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Anthroposophic Medicine

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Anthroposophic Medicine Anthroposophic medicine Its nature |its aims |its possibilities Therapeutic eurythmy (left) is a movement therapy that uses speech, gestures and music. Copper Whole extract of yellow gentian root (left) rods or - as here - copper balls can help deepen contains a range of bitter substances known focus on the movement. Therapeutic painting to stimulate the digestion and is used in anthro- (right) promotes the conscious appreciation of posophic medicines. For anthroposophic doctors shapes and colours. Rhythmic massage (far right) comprehensive physical examination (right) stimulates the flow of fluids within the body. is an essential part of the diagnostic process. to influence the others. One of the fundamental aspects of anthroposophic medicine is to take this into account during diagnosis and therapy. Anthroposophic Nevertheless, it is not an “alternative medicine” – it doesn‘t aim to replace conventional medicine. On the contrary – it is based on accepted medical science; it just takes things a step further. Or in other words, anthroposophic medicine makes use of everything that scientific research has revealed to be of benefit to the human being: medical technology, laboratory tests, medicine medication, operations, and intensive care. In addition it assesses the individual as a whole entity, examining the aspects which determine a person‘s uniqueness according to anthro- pological norms. For instance, this may include physique and body language, physical flow, handshake, sleeping habits, sensitivity to changes in temperature, breathing and biorhythms. Anthroposophic medicine therefore attempts to include the individuality of the patient, as well as the accepted features of an illness, in the treatment process. For just as each person is unique, so is each treatment – even though some may appear to apply to many people. Anthroposophic medicine is not pre-determined. It avoids pure routine. Even if the same disease pictures constantly recur, each illness manifests itself differently in each patient – a manifestation inseparable from the uniqueness of the individual. Anthroposophic medicine For many people, anthroposophic medicine is a difficult concept. But in fact, it is quite easy therefore aims to form a picture of the physical, psychological, and personal circumstances that to explain. It is an integrative form of medicine, derived from two sources: “material scientific have paved the way for an illness to take hold. Taking such factors into consideration during medicine” with its methods and results, on the one hand, and “spiritual scientific” findings on diagnosis and therapy and re- applying the process to every new patient, guided by scientific the other. Neither one may be taken in isolation. For an individual is not simply a body, there‘s findings, medical experience, personal discernment, and intuition, is fundamental to anthro- also the psyche and personality to take into account as well. Anthroposophic doctors regard phy- posophic medicine. Any medicine that ignores the person as an individual cannot claim to be sical and mental existence together with personality as a unit, each element having the capacity true human medicine. 2 3 Therapeutic speech (left) facilitates deeper breathing and improves the correlation of breathing and pulse. This has a stabilising and health-giving effect on cardiac rhythms and the entire circulation. External treatments such as compresses (right), poultices and baths stimulate the body’s vital functions: breathing, circulation, digestion, metabolism, heat production and distribution. Verbascum, common mullein. Flowers are made into tea and used to ease coughs and loosen catarrh caused by inflammations of the respiratory tract. Anthroposophic medicine • heat distribution, posture, uprightness, Health is produced when the polar extremes differs from other systems gait, mental focus, speech – expressive of of life are held in dynamic balance: waking The main difference between anthroposo- spiritual state. and sleeping, stillness and movement, joy phic medicine and conventional medicine When illness occurs, examination of the and sorrow. It results from actively sear- is that it doesn‘t only look for the illness in above may reveal deviations, imbalances, ching out and choosing the path we as the person, but rather for the person in the and extremes – additional diagnostic para- individuals take into the world and back illness. The diagnostic procedures and the meters that need to be considered when into ourselves. There are therefore as many symptoms observed therein may be identi- selecting a therapy. healthy states as there are people in the cal, but a holistic interpretation can lead to Anthroposophic medicine also has a world. Health is not an end in itself; it sim- different treatments being recommended, different understanding of the role played ply helps us make the most of our personal or conventional therapies being supple- by the patient in overcoming illness. The and social lives. mented by additional measures. patient is not simply a passive recipient During an illness, the patient has the Medicine based purely on material of medical skill, but an equal partner with opportunity to recognise the state of imba- science is limited to explaining an illness the doctor. After all, nobody can know the lance body and soul have reached, to under- solely on the basis of the laws of physics patient better than the patient. stand this and rectify it. Chronic illness can and chemistry. provide an opportunity to learn new modes Anthroposophic medicine is more Illness and health of behaviour, to develop further insights and ambitious. It takes into account additional The pendulum of life swings us back acquire greater maturity. Anthroposophic factors, both general and individual, that and forth between illness and health. doctors offer the patient support during may affect the patient‘s life, mind, and Conventional medicine is solely concerned this process. They strengthen patient auto- soul, and their physical manifestation: with factors which either promote or pro- nomy, recognise patient responsibility, and • growth, regeneration, microcirculation duce illness. By contrast, anthroposophic promote the patient‘s right to involvement – expressive of vital energy; doctors examine both sides – those aspects in the selection of an appropriate therapy, • muscle tone, facial expressions, gestures which cause illness and those which pro- while strengthening the patient‘s own resol- – expressive of mental state; mote health. ve to remain healthy. 4 5 The curves of an ECG (left) not only provide information on the course of cardiac conduction and correspondingly cardiac rhythms, they also indicate other rhythmic processes within the body such as breathing and blood pressure. In the case of sculpture (right) the idea is to get to grips with a shape made of clay, wood, stone or wax. The activity calls up images, releasing energy that can help in overcoming an illness. Modern medical technology such as computer tomography - shown here - is essential for many phases of diagnosis and is natu- rally an integral element of anthroposophic medicine. Technology also has its place bring recognisable benefits for the patient. on dosing with naturally based anthro- In the diagnosis of an illness, anthro- Unnecessary investigations are therefore posophic medicines, the composition of posophic doctors will use all the proce- avoided, meaning anthroposophic doctors which is determined by the typical fea- dures offered by conventional medicine. work in a particularly cost-conscious man- tures of an illness. Substances tailored to Nevertheless, when it comes to medical ner. Nevertheless, whenever a technical the patient‘s unique characteristics are aids, they prefer initially to rely on their method is considered appropriate, anthro- also administered. Frequently these are own senses. posophic doctors are just as willing to homeopathic/other medicines designed to They examine the individual from top apply modern technology for the good of stimulate the organism and its powers of to toe, ob- serving body language, expressi- the patient. self-healing. ons, and gestures, the patient‘s handshake, gait, posture – in fact, their entire appea- The therapeutic spectrum Rewarding and challenging rance. They feel whether skin and extremi- On the one hand, anthroposophic medi- Patients used to high tech medicine often ties are warm or cold, clammy or dry to the cine uses procedures that require passive find the intensive personal attention they touch, and they also feel and listen to the acceptance on the part of the patient; receive from an anthroposophic doctor sti- body. They listen to the patient‘s own esti- these are supplemented, however, by pro- mulating. During consultation, they expe- mation of his or her well-being and mental cedures demanding the patient‘s active rience the very respect and interest they health, and assess how strong the patient‘s involvement. Medical procedures such as are seeking as patients. Moreover, not only will to live is – now and in reference to past operations and the allopathic drugs of may they take part in the various therapeu- personal history. conventional medicine make few active tic procedures, they are actively encoura- Only then does the question arise whe- demands of patients. Artistic therapies ged to do so. Neither is the doctor‘s inte- ther or not a technical procedure might such as therapeutic speech, music, pain- rested questioning of the patient during an aid diagnosis.
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