Abstract

Key factors for the integration of whole medical systems (WMSs) and conventional medicine are: legal frameworks, quality standards, high-quality research on safety and efficacy of WMS interventions, infrastructure, and financial resources. Future research not only should be directed at quality assurance and generating data on safety and efficacy/effectiveness but also should address more fundamental and practice-oriented issues, in order to overcome WMSs and conventional medicine differences.
Ontological research should focus on the nature of reality (matter, organism, mind, …), the tenability of the non-atomistic holistic position of WMSs within the so-called holism-reductionism debate, and transitions from the modern worldview (based on natural science) to the Integrative worldview.
Conceptual and epistemological research should focus on developing and testing theories that are system- and complexity-oriented and that are compatible with both WMSs and conventional medicine.
Methodological research should focus on a “reversed research strategy” for assessing TCIH taking into account the complexity of TCIH interventions and the role of expert knowledge, intuition, and individualization of diagnostics, therapies and outcome assessment; health economic evaluation of treatments; and the mechanisms of placebo, context and/ or meaning effects.
TCIH implementation research should take into account: alternatives for protocols and guidelines that are in line with the holistic and individualizing treatment approaches; the integrated use of dual diagnoses (from both systems); the integrated use of analytical and system thinking; and the optimal integration of “fighting disease” and “health promotion” treatment options.
The contribution of anthroposophic spiritual science and Anthroposophic Medicine on these issues will be presented.