Introducing Anthroposophical Medicine

Twenty Lectures Held in Dornach, Switerland, March 21 - April 9, 1920 (The Collected Works of Rudolf Steiner)

In these twenty lectures, given to medical doctors and students, Rudolf Steiner presents a new approach to the art of healing, based on the insights of anthroposophical spiritual science.

Taking account of modern medical knowledge and practice, and deeply versed in alchemical, Paracelsian, and naturopathic approaches, as well as in homeopathy, aroma therapy, and other "alternative" therapies, Steiner demonstrates on the basis of his own researches how a truly integrated "whole person" medicine is possible - one that understands the human as a being of body, soul, and spirit, a microcosm in the macrocosm, a mirror of the earth and of the heavens.

Steiner's enthusiasm and familiarity with his subject are everywhere in evidence here. The wealth of insights and the range of topics covered is staggering - from the meaning of sickness, polarities in the human organism, and the relation of therapy and pathology to the nature of plant, mineral, and animal in relation to the human being. Specific organs (heart, lungs, bladder, kidney, liver, nervous system, etc.) and specific diseases (cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes, meningitis, etc.) are brought into extraordinary new relations and connections. The whole question of diagnosis, health, and treatment is repeatedly viewed from different perspectives.

The result is an astounding new vision of medicine: one that is practical, spiritual, psychological, and fully human. This is no abstract view of medicine. Many of the lectures arose directly in response to the questions of practicing physicians. This work is required reading for anyone interested in the possibility of a non-reductionistic, non-mechanistic, Western-based holistic medicine.