Integrative Medizin und Gesundheit

Using this definition, it is clear that Integrative Medicine is not only about the inclusion of evidence-based naturopathic therapies in conventional medicine, Integrative Medicine is patient-centered, preventive, and therapeutic. It activates the patient, taking into account a healthy lifestyle, is interactive and empathetic. Becoming healthy and maintaining health is an interactive process of patients with different healthcare providers, the process is emphasized to complement scientific knowledge, as well as the fact that these processes are only possible if the appropriate social and natural conditions are present.

In May 2017, the Berlin Agreement was developed within the framework of the “World Congress Integrative Medicine & Health” in Berlin, which is referred to several times in this book. The agreement points out the important prerequisites for the success of Integrative Medicine. The following factors, among others, are particularly important:

In addition to seeking optimal healthcare, health maintenance or disease prevention, strengthening self-care and resilience (“Model Health”) are to be included.

A prerequisite is educating citizens enabling them to lead sustainable healthy lives in a social and healthy environment (“Engage Patients”).

On the medical side, interprofessional care and optimal cooperation between healthcare professions (“Promote Interprofessionalism and Team Care”) is a prerequisite.

Recognizing the importance of traditional medicine in global healthcare (“Recognize the Importance of traditional Medicine in Global Healthcare”).

The strengthening of research in the field of naturopathic and complementary medicine therapies under consideration of a holistic design and method approach (“Commit to Evidence-Informed Dialogue and Practice” and “Foster Whole Systems Research”).

Considering the interaction of prevention, health promotion and local or general healthcare in maintaining and improving health (“Bridge Clinical Care with Prevention, Community and Public Health”).

Taking into account that social, political, natural and economic factors play a decisive role in health. These factors must be strengthened, inequalities must be avoided and personal and social responsibility must be taken (“Engage as Change Agents”).

The use of modern and digital methods of therapist-doctor-patient interaction and communication in Integrative Medicine – both in practice and in research.

This Berlin Agreement has been a key foundation for this book. The authors note, however, that this basis will change and that its contents and concepts will have to be adapted to the results of further research and the rapid changes in the healthcare system. The systematic structure of the present book is based, therefore, on a general introduction and the Berlin Agreement at the end of the book. This is followed by a comprehensive presentation of the basic features and scientific basis of Integrative Medicine, including historical facts, general developments and a description of individual components of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. This is supplemented in the practice section by a presentation of selected areas of Integrative Medicine.

The book is characterized by a solid, scientifically based description of Integrative Medicine, which pleasantly sets itself apart from the uncritical prophets of alternative healing methods. The authors of the book are classically trained physicians in scientific orthodox medicine and experts in various fields of conventional, complementary medicine as well as proven experts in modern therapeutic strategies, digital medicine, public health and health economics.

In such a light, this book provides a deep and interesting insight into different views of the art of healing with a focus on the integration of different possibilities, which take into account the patient and his or her particularities in a very personal way. Personalized medicine is not limited to specific hereditary factors and genome sequencing, it integrates the person as a whole as well as his or her environment.

We wish that the medicine and this book gain success and a wide distribution!

Detlev Ganten

President of the World Health Summit

Berlin, March 2021

Detlev Ganten hat in seinem Geleitwort für dieses Buch den großen Wurf einer evidenzbasierten Integrativen Medizin und Gesundheit für eine Gesundheitsversorgung der Zukunft begründet und gewürdigt. Das Buch zeigt Wege auf, wie in einer global komplexen Welt Gesundheit erhalten und wiederhergestellt werden kann. In deutlichem Widerspruch zu den gut begründeten Analysen und Vorschlägen in diesem Werk steht der im Folgenden beschriebene Vorgang. Er illustriert, wie sorgfältig und zeitgemäß die Herausgeber Brinkhaus und Esch die Themen gewählt haben. Er zeigt auch, welche Vorurteile, Fehlinformationen und Widerstände durch grundlegende Entwicklungen in der Gesundheitsversorgung zu überwinden sind.

Der Weltärztebund ( World Medical Association, WMA ) hat anlässlich der Jahreshauptversammlung 2020 eine neue Grundsatzerklärung veröffentlicht, die dazu aufruft, „Pseudowissenschaft“ und „Pseudotherapien“ weltweit zu unterbinden ( https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-on-pseudo-science-and-pseudotherapies-in-the-field-of-health/). Dazu gibt die WMA 13 verschiedene Empfehlungen. Die Begriffe „Pseudowissenschaft“ und „Pseudotherapien“ werden definiert („Falsche Wissenschaft“ und „Falsche Therapien“), wobei vor allem auf die dabei fehlende moderne wissenschaftliche Basis verwiesen wird. Dann wird am Schluss des Textes kleingedruckt angefügt:

„Das Ziel dieser Erklärung sind nicht die traditionelle, von den Vorfahren überlieferte Heilkunde noch die sogenannte einheimische Heilkunde, die fest in Völkern und Nationen verwurzelt sind und einen wesentlichen Teil ihrer Kultur, ihrer Rituale, Tradition und Geschichte darstellen“. (ebd.)

Abgesehen davon, dass dies ein Widerspruch zu den selbst gewählten Definitionen ist, bleibt es auf den ersten Blick unklar, was die WMA eigentlich konkret meint. Es erscheint kaum nötig, auf die Gefahr falscher Wissenschaft und falscher Therapien hinzuweisen. Dann wird es aber unter Forderung 7 plötzlich klar,

„dass ein System eingerichtet werden solle, dass jegliche Behandlung unterbindet oder mindestens einschränkt, die als komplementär und/oder alternativ klassifiziert wird, um das Gesundheitswesen davor zu schützen“. (ebd.)

Leider hat das Bundesärzteblatt dies in verkürzter Form aufgegriffen und ungefiltert publiziert ( https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/118235/Weltaerztebund-fordert-staerkeren-Einsatz-gegen-Pseudowissenschaften-und-therapien?rt=a15ce1c2bcc33b57ac93ee9291a4df4a).