A holistic medical concept
What is anthroposophic medicine?
Anthroposophic medicine is an extension of conventional medicine. It builds on conventional medicine, but also incorporates knowledge and experience from the anthroposophy developed by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925).
Every anthroposophic doctor is trained in conventional medicine. They are familiar with all the diagnostic and therapeutic methods relevant to their specialty.
In conventional medicine, people are often reduced to their physical body. However, this narrow view means that much of the possible understanding of illness is lost. Anthroposophic medicine takes into account the psychological and spiritual needs of the human being. In this way, illness and health appear in a new light and are understood as processes in which not only the physical body but also the life forces as well as the mental and spiritual areas are involved. This means that diagnostic and therapeutic measures are not based on rigid standards, but are adapted to the individual needs of each patient.
In order to offer holistic support, our doctors have mastered a wide range of complementary treatment methods. The anthroposophical understanding of nature and the human being opens up a wide range of possibilities for using the healing powers of a mineral or plant in a targeted manner: internally as globules, tablets or drops, in the form of an injection or applied externally via the skin.
In anthroposophic medicine, specially trained therapists and nurses also use care therapies (compresses and embrocations), artistic therapies such as music therapy, therapeutic speech therapy, therapeutic painting and sculpting as well as eurythmy therapy and physiotherapy. The aim of these therapies is to activate the person's healing powers, support their self-healing powers and thus influence the disease process.
The origin
At the beginning of our century, Rudolf Steiner founded anthroposophy, a spiritual-scientific worldview and theory of knowledge centered on the human being (anthropos = Greek "man", sophia = Greek "wisdom"). Steiner and the anthroposophical views exerted a great influence on general cultural life. The Waldorf schools and kindergartens as well as curative education can be traced back to these influences. Biodynamic agriculture under the name "Demeter" also originated here.
Steiner also gave numerous new impulses to medicine. Together with Ita Wegman, he developed anthroposophically expanded medicine at what is now the Arlesheim Clinic. They formulated their findings in the book "Fundamentals for an Expansion of the Art of Healing". They researched new ways of producing remedies and the effects of artistic therapies. Today, anthroposophically extended medicine is an integral part of our healthcare system.
Painting and design therapy
The basis for sculptural art is the body and for painting the surface. Anthroposophical painting therapy focuses on the process of painting and the effect of colors. We not only have colors around us, but also carry them within us. They are connected to the soul and to the organs. more >
Eurythmy therapy
Eurythmy therapy originates from eurythmy (Greek: eurythmy = harmonious rhythm) and is a movement therapy of anthroposophical medicine. more >
Music therapy
Anthroposophical music therapy is an ancient form of therapy that works primarily through the breath. It works with many different instruments in the areas of blowing, stroking, plucking and beating as well as with the singing voice. It is used both actively and passively and is repeated regularly. more >
Rhythmic massage
Rhythmic massage is a holistic therapy that addresses the self-healing powers and self-regulation of the human being. The method is based on the psycho-physiological relationships in the human being and the functional threefold structure of the human organism. more >
External applications
External applications already had their place in traditional folk medicine in the past and are still used successfully in anthroposophic medicine today. The rhythmic embrocations were developed at the beginning of the last century by the two doctors Dr. lta Wegman and Dr. Margarete Hauschka as part of the therapeutic concept of anthroposophic medicine. more >