Anthroposophic Medicine UK News

Harmony at Your Fingertips: The World’s First Eurythmy App

Chia-Li Blackett — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

In a fast-paced digital world, finding a moment of balance can feel like a challenge. That is why we are so excited to share a groundbreaking way to bring harmony into your daily routine. Whether you are at home or on the go, this latest project bridges movement wisdom with modern convenience.

Please find the Invitation from Eurythmy4you below.

We are proud to operate the world's first Eurythmy App.

We spare no effort to keep it available. The numerous enthusiastic feedbacks from users are a full reward for us.

The app is available in two versions:

English: Eurythmy and German: Eurythmie

5 minutes a day - wherever you are - and your happiness is guaranteed!

Simply search Eurythmy in the App Store of your device.

Or every morning by Email

You can also have the exercises sent to your inbox free of charge as an email. Then simply click here and you will receive the first exercise tomorrow morning:

Send me the exercises by Email

Beyond Cure Exploring Anthroposophic Medicine A documentary series Created

Chia-Li Blackett — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 23:37:30 GMT

Beyond Cure – Exploring Anthroposophic Medicine is a new documentary series that explores Anthroposophic Medicine as a living, contemporary, and integrative medical approach.

Created by the Institute of Anthroposophic Medicine in Greece.

Through the voices of physicians, educators, and practitioners from different countries, the series brings the viewer into direct contact with the depth, freedom, and ethical foundation of Anthroposophic Medicine - not as a “system,” but as a lived medical practice and a conscious calling.

At a time when medicine is increasingly shaped by technocratic models and procedural efficiency, Beyond Cure seeks to restore the human being to the center of the healing process. It presents a form of medicine that integrates scientific rigor with an expanded understanding of the human being as body, soul, and spirit.

The documentary aims to clarify that Anthroposophic Medicine is not an “alternative” approach, but a form of integrative medicine - one that engages modern medical science while addressing questions of meaning, relationship, and moral responsibility in therapeutic practice.

Beyond Cure was created to give space to the human dimension of medicine - to the encounter between doctor and patient, to responsibility, freedom, and meaning. It is an invitation to rediscover medicine as a profoundly human art.

The series aspires to:

restore human dignity within medical practice,
inspire physicians and patients to rethink the qualities of relationship, dialogue, and meaning in healing,
and present Anthroposophic Medicine as a cultural response to the challenges of contemporary healthcare - a medicine oriented toward the future, not the past.

The primary audience includes physicians and healthcare professionals, medical students, and patients seeking serious, integrative approaches to health and healing. The series also addresses a wider audience interested in holistic and humanistic sciences, philosophy and inner development.

Beyond Cure is conceived as an documentary series. The number of episodes and release schedule remain intentionally open. The first episode is planned for release in 2026.

Beyond Cure | Exploring Anthroposophic Medicine Trailer

The documentary will be made freely available, offered as a gift to the global Anthroposophic Medicine community. Viewers and organizations are warmly invited to share the material freely within their networks and communities. Read more >>

Poster

Press Release

Promising strategy for anthroposophic medicine – freedom of choice in food threatened by GMOs

Chia-Li Blackett — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:25:34 GMT

Promising strategy for anthroposophic medicine – freedom of choice in food threatened by GMOs

Dear Friends of ELIANT,
We are delighted that a new global WHO strategy for traditional, complementary and integrative medicine has been adopted for the period 2025 to 2034. It is based in the small WHO TCIM department, which to date has been joined by 340 organisations. Its credo: 'The rich cultural heritage and diversity of TCIM's healing traditions and principles promote a positive health vision that focuses on the whole person and reinforces the sources of health.' The aim is to create a visible and audible voice for a holistic system of medicine of the future.

The International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations IVAA is one of the founding members of this TCIM coalition. It was able to contribute the perspectives of anthroposophic medicine, namely to recognise each person as a being consisting of body, soul and spirit, and the right of everyone to make informed and free decisions about their medical care. Fundamentally, medicine should strive to heal rather than eliminate symptoms.

WHO – Pandemic Agreement and International Health Regulations (IHR)
Also in May 2025, the World Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement, although details still need to be negotiated over the next twelve months. Only then will it be released to the Member States for signature. On the one hand, it leaves many questions unanswered regarding fairness between countries in terms of pandemic prevention and management. On the other hand, individual countries have a lot of leeway when it comes to interpretation and implementation. The International Health Regulations (IHR) were adopted in 2024 and will enter into force in September 2025.

Freedom of choice in food continues to be under threat
At an EU level, political discussions are still ongoing to determine the requirements regarding new GMOs, such as CRISPR-Cas. As far back as July 2023, the European Commission published a legislative proposal in this respect to repeal all mandatory requirements applicable to new GMOs. This new generation of GMOs would thus be launched on the market without prior risk assessment, traceability and labelling, which would jeopardise both our health and our freedom of choice. Farmers and consumers have the right to know and choose what ends up on our fields and on our plates. That is why we support all efforts to maintain the current binding requirements for risk assessment, labelling and traceability for all GMOs placed on the market.

Since the publication of the Commission's proposal, the European Parliament has in its opinion commendably called for the substantive labelling and traceability requirements to be reinstated. The trialogue negotiations between the three institutions – Parliament, Council and Commission – are currently underway. So far, they have been unable to agree on a common basis for traceability and labelling. It is therefore important that, while these negotiations are ongoing, as many of us as possible contact members of the European Parliament and ask them to strongly defend the Parliament's position on traceability and labelling in the negotiation process. EU citizens want clear labelling of all GMOs. So don't hesitate to contact your country's representatives in the European Parliament via this link and ask them to defend our freedom of choice.

Once the trialogue negotiations have been concluded, Parliament and Council must vote on the final text. The vote in Parliament is the last chance and will be decisive. Depending on how things progress, we will ask for your help before the final vote in the autumn! We thank you for supporting freedom of choice.

Warm regards on behalf of the ELIANT team
Michaela Glöckler

Here you can support our work. We thank you.

Read online & Subscribe

New Studies on Mistletoe

Chia-Li Blackett — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 14:20:24 GMT

IVAA News

The MISTRAL Trial: Evaluating Mistletoe Extract in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

June 6, 2024

A recent study, “Mistletoe Extract in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial” (MISTRAL), conducted in Sweden, investigated whether mistletoe extract, combined with modern oncological palliative care, could enhance survival and quality of life in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. This trial explored complementary therapies as potential avenues to improve outcomes for those facing this challenging disease.

New Study Shows Mistletoe and Immunotherapy in Combination Extends Survival in Lung Cancer Patients

June 13, 2024

Recent research from Germany offers new evidence in the fight against lung cancer, the world’s second most prevalent type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The study, “Patients with Advanced or Metastasised Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Viscum album L. Therapy in Addition to PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade: A Real-World Data Study,” demonstrates that combining mistletoe therapy with standard immunotherapy significantly improves survival rates in patients.

In the UK, Mistletoe Research UK has shared info on the local trail.

The Sevenfold Journey

Chia-Li Blackett — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 23:07:18 GMT

An autobiographical study by Melanie Taylor of finding courage through adversity.

Through the metaphor of the journey, the author invites the reader on a path of discovery as she finds meaning in the dramatic events of her own life.

From a magical childhood on the Cornish moors to overcoming adversity through a life-changing illness, Melanie uses the metaphor of a journey in seven stages, part autobiography, part study.

Her story leads us to explore new ideas in a tapestry of language and imagery. Adapting to life in a wheelchair, this mother of three young children initially retrained as a teacher of dyslexic children and later as a counsellor. She went on to co-found therapeutic programmes for adult groups, a training and therapy centre. Her study of the archetypal nature of the journey includes Rudolf Steiner’s concepts of Seven Life, becoming Learning Processes.

Confronted with her own existential challenges, she discovers that courage and faith can access a source of help and support far beyond what she had dared to believe possible.

Her story culminates in an imaginative paraphrase of the seventeenth century spiritual diary, The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz and seven contemplations. This book is for all those who embrace their vulnerability to find the inner courage to meet life’s challenges.

BOOK

1st WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit

Chia-Li Blackett — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 18:00:00 GMT

WHO 2 September 2023 | Meeting report:

'The first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit “Towards health and well-being for all” was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, on 17-18 August 2023, to look anew at the application of rigorous scientific methods to unlock the vast potential of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) amidst important challenges and opportunities to realize universal health coverage and promote health and well-being for people and the planet.

The participants in the Summit, coming from all WHO regions, included a range of stakeholders: from health and TCIM practitioners, civil society representatives and Indigenous Peoples to health policy and decision-makers and government officials from the G20 and other countries.

Based on the research and evidence-informed discussions and initiatives presented in the Summit’s five plenaries and six parallel sessions, the participants endorsed the outcomes of the Summit in a meeting report: the Gujarat Declaration.

The meeting report sets out an action agenda towards the implementation of evidence-based TCIM interventions and approaches in support of the goal of universal health coverage and health-related Sustainable Development Goals, among others, and the application of science, technology, innovation and knowledge exchange to validate and unlock, as appropriate, the contribution of TCIM and Indigenous knowledge to advance planetary health and people’s health and well-being across the life course.'

