The International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations (IVAA) is one of the founding members of the ELIANT Alliance.
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global problem. Judicious use of anthroposophic medical approaches can help address it
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – the ability of microorganisms to withstand treatments designed to work against them – is a growing global problem. Previously effective antibiotics, antivirals and other medicines are being rendered ineffective, exposing patients to worsening infections and dwindling options to address them. Infections caused by multi-resistant bacteria are predicted to be a leading cause of death by 2050, unless the global health community takes serious steps to curtail current trends. The World Health Organization has called AMR “one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development”, which needs to be addressed in a multi-sectoral One Health Approach.
To effectively tackle AMR, comprehensive global, regional, and national approaches should reduce the need for and the consumption of antibiotics, while seeking non-antibiotic prevention and treatment methods. While prevention and control strategies, including vaccines, better diagnostics, and surveillance of the development of new antibiotics, are important, research and implementation of integrative and anthroposophic non-antibiotic treatments are also needed and should be explored as one of the tools to address AMR.
IVAA’s Position on Antimicrobial Resistance
The IVAA recognises the critical role that anthroposophic and integrative medicine can play in reducing the threat of AMR. We therefore call on policy makers to:
- Include anthroposophic medicine and other integrative approaches as promising options in national, European and international policies to prevent AMR and reduce antibiotic use;
- Prioritize the processes of health promotion and patient resilience as strategies of prevention in national public health strategies and in National Action Plans (NAPs) on AMR;
- Include evidence-based preventive and therapeutic Integrative Medicine approaches in public education on reducing antibiotic use Support and prioritize the evaluation and research on Anthroposophic and Integrative Medicine approaches on AMR in academic and research institutions. Outcomes should be shared with healthcare professionals, policy makers, stakeholders, and public through appropriate monitoring and reporting tools;
- Foster a One Health approach to health and the collaboration between human, animal, and plant sectors on regional, national, and international level to effectively prevent AMR in an environmentally sustainable way.
IVAA’s full position paper on antimicrobial resistance can be downloaded as a PDF here:
