authors describe that over the last two decades a medical discipline has increasingly established itself that attempts to find a synthesis of two therapeutic directions, naturopathy and Integrative Medicine, with more inclusion of preventive measures. Both types of procedures should be evidence-informed or evidence-based. Moreover, the original view of Integrative Medicine as a mere synthesis of conventional and traditional medicine (formerly: “conventional medicine plus alternative medicine”) has fundamentally changed and developed in its own direction. There is currently an effort to expand the existing medical paradigm on the basis of patient-centeredness, multiprofessionalism/teamwork and, above all, the ability of patients to help themselves and self-regulate their treatments. In addition to science, the “art of healing” (conversation, interaction, motivation, empathy, etc.) plays an important role in this process.
In this context, Brinkhaus and Esch also present an extended, new definition of Integrative Medicine:
Integrative Medicine affirms the importance of the doctor-patient relationship, aims at the whole person, is informed by evidence and uses all appropriate therapeutic, preventive, health-promoting or lifestyle approaches as well as all disciplines of healthcare to achieve optimal health and healing – emphasizing both the art and science of healing. According to the authors, it is based on a social, democratic, as well as a natural, healthy environment.
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:
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
Geleitwort
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:
