The Anthroposophical Approach to Medicine


Book Description

Today's medicine is strongly influenced by natural science, which focuses entirely on the material nature of reality. Molecular biology has become the foundation of modern medicine with the result that today's medical industry chases after technology to solve all its problems. In the process it is losing its own essence as it moves into fields increasingly alien to human nature as a whole. Nevertheless, many doctors are beginning to reexamine this exclusive worldview in favor of a more wholistic approach to healing. To this end, anthroposophical medicine encompasses a wide range of healing modalities, including orthodox, allopathic medicine. The Anthroposophical Approach to Medicine explores the body's relationship to soul and spirit on the basis of Rudolf Steiner's insights into the activities of the spiritual world. Edited by doctors Friedrich Husemann and Otto Wolff, this book invites us to an in-depth view of a true alternative to materialistically oriented medicine. Chapters include essays on childhood development and diseases; the disorders of old age; neuroses and psychological imbalances; pharmacology; healing plants; biochemistry and pathology; blood-work; and special diagnostic techniques. This first of a multi-volume series is an invaluable tool to all who want to extend the practice of medicine to include the whole human being.




Spiritual Science and the Art of Healing


Book Description

Rudolf Steiner's anthroposophical medicine, highly regarded and widely practiced in Europe, integrates allopathic medical practices with alternative remedies, including dietary and nutritional therapies, massage, hydrotherapy, art therapy, and counseling. It recognizes that health and illness are directly related to our states of consciousness, and it views illness as an opportunity to create a new state of physical, emotional, and spiritual balance. Modern medicine tends to consider only the material aspect of human beings, an approach that fails to bring the individual to a state of complete wellness. Steiner's holistic view of humanity-beings composed of body, soul, and spirit-takes into consideration the seven-year cycles of human development, the influence of education on health, the relationship between psychological symptoms and physical conditions, the problem of cancer, the four cardinal organs, heredity, and the spiritual balance that characterizes true health. New, revised edition of Anthroposophical Medicine.




Healing for Body, Soul and Spirit


Book Description

Conventional medicine focuses on the body's physical symptoms. But more and more patients are questioning the limitations of this approach and are exploring holistic approaches, such as anthroposophic medicine, which also addresses the human soul -- our individual thinking, will and feelings -- and the human spirit, our self-awareness and essence. Anthroposophic medicine is an extension of, not a replacement to, conventional medicine. This comprehensive book introduces and explores the philosophy and practice of anthroposophic medicine, which is based on principles developed by Rudolf Steiner. It discusses many alternative therapies and areas of health including artistic therapies, massage, childhood illnesses, cancer and psychiatry. Healing for Body, Soul and Spirit will inform and engage a general reader, with no medical background, who is interested in alternative and holistic approaches to human health.




Introducing Anthroposophical Medicine


Book Description

In these twenty lectures, given to medical doctors and students, Rudolf Steiner presents a new approach to the art of healing, based on the insights of anthroposophical spiritual science. Taking account of modern medical knowledge and practice, and deeply versed in alchemical, Paracelsian, and naturopathic approaches, as well as in homeopathy, aromatherapy, and of her alternative therapies, Steiner demonstrates on the basis of his own researches how a truly integrated "whole person" medicine is possible-one that understands the human as a being of body, soul, and spirit: a microcosm in the macrocosm; a mirror of the earth and of the heavens. Many of the lectures arose directly in response to the questions of practicing physicians. Specific organs and specific diseases are brought into new relations and connections. The whole question of diagnosis, health and treatment is viewed from different perspectives. The result is a new vision of medicine: one that is practical, spiritual, psychological, and fully human.




Anthroposophical Medicine


Book Description

While conventional medicine analyzes disease in terms of cellular disturbances and prescribes drugs to counteract physical symptoms, anthroposophical medicine adds a spiritual image of the human being. Anthroposophical doctors (who qualify first in conventional medicine) increase the range of treatments available, offering artistic therapies, herbal remedies, and many others. Where conventional treatment can only suppress the symptoms, these treatments extend the possibilities of a cure and reduce the need to use conventional drugs. This book is an excellent introduction to the scope and potential of anthroposophical medicine.




Lifting the Veil of Mental Illness


Book Description

Mental illnesses are too often seen only in abstract terms. In keeping with this, mainstream psychology, which seldom acknowledges the psyche or soul, relies increasingly on pharmaceutical treatment. In his unique approach to anthroposophical psychology (or "psychosophy"), William Bento views imbalances of the human soul in an experiential and human way. Basing his views on the work of Rudolf Steiner, Bento looks not only at the human body, soul, and spirit, but also at the way the whole environment of physical phenomena, life forces, and spirit beings affects us as individuals. Going well beyond our immediate, earthly surroundings, the author considers the cosmic effects of sun, planets and stars, offering a holistic view of the human soul. This book is a valuable and accessible addition to the field of anthroposophical psychology and to the study of Spiritual Science in general.




Anthroposophy and Science


Book Description

This book is the first introduction into anthroposophy and anthroposophical medicine on the basis of epistemology, physics, chemistry, molecular biology, neurobiology, psychology, philosophy of mind, history of science, and evidence based medicine. Justification of a non-reductionist, academic anthropology and medical practice accounting for body, life, soul, and spirit.




Extending Practical Medicine


Book Description

In this classic introductory work on spiritual medicine, Rudolf Steiner worked in unique literary collaboration with the physician Ita Wegman. Their aim was to revitalise the art of healing through spiritual knowlege - yet in so doing they did not underrate or dismiss modern scientific medicine, but illumined it beyond its present materialistic outlook to a fuller realisation of the human condition.As Ita Wegman wrote in her preface: "The aim was not to underestimate scientific medicine in an ameteurish way; it was given full recognition. But it was important to add to existing knowlege the insights that can come from true perception of the spirit, enabling us to understand the processes of illness and healing."Today this new extension of practical medicine, known as 'anthroposophical medicine', is used and valued by many physicians and in many clinics around the world.Dr. ITA WEGMAN was born in the Dutch West Indies in 1876 and trained in gymnastics and massage and later medicine. After founding the Institute of Clinical Medicine in Arlesheim, she was made leader of the Medical Section of the Anthroposophical Society in 1923. Her last years were devoted to her work in the clinic where she died in 1943.




Introducing Anthroposophical Medicine


Book Description

These lectures -- the first on medicine by Rudolf Steiner -- outline the foundation for an anthroposophical approach to health and illness. Steiner begins with a discussion of various contemporary views of illness and pathology. He goes on to explore illnesses in relation to the whole human being, looking at the various processes and organs in relation to the human threefold organization. Homeopathy, naturopathy, and allopathy are discussed in the light of the spiritual nature of the human being and in terms of the ways various planets and the cosmos influence healing substances. On the whole, Steiner's approach rests on the long tradition of Western medicine without negating its roots. Perhaps more than anywhere else, Steiner's enthusiasm and familiarity with the subject is in evidence here. Steiner describes many specific illnesses and their treatments and how doctors must develop their ability to diagnose illnesses and prescribe treatments based on their own inner capacities.




Individual Paediatrics


Book Description

In the medical treatment of children and teenagers and the accompaniment of their parents, alternative therapies, homoeopathy, anthroposophic medicine, psychology and psychosomatics play an ever greater role alongside conventional, science-based medicine. Before a therapy can be successful, an individual diagnosis must be made, taking somatic sympt