01 Anthroposophic medicine (AM), therapies and health

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This collection contains almost all items in the repository, except for back issues of journals. These items (publications) include articles, abstracts, book reviews, workshop and conference proceedings, presentations, etc. in various formats -- text, audio and visual. Examples of therapies: art therapy, rhythmical massage, speech therapy, therapeutic eurythmy. Example of health: dentistry

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 374
  • Publication
    Consensus-based guideline for the supportive anthroposophic therapies to treat children with pseudocroup (stenosing laryngotracheitis).
    (2024-09) Schwermer, Melanie; Läengler, Alfred; Zuzak, Tycho Jan
    Purpose: Supportive anthroposophic therapies are used to treat children with pseudocroup by pediatricians in outpatient and inpatient settings. Anthroposophic treatment comprises forms of creative therapies, external applications as well as remedies, which production is based on the knowledge of the human being, nature and substances. A scientifically based guideline for these therapies is lacking. Due to insufficient study situation, we developed a consensus-based guideline to make therapy decisions more transparent and facilitate clinical routine. Methods: An online Delphi process with 67 anthroposophic pediatricians was conducted. Recommendations were accepted when reaching more than 75 % of expert agreement; otherwise, recommendations were revised and assessed by the experts once again. Results: Recommendations for general interventions and for anthroposophic remedies (Bryonia/Spongia comp.; Larynx/Apis comp.) as well as for external applications (embrocation with lavender oil) were developed. Recommendations have a consensus of 96.4 % or more. Conclusion: The consensus-based guideline provides practical recommendations for the supportive anthroposophic therapies for pseudocroup. The implementation and practicability of this guideline has to be investigated. Keywords: Anthroposophic medicine; Bryonia/Spongia comp.; Croup; Delphi process; Larynx/Apis comp; Pseudocroup.
  • Publication
    Expert consensus-based clinical recommendation for an integrative anthroposophic treatment approach to acute tonsillitis in childhood.
    (2024-05) Büttner, Rebecca; Schwermer, Melanie; Ostermann, Thomas; Läengler, Alfred; Zuzak, Tycho Jan
    Background: Medical guidelines are an important basis for qualitative and cost-effective patient care. However, there is a lack of clinical recommendations in anthroposophic medicine (AM), an integrative medicine approach frequently practised in Europe. Acute tonsillitis, which includes tonsillopharyngitis, is a common childhood disease. that is mostly caused by a viral infection. Symptomatic treatment is therefore of high importance, and AM can offer several therapy options. Methods: 53 physicians from Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and Hungary with at least one year of experience in anthroposophic paediatric medicine were invited to participate in an online Delphi process. The process comprises five survey rounds starting with open-ended questions and ending with final statements, which need 75% agreement of experts to reach consensus. Expert answers were evaluated by two independent reviewers using MAXQDA and Excel. Results: Response rate was between 28% and 45%. The developed recommendation included 15 subtopics. These covered clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and psychosocial aspects of acute tonsillitis. Six subtopics achieved a high consensus (>90%) and nine subtopics achieved consensus (75-90%). Conclusion: The clinical recommendation for acute tonsillitis in children aims to simplify everyday patient care and provide decision-making support when considering and prescribing anthroposophic therapies. Moreover, the recommendation makes AM more transparent for physicians, parents, and maybe political stakeholders as well. Keywords: Acute tonsillitis; Anthroposophic medicine; Child; Complementary and alternative medicine; Consensus-based clinical recommendation; Delphi survey; Integrative medicine.
  • Publication
    Immune Checkpoint Blockade Combined with AbnobaViscum Therapy Is Linked to Improved Survival in Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients: A Registry Study in Accordance with the ESMO Guidance for Reporting Real-World Evidence.
