Introduction: Anthroposophical medicine is an extension of orthodox medical practice rather than an alternative to it. As an approach, it aims to treat the body as well as the mind, soul and spirit. Founded by Austrian scientist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) and developed in co-operation with Dutch physician Ita Wegman (1876-1943), anthroposophy is a science in which both the human being and the natural world are described not only physically but also in terms of soul and spirit.

The Aim and Philosophy: The main aim of Anthroposophical medicine is to stimulate the natural healing forces, known as ‘etheric forces’, within the human being. Steiner described the conscious life of the emotions as a function of the ‘astral body’ and the spiritual core of human individuality as an ‘ego organisation’. In pointing to affinities between the four ‘bodies’ – the etheric forces, the physical and astral body and the ego – and the four elements of earth, water, air and fire, Steiner linked the mineral substances of man’s body with his or her spiritual core. Steiner then described how the four bodies co-operate with one another, within three distinct but interpenetrating systems: the nerve-sense, the rhythmic and the metabolic system. The nerve-sense system is the basis of conscious waking life and continually erodes the vitality of the physical body. This is replenished during sleep when the physical and etheric forces assert themselves. The tension between these two opposing systems causes illness. Health is a sign that an equilibrium has been established.

Who is an Anthroposophical Physician ?
An anthroposophical physician is one who has completed a conventional training with all its external qualifications, who fully acknowledges the benefits and accomplishments of modern medicine, but does not stop there. The anthroposophical physician extends traditionally medicine, based on a study of the human being as taught by Dr.Rudolf Steiner about a hundred years ago. This study recognizes that human beings are more than just a physical body, shared with the mineral kingdom. It considers the etheric body shared with the Plant kingdom, the emotional body, also called the astral body, with the animal kingdom, and the ego, exclusive to the human being. Disease takes place when these bodies are in a state of imbalance with each other. Anthroposophical medicine seeks for ways to remedy these imbalances.

Why Anthroposophical medicine now?
One of our major challenges in alternative/integrated medicine is to establish meaningful bridges between disciplines. Part of this involves inter-changeable language; where the same intrinsic meaning can be expressed and understood in different forms. For example in Anthroposophic medicine, we speak of a soul (astral) and life (etheric )forces. Imbalances in the astral body are often referred to as sources of illness, whereas the etheric body is considered a source of healing. In the contemporary parlance of the autonomic nervous system, astral and etheric can be understood as sympathetic and parasympathetic. A simple well-thought-out new technology called Heart Rate Variability reveals that in many patients the parasympathetic system is weakened while the sympathetic is over-reactive. This can be seen as weakened etheric forces and over-reactive astral forces.

Working with anthroposophical ideas requires continuous learning, searching for causes of phenomena that may underlie symptoms. Anthroposophical doctors are interested in the biography of their patients and acknowledge that the roots of certain problems may lie in the physical, emotional or spiritual domain, or in a combination of these.

Symptoms must be respected as the voices of the soul. Only a deep interest in the patient and careful observation of symptoms can bring about insights which become the basis for healing.

Anthroposophical medicines: What are they?
Anthroposophical medicines are prepared from substances taken from the mineral, plant or animal kingdom in which forces that counter-balance those of a particular illness may be found. Biography study also plays a part in the healing process and doctors may prescribe therapies such as sculpture, painting, music, speech and movement therapy known as eurthmy. Massage and baths may also be used.

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Anthroposophical Medicine