Extending Practical Medicine : Fundamental Principles Based on the Science of the Spirit Paperback / softback

Written in 1925 (CW 27) In this classic introductory work on spiritual medicine, Rudolf Steiner worked in a unique literary collaboration with the physician Ita Wegman.

Their aim was to revitalize the art of healing through spiritual knowledge--yet in so doing they did not underrate or dismiss modern allopathic medicine; rather, they illumined ordinary medicine beyond its materialistic outlook to a fuller realization of the human condition.

As Ita Wegman wrote in her preface: "The aim was not to underestimate scientific medicine in an amateurish way; it was given full recognition.

But it was important to add to existing knowledge the insights that can come from true perception of the spirit, enabling us to understand the processes of illness and healing." Today this new extension of practical medicine--generally called "anthroposophical medicine"--is used and valued by many physicians in numerous clinics around the world. Contents: Foreword by Dr. Michael Evans 1. Understanding the True Nature of Man as a Basis of Medical Practice2.

Why Do People Fall Ill?3. The Phenomena of Life4. On the Nature of the Sentient Organism5. Plant, Animal, Man6. Blood and Nerve7. The Nature of Medicinal Actions8. Activities in the Human Organism--Diabetes Mellitus9.

The Role of Protein in the Human Body and Proteinuria10.

The Role of Fat in the Human Organism and Deceptive Local Symptom Complexes11.

The Configuration of the Human Body and Gout12. Development and Separating-off Processes of the Human Organism13.

On the Nature of Illness and Healing14. The Therapeutic Way of Thinking15. The Method of Treatment16. Perceiving Medicinal Qualities17. Perceiving the Nature of Substances as a Basis of Pharmacognosy18.

Eurythmy Therapy19. Characteristic Illnesses20. Typical Medicines This volume is a translation from the German of Grundlegendes fur eine Erweiterung der Heilkunst nach geisteswissenschaflichen Erkenntnissen (GA 27).