    (2024-12-18) Schad, Friedemann; Thronicke, Anja; Hofheinz, Ralf; Klein, Reinhild; Grabowski, Patricia; Oei, Shiao Li; Wüstefeld, Hannah; Grah, Christian
    Background: Recent advancements in cancer treatment have shown the potential of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) plus Viscum album L. therapy in improving survival rates for patients with advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The objective of this study was to investigate factors associated with improved survival in NSCLC patients treated with a combination of ICB and abnobaViscum®. Methods: Patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC from the accredited Network Oncology registry were included in this real-world data study adhering to ESMO-GROW criteria with ethics approval. Survival outcomes were compared between patients receiving ICB therapy alone versus those receiving combinational ICB plus abnobaViscum® therapy using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis. Results: Among 300 patients (median age 68 years; male/female ratio 1.19), 222 received ICB alone (CTRL group) and 78 received combinational therapy (COMB group). Overall survival was significantly prolonged in the COMB group by 7 months compared to CTRL (13.8 months vs. 6.8 months, p = 0.005) with a survival rate of 16.5% in the COMB group vs. 8.0% in the CTRL group. In programmed death-ligand 1 positive (≥1%) patients treated with first-line ICB, the addition of abnobaViscum® reduced the adjusted hazard of death by 75% (aHR: 0.25; 95%CI: 0.11-0.60, p = 0.02). Conclusions: The addition of abnobaViscum® to ICB is significantly associated with improved survival in patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC patients, irrespective of age, stage, Eastern cooperative oncology group status, surgery, or radiation. Potential mechanisms include immune modulation, reduced primary ICB resistance, and tumor microenvironment modifications. The findings warrant further validation in randomized controlled trials or registry-based randomized controlled trials. Trial registration: The study was registered (DRKS00013335). Keywords: PD-1 inhibitor; PD-L1 inhibitor; abnobaViscum® therapy; lung cancer; non-small-cell lung cancer; survival.
  • Publication
    Statement to an Insufficient Systematic Review on L. Therapy.
    (2020) Matthes, Harald; Thronicke, Anja; Hofheinz, Ralf; Baars, Erik W.; Martin, David; Huber, Roman; Breitkreuz, Thomas; Bar-Sela, Gil; Galun, Daniel; Schad, Friedemann
    Background: Up to 88% of oncological patients apply complementary therapies and up to 77% apply complementary mistletoe therapy in the context of integrative oncological approaches. An evidence-based consultation of oncological health professionals regarding complementary therapies used in Germany is missing. Therefore, a new S3-Guideline for Complementary Medicine in the Treatment of Oncological Patients is under development and is anticipated to be finalized in November 2020. It will be based on evidence-based publications and systematic reviews on complementary therapies in oncology. A recently published two-part systematic review on mistletoe treatment in oncology has been reevaluated. Methods: The latest published systematic two-part review on mistletoe has been systematically proofread and checked in compliance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention and the AMSTAR 2 (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) tool. Results: The here discussed two-part review is incomplete, lacks sound accuracy including insufficient assessment of the risk of bias, and contains imprecise statements. In addition, it does not sufficiently comply with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention and the AMSTAR 2 tool. Conclusion: In view of the approaching release of a new guideline in the field of complementary therapies in oncology, the present statement draws attention to a lack of profound methodology of conductance of a recently released systematic review on mistletoe. In consequence, a comprehensive overview of published mistletoe studies, i.e., a meta-analysis with a sound methodology of conductance, is necessary.
  • Publication
    Rhythmical massage therapy in chronic disease: a 4-year prospective cohort study.
