Introduction
I chose the subject of anthroposophic medicine as my topic. Anthroposophic Medicine is allopathic medicine taken to a further degree, in which the use of natural remedies and spiritual understanding of the body enhance the scientific knowledge and practice. It is closely tied to Waldorf Education, as both are born from the teachings of Rudolf Steiner 1861-1925, an Austrian scientist and philosopher. (Who Was Rudolf Steiner, 2009) I interviewed Dr. Adam Blanning, in Denver, Colorado. I sent him the following list of questions by email, but he only answered a small handful of them, and explained to me that my questions would take a lot of time to answer, stating, “This is the stuff that books are made of.” He emailed me links to web sites that I could look at and find answers to the others, and said that he would be happy to be quoted as saying anything found on those sites. The following answers are a combination of statements from my interview with him and information that I was able to find from sites that he recommended.
The Interview
1)Would you please define the term anthroposophic?
“Anthropo” is Greek for the human being, “-sophy” for wisdom
2)What can you tell me about the philosophy that underlies anthroposophic medical practice? Is there a spiritual path associated with this philosophy of medical treatment?
It is explained on the Physician’s Association For Anthroposophic Medicine, “An individual is not simply a body, there is also the psyche and personality to take into account as well. Anthroposophic doctors regard physical and mental existence together with personality as a unit, each element having the capacity to influence the others. One of the fundamental aspects of anthroposophic medicine is to take this into account during diagnosis and therapy.
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. Moreover it supplements “material science” with aspects of spiritual science in order to assess the individual as a whole entity. For instance, this may include body language, personal history, breathing, and many other aspects besides– all of which determine an individual's personality. 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 in Practice, no date of publishing listed)
3)How does one become an anthroposophical doctor?
Taken from the Physician’s Association for Anthroposophic Medicine web site,
“What are the certification criteria for medical doctors?
1. Licensed to practice medicine in the U.S. or Canada
2. High moral and ethical standing
3. Engaged in developing his/her soul and spiritual faculties and continuing to broaden his or her knowledge.
4. One year’s full-time or three years’ part-time study of the basics of anthroposophy and anthroposophic medicine, or the five-year IPMT course. This criterion is individualized.
5. Two years’ practical further training at an anthroposophic clinic or hospital, an anthroposophic medical practice, or in the applicant’s own practice under a recognized mentor.
6. Final exam consisting of submission and discussion of two cases, showing ability to handle the basics of anthroposophic medicine independently.” (PAAM, no year of publication listed)
4)What range of conditions and illnesses are addressed by your practice?
Dr. Blanning said, “This list of therapies is from the web site of my practice, http://www.denvertherapies.com/ which is The Denver Center for Anthroposophic Therapies:
Working with a wide variety of challenges in childhood, such as:
Developmental, behavioral, and learning difficulties
Enuresis (bedwetting), Encopresis
Inattention and Hyperactivity
Sensory Integration Problems
Disordered Sleep, Nightmares
Colic, Food Sensitivities
Separation Anxiety
Recurrent and chronic inflammatory illness such as:
Asthma and seasonal allergies
Eczema
Ear Infections
Recurrent Bronchitis or Pneumonia
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Autoimmune diseases
Migraines
Digestive imbalances, such as:
Irritable Bowel
Constipation, Chronic Diarrhea
Poor Appetite, Sugar Cravings
Multiple food allergies
Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's disease
Mood and emotional imbalances, such as:
Depression
Anxiety
Fear
with a special recognition of the role of Biographical Rhythms
in cycles of change and crisis
Neurologic disease, such as:
Supportive treatment in Epilepsy
Supportive treatment in Multiple sclerosis and
other kinds of progressive Neuropathy
Adjuvant (supportive) treatments for Cancer, including:
Mistletoe Therapy
Art Therapy
Movement Therapy
Rhythmical massage
Dietary and lifestyle recommendations
Home Care Recommendations:
for helping families work through common acute illnesses at home
5)What is the main difference between allopathic and anthroposophic medicine
The main difference between anthroposophic medicine and conventional medicine is that is doesn’t only look for the illness in the person, but rather the person in the illness. The diagnostic procedures and the symptoms observed therein may be identical, but a holistic interpretation can lead to different treatments being recommended or conventional therapies being supplemented by additional measures.” (Anthroposophic Medicine, no date listed)
6)What should a new patient expect from a typical appointment with you? How long does it last? What do you do? What would be an average cost?
