A Therapeutic Approach for Chronic-Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases by Means of Anthroposophic Medicine - Results of a Two-Year Pilot Study |
Author(s): , , ,
Abstract: In an open-Iabel, observational study 18 nonselected patients of the clinical and ambulatory care unit of the 'Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Herdecke' - including 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis - were followed over an average observation time of 12 months while being treated mainly by means of anthroposophical medicine. Local and systemic inflammatory activity (assessed by an articular index and the CRP in the serum), as well as functional capacity and the level of depression and pain (MOPO questionnaire) were chosen as main outcome measures. The investigated therapeutic approach consisted of anthroposophical remedies (of vegetable, mineral or animal origin), including specific external applications, curative eurythmy and remedial gymnastics, individual diet regimens and art therapy methods in a composition individually developed in the course of the singular case. The evaluation of the overall efficiency of this therapeutic concept over an average of 12 months revealed a marked reduction of disease activity in terms of laboratory and clinical measures as well as subjective complaints and psychosocial features of the disease (anxiety, depression, and social retreat). Whereas joint-invasive therapeutic strategies could be completely avoided, in most of the cases the complementary use of conventional antirheumatic agents (2nd-line antirheumatic drugs and NSAID) could be avoided or their dosage could be considerably reduced in the course of treatment.
Keyword(s): Entzündlich-rheumatische Erkrankungen
© Top Fit Gesund, 1992-2024. Alle Rechte vorbehalten – Impressum – Datenschutzerklärung