    (2007) Hamre, Harald J; Witt, Claudia M.; Glockmann, Anja; Ziegler, Renatus; Willich, Stefan N.; Kiene, Helmut
    Objective: Rhythmical massage therapy is used in 24 countries but has not yet been studied in outpatient settings. The objective was to study clinical outcomes in patients receiving rhythmical massage therapy for chronic diseases. Design: Prospective 4-year cohort study. Setting: Thirty-six (36) medical practices in Germany. Participants: Eighty-five (85) outpatients referred to rhythmical massage therapy. Outcome measures: Disease and Symptom Scores (physicians' and patients' assessment, respectively, 0-10) and SF-36. Disease Score was measured after 6 and 12 months, and other outcomes after 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 48 months. Results: Most common indications were musculoskeletal diseases (45% of patients; primarily back and neck pain) and mental disorders (18%, primarily depression and fatigue). Median disease duration at baseline was 2.0 years (interquartile range 0.5-6.0). Median number of rhythmical massage therapy sessions was 12 (interquartile range 9-12), and median therapy duration was 84 (49-119) days. All outcomes improved significantly between baseline and all subsequent follow-ups. From baseline to 12 months, Disease Score improved from (mean +/- standard deviation) 6.30 +/- 2.01 to 2.77 +/- 1.97 (p < 0.001), Symptom Score improved from 5.76 +/- 1.81 to 3.13 +/- 2.20 (p < 0.001), SF-36 Physical Component score improved from 39.55 +/- 9.91 to 45.17 +/- 9.88 (p < 0.001), and SF-36 Mental Component score improved from 39.27 +/- 13.61 to 43.78 +/- 12.32 (p = 0.028). All these improvements were maintained until the last follow-up. Adverse reactions to rhythmical massage therapy occurred in 4 (5%) patients; 2 patients stopped therapy because of adverse reactions. Conclusions: Patients receiving rhythmical massage therapy had long-term reduction of chronic disease symptoms and improvement of quality of life.
  • Publication
    Anthroposophic therapy for migraine: a two-year prospective cohort study in routine outpatient settings.
    (2010) Hamre, Harald; Witt, Claudia M.; Kienle, Gunver; Glockmann, Anja; Ziegler, Renatus; Rivoir, Andreas; Willich, Stefan N.; Kiene, Helmut
    Background and Methods: Anthroposophic treatment for migraine is provided by physicians and includes special artistic and physical therapies and special medications. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 45 consecutive adult outpatients (89% women) starting anthroposophic treatment for migraine under routine conditions. Main outcomes were Average Migraine Severity (physician and patient ratings 0-10, primary outcome), Symptom Score (patient rating, 0-10), and quality of life (SF-36); main follow-up time point was after six months. Results: The anthroposophic treatment modalities used were medications (67% of patients), eurythmy therapy (38%), art therapy (18%), and rhythmical massage therapy (13%). Median therapy duration was 105 days. In months 0-6, conventional prophylactic antimigraine medications were used by 14% (n=5/36) of evaluable patients. From baseline to six-month follow-up, physician-rated Average Migraine Severity improved by 3.14 points (95% confidence interval 2.40-3.87, p<0.001); patient-rated Average Migraine Severity improved by 2.82 points (2.05-3.64, p<0.001); and Symptom Score improved by 2.32 points (1.68-2.95, p<0.001). In addition, three SF-36 scales (Social Functioning, Bodily Pain, Vitality), the SF-36 Physical Component summary measure, and the SF-36 Health Change item improved significantly. All improvements were maintained at last follow-up after 24 months. Patients not using conventional prophylactic antimigraine medications had improvements similar to the whole cohort. Conclusions: Patients with migraine under anthroposophic treatment had long-term improvement of symptoms and quality of life. Although the pre-post design of the present study does not allow for conclusions about comparative effectiveness, study findings suggest that anthroposophic therapies may be useful in the long-term care of patients with migraine. Keywords: Anthroposophy, combined modality therapy, drug therapy, eurythmy therapy, migraine, prospective studies.
  • Publication
    Pulpa dentis D30 for acute reversible pulpitis: A prospective cohort study in routine dental practice.