Dr. Blanning wrote, “A first visit is typically an hour. It includes taking a full medical history, appropriate physical exam, and a discussion of ways to work with an illness, both in terms of medicines and in terms of life rhythms, consciousness of patterns of behavior, adequate rest and nutrition. A first visit is typically $150 (other anthroposophic doctors charge considerably more).
A lot of the visit is devoted to conversation, asking also about sleep, digestion, diet. The goal really is to develop a "constitutional" understanding of a person, which brings certain strengths and potential weaknesses, and then trying to see how a particular illness or problem can be helped by balancing and supporting an overall shift in those weaknesses. As an example, someone who tends to be tight and cramped may have problems with stomach cramps, tight muscles, anxiety and asthma. All are cramping processes on different levels (physical, functional, emotional, etc.) Treating that constitutional tendency would likely help all of those problems.”
7) I know that the remedies used are similar to homeopathy? Are there ways in which they differ? Also, how are they regulated?
Quoted from the article, Anthroposophic Medicines , “Anthroposophic medicine uses mineral, vegetable, metal, and animal-based raw materials in the production of medicines. For instance quartz, sulpher, and lime are typical mineral substances, while anrnica, yellow gentian, and chamomile are well-known medicinal herbs. Of the metals, gold, silver, iron and tin are frequently used, while animal-based substances include insect venom…Anthroposophic medicines, on the other hand, are multi-faceted in orientation. Their spectrum includes homeopathic potencies, vegetable concentrates, not to mention compounds of a more complex nature. In addition there are several substances that typify anthroposophic medicines, such as metal mirrors or tinctures derived from plants fertilized with metallic salts (vegetabilised metals). An anthroposophic pharmacopoeia is currently being created with the aim of providing a published summary of all substances used in the production of anthroposophic medicines and the forms of processing approved.” (Anthroposophic Medicines, 2003)
8)What can you tell me about curative education and the ways in which anthroposophical medicine parallels or overlaps with education? Do you help people/children with disabilities?
Dr. Blanning wrote, “Anthroposophic medicine is a close cousin to both Waldorf education, and curative education. I actively observe in the classroom and work with the faculty for two Waldorf schools, looking at problematic behaviors and trying to see what the child is trying to accomplish through a behavior. Sometimes it is a very physical need (desire for strong touch, movement, vestibular stimulation) and sometimes it is wanting social acknowledgment or attention.
Curative education is usually centered in communities called Camphills, with work with both children and adults with developmental disabilities. The "villagers" (those with disabilities) live in group homes, receive education and are engaged in practical work, like cooking, spinning, gardening. Great focus is placed on making life as rich and productive as is possible. Most communities work close with an anthroposophic doctor as well.”
9) Do you know of any scientific research that has been done on anthroposophic medicine? Have any of the treatments been scientifically proven? How do you feel about scientific studies, and do you do any yourself?
Dr. Blanning answered, “My research is only working to try to fully understand each person as a completely individual being, and to really address them as a human being, not just a disease or an organ system.
There is a great deal of research work done on therapies for cancer using mistletoe preparations. You might check those out on anthromed.org.”
I went ahead and checked the site that Dr. Blanning recommended above, and found this example to share. It is one of many study summaries that I saw, many of which are related to anthroposophic cancer therapy:
“Mistletoe Complementary Treatment in Patients with Primary Non-metastatic Breast Cancer. By Paul R. Bock et al.
Category: Cancer and Iscador
Published by `Arzneim.-Forsch./Drug Research' on 10/1/2004
Summary: The results of the present study confirmed the safety of the complementary therapy for patients with primary, non-metastatic mammary carcinoma with Iscador ® and showed considerably fewer ADRs attributed to concurrent conventional therapy, as well as reduced disease and treatment-associated symptoms, and suggested a prolonged overall survival in the Iscador ® group as compared with controls.” (2009, AnthroMed Library)
10) Please share a success story that stands out for you, with a patient in your practice.
