Dear colleagues, professionals, students and researchers from all medical professions,

Anthroposophic medicine is a so-called whole medical system. Whole medical systems are complete systems of healthcare that have evolved independently from conventional Western medicine. These systems, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, naturopathy, and homeopathy, are built upon a comprehensive theory and practice that addresses the whole person, not just a specific disease or symptom.

The factual basis of and reason for the methodological specifications of all whole system approaches is medical anthropology: The human being is understood as a multidimensional system of causative forces. This comprises not only the physical body and its material substances and forces as in conventional medical theory, but also additional, namely immaterial forces which interact with the physical forces and are responsible for the properties of life, soul and spirit.

Whole medical systems

The research on whole medical systems is a type of complex interventions research, that acknowledges that health interventions aren’t always simple and linear. They recognize:

• Multiple Components: The interventions themselves consist of several interacting parts. For example, a complex intervention to improve patient adherence to medication might include patient education, a mobile app, and follow-up calls from a nurse. Similarly, a whole medical system like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) involves multiple therapies like acupuncture, herbal medicine, and dietary changes.
• Context is Key: The setting in which the intervention is delivered—including the patient’s individual characteristics, the practitioner’s skill, and the healthcare environment—is crucial to the outcome. They move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.
• Non-linear Pathways: The relationship between an intervention and its outcome isn’t always a simple cause-and-effect. Feedback loops and emergent properties mean that the outcome may be unpredictable or greater than the sum of its parts.
• Methodological Innovation: Both fields challenge the limitations of traditional research methods, particularly the standard randomized controlled trial (RCT), and are exploring new methods like pragmatic trials, mixed-methods designs, and systems-based approaches to capture the full picture.

The challenge of this type of research is that it’s difficult to study an entire system using the traditional reductionist approach of conventional science, which typically isolates and tests a single variable (e.g., a specific drug for a specific condition). Whole medical systems research, on the other hand, investigates the combined effect of multiple, individualized interventions, including diet, lifestyle, physical practices, and patient-practitioner interactions.

Central questions in this congress

• What is the status of “Whole medical systems” research in conventional medicine (e.g. complex interventions, and systems biology research, case studies), Traditional Complementary & Integrative Medicine (TCIM) and anthroposophic medicine (AM)?

• How can we conceptualize, design, use and develop “Whole medical systems” (research) further to serve research in AM?

• What are the challenges of “Whole medical systems” in the context of Evidence-Based Medicine?

• How can “Whole medical systems” research improve AM clinical practice (diagnostics, therapeutic process steering/ clinical decision-making and evaluation of effects in personalized complex treatment trajectories) and AM education?

• How can we improve the impact of “Whole medical systems” research on acceptance and integration of AM in conventional medicine and TCIM?

• How can we influence policy makers?

• How can we realize reimbursement of AM whole medical system interventions for specific indications? And what does this mean for reimbursement of the individual AM therapies?

This congress

In this congress we bring together experts on whole medical systems (research) from conventional medicine, TCIM and AM. After presentations on whole medical systems research (methodology), the application of whole medical systems research, the contribution of AMPs and non-pharmacological AM therapies on two indications (functional disorders and depression), and research in anthroposophic medical anthropology, there is room for plenary discussions and workshops to deepen our understanding and to strengthen our research and education skills. In addition, all other recent AM research results will be presented in oral or poster presentations and workshops.

We invite all researchers, doctors, therapists, students, policy makers, board members of professional associations, education professionals and patient representatives (interested) in the field of AM whole medical systems (research) to participate.

For the preparatory group,

Prof. Dr. Erik W. Baars