In the 1970s and 1980s Anthroposophic Medicine was closely linked with anthroposophical cultural impulses such as Waldorf schools. Later it moved more into the public eye when anthroposophic hospitals where founded and politicians and the media were invited to visit. In the years that followed, Anthroposophic Medicine established itself as a “special discipline” within a pluralist system, but this came with the danger of disappearing into a particular niche. Today we are increasingly asked pragmatic questions by GPs and patients who want to know what we have to offer. The Weleda alone has around 1500 anthroposophical medicines many of which are produced in small batches, which is not economical. Despite the increase in public interest, the number of anthroposophic physicians has not grown. How would it be, if in ten years' time a third of all GPs in Germany and Switzerland were able to use ten anthroposophical medicines, say for dry eyes, hypertension or cancer? A difficult question. Can we entrust non-anthroposophic doctors with our anthroposophic medicines? I suggest that we think in concentric circles: we practice an individualized medicine based on the levels of the human organization (and try to recruit young physicians interested in inner development), whilst making therapies available outside of anthroposophy with clearly accessible instructions for use. People can take Cardiodoron because it works; they don't need to know anything about its background nor do they need to become anthroposophists first. Furthermore, we need to be involved in finding solutions for burning questions, such as the resistance to antibiotics that could be reduced if anthroposophic medicines were used for minor infections. What applies to each of us as individuals is also true for our approach to medicine: a successful biography needs an understanding of one's own identity and a healthy breathing between the inner contemplation of our ideals and openness for the world around from where the future comes towards us. - Thomas Breitkreuz, Bad Liebenzell (DE)
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