(2009-11) Hamre, Harald J.; Kienle, Gunver S.; Kiene, Helmut
Anthroposophic medicine includes special medications and special artistic and
physical therapies. More than 200 clinical studies of varying design and quality have been conducted on
anthroposophic treatment. Half of these studies concern anthroposophic mistletoe therapy for cancer. Clinical
effects of mistletoe products include improvement of quality of life, reduction of side effects from chemotherapy
and radiation, and possibly increased survival.
Apart from cancer therapy, the largest studies of anthroposophic treatment have been 2 naturalistic system
evaluations: In German outpatients with mental, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and other chronic conditions,
anthroposophic treatment was followed by sustained improvements of symptoms and quality of life. In primary care
patients from 4 European countries and the United States treated for acute respiratory and ear infections by
anthroposophic or conventional physicians, anthroposophic treatment was associated with reduced use of antibiotics
and antipyretics, quicker recovery, and fewer adverse reactions; these differences remained after adjustment for
relevant baseline differences. (Altern Ther Health Med. 2009;15(6):52-55.)
