An article from Insight21 - answers for the 21st Century
Anthroposophical medicine, one of the many initiatives
launched by Rudolf Steiner, is a holistic approach to healing that entails an in-depth assessment of the fourfold human constitution - wherein the inter-weave of physical, etheric, astral and egoic bodies of the individual are delved into. It’s practitioners
are commonly full M.D.s, although there are also naturopaths and other holistic healers who use anthroposophical principles in their
practice.
Treatment can entail attention to any or all of the four bodies, often
using homeopathic and herbal remedies manufactured by quality-focused companies, such as Weleda Products.
Materialistic science
tends to view disease as nothing more than an enemy to eradicate. In contrast, Steiner’s deeper perspective indicates that illnesses
are often the cure for a soul condition.
Childhood illnesses can be of great
value to an individual’s destiny. Young children have more mutable DNA than adults. Children often incarnate into a body
in which they feel does not suit them. In effect, they feel uncomfortable, not-at-home in the body. The spirit of the
child which, in its over-lighting wisdom, knows what is best for the child, can use a high fever as a catalyst to transform the DNA
so that the body is made more suitable for the individual soul inhabiting it. Immunizations can interfere with this process,
resulting in a child having to live with allergies and/or asthma for the rest of its life.
Also, when some illnesses are eradicated for the general population, the pool of human consciousness seeks out new illnesses to fill
the gap, so that on a deeper level people can access the challenges and/or conditions needed to complete their quest. Curtailing
diphtheria and tetanus, for example, necessitated humanity’s subconscious search for replacement illnesses.
This information does not mean that we stop striving to alleviate suffering. We continue with this, of course, but with greater
understanding decisions pertaining to illness can lead to greater overall and long term benefits.
Steiner once relayed the tale
of a man who had developed restricted breathing on one side. After an operation the man could breath normally. However,
his spirit had actually created the breathing restriction because of a weakness in one of his lungs. The unrestricted breathing
that resulted from the operation shortened the man’s life, due to complications in the lung. He would have lived longer had
he left his condition as it was.
Extensions of anthroposophical medicine include artistic therapies such as eurhythmy (the science
and art of movement to speech and music), music, and painting.
From Wikipedia: “A study of anthroposophic treatment of chronic
illness found that Anthroposophic therapies were associated with long-term reduction of chronic disease symptoms, improvement of health-related
quality of life, and health cost reduction."
Some effective alternative remedies include:
Iscador - a homeopathic
dose of mistletoe for treating cancer, immune deficiency, or burnout. From Wikipedia: “This treatment is widely used in Central
Europe, where up to two-thirds of all oncology patients' treatment regimen includes mistletoe.”
Bidor - a homeopathic treatment
taken over a span of time to help ameliorate chronic migraine headaches.
Infludo - for influenza
Further Resources
See also Insights into Diet and Health on the Insight21 website.
Physicians Association for Anthroposophical Medicine
The Anthroposophical Approach to Medicine - Steiner lectures
http://wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/AntAppMed/AnApMe_index.html
Fundamentals of Anthroposophical Medicine - Steiner lectures
http://wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/FundAnthro/FunAnt_index.html
Spiritual Science and Medicine - Steiner lectures
http://wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/SpiSciMed/SpiSci_index.html
The
foregoing article was written by Josef Graf, coordinator of the Earth Vision project and Insight21 - presenting nature in the
light of spiritual ecology, and answers for the 21st Century.