Dr. Blanning replied, “I was called last week by the parents of a child who had come to see me for problems with tics and repetitive behaviors, as well as problems with constipation and a sensitive digestion. He had been taking natural medicines (in this case homeopathic and herbal preparations) for almost two months, and virtually all the issues were gone. The call was short, because the parents really had nothing to complain about, no concerns. It is reassuring and gratifying to see that kind of change.”
References
1.Who was Rudolf Steiner. Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association. Retrieved from: http://www.biodynamics.com/steiner.html
The following references are arranged in order and are for questions that were not answered by direct quote from Dr. Blanning.
Question #2. Anthroposophic Medicine in Practice. Physicians Association for Anthroposophic Medicine. Retrieved from: http://www.paam.net/anthroposophic-medicine.html
Question #3. Training. Physicians Association for Anthroposophic Medicine. Retrieved from: http://www.paam.net/training.html
Question #5. Publisher’s Medical Section of the School of Spiritual Science, Geotharium. Anthroposophic Medicines. Retrieved from: http://www.paam.net/fileadmin/pdf/Anthroposophic-Medicine.pdf.
Question #7. Publisher’s Medical Section of the School of Spiritual Science, Geotharium. Anthroposophic Medicines. Retrieved from: http://www.paam.net/fileadmin/pdf/Anthroposophic-Medicines.pdf.
Question #9. AnthroMed Library. 2009. Retrieved from: http://www.anthromed.org/Issue.aspx?isspk=16
Summary
To summarize what I learned, anthroposophic medical doctors are highly educated, having earned not only a doctorate and license to practice medicine, but more than three years of additional training in anthroposophical medicine and anthroposophy. Included in this medical practice are healing through nutritional therapy, drugs, homeopathy with specific formulas not common to other homeopathic practice, movement therapies (eurythmy), behavioral therapies, and much more. Issues that can be treated range from disease to disability, and many, many issues in between. Anthroposophic doctors operate similarly to naturopaths in the following ways. They offer long appointments, taking time getting to ask patients about stress, diet, activity, pain and any other influential factor, and know the full picture of the patient; treat with mostly gentle, plant based medicines, and look at the body from a holistic perspective. The idea is to look at the person, not the illness, and find out what can be done in the larger picture to balance the person, and consequently eliminate the cause of illness and the condition that brought illness forth. There has been research done on the anthroposophic medical model, on a limited variety of treatments, mostly in Germany. The findings have been promising. Anthroposophic physicians treat adults, children, and people with disabilities. Waldorf schools (based in anthroposophy, which essentially means “man wisdom” and refers to a spiritual science perspective introduced by Austrian scientist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner in the 1800’s) employ anthroposophic doctors to observe and help certain children. There are also entire communities based on this approach, where disabled people live, work, learn and are treated by anthroposophical doctors.
Video Link
I chose a video to share with you from the Rudolf Steiner Health Center web site at http://www.steinerhealth.org/about/anthroposophical-medicine/ . Scroll down a bit on the page, to find the vimeo video and click on it to play. This video has a great deal of information and addresses a broad spectrum of history, explanation of therapies, and variety of therapies. I enjoyed the fact that it is mostly in German (with English subtitles) for authenticity! This video is not short- my apologies. This medical model has great depth and complexity, so a longer, more informative video seemed appropriate.
Organizations that support Anthroposophic Medicine
Two organizations that support this healing modality with their associated web sites are:
1)The Physician’s Association for Anthroposophic Medicine
http://www.paam.net/home.html
2)The IVAA (International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations)
http://ivaa.info/?p=1
Where to Find the Research
I could not find anthroposophic medicine addressed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, but Pub Med had several articles about it. One article can be found at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21717821 . The article is titled Anthroposophic medicine in pediatric primary care: a prospective, multicenter observational study on prescribing patterns. It describes a study on everyday anthroposophic medical practice for children. The main conclusions were that anthroposophic doctors are very balanced in their approach, using a combination of both conventional and anthroposophic medicines in their prescriptions. I am primarily interested in working with children, as a holistic practitioner, so this article was of interest to me, although many varied articles on other Anthroposophic medical subjects exist on the pub med site.
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