Hayfever is the most common allergic disease in Europe, with a prevalence between 4 and 32% according to the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. According to the 2026 Europe report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change, pollen dynamics are shifting with the season starting earlier and symptoms becoming more severe. 

“We are seeing a prolonged season – an earlier onset of pollination in both the north and the south [of Europe],” Professor Joacim Rocklov of the University of Heidelberg and co-author of the Lancet report stated in an interview with the BBC. 

For millions of hayfever patients, this means weeks of a runny nose, itchy eyes and tiredness, which interfere with sleep, work, and daily life. Left untreated, hayfever increases the risk of developing bronchial asthma and other serious conditions.

How hayfever works

When pollen enters the nose, throat or eyes, the immune system treats it as a threat and produces antibodies in response. In people with hayfever, this response becomes exaggerated and the body becomes imbalanced, leading to inflammation and irritation: sneezing, itching or burning sensation, or cold-like symptoms. 

Conventional hayfever treatments, such as anti-histamines and steroid nasal spray, suppress this immune reaction. While effective, some patients experience side effects like drowsiness or difficulty concentrating, while others wish to avoid long-term medication use. Research has shown that extended nasal steroid use, while generally considered safe, can affect adrenal gland activity, and in children, this may impact growth patterns. 

The anthroposophic approach

Anthroposophic medicine adds an additional perspective on hayfever. Rather than simply blocking the immune response, it recognises that some individuals have more permeable or sensitive boundaries between their inner body and the external environment, making them more susceptible to exaggerated reactions. 

“Hayfever isn’t just an overreaction, it’s the body struggling to find its balance,” says Dr Adam Blanning, anthroposophic family physician. 

Anthroposophic treatments aim to support the body’s natural regulatory processes, helping it respond to pollen in a more balanced way, rather than suppressing symptoms. Many patients find that their symptoms reduce over time, rather than returning once the medication wears off. Anthroposophic hayfever treatment can be used alongside conventional treatment options or alone if the patient feels this is sufficiently effective. 

“Anthroposophic medical products contain elements which can help protect us from feeling overwhelmed, because how sensitive we are to the world is something that can be influenced or changed,” explains Adam Blanning. “Because anthroposophic treatments help the body to efficiently clear out the irritating substance, patients experience faster and longer-term shifts in their allergy symptoms.”

Citrus/Cydonia: A treatment option from Anthroposophic Medicine

Citrus/Cydonia – an extract of lemon and quince – has been used for decades for hayfever and has been demonstrated to modulate the immune response through different mechanisms. It can be administered as a nasal spray or subcutaneous injection. 

Patient experience

16-year-old high-school student Vincent Wolf lives in Berlin. His hayfever symptoms became progressively worse after first being diagnosed at the age of nine. 

“Antihistamines made me feel drowsy, and I found it difficult to concentrate in school. I had developed asthma, and I couldn’t attend school when I was struggling to breathe. I was being prescribed higher doses of medication, and my parents wanted to find a treatment which would tackle the cause of my allergy, rather than treating the symptoms. 

Since I started taking Citrus/Cydonia, my asthma has stopped. My hayfever symptoms are now very mild, and I’ve only needed to take an antihistamine pill once this spring. I’ve got much more energy, and I can concentrate in school again.“

What the research shows

Although the treatment has been used for decades, it is only in recent years that its safety, efficacy, and various methods of administration have been studied in clinical trials. Researchers from the Institute of Complementary and Integrative Medicine (IKIM) at the University of Bern, Switzerland, conducted a systematic review to identify, evaluate, and combine all high-quality studies evaluating Citrus/Cydonia preparations.

Key findings 

• Symptom reduction: The review found that the anthroposophic Citrus/Cydonia preparations demonstrated symptom-reducing effects in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). Patients experienced improvements in nasal congestion, sneezing, itching, rhinorrhoea and their overall quality of life. Symptom reduction increased over a four-week time period.
• Different administration routes: The review evaluated different forms of administration of Citrus/Cydonia. Symptom reduction was greater with subcutaneous injections than with nasal spray, but both preparations were effective. Injections were particularly effective in improving morning symptoms.
• Safety: Only mild, rare side effects (headaches and stomach complaints) were reported. 

Why this matters

The systematic review shows promising efficacy and excellent safety in managing hayfever with Citrus/Cydonia. By combining knowledge from anthroposophic medicine with modern scientific research, this work builds the evidence base for Citrus/Cydonia as a natural, effective and well-tolerated option for people suffering from hayfever symptoms.

Strengthening the evidence base for Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) is a core strategic objective of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034. The strategy calls for facilitation and further investment in TCIM to fully leverage its potential for improvements in health and well-being.

“The evidence base for Citrus/Cydonia as a treatment for the millions struggling with hayfever is increasingly promising,” says Dr Tido von Schoen-Angerer, President of IVAA. “Lemon and quince extract is one of the most established anthroposophic treatments, and the preclinical and clinical evidence increasingly support decades of positive clinical experience. Yet the scale of today’s allergy burden means that more research into natural prevention and treatment options is needed.”

Discover IVAA’s new patient leaflet explaining how hayfever develops, why pollen triggers strong immune reactions, the role of environmental factors, and introducing the long-established anthroposophic approach of Citrus/Cydonia (lemon & quince) extract.

In a fast-paced digital world, finding a moment of balance can feel like a challenge. That is why we are so excited to share a groundbreaking way to bring harmony into your daily routine. Whether you are at home or on the go, this latest project bridges movement wisdom with modern convenience.

Please find the Invitation from Eurythmy4you below.

We are proud to operate the world's first Eurythmy App.

We spare no effort to keep it available. The numerous enthusiastic feedbacks from users are a full reward for us.

The app is available in two versions:

English: Eurythmy and German: Eurythmie

5 minutes a day - wherever you are - and your happiness is guaranteed!

Simply search Eurythmy in the App Store of your device.

Or every morning by Email

You can also have the exercises sent to your inbox free of charge as an email. Then simply click here and you will receive the first exercise tomorrow morning:

Send me the exercises by Email

Beyond Cure – Exploring Anthroposophic Medicine is a new documentary series that explores Anthroposophic Medicine as a living, contemporary, and integrative medical approach. 

Created by the Institute of Anthroposophic Medicine in Greece.

Through the voices of physicians, educators, and practitioners from different countries, the series brings the viewer into direct contact with the depth, freedom, and ethical foundation of Anthroposophic Medicine - not as a “system,” but as a lived medical practice and a conscious calling.

At a time when medicine is increasingly shaped by technocratic models and procedural efficiency, Beyond Cure seeks to restore the human being to the center of the healing process. It presents a form of medicine that integrates scientific rigor with an expanded understanding of the human being as body, soul, and spirit.

The documentary aims to clarify that Anthroposophic Medicine is not an “alternative” approach, but a form of integrative medicine - one that engages modern medical science while addressing questions of meaning, relationship, and moral responsibility in therapeutic practice.

Beyond Cure was created to give space to the human dimension of medicine - to the encounter between doctor and patient, to responsibility, freedom, and meaning. It is an invitation to rediscover medicine as a profoundly human art.

The series aspires to:

• restore human dignity within medical practice,
• inspire physicians and patients to rethink the qualities of relationship, dialogue, and meaning in healing,
• and present Anthroposophic Medicine as a cultural response to the challenges of contemporary healthcare - a medicine oriented toward the future, not the past.

The primary audience includes physicians and healthcare professionals, medical students, and patients seeking serious, integrative approaches to health and healing. The series also addresses a wider audience interested in holistic and humanistic sciences, philosophy and inner development.

Beyond Cure is conceived as an documentary series. The number of episodes and release schedule remain intentionally open. The first episode is planned for release in 2026. 

Beyond Cure | Exploring Anthroposophic Medicine Trailer

The documentary will be made freely available, offered as a gift to the global Anthroposophic Medicine community. Viewers and organizations are warmly invited to share the material freely within their networks and communities. Read more >>

Poster

Press Release

Promising strategy for anthroposophic medicine – freedom of choice in food threatened by GMOs

Dear Friends of ELIANT,
We are delighted that a new global WHO strategy for traditional, complementary and integrative medicine has been adopted for the period 2025 to 2034. It is based in the small WHO TCIM department, which to date has been joined by 340 organisations. Its credo: 'The rich cultural heritage and diversity of TCIM's healing traditions and principles promote a positive health vision that focuses on the whole person and reinforces the sources of health.' The aim is to create a visible and audible voice for a holistic system of medicine of the future.

The International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations IVAA is one of the founding members of this TCIM coalition. It was able to contribute the perspectives of anthroposophic medicine, namely to recognise each person as a being consisting of body, soul and spirit, and the right of everyone to make informed and free decisions about their medical care. Fundamentally, medicine should strive to heal rather than eliminate symptoms.

WHO – Pandemic Agreement and International Health Regulations (IHR)
Also in May 2025, the World Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement, although details still need to be negotiated over the next twelve months. Only then will it be released to the Member States for signature. On the one hand, it leaves many questions unanswered regarding fairness between countries in terms of pandemic prevention and management. On the other hand, individual countries have a lot of leeway when it comes to interpretation and implementation. The International Health Regulations (IHR) were adopted in 2024 and will enter into force in September 2025.

Freedom of choice in food continues to be under threat
At an EU level, political discussions are still ongoing to determine the requirements regarding new GMOs, such as CRISPR-Cas. As far back as July 2023, the European Commission published a legislative proposal in this respect to repeal all mandatory requirements applicable to new GMOs. This new generation of GMOs would thus be launched on the market without prior risk assessment, traceability and labelling, which would jeopardise both our health and our freedom of choice. Farmers and consumers have the right to know and choose what ends up on our fields and on our plates. That is why we support all efforts to maintain the current binding requirements for risk assessment, labelling and traceability for all GMOs placed on the market.

Since the publication of the Commission's proposal, the European Parliament has in its opinion commendably called for the substantive labelling and traceability requirements to be reinstated. The trialogue negotiations between the three institutions – Parliament, Council and Commission – are currently underway. So far, they have been unable to agree on a common basis for traceability and labelling. It is therefore important that, while these negotiations are ongoing, as many of us as possible contact members of the European Parliament and ask them to strongly defend the Parliament's position on traceability and labelling in the negotiation process. EU citizens want clear labelling of all GMOs. So don't hesitate to contact your country's representatives in the European Parliament via this link and ask them to defend our freedom of choice.

Once the trialogue negotiations have been concluded, Parliament and Council must vote on the final text. The vote in Parliament is the last chance and will be decisive. Depending on how things progress, we will ask for your help before the final vote in the autumn! We thank you for supporting freedom of choice.

Warm regards on behalf of the ELIANT team
Michaela Glöckler

Here you can support our work. We thank you.

Read online & Subscribe

IVAA News

The MISTRAL Trial: Evaluating Mistletoe Extract in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Treatment 

June 6, 2024

A recent study, “Mistletoe Extract in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial” (MISTRAL), conducted in Sweden, investigated whether mistletoe extract, combined with modern oncological palliative care, could enhance survival and quality of life in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. This trial explored complementary therapies as potential avenues to improve outcomes for those facing this challenging disease.

Read More »

New Study Shows Mistletoe and Immunotherapy in Combination Extends Survival in Lung Cancer Patients

June 13, 2024

Recent research from Germany offers new evidence in the fight against lung cancer, the world’s second most prevalent type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The study, “Patients with Advanced or Metastasised Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Viscum album L. Therapy in Addition to PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade: A Real-World Data Study,” demonstrates that combining mistletoe therapy with standard immunotherapy significantly improves survival rates in patients.

Read More »

In the UK, Mistletoe Research UK has shared info on the local trail. 

An autobiographical study by Melanie Taylor of finding courage through adversity.

Through the metaphor of the journey, the author invites the reader on a path of discovery as she finds meaning in the dramatic events of her own life.

From a magical childhood on the Cornish moors to overcoming adversity through a life-changing illness, Melanie uses the metaphor of a journey in seven stages, part autobiography, part study.

Her story leads us to explore new ideas in a tapestry of language and imagery. Adapting to life in a wheelchair, this mother of three young children initially retrained as a teacher of dyslexic children and later as a counsellor. She went on to co-found therapeutic programmes for adult groups, a training and therapy centre. Her study of the archetypal nature of the journey includes Rudolf Steiner’s concepts of Seven Life, becoming Learning Processes.

Confronted with her own existential challenges, she discovers that courage and faith can access a source of help and support far beyond what she had dared to believe possible.

Her story culminates in an imaginative paraphrase of the seventeenth century spiritual diary, The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz and seven contemplations. This book is for all those who embrace their vulnerability to find the inner courage to meet life’s challenges.

BOOK

WHO 2 September 2023 | Meeting report:

'The first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit “Towards health and well-being for all” was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India, on 17-18 August 2023, to look anew at the application of rigorous scientific methods to unlock the vast potential of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) amidst important challenges and opportunities to realize universal health coverage and promote health and well-being for people and the planet.

The participants in the Summit, coming from all WHO regions, included a range of stakeholders: from health and TCIM practitioners, civil society representatives and Indigenous Peoples to health policy and decision-makers and government officials from the G20 and other countries.

Based on the research and evidence-informed discussions and initiatives presented in the Summit’s five plenaries and six parallel sessions, the participants endorsed the outcomes