Anthroposophy

OBJECTIVE: To develop the hypothesis that reductionism in medical anthropology, professional education and health care influences empathy development, communication and patient satisfaction. METHOD: We identified relevant literature and reviewed the material in a structured essay. We reflected our hypothesis by applying it to Anthroposophic Medicine (AM), an example of holistic theory and practice. RESULTS: Reductionism in medical anthropology such as in conventional medicine seems to lead to a less empathetic and less communicative health care culture than holism such as in CAM disciplines...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In 2005 a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) report analyzed efficacy, effectiveness, safety, utilization and costs of Anthroposophic Medicine (AM). After a recent referendum of the ‘Swiss Population pro Complementary Medicine’ (May 2009) this HTA report was updated. DESIGN: Update of the HTA report by a systematic review. METHODS: Methods corresponded to the existing HTA report and the guidelines of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health...

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This study surveyed patients and their satisfaction with an integrative anthroposophic hospital. The patients were followed up by questionnaires up to six months after a stay in a Swedish clinic. Satisfaction with the care, life satisfaction, and health-related quality of life were measured for 53 patients, 48 women, 5 men, with cancer, pain diseases, and psychosomatic problems. Sampling was consecutive and due to regional reasons. The evaluation of patients' satisfaction from the anthroposophic clinic (AC) was compared to similar questions of patients using conventional hospital care...

BACKGROUND: Although the treatment of children has been a core domain ofanthroposophic medicine since its inception, a systematic analysis of anthroposophic therapies in pediatric primary care is still lacking. This study describes the spectrum of diagnoses and therapies observed in children treated in everyday anthroposophic practice. METHODS: Thirty-eight primary care physicians in Germany participated in this prospective, multicenter observational study on prescribing patterns...

To guarantee the safety of medicinal products as regards infectious agents, numerous national guidelines and recommendations have in recent years been included in the pharmacopoeia general monographs and have influenced the content of the substance monographs. Although the stipulations of the European Pharmacopoeia set out objectives, there is still a certain scope in how the requirements are implemented. This is reflected in the very different responses in Europe to the problems of safety from infection. Different traditions in the use of homoeopathic and anthroposophic therapy and varying levels of expertise among the regulatory authorities within the European Union have resulted in varying standard of assessment...

BACKGROUND: The use of anthroposophic medicine (AM) is popular in Central Europe, especially in German-speaking countries. Although these therapies are judged to be beneficial by many patients, there are few data with regard to the safety and efficacy in pediatric oncology. Several theoretical concerns have been published with regard to tumor enhancement or promotion of metastatic dissemination due to mistletoe. To test the indirect safety of supportive anthroposophic treatment accompanying the first-line treatment in children with medulloblastoma in this respect we performed a retrospective matched-pair analysis of patients with medulloblastoma treated by standard first-line radiochemotherapy with or without a concomitantly applied panel of AM including mistletoe...

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BACKGROUND: Anthroposophic medicine (AM) is frequently utilised in German-speaking countries as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment approach. PROCEDURE: This study presents results of a retrospective parental questionnaire comparing responses of AM-users and users of other CAM in paediatric oncology in Germany. The differences between these two groups are investigated with respect to usage, associated demographic characteristics and previous experience with CAM...

BACKGROUND: Pharmacotherapy in the older adult is a complex field involving several different medical professionals. The evidence base for pharmacotherapy in elderly patients in primary care relies on only a few clinical trials, thus documentation must be improved, particularly in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) like phytotherapy, homoeopathy, and anthroposophic medicine. This study describes diagnoses and therapies observed in elderly patients treated with anthroposophic medicine in usual care...

The anthroposophic lifestyle implies environmental conditions for the infant aimed at reducing negative stress stimulation and is also related to a lower prevalence of allergic diseases in children. One aim of this prospective birth cohort study was to assess stress levels in infants with an anthroposophic lifestyle. A total of 330 infants from families with anthroposophic or more conventional lifestyles were followed from pregnancy of their mothers until the age of 6 months. Information on lifestyle factors was obtained from questionnaires...

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Anthroposophic medicine includes special medications and special artistic and physical therapies. More than 200 clinical studies of varying design and quality have been conducted on anthroposophic treatment. Half of these studies concern anthroposophic mistletoe therapy for cancer. Clinical effects of mistletoe products include improvement of quality of life, reduction of side effects from chemotherapy and radiation, and possibly increased survival. Apart from cancer therapy, the largest studies of anthroposophic treatment have been 2 naturalistic system evaluations: In German outpatients with mental, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and other chronic conditions, anthroposophic treatment was followed by sustained improvements of symptoms and quality of life...

BACKGROUND: Although anthroposophic medicine has been used for more than 80 years and global interest in complementary treatments is increasing, a comprehensive and long-term description of everyday anthroposophic care is still lacking. Our study aims to evaluate how anthroposophic medicine is practised under everyday conditions. METHODS: A total of 38 primary-care physicians in Germany participated in this prospective, multi-centre observational study. Prescriptions, diagnoses, and non-pharmacological therapies were reported for each consecutive patient...

UNLABELLED: Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy, suggested the development of visualisation methods for "etheric formative forces". The essential methods, their "spiritual scientific" basis and indications are described and their claims critically tested. SUMMARY: The methods are not validated, the key criteria for diagnostic tests (reproducibility, sensitivity, specifity) are not given.

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This paper discusses the question of whether anthroposophic medicinal products can be treated in the European Union as regards registration and marketing authorization, in the same way as homeopathic medicinal products. European Union legislation, European official pharmacopoeias, and bibliography in this regard have been revised. European Directives make a single reference in one of its whereas clauses to anthroposophic medicinal products "described in an official pharmacopoeia and prepared by a homeopathic method"...

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OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the role of measles vaccination and measles infection in the development of allergic disease and atopic sensitization. METHODS: A total of 14 893 children were included from the cross-sectional, multicenter Prevention of Allergy-Risk Factors for Sensitization in Children Related to Farming and Anthroposophic Lifestyle study, conducted in 5 European countries (Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland). The children were between 5 and 13 years of age and represented farm children, Steiner-school children, and 2 reference groups...