    (2011) Hamre, Harald; Mittag, Inge; Glockmann, Anja; Kiene, Helmut; Tröger, Wilfried
    Background: Pulpa dentis D30 (PD: dental pulp of the calf, prepared in a homeopathic D30 potency) has been used in acute reversible pulpitis for pain relief and to avoid or postpone invasive dental treatment. Primary study objective: To study short-term clinical outcomes of PD therapy for acute reversible pulpitis in routine dental practice. Methods/design: Prospective, observational, open-label, single-arm cohort study. Setting: Eleven dental primary care practices in Germany. Participants and intervention: Thirty-two patients starting monotherapy with PD for acute reversible pulpitis without visible or radiological abnormalities. PD was applied as 1-mL submucous injections into the mucobuccal fold, repeated daily as needed. Primary outcome measures: Avoidance of invasive dental treatment (pulp capping, root canal therapy, tooth extraction) and remission of pain, measured on a 0-10 point scale (partial remission: reduction by > or =3 points; complete remission: reduction from > or =4 points to 0-1 points) during the 10-day follow-up period. Results: Median pain duration was 14.0 days. The patients received a median of two PD applications (range 1-7). A total of 81% (n=26/32) of patients did not require invasive dental treatment, and 19% (n= 6) had root canal therapy. Remission status was evaluable in 24 patients. Of these, 63% (n = 15/24) achieved pain remission, 58% (n = 14) remitted without invasive dental treatment (complete remission: n=12, partial remission: n=2), and 29% (n= 7) had a close temporal relationship between PD and remission (ratio "time to remission after first PD application vs pain duration prior to first PD application" <1:10). Conclusion: In this study of PD for acute reversible pulpitis, 58% of evaluable patients achieved pain remission without invasive dental treatment. The open-label pre-post design does not allow for conclusions about comparative effectiveness. However, more than one-fourth of evaluable patients remitted with a close temporal relationship between the first PD application and pain remission, suggesting a causal relationship between therapy and remission.
  • Publication
    Eurythmy Therapy in anxiety.
    (2011) Kienle, Gunver; Hampton Schwab, Jane; Murphy, John Bernard; Andersson, Peter; Lunde, Gunvor; Kiene, Helmut; Hamre, Harald
    Anxiety is a highly frequent condition; many patients seek complementary treatment. One of these is anthroposophic medicine (AM) using therapeutic approaches that are based on a distinct concept of the human organism, illness, and healing. AM is applied in anxiety; however, little is known about underlying therapeutic concepts, the effectiveness, and the modalities of clinical reasoning and judgment. Presented is a 21-year-old woman who had suffered from severe and increasing anxiety for 6 months, which had led to social isolation and complete sick leave from work. She had attended an AM health care center and counseling at a psychiatric hospital but had not improved significantly after 6 months. Eurythmy therapy (EYT) was then applied for 8 weeks. Within the AM pathophysiological context, the patient was diagnosed as having stress-induced anxiety based on a juvenile disturbance of the rhythmical system. Associated symptoms were specific anomalies in the patient's eurythmy movement pattern, a "breathed-in-upwards syndrome." In the EYT sessions, clear interconnections between EYT-exercises and symptom-relief were observable, paralleled by a substantial relief of the patient's anxiety. EYT might have some impact on anxiety syndrome and should be investigated in more detail. Video: http://ifaemm.de/Video/EURYTHMY_all.flv
  • Publication
    From Reductionism to Holism: Systems-oriented Approaches in Cancer Research.
    (2012-11) Kienle, Gunver; Kiene, Helmut
    Somatic mutation theory of cancer has directed cancer research during the last century. A deluge of information on cellular, molecular, and genetic behavior was uncovered, but so was a mind-numbing complexity that still challenges research and concepts, and expectations in the war on cancer have by and large not been fulfilled. A change of paradigm beyond reductionism has been called for, especially as research ubiquitously points at the importance of tissue, microenvironment, extracellular matrix, embryonic and morphogenetic fields, and fields of tissue maintenance and organization in the processes of carcinogenesis, cancer control, and cancer progression, as well as in the control of cellular and genetic behavior. Holistic, organismic systems concepts open new perspectives for cancer research and treatment, as well as general biological understanding.
  • Publication
    In support of clinical case reports: a system of causality assessment.
    (2013-03) Kiene, Helmut; Hamre, Harald; Kienle, Gunver
    The usefulness of clinical research depends on an assessment of causality. This assessment determines what constitutes clinical evidence. Case reports are an example of evidence that is frequently overlooked because it is believed they cannot address causal links between treatment and outcomes. This may be a mistake. Clarity on the topic of causality and its assessment will be of benefit for researchers and clinicians. This article outlines an overall system of causality and causality assessment. The system proposed involves two dimensions: horizontal and vertical; each of these dimensions consists of three different types of causality and three corresponding types of causality assessment. Included in this system are diverse forms of case causality illustrated with examples from everyday life and clinical medicine. Assessing case causality can complement conventional clinical research in an era of personalized medicine.
  • Publication
    The CARE Guidelines: Consensus-based Clinical Case Reporting Guideline Development.
    (2013-09) Gagnier, Joel J; Kienle, Gunver; Altman, Douglas G; Moher, David; Sox, Harold; Riley, David S.
    A case report is a narrative that describes, for medical, scientific, or educational purposes, a medical problem experienced by one or more patients. Case reports written without guidance from reporting standards are insufficiently rigorous to guide clinical practice or to inform clinical study design.
  • Publication
    Methodological Aspects of Integrative and Person-Oriented Health Care Evaluation.
    (2017) Kienle, Gunver; Hamre, Harald; Kiene, Helmut
  • Publication
    A 4-year non-randomized comparative phase-IV study of early rheumatoid arthritis: integrative anthroposophic medicine for patients with preference against DMARDs versus conventional therapy including DMARDs for patients without preference.
    (2018) Hamre, Harald J; Pham, Van N; Kern, Christian; Rau, Rolf; Klasen, Jörn; Schendel, Ute; Gerlach, Lars; Drabik, Attyla; Simon, Ludger
    While disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are a mainstay of therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), some patients with early RA refuse DMARDs. In anthroposophic medicine (AM), a treatment strategy for early RA without DMARDs has been developed. Preliminary data suggest that RA symptoms and inflammatory markers can be reduced under AM, without DMARDs. Two hundred and fifty-one self-selected patients aged 16-70 years, starting treatment for RA of <3 years duration, without prior DMARD therapy, participated in a prospective, non-randomized, comparative Phase IV study. C-patients were treated in clinics offering conventional therapy including DMARDs, while A-patients had chosen treatment in anthroposophic clinics, without DMARDs. Both groups received corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Primary outcomes were intensity of RA symptoms measured by self-rating on visual analog scales, C-reactive protein, radiological progression, study withdrawals, serious adverse events (SAE), and adverse drug reactions in months 0-48. The groups were similar in most baseline characteristics, while A-patients had longer disease duration (mean 15.1 vs 10.8 months, <0.0001), slightly more bone destruction, and a much higher proportion of women (94.6% vs 69.7%, <0.0001). In months 0-12, corticosteroids were used by 45.7% and 81.6% (<0.0001) and NSAIDs by 52.8% and 68.5% (=0.0191) of A- and C-patients, respectively. During follow-up, both groups not only had marked reduction of RA symptoms and C-reactive protein, but also some radiological disease progression. Also, 6.2% of A-patients needed DMARDs. Apart from adverse drug reactions (50.4% and 69.7% of A- and C-patients, respectively, =0.0020), none of the primary outcomes showed any significant between-group difference. Study results suggest that for most patients preferring anthroposophic treatment, satisfactory results can be achieved without use of DMARDs and with less use of corticosteroids and NSAIDs than in conventional care. Because of the non-randomized study design, with A-patients choosing anthroposophic treatment, one cannot infer how this treatment would have worked for C-patients.
  • Publication
    Patients with Advanced or Metastasised Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with L. Therapy in Addition to PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade: A Real-World Data Study.
    (2024-04-22) Schad, Friedemann; Thronicke, Anja; Hofheinz, Ralf; Matthes, Harald; Grah, Christian
    Immunotherapy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors has significantly improved the survival rates of patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results of a real-world data study investigating add-on VA ( L.) to chemotherapy have shown an association with the improved overall survival of patients with NSCLC. We sought to investigate whether the addition of VA to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with advanced or metastasised NSCLC would have an additional survival benefit. In the present real-world data study, we enrolled patients from the accredited national registry, Network Oncology, with advanced or metastasised NSCLC. The reporting of data was performed in accordance with the ESMO-GROW criteria for the optimal reporting of oncological real-world evidence (RWE) studies. Overall survival was compared between patients receiving PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy (control, CTRL group) versus the combination of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy and VA (combination, COMB group). An adjusted multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to investigate variables associated with survival. From 31 July 2015 to 9 May 2023, 415 patients with a median age of 68 years and a male/female ratio of 1.2 were treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy with or without add-on VA. Survival analyses included 222 (53.5%) patients within the CRTL group and 193 (46.5%) in the COMB group. Patients in the COMB group revealed a median survival of 13.8 months and patients in the CRTL group a median survival of 6.8 months (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.43-0.85, = 0.004) after adjustment for age, gender, tumour stage, BMI, ECOG status, oncological treatment, and PD-L1 tumour proportion score. A reduction in the adjusted hazard of death by 56% was seen with the addition of VA (aHR 0.44, 95% CI: 0.26-0.74, = 0.002) in patients with PD-L1-positive tumours (tumour proportion score > 1%) treated with first-line anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Our findings suggest that add-on VA correlates with improved survival in patients with advanced or metastasised NSCLC who were treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors irrespective of age, gender, tumour stage, or oncological treatment. The underlying mechanisms may include the synergistic modulation of the immune response. A limitation of this study is the observational non-randomised study design, which only allows limited conclusions to be drawn and prospective randomised trials are warranted.
  • Publication
    On caring and sharing-Addressing psychological, biographical, and spiritual aspects in integrative cancer care: A qualitative interview study on physicians' perspectives. ABSTRACT
    (2018-10) Kienle, Gunver S; Mussler, Milena; Fuchs, Dieter; Kiene, Helmut
    Patients confronted with a cancer diagnosis experience a variety of existential needs encompassing emotional, psychological, and spiritual areas of being. A patient-centered care approach addressing such existential issues is recognized as an essential aspect of health care. The aim of this study is to explore what role psychological, biographical, and spiritual factors play for experienced doctors working in integrative cancer care. The qualitative study was based on in-depth interviews with 35 purposively sampled doctors, all practicing integrative oncology in the field of anthroposophic medicine in hospitals and/or office-based practices in Germany and other countries. Data were analyzed using structured content analysis. Psychological, biographical, and spiritual factors are important issues in integrative cancer care. Prevailing themes identified in this study were enabling patients to participate in life, promoting autonomy and coping, stabilizing patients emotionally and cognitively, overcoming the disease, and-primarily if addressed by patients-integrating spiritual issues. Doctors offered conversation, counseling, and time, but also referred to art, music, literature, and nature, so that patients' ongoing emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs could be explored and addressed. Doctors' attitudes with regard to existential issues were seen as important, as was maintaining an attitude of openness towards existential issues. Doctors in integrative cancer care utilize different methods to explore the needs of patients and employ a variety of treatment methods that address not just patients' medical issues but their existential concerns as well.
  • Publication
    Feeling the sound - short-term effect of a vibroacoustic music intervention on well-being and subjectively assessed warmth distribution in cancer patients-A randomized controlled trial. ABSTRACT
    (2018-10) Bieligmeyer, Sarah; Helmert, E; Hautzinger, Martin; Vagedes, Jan
    Objectives: So far, the effects of vibroacoustic music therapy in cancer patients are unknown. However, used in anthroposophic medicine, it could be an approach to enhance well-being. The goal of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of a sound-bed music intervention with respect to the subjective well-being as well as body warmth and pain. Patients and methods: We treated 48 cancer patients with 10 min of sound-bed intervention in a cross-over design. Primary outcome was the total sum of the Basler Mood Questionnaire (BMQ), secondary outcomes were subscales of the BMQ and questions addressing body warmth and pain. The EORTC-QLQ C30 was used as baseline assessment for quality of life (QOL). Results: Patients had lower QOL values than the EORTC reference samples (p < .001, d = 0.90). The primary outcome increased after music (p < .001, d = 0.47), no changes were seen in the control condition (p = .73, d = 0.04), the time by condition interaction was significant (p < .05). Secondary outcomes: Increase after music for the BMQ subscales inner balance (p < .001, d = 0.73), vitality (p < .001, d = 0.51) and vigilance (p < .001, d = 0.37) as well as for the additional questions satisfaction (p < .001, d = 0.43), current mood (p < .001, d = 0.43), body warmth (p < .05, d = 0.44) and warmth distribution (p < .01, d = 0.49). No significant changes were seen in pain levels and social extroversion. Conclusion: Sound-bed intervention improved momentary well-being and caused self-perceived physiological changes associated with relaxation beyond the benefits of simple resting time (control condition). Thus, it might be a promising approach to improve well-being in cancer patients.
  • Publication
    Integrative cancer care in a certified Cancer Centre of a German Anthroposophic hospital.
    (2018-10) Thronicke, Anja; Oei, Shiao Li; Merkle, Antje; Herbstreit, Cornelia; Lemmens, Hans-Peter; Grah, Christian; Kröz, Matthias; Matthes, Harald; Schad, Friedemann
    Objective: The concept of integrative oncology (IO) comprising guideline-oriented standard and add-on complementary medicine has gained growing importance. The Anthroposophic-integrative Cancer Centre (CC) at the hospital Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus (GKH) in Berlin has been implementing IO concepts during recent years. Furthermore, it is a certified CC and has been annually audited by national cancer authorities since 2012. The objective of the present study was to evaluate IO concepts of the certified CC GKH. Methods: Clinical, demographic, integrative treatment and follow-up data were analyzed between 2011 and 2016. In addition, CC GKH quality measures were compared with those of nationwide benchmarking CCs. Results: Between 2011 and 2016, 2.382 primary cancer patients, median age 66 years, were treated at the CC GKH. 70.1% of the patients showed either Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage 0, I, II or III and 25.6% were in UICC stage IV. IO therapies included surgery (64.4% of patients), radiation (41.2%), and application of cytostatic drugs (53.9%), add-on mistletoe therapy (30.5%), and non-pharmacological interventions (87.3%). Regarding psycho-oncological support and quota of patient's enrollment in studies the CC GKH performs above nationwide benchmarks. Research outcomes including safety issues, clinical impact as well as patient's health-related quality of life are continuously evaluated and integrated into hospital's decision-management. Conclusion: This analysis reveals that IO concepts are applied to a high proportion of male and female primary cancer patients of all age groups, indicating a successful implementation at the certified CC GKH. Ongoing clinical evaluations have been initiated and cost-effectiveness comparisons are under analyses.
  • Publication
    A collaborative model of integrative care: Synergy between Anthroposophic music therapy, acupuncture, and spiritual care in two patients with breast cancer. ABSTRACT
    (2018-10) Ben-Arye, Eran; Preis, Liora; Barak, Yael; Samuels, Noah
    Complementary/integrative medicine (CIM) has been shown to play an important role in supportive cancer care, relieving symptoms and improving quality of life among oncology patients. Communication between CIM practitioners and oncology healthcare professionals has been researched in depth, while little attention has been paid to the interaction between CIM practitioners from different disciplines who work together in the integrative oncology setting. The present paper explores the interaction between an Anthroposophic music therapist and a spiritual care provider who co-treated two female patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The joint CIM treatments took place in an Integrative Oncology service in northern Israel, and the collaboration between the two practitioners resulted in a synergistic therapeutic process, promoting the patients' wellbeing and facilitating spiritual growth. There is a need to further explore therapeutic interactions between CIM therapists from different disciplines, who often work together in the integrative oncology setting. Collaboration between different CIM disciplines can lead to a synergy which goes beyond an additive effect of the individual therapies.
  • Publication
    Removal of dental amalgam restorations in patients with health complaints attributed to amalgam: A prospective cohort study.
    (2020-11) Björkman, Lars; Musial, Frauke; Alraek, Terje; Werner, Erik L.; Weidenhammer, Wolfgang; Hamre, Harald J
    The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services initiated a project including experimental treatment for patients with health complaints attributed to amalgam restorations. The aim was to evaluate changes of general health complaints in patients who participated in the project and had all amalgam restorations removed. The project was designed as a prospective cohort study and organised by the Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit in Bergen, Norway. The dental treatment was provided by the patient's local dentist. The main target group consisted of patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms, attributed to dental amalgam restorations (Amalgam cohort). The primary comparison group consisted of patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms without attribution to dental amalgam restorations (MUPS cohort). Primary outcome was self-reported general health complaints (GHC index) at follow-up 12-months after completed amalgam removal. In the Amalgam cohort, a significant reduction of GHC index from 43.3 (SD 17.8) at baseline to 30.5 (SD 14.4) at follow-up (mean reduction 12.8, SD 15.9; n = 32; P < .001) was observed. The change scores for GHC index indicated that the reduction of complaints was significantly higher (P = .004) in the Amalgam cohort compared with the MUPS cohort (mean reduction 1.2, SD 12.3, n = 28). After adjustment for age, gender, education and baseline GHC index, the mean adjusted difference was -8.0 (95% confidence interval from -15.4 to -0.5; P = .036). In a group of patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms, which they attributed to dental amalgam restorations, removal of amalgam restorations was followed by a significant reduction of health complaints.
  • Publication
    Case Cluster of RT-PCR COVID-19 Positive Patients with an Unexpected Benign Clinical Course With Vitamin D, Melatonin, Vitamin C, and Viscum Album
    Hancock, Mark J.; Ketterl, Petra; Viñas, Xavier; Werthmann, Paul G.
    Background: The SARS-COV-2 global pandemic has been noted to have a differential effect on those exposed depending on risk factors such as age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Case presentation: We report a case series of 12 confirmed positive patients and 12 presumptive positive patients all of whom had either an entirely asymptomatic or relatively mild clinical course. 2 patients had active cancer, 3 patients were cancer survivors, 1 patient without cancer was 74 years old. All patients were treated early in their disease course with vitamin D loading (50,000iu daily for 3 days), 60 to 240mg melatonin, and 2000mg oral vitamin C. The 6 high risk patients and one 59 year old patient were treated with at least 2 intravenous doses of vitamin C. The 2 patients with active cancer received 75 grams of vitamin C (one daily, the other every other day). All of the high risk patients had a nearly asymptomatic clinical course and were tested after 10 days and all had a RT PCR for COVID-19 that was negative. The 17 remaining patients also had a relatively benign course though 4 patients (2 in their 20s, 2 in their 50s) received this treatment course later in the course of their illness, these were notably the only patients who had more than a mild sore throat or low grade fever. Conclusion: We report these unexpectedly positive clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients including patients with different risk factors, under supplemental vitamin C and D and melatonin. These supplements have a favorable safety profile and are already being suggested as potentially disease altering therapies in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.