Health & Wellbeing

Anthroposophic medicine is an integrative system that improves health outcomes through a holistic approach to treatment that includes physical, psychological and social health. 

Anthroposophic medicine is an integrative approach to treatment that extends and enhances health outcomes by looking outside of isolated symptoms towards a more holistic conception of health. This conception includes physical, psychological and spiritual health, as well as the impact of a person's environment and social context.

Anthroposophic medicine focuses on how to keep people healthy rather than on why they fall ill; this is called the "salutogenic" approach.

The anthroposophic medical approach is designed to complement conventional medicine. Anthroposophic medical doctors are qualified physicians who have received additional training to integrate anthroposophic medicine into their conventional practices.

Developed in the 1920s by Austrian scientist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner and Dutch physician Ita Wegman, anthroposophic medicine sought to expand the materialistic understanding of health and disease.

In the view of anthroposophic medicine, human health depends on the physical body; processes covering vitality and regeneration called 'etheric organization' or life forces; the emotional and instinctual part of the human being, called 'astral organization' or soul forces; and finally the capacity for thinking, individuality and sense of self, called 'I-organization'. In other words, anthroposophic medical practitioners see the condition of a person's physical body as only one element of health; the condition of a person's self-healing capacity, soul, and spirit are equally important.

While the language often differs, conventional medical studies are increasingly supportive of this view. The link between individual lifestyle and health outcomes, for example, is well established in particular for non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, or type 2 diabetes. And more recent research is beginning to establish a connection between physical and mental health and vice versa; for example, changes in gut microbiomes have been linked to psychological issues such as depression and anxiety. And loneliness and social isolation has been found to have profound impact on an individual's likelihood of developing diseases or disease complications, including death.

More information from the IVAA website here

Support and Relief at Home Through the Course of Covid Illness 

An easy reference guide for self and home care put together by Anthroposophical nurses in Christchurch and Hawkes Bay to support our communities. Click on the image above.



The Sophia Healing Centre is an anthroposophical initiative in Hawkes Bay for improving health and wellbeing. The current health professionals Dr. Helen M. Proctor, Dr. Rob Maunsell and Dr. Richard E. Drexel are experienced General Practitioners and Specialists in Anthroposophic Medicine.

Nic Parkes

Holistic Health Consultant, Anthroposophic Specialist.
Bowen Therapist

Holistic Health Consultations in person as well as via telehealth.

Remedies and skincare products can be discussed by email or phone and ordered via the website.

All prices are on website.

 www.healinglands.nz

Email: nic@healinglands.nz

Text/Phone : 027 3089 276


WELEDA NZ

In the early 50's pharmacist Colin Mahon met the doctor Ken Friedlander in Auckland, through their common interest and study of anthroposophy. In 1958 Sylvia Walters, an English pharmacist who had previously managed Weleda in England came to NZ to work at Colin Mahon's pharmacy in Auckland. With financial backing from the Nelson sisters who lived at Taruna in Havelock North, Sylvia moved south and opened the first Weleda pharmacy in a Lockwood building which is still in use today. In 1988 the business had expanded and needed a larger site so the move was made to the homestead and land at Peloha, previously the School of Radiant Living, on Te Mata Rd.