Anthroposophic medicine was initiated in the 1920s by the Austrian philosopher, Dr Rudolf Steiner, and developed together with the Dutch physician Dr Ita Wegman. It is a medical system in continuous process of development with the possibility of creating new remedies and treatments. Although rooted in a 90-year old tradition, anthroposophic medicine is by no means a ‘traditional’ approach to medicine. The remedies or treatments used have a scientifically based rational out of the system of so called ‘spiritual science’, the basis of anthroposophy.¹ This approach provides a systematic tool to analyse and understand the relationships between the different realms of nature (minerals, plants, animals etc) and their connection to men, both in healthy and ill conditions.  The method is described in the numerous textbooks of anthroposophic medicine and can be achieved by anybody.^2-4 (See also ECHAMP E-News June/July 2010)

Basic and pre-clinical research
Research in anthroposophic medicine is not limited to clinical studies. From the very beginning a profound body of laboratory and pre-clinical research has been conducted in particular on mistletoe, including botanical, pharmaceutical, immune-biological studies.⁵

Clinical effectiveness
From the very beginning the system of anthroposophic medicine has been the subject of ongoing research. In the first period research was often conducted in the form of case reports and experimental and observational studies, to document and prove the outcome, effectiveness and safety of prescriptions created out of the anthroposophic medical rational.

Anthroposophic medicine still represents highly individualised therapy. Therefore case studies and observational studies are still of major interest for researchers. For these studies today, modern methodology is applied, including ‘cognition based medicine’.^6,7 Basic research also continues to develop the system of anthroposophic medicine as a medical system. Proceedings can be followed in the Journal of Anthroposophic Medicine (Merkurstab), the scientific periodical for anthroposophic medicine.

A major review from 2006 compiles 195 studies in anthroposophic medicine, of which 18 were randomised trials.186 of these studies (including 15 of the 18 randomised trials) had positive results for anthroposophic medical treatment, eight studies had no benefit, and one study had a negative trend.⁸ Although varying in design and quality, the studies point to a clear effectiveness of anthroposophic medicine in clinical trials.

Clinical studies today are conducted according to current technical standards.⁹ The best studied substance in anthroposophic medicine is probably mistletoe. According to concise reviews, the best documented clinical effects of anthroposophic medicine mistletoe therapy are improvement of quality of life and reduction of side effects from chemotherapy and radiation.^10-12

In disorders like mental, musculoskeletal, respiratory and other chronic conditions, treatment with anthroposophic medicine showed sustained improvements of symptoms and quality of life.^13-15 Anthroposophic treatment of primary care patients with acute respiratory and ear symptoms had more favourable outcomes, lower antibiotic prescription rates, less adverse drug reactions, and higher patient satisfaction compared to conventional treatment.¹⁶

Prevention
In well-controlled epidemiological studies, Waldorf school attendance was associated with a reduced risk for atopic disease,^17,18 possibly mediated by effects on the intestinal bacterial flora from restrictive use of antibiotics and antipyretics in childhood infectious disease ¹⁸ or from a vegetarian diet.¹⁹

Safety
In safety studies, adverse reactions to anthroposophic medicine were infrequent and mostly mild to moderate in severity.^20,21 This has also been confirmed using an innovative electronic pharmacovigilance system in a network of anthroposophic practices.^22,23

Costs
Cost-benefit analysis in patients treated with anthroposophic medicine for chronic disease revealed that total health costs did not increase in the first year, and were reduced in the second year due to a decrease of inpatient hospitalisation.²⁴ Health insurers in Holland also showed that patients whose GP has additional training in anthroposophic medicine, homeopathy, or acupuncture had substantially lower health care costs and lower mortality rates due to fewer hospital stays and fewer prescription drugs.²⁵

In conclusion
There is a significant body of research evidence that anthroposophic medicine is an effective approach to medicine with a high level of safety at equal or less cost when compared to conventional medicine.

Peter Zimmermann, MD, PhD
President, International Association of Anthroposophic Medical Associations(IVAA)