Anthroposophical
Medicine involves an internationally organized group of
people who think that Rudolf Steiner (an Austrian physician,
1861-1925) found the ultimate truth - the anthroposophy.
Steiner said:
By anthroposophy, I mean a scientific investigation of the
spiritual world which will bring to light the weaknessess
and half-truths not only of science but also of modern mysticism.
It is a method which, before attempting to investigate the
spiritual worlds, first develops psychic powers not normally
used in daily life or in current scientific research.
The Anthroposophic
cult is managed from Dornach, Switzerland. They have private
universities in, at least, Switzerland and Germany. The
cult has tight rules and they are very effective in lobbying
for favorable political decisions. A good example is the
current Medicine Act in the European Union.
Anthroposophic
medicines are officially acknowledged as medicines in the
whole of Europe, although the cult itself is not known in
all of the 15 countries. No proof of efficacy or safety
is required. Anthroposophers often present themselves as
proponents of freedom of choice in health care.
The medicines
in anthroposophic medicine are chosen by means of meditation....
Homeopathic medicines, heavy metals, etc. are used "as
in ancient times." The diagnosis of cancer, for instance,
is based on "balance of forces in the blood" as
determined by crystalization by copper chloride, etc. Clairrvoyance
is the ultimate level of an anthroposopher.
In general
the cult is closed and secretive, but Steiner and Waldorf
schools teach the ideas of Steiner (law of Karma and reincarnation
etc.) to school children. In many countries, anthroposophists
have succeeded in getting an official status (and state's
financial support) for their schools.
Biodynamic
farming is also part of their activities. Stellar constellations,
as in astrology, are taken into account when conducting
farming activities such as planting and harvesting.
An extensive
review of the German anthroposophic group was published
in Der Spiegel in 1984