INFO

REPORT

The World Health Organization publishes Training Standards for Anthroposophic Medicine

Chia-Li Blackett — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 22:29:26 GMT

We are delighted to share with you the recent Press Release from the International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations (IVAA)!

In 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined the integration of traditional and complementary medicine into health systems as an important strategic goal (WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy: 2014-2023).

To date, the WHO has published comparable training standards for various established traditional, complementary and integrative practices, such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine."

The benchmarks for training in Anthroposophic Medicine by the WHO are available at https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/366645

In 2023, WHO has published benchmarks for training in Anthroposophic Medicine. Setting WHO qualification standards for Anthroposophic Medicine practitioners reflects its relevance as a global medical practice and provides patients with a predictable level of care >>.

Representatives of Anthroposophical Medical Trainings from many countries met to agree appropriate international standards of training for doctors wishing to practice Anthroposophic Medicine (AM). These were incorporated into the WHO Benchmarks. The English Training in Anthroposophic Medicine, based in the UK, is open to doctors world-wide, as amongst 10 trainings throughout the world meeting these benchmarks. This means that doctors graduating from this training have their qualifications internationally recognised by the Medical Section. All Anthroposophic Doctors are medical doctors in their own right and with this further training in anthroposophic understanding of human beings, nature and of health and disease have the competence to apply the AM discipline in concepts and practice. In the UK they meet the requirements of revalidation with General Medical Council when practising. Of course, professionalism, collaboration, patient rights and research methods are also part of the AM training.

To find Anthroposophic Doctors near you, please visit our Directory.

Soul-Size: The Eternal Psychosomatic Dilemma: An Exploration of Anthroposophic Physiology and Psychology

Chia-Li Blackett — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 21:15:37 GMT

Published in August 2022, Soul-Size: The Eternal Psychosomatic Dilemma: An Exploration of Anthroposophic Physiology and Psychology is a book by Dr. James Dyson, co-founder of the Park Attwood Clinic, England where he worked from 1979 to 2003.

The psychotherapeutic approach is one which takes account of the whole person, considering the mind, body and spirit together. This leads to a deeper understanding of the person which helps practitioners take a holistic approach to the care of their patients.

Building on his expertise as a physician, James Dyson went on to study psychosynthesis psychology, nonviolent communication and organisational development. Here, he offers his analysis from these studies which, combined with his engagement with the work of Rudolf Steiner for over 50 years and with the therapeutic practice of eurythmy, provides readers with practical tools that they can apply in their work.

The selected lectures, essays and interviews cover topics including Moral Intuition and the Value of Education, The Challenges of Adolescence in Challenging Times and Parsifal Seen Psychologically. This book also includes an appendix featuring an introduction to eurythmy and exercises.

An insightful and empowering guide for anyone engaged in healing, health care, counselling, and psychotherapy who wants to take a more holistic approach to their caregiving.

The People's Declaration for Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Healthcare

Chia-Li Blackett — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 07:59:51 GMT

A worldwide project calling for full access to traditional, complementary and integrative healthcare should be part of the right to health.

'The People’s Declaration calls for the respectful collaboration between traditional, complementary and biomedical practices with the aim of achieving a person-centred and holistic approach to health. The healthcare we want focuses on the whole person, is participative, respects individual choices as well as cultural diversity and integrates clinical experience and patient values with the best available research information. Full access to traditional, complementary and integrative healthcare should be part of the right to health.'

To read more on desirable healthcare, benefits & limitations, inspirations & concerns and call to action, please visit TCIH website.

Join the call to action, sign, support and follow the Declaration milestones at https://www.tcih.org!

27th OCT Q&A Webinar: United for Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Healthcare

Click here to access multiple languages PDF of TCIH's declarations.

Health and Social Care Jobs Board goes live

Simon van Lieshout — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 14:46:49 GMT

The team behind this website have implemented a Jobs Board where members and non-members can post vacancies.

This should help to keep the advertised vacancies up to date, and make it easier for employers to list their vacancies on the website.

Members of the website can post vacancies for free, whilst non-members are asked to pay a small administrative fee for the service.

Anyone can sign up to receive email job alerts when a new vacancy is added.

Update from the Medical Section Council

Chia-Li Blackett — Sat, 10 Apr 2021 12:00:23 GMT

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

We are writing to inform you of the result of the process of finding a new Coordinator for the Medical Section in the UK. After a process of consultation and reflection, we have invited Sibylle Eichstaedt and Dr Rainer Klocke to take on this role jointly.

