Anthroposophical Medicine

Anthroposophical medicine was developed in the early twentieth century by Rudolf Steiner, also known as the genius behind Waldorf education and biodynamic gardening. Anthroposophical medicine is practiced much more widely in Europe, where entire clinics and hospitals employ this approach. With the growth of alternative medicine in the United States, anthroposophical medicine is gaining in interest and practitioners.

Anthroposophical medicine is most similar to homeopathy. Both of these disciplines use potentized remedies that are generally from mineral or plant sources. Both are highly individualized approaches to patient care. Likewise, both operate on the principle that there is a therapeutic correspondence between processes in nature and illnesses in people. However, there are some differences in how this principle is practically applied.

As in homeopathy, the anthroposophical practitioner focuses upon the totality of the client—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual The practitioner learns how to perceive the dynamic interactions between these parts of every person, and how these interactions alter our organ function, physiology, biochemistry, and ways of thinking and perceiving.

Through trained observation and asking pertinent questions, the physician is able to recognize subtle organic disorders involving the four major internal organs: heart, kidneys, liver, and lungs. These subtle organ imbalances may be detected long before they manifest as physical symptoms that are measurable by laboratory methods or seen on radiological procedures. The signs of these imbalances may be perceived in the person’s temperament, persistent thoughts, fears, food cravings, body movements, or facial expression, to give some examples.

Each of these four organs is much more than just a mass of physical substance with biochemical and physiological activities. Each organ represents a corresponding temperament and character quality that may be observed. In other words, each organ presents a psychological-physical picture that lies somewhere along a spectrum of illness and healing. The composite picture of each person—which organs are overstimulated and which organs are suppressed—is then put together in a diagnostic picture of illness.

Through this composite picture, the physician is able to perceive how a person’s soul and spirit are blocked from being integrated with the physical body. It is in this respect that anthroposophical medicine is truly holistic. The subtler parts of oneself—soul and spirit—are not just abstract ideas that are relegated to religious institutions or psychology while medicine fixes the problems of the physical body. Soul and spirit are an integral part of anthroposophical medicine.

The separation of mind and body is the great illusion of our time. In reality, our state of health and illness is determined through experiencing ourselves through our physical body as soul-spiritual beings in daily life. When we are working to integrate our physical, soul, and spiritual selves, then we are engaged in a process of healing.

Anthroposophical physicians are able to educate their patients about the inner significance of a particular illness. Healing comes from understanding the relationship of an illness to the whole of one’s life, and then, based on this understanding, taking steps to change one’s lifestyle.

Based on these principles, the anthroposophical physician designs a therapeutic program. Unlike homeopathy, which is limited to potentized remedies, anthroposophical medicine is an entire comprehensive system of healing. In this sense it is more similar to traditional Chinese medicine, which is much more than acupuncture.

In addition to potentized remedies such as those used in homeopathy, the anthroposophical physician may also prescribe other modalities of healing. These include artistic therapies (sculpture, painting, music, and movement), therapeutic massage, baths with certain oils and preparations, and/or counseling. Each of these is prescribed according to a similar understanding of a patient as a being of body, soul, and spirit. For example, in addition to a combination of potentized remedies, a patient may be given a certain therapeutic eurythmy (see the section that follows) exercise. Experience and Dr. Steiner’s indications have taught the physician that this particular movement is often helpful in improving the function of the liver, for example.

The counseling used in anthroposophical medicine is comprehensive. It includes exploring the biographical origins of an illness. As a process of growth in consciousness, without which there is no healing of illness, patients learn how to observe objectively what they often subjectively experienced. Conversely, without a comprehensive therapeutic program that supports inner organ development, counseling will fail.

The patient is an active part of the therapy, rather than just a passive recipient of medicines. The healing of illness is inseparable from the development of insight and the awakening of a conscious, purposeful will to redirect one’s life. Anthroposophical therapeutic programs engage all aspects of a person in the process of healing.

There are many facets to anthroposophy and anthroposophical medicine, including a community of professionals in Spring Valley, New York, committed to working according to these principles. What I noticed and what attracted me when I visited this community were its economics and how the practitioners worked together. The physicians are not necessarily paid more than others working in the clinic. Income is based on need, balancing the individual’s needs and the needs of the clinic and the community. Further, there is value placed on physicians not always working in the clinic as a physician. Sometimes, they are in the biodynamic garden working with the herbs they use in the clinic with patients.

Read more about Anthroposophical Medicine in Dr. Zieve's book, Healthy Medicine: A Guide to the Emergence of Sensible, Comprehensive Care.