Eurythmy Therapy Research Articles

Anthroposophic Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: A Two-year Prospective Cohort Study in Routine Outpatient Settings

Background and Methods Anthroposophic treatment for anxiety disorders includes special artistic and physical therapies and special medications. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 64 consecutive adult outpatients starting anthroposophic treatment for anxiety disorders under routine conditions. Main outcomes were Anxiety Severity (physician and patient ratings 0–10), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (0–100), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, German version (CES-D, 0–60), and SF-36 Mental Component Summary. Results Mean age was 42.3 years. Most frequent diagnoses were generalized anxiety disorder (44% of patients, n = 28/64) and panic disorder (39%). Median disease duration was 4.5 years. The anthroposophic treatment modalities used were medications (56% of patients), eurythmy therapy (41%), art therapy (30%), and rhythmical massage therapy (3%). Median number of eurythmy/art/massage sessions was 12, median therapy duration was 120 days. From baseline to six-month follow-up, all outcomes improved significantly; average improvements were: Physician-rated Anxiety Severity 3.60 points (95% confidence interval 2.97–4.22, p < 0.001), patient-rated Anxiety Severity 3.50 (2.88–4.12, p < 0.001), Self-rating Anxiety Scale 11.88 (7.70–16.05, p < 0.001), CES-D 8.79 (5.61–11.98, p < 0.001), and SF-36 Mental Component 9.53 (5.98–13.08, p < 0.001). All improvements were maintained until last follow-up after 24 months. Conclusions Patients with anxiety disorders under anthroposophic treatment had long-term improvements of symptoms and quality of life.

Effects of complementary eurythmy therapy on heart rate variability

The importance of mind-body oriented therapies in oncology has increased in recent years. Eurythmy therapy (EYT, Greek: eurythmy=harmonious rhythm) is a mind-body oriented therapy used in Anthroposophic Medicine. EYT can lead to long-term alleviation of chronic disease symptoms and improve patient quality of life. Yet, little is known about underlying physiological mechanisms. This study aims to compare the effects of EYT and conventional ergometer training (CET) on heart rate variability (HRV). In a cross-over design, 20 healthy subjects performed two different EYT exercises and two sessions of CET. ECGs were recorded throughout these procedures. HRV was quantified by the extent of very low (VLF), low (LF) and high frequency (HF) oscillations of heart rate. VLF and LF oscillations increased during one EYT exercises when compared to rest after EYT ('B exercise', VLF: 7.65 vs. 6.57 log ms(2); LF: 8.06 vs. 6.15 log ms(2)) whereas during the other EYT exercise only LF increased ('L exercise', LF: 7.19 vs. 6.25 log ms(2)). HF was not affected. During CET VLF, LF and HF decreased compared to rest (VLF: 5.4 log ms(2), LF: 4.5 log ms(2), HF: 3.2 log ms(2)). During rest after both EYT exercises LF/HF decreased when compared to rest after CET (0.4 and 0.5 vs. 1.4). At comparable workloads, EYT stimulated HRV whereas CET attenuated HRV. The decrease of LF/HF during rest after EYT indicates an improved relaxation. These results suggest that patients may benefit from EYT in terms of HRV improvement.

Effects of eurythmy therapy on heart rate variability

Objectives The importance of mind–body oriented therapies in oncology has increased in recent years. Eurythmy therapy (EYT, Greek: eurythmy=harmonious rhythm) is a mind–body oriented therapy used in anthroposophic medicine. EYT can lead to long-term alleviation of chronic disease symptoms and improve patients’ quality of life. Yet, little is known about the underlying physiological mechanisms. This study aims to compare the effects of EYT and conventional ergometer training (CET) on heart rate variability (HRV). Design In a cross-over design, 20 healthy subjects performed two different EYT exercises and two sessions of CET. ECGs were recorded throughout these procedures. HRV was quantified by the extent of very low (VLF), low (LF) and high frequency (HF) oscillations. Results VLF oscillations (7.6, 6.9 vs. 6.5 log m s 2 at rest) and LF oscillations (8.1, 7.2 vs. 6.2 log m s 2 ) increased during both EYT exercises when compared to rest after the EYT exercises. Both EYT exercises led to a decrease of LF/HF oscillations ratio at rest after EYT when compared to rest after CET (0.4, 0.5 vs. 1.4). On the contrary, HRV decreased during CET compared to rest (VLF: 5.4 log m s 2 ; LF: 4.5 log m s 2 ). Conclusion EYT showed strong modulating effects as well as a significant improvement of HRV after the end of EYT. At comparable workloads, EYT stimulated HRV more effectively than CET. These results suggest that various chronically ill patients may also benefit from EYT in terms of HRV improvement.

The anthroposophic treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis: Rationale, treatment approaches and health-promoting effects

Conventional treatment of allergic rhinitis with antihistamines and corticosteroids has proven to be effective in reducing hay fever symptoms. However, patients often suffer from side effects of these remedies and remain chronically in need for symptomatic treatment during the pollen season for decades. In anthroposophic medicine, there is more than 80 years of positive clinical experience with the treatment of allergic rhinitis. In the last decade several both conceptual studies and empirical outcome studies have been performed with positive results. Citrus/Cydonia comp., an anthroposophic medicine, is prescribed in the practices of general practitioners in more than 80 years as a subcutaneous application or a nasal spray. A survey among a group of 39 prescribing Dutch general practitioners showed that according to their clinical experience the subcutaneous treatment is most effective: (a) patients often have permanently less or no hay fever symptoms after treatment, (b) the effect is there within 2 weeks until 3 months of treatment and (c) the effect is optimal after several years of treatment. A survey among Dutch anthroposophic therapists demonstrated that Eurythmy Therapy is the treatment of choice next to Citrus/Cydonia comp. To optimize anthroposophic treatment of hay fever. The first positive effects of Citrus/Cydonia comp. In two outcome studies have been published. Recent in vitro research into the immunostimulation of blood of healthy and hay fever donors demonstrated that Citrus/Cydonia comp. (in vitro) induces an immunoregulatory effect in which the normal balance within the immune system was restored, demonstrating its curative health-promoting effect. In two conceptual studies, scientific facts and anthroposophic concepts on allergic rhinitis and its treatment could be integrated. In this presentation, an overview of the state of the art of conceptualization of a system biological approach in the understanding and treatment of allergic rhinitis, the professional experiences with and the empirical effects of anthroposophic treatment, and the planned outcome studies in this field will be presented.

Eurythmy Therapy in clinical studies: a systematic literature review

BackgroundWe aimed to overview the current literature on eurythmy therapy (EYT) which is an integral part of Anthroposophic Medicine. EYT can be described as a movement therapy in which speech movements are transposed into exercises which address the patient's capability to soul expression and strengthen his salutogenetic resources.MethodsWe searched several databases such as Cochrane, EMBASE, NCCAM, NLM, DIMDI, CAMbase, and Medline for case-control studies, cohort studies and randomised controlled trials on the treatment effects of EYT in a clinical setting. In a second search we included journal databases from Karger, Kluwer, Springer, Thieme, and Merkurstab archive.ResultsWe found 8 citations which met the inclusion criterion: 4 publications referring to a prospective cohort study without control group (the AMOS study), and 4 articles referring to 2 explorative pre-post studies without control group, 1 prospective, non-randomized comparative study, and 1 descriptive study with a control group. The methodological quality of studies ranged in from poor to good, and in sample size from 5 to 898 patients. In most studies, EYT was used as an add-on, not as a mono-therapy. The studies described positive treatment effects with clinically relevant effect sizes in most cases.ConclusionIndications, study designs and the usage of additional treatments within the identified studies were quite heterogeneous. Despite of this, EYT can be regarded as a potentially relevant add-on in a therapeutic concept, although its specific relevance remains to be clarified. Well performed controlled studies on this unique treatment are highly recommended.

Eurythmy therapy in chronic disease: a four-year prospective cohort study

BackgroundMany patients with chronic diseases use complementary therapies, often provided by their physicians. In Germany, several physician-provided complementary therapies have been reimbursed by health insurance companies as part of health benefit programs. In most of these therapies, the patient has a predominantly passive role. In eurythmy therapy, however, patients actively exercise specific movements with the hands, the feet or the whole body. The purpose of this study was to describe clinical outcomes in patients practising eurythmy therapy exercises for chronic diseases.MethodsIn conjunction with a health benefit program, 419 outpatients from 94 medical practices in Germany, referred to 118 eurythmy therapists, participated in a prospective cohort study. Main outcomes were disease severity (Disease and Symptom Scores, physicians' and patients' assessment on numerical rating scales 0–10) and quality of life (adults: SF-36, children aged 8–16: KINDL, children 1–7: KITA). Disease Score was documented after 0, 6 and 12 months, other outcomes after 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and (SF-36 and Symptom Score) 48 months.ResultsMost common indications were mental disorders (31.7% of patients; primarily depression, fatigue, and childhood emotional disorder) and musculoskeletal diseases (23.4%). Median disease duration at baseline was 3.0 years (interquartile range 1.0–8.5). Median number of eurythmy therapy sessions was 12 (interquartile range 10–19), median therapy duration was 119 days (84–188).All outcomes improved significantly between baseline and all subsequent follow-ups (exceptions: KITA Psychosoma in first three months and KINDL). Improvements from baseline to 12 months were: Disease Score from mean (standard deviation) 6.65 (1.81) to 3.19 (2.27) (p < 0.001), Symptom Score from 5.95 (1.75) to 3.49 (2.12) (p < 0.001), SF-36 Physical Component Summary from 43.13 (10.25) to 47.10 (9.78) (p < 0.001), SF-36 Mental Component Summary from 38.31 (11.67) to 45.01 (11.76) (p < 0.001), KITA Psychosoma from 69.53 (15.45) to 77.21 (13.60) (p = 0.001), and KITA Daily Life from 59.23 (21.78) to 68.14 (18.52) (p = 0.001). All these improvements were maintained until the last follow-up. Improvements were similar in patients not using diagnosis-related adjunctive therapies within the first six study months.Adverse reactions to eurythmy therapy occurred in 3.1% (13/419) of patients. No patient stopped eurythmy therapy due to adverse reactions.ConclusionPatients practising eurythmy therapy exercises had long-term improvement of chronic disease symptoms and quality of life. Although the pre-post design of the present study does not allow for conclusions about comparative effectiveness, study findings suggest that eurythmy therapy can be useful for patients motivated for this therapy.