After the previous Coordinator Dr Stefan Geider retired, the Medical Section Council was formed following the 2019 Medical Section Conference to devise an inclusive process for identifying a new Coordinator. The Council was formed of representatives of the various professional bodies/fields of work within anthroposophic medicine and therapy.

As you may know, three individuals were nominated by the cut off date. They were interviewed by the Council, and their personal statements were circulated to members of the professional associations and others connected with the Section. Everyone was invited to give their views on the nominees either directly to the Council or indirectly via their professional body.

After hearing these views the Council reflected on who would be most suitable for this Coordination task. Based on the perception that Sibylle’s and Rainer’s strengths and visions would complement and enrich each other, and in the light of the fact that ours is such a large Section, we made the decision to invite them to take on this role jointly.

This recommendation was shared with Drs Matthias Girke and Georg Soldner as the Leadership of Medical Section at the Goetheanum, with an invitation to respond. Their response is as follows:

Dear Friends!

We are very pleased with your recommendation and gladly agree with it on the part of the Medical Section. You have our best wishes for fruitful work in the development of Anthroposophical Medicine. I look forward to our hopefully not only virtual meeting in May (Medical Conference at Emerson) and send good wishes for the Easter season!

Matthias and Georg

On 8^th April the Council met with Sibylle and Rainer to hear their response to our invitation. Having already had a few conversations among themselves, they responded positively, and the Council warmly welcomed and affirmed them as the new joint Medical Section Coordinators.

From Sibylle Eichstaedt and Rainer Klocke:

We feel honoured and privileged to have been invited and entrusted to jointly coordinate the work of the Medical Section in the United Kingdom at this important time. We very much look forward to this task of serving the Medical Section and wider anthroposophic medical movement, and to sharing our vision at the Medical Section Conference at Emerson from 21^st–23rd May 2021, which we hope many of us will be able to attend either in person or remotely.

We would like to thank all those who responded to the consultation process, the nominees, and Sibylle and Rainer for their willingness to take on this task.

We look forward to the May Conference when our new Coordinators will share their hopes and intentions with us all.

With warm regards,

Melanie Taylor & Carol Kirk

For the Medical Section Council

"The Observer” highlights integration of conventional and anthroposophic care of Covid-19 patients in German hospitals

Simon van Lieshout — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 17:41:29 GMT

International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations welcomes the reporting by The Observer, a sister paper of The Guardian, on the care of Covid-19 patients in German anthroposophic hospitals, including critically ill patients in the intensive care ward. The article rightly highlights how these treatments are provided in addition to state-of-the-art conventional treatments, how anthroposophic medicine is fully integrated into the German health care system and how anthroposophy “enjoys a high level of social acceptance and institutional support in German-speaking countries”. The World Health Organization’s Traditional Medicine Strategy has indeed set integration of traditional and complementary medicine into health care systems as one of its strategic goals.

While the article is generally biased against anthroposophic medicine and only quotes two known opponents of anthroposophy, it nevertheless provides welcome reporting on integrative medicine that is highly popular with patients in Europe.

Read the remainder of this press release on the IVAA website.

Manifesting your Best Future Self

Simon van Lieshout — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 15:59:14 GMT

Manifesting your Best Future Self is a book by Dr. Peter Gruenewald which has recently been published. Dr. Gruenewald says:

"It’s easy to feel daunted by life circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and by the personal, professional, and financial challenges that are arising from it. Unhealthy levels of stress have become widespread, resulting in physical and emotional health problems such as impaired immunity, weight problems, migraines, insomnia, hypertension, anxiety, irritability, and low mood.

This book introduces a highly effective approach that helps you trade tension, fear, anxiety, anger, and sadness for love, appreciation, gratitude, and enthusiasm, even under pressure.

You’ll notice a difference within days."

Practicing these techniques can help you:

Deal with challenges and stress effectively.

Improve relationships at work and at home.

Develop more resilience and resist burnout and extreme stress.

Improve your well-being, health, and performance, even during crisis, challenges, or continual change.

Over decades of clinical experience as a family doctor, integrated physician and resilience trainer, Dr. Gruenewald has seen the lives of his patients and clients enhanced by regular practice of these simple techniques. Dedicating just a short time each day to one or two of these exercises can have surprising benefits and lead to greater fulfillment in every realm of life. This book is an essential read for everyone who wants to take hold of their physical and emotional health and their destiny in challenging times.

Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medicinal Products in the EU

Simon van Lieshout — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 14:48:25 GMT

Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medicinal Products in the EU

This report from ECHAMP reviews the current state of homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products, which have been safely on the market in Europe for many decades, and highlights the value of many treatments in supporting EU health policy goals.

This publication confirms the long-established use, the very high safety profile, the high level of patient satisfaction and the emerging evidence base for the effectiveness of these medicines. It presents a unique picture of the real world context for this sector with up-to-date data on the industry, outlining the added value these therapies offer to society in terms of safety, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and the environment. It is the only such source for summarised EU data on this sector.

Anthroposophic Medical Association members to receive discounted British Holistic Medical Association Membership

Simon van Lieshout — Sun, 03 May 2020 15:12:39 GMT

The British Holistic Medical Association envisages:

" a more sustainable, compassionate and ‘human’ approach to how we deliver mainstream medicine "

The BHMA want to move away from over-prescription and underpin core values in healthcare such as compassion, balance, community-minded, connected, empowered, holistic, integrated, intuitive, meaningful, resilient, self-caring, wisdom and love.

Through their journal and website, the BHMA explores what holism means and stimulates debate and discussion around what it is to be human and what health looks like. Their values and aspirations align closely with those of the Anthroposophic Medical Association so we are very happy to have partnered up with the BHMA so that we can offer AMA members a 33% discount on BHMA membership.

AMA members can find out how to claim their discount on the AMA members page.

Seasonal surge in calls to Mistletoe Therapy Centres

Simon van Lieshout — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 17:33:35 GMT

Another year, another Christmas mistletoe story! Every year one or two newspapers run a story about a cancer patient who has used mistletoe therapy to help them. This year's story comes from the Mirror:

Woman claims regular mistletoe injections keeps her breast cancer at bay

There is always a surge in calls to mistletoe therapy centres following the publication of such a good news story and this year is no exception. One independent practitioner received as many calls in a day as she usually receives in a month and the Camphill Wellbeing Trust have also had a lot of new enquiries.

Mistletoe trial starts

Simon van Lieshout — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 06:55:20 GMT

The UK’s first mistletoe trial has entered its next stage.

Run by the University of Bristol, the pilot trial will study the feasibility of testing the effect of mistletoe therapy on symptoms and quality of life in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The trial is now recruiting participants.

The Camphill Wellbeing Trust launched a fundraising campaign in support of the trial reaching 57% of its goal so far. You can help to raise funds towards phase 2 of the trial by donating online: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/mistletoetrial

NEW BOOK: GROWING UP HEALTHY IN A WORLD OF DIGITAL MEDIA

Simon van Lieshout — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 13:16:03 GMT

This new guide explains the dangers and risks to children and adolescents inherent in the new media.

Impairment of brain development, communications stress, danger of addiction, loss of privacy, sites that are unsuitable for young people, cyber bullying and health impairment due to continuous radiation from wireless devices.

This book illustrates the legal regulations, the safety measures and possible actions needed to prevent dangers or to address them appropriately. It provides an educational standpoint which represents an appropriate balance between the needs of children and adolescents, and the restrictions which are required as precautionary measures to safeguard against the inherent dangers.

More information and buy online >>

Anthroposophic Medicine Statement on Vaccination

Simon van Lieshout — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 12:00:00 GMT

A statement has been issued by the Medical Section of the Goetheanum and the International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations (IVAA) on the position of Anthroposophic Medicine on Vaccinations.

The statement is available on the IVAA News Page.

Surgeries employing GPs with additional training in complementary medicine appear less likely to prescribe antibiotics

Simon van Lieshout — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 06:14:31 GMT

There has been widespread national and media coverage for a paper by Esther van der Werf-Kok published in BMJ Open.

See the University of Bristol Primary Healthcare News for more information.

The BMJ Paper analysed prescribing data for practices in England who employed GPs with additional training in Integrative Medicine, including Anthroposophic Medicine, and found that prescription rates for antibiotics (which GPs are always trying to find ways to reduce) were 22% lower in practices with GPs trained in Integrative Medicine than in the average more conventional GP surgery, even after adjustment for many other factors.

This is likely to be because Integrative Medicine training gives the GPs tools other than antibiotics for helping their patients who attend their GPs for help with managing their symptoms. Further research is warranted in this area given the importance of reducing antibiotic prescribing rates. Anthroposophic Medicine has developed strategies to tackle the problem and has pressed the EU to include Anthroposophic and Homeopathic medicine in its action plan for tackling the problem.

New Website

Simon van Lieshout — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 08:21:58 GMT

The Anthroposophic Medical Association in the UK decided last week to support the development of this website for Anthroposophic Medicine, Nursing and Therapy professionals in the UK. We aim to build an online presence which attracts interest from professionals and members of the public interested in finding out more about Anthroposophic Medicine, Nursing and Therapy. See our About page for more about the features of this website.