill movement.

Finally there is close co-operation with teachers and school-doctors of Waldorf-schools to support normal child development.

History of anthroposophic medicine

Anthroposophic medicine was founded in the early 1920’s by the medical doctor Ita Wegman and her colleagues in close collaboration with Rudolf Steiner. First hospitals for anthroposophic medicine started in 1921 in Arlesheim, Switzerland and Stuttgart, Germany. The clinics were linked with pharmaceutical laboratories, out of which developed the later major producers of anthroposophic medicines, WALA and WELEDA. The basis of anthroposophic medicine was published in a book from Steiner and Wegman entitled: "Extending Practical Medicine: Fundamental Principles based on the Science of the Spirit " (Original titel: Grundlegendes für eine Erweiterung der Heilkunst nach geistes-wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen").

Since then basic research and research on diagnosis and therapy according the anthroposophic approach have developed continuously in many centres all over the world.

Today anthroposophic medicine is available in hospitals and residential clinics in Brazil, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland. In addition, anthroposophic medicine is practised by thousands of anthroposophic doctors, assisted by eurythmy therapists and other therapists all over the world.

Ethics, philosophical background and research in anthroposophic medicine

Basic ethics of an anthroposophic doctor does not differ from ethics of any qualified medical doctor as all anthroposophic doctors are qualified medical doctors. In addition to that "basic ethics" however, the ethical concept of anthroposophic doctors is based on Rudolf Steiner’s fundamental philosophical work "The philosophy of freedom: the basis for a modern world conception". Here, the concept of ethical individualism is in particular relevant for the medical profession. The human being is recognised as an eternal individuality even in an ill or handicapped body.

The concept of re-incarnation and the trust in the unlimited possibility of human development are also features of this approach. On the basis of this thinking prevention of disease can be aided by schooling in meditation, self-education and self development.

As mentioned before, highly individualised treatment of the particular patient is a very central issue in anthroposophic medicine. Age, constitution, the biographical situation and the particular state of soul and spirit, in which the patients presents himself or herself to his or her doctor are included in the diagnosis and therapy.

Consequently, research and medical documentation also is adapted to this highly individual approach. As standardised therapy shemes are rarely used in anthroposophic medicine, study designs according to the methodological gold standard of evidence-based medicine, the randomised controlled trial (RCT), ideally double-blinded, can not be employed as a rule. In addition, for ethical reasons RCT designs can be accepted only, if an effective treatment is not withheld from the patients. This may be achieved by cross-over studies or study designs where patients are their own controls. The method of choice however, is the well documented single case study and cohort study according to the methods of cognition-based medicine.

Also studies on efficacy of anthroposophic medicinal products have to take into account the highly individualised nature of anthroposophic medicine and conventional methodology may not be appropriate.

Anthroposophic medicine in the perspective of medico-legal affairs

Anthroposophic medicine is represented in many countries all over the world through the national anthroposophic doctors’ associations, which are represented by the International Federation of Anthroposophical Medical Associations (IVAA). The IVAA works world-wide on the legal and political levels. The main issues, which are supported by the IVAA include:

  • Freedom for patients and doctors to chose the treatment of their choice and guarantee of pluralism in medicine
  • Integration of anthroposophic medicine into the legal framework of national health systems in the IVAA-member states
  • Integration of teaching and education in anthroposophic medicine into the basic medical training at universities and medical schools.

The integration of anthroposophic medicine into the legal framework of national health systems varies remarkably from country to country.

In Switzerland for example anthroposophic medicinal products are listed in the appendix of the official index of pharmaceutical specialities. In German law anthroposophic medicine is recognised as one of three "special therapies" along with homeopathy and herbal medicine. However, in other countries the legal status of anthroposophic medicine is less positive. Also the integration into the European framework of medical legislation, national health systems and university teaching is far from being completed. 

If you have questions, suggestions or comments regarding the content of these pages, please contact directly the secretary of the Medical Section CH-4143 Dornach, Telephone: +41-61-7064290, Telefax: +41-61-7064291, E-mail: med.sektion@goetheanum.ch. 

This page was updated 09.06.2002.