Whole Medical Systems versus the System of Conventional Biomedicine: A Critical, Narrative Review of Similarities, Differences, and Factors That Promote the Integration Process

Abstract

Background There is an increasing need for a worldwide professional integration of conventional medicine and traditional/complementary whole medical systems (WMSs). However, the integration is perceived by conventional medicine as problematic or unacceptable, because of a supposed lack of evidence for specific effects of WMSs therapies and supposed prescientific or unscientific paradigms of WMSs. Objectives To review the literature on the features of WMSs, similarities and differences between conventional medicine and WMSs, and scientific and clinical practice issues that should be dealt with in order to promote the integration process. Methods A critical, narrative review of the literature on six WMSs. Results and Conclusions Key factors for the integration of WMSs and conventional medicine are as follows: legal frameworks, quality standards, high-quality research on safety and efficacy of WMS interventions, infrastructure, and financial resources. For scientific assessment of WMSs, there are unresolved ontological, epistemological, and methodological issues and issues of diagnostics, therapy delivery, and outcome assessment in clinical practice. Future research not only should be directed at quality assurance and generating the necessary data on safety and efficacy/effectiveness but also should address more fundamental (ontological, epistemological, and methodological) issues, in order to overcome the differences between WMSs and conventional medicine.

Use and Safety of Anthroposophic Medicinal Products: An Analysis of 44,662 Patients from the EvaMed Pharmacovigilance Network

“…In modern times, industrial scale production developed without the rigorous quality control of modern drug manufacturing, and in many countries these WMPs are regulated as food or food supplements or are imported for use without any regulation. Some of these WMPs have been associated with repeated, severe ADRs including toxicity, and current pharmacovigilance initiatives towards these WMPs has to deal with specific challenges (e.g., classification issues, lack of standardization, contamination by heavy metals or pesticides [ 12 ]).…”

Mapping Physicians’ Experiences with Medicinal Products from Whole Medical Systems: A Descriptive Analysis of the <b><i>Vademecum of Anthroposophic Medicines</i></b>

“…Features of whole medical systems include a tradition of use prior to the emergence of current conventional medicine, a holistic, non-reductionist ontological, epistemological and practice orientation, specific diagnostic and therapeutic typologies, and the use of a large number of medicinal products (WMPs, medicinal products from whole medical systems) of herbal, zoological or mineral origin. Because of the different typologies in whole medical systems and conventional medicine, WMPs are often used for a number of different indications according to conventional disease classification [2].…”

“…From the second part of the 20th century onwards, clinical studies have been performed for a number of WMPs. Nonetheless, because of the large number of WMPs and indications, it is not feasible to conduct clinical studies for each indication for each WMP [2]. Therefore, for a large proportion of WMPs, the requirements for obtaining regular marketing authorization (including effect documentation in controlled clinical trials) cannot be met.…”

“…Physicians had a mean 33. The editorial board preparing the 4th edition of the Vademecum consisted of 10 physicians (8 male, 2 female, all 10 were also participating physicians) from 4 countries (Austria, Brazil, Switzerland, Germany) with specialist qualification in family medicine (n = 2), paediatrics (n = 2), obstetrics and gynaecology (n = 1), internal medicine (n = 6), haematology and oncology [2]. Their medical work was or had been mainly in inpatient hospitals (n = 4) and outpatient settings (n = 6).…”

“…AMPs of level 2 inTable 1. For AMPs with more than one active substance, the highest concentration or lowest potency is used 2. Neither potentized nor mother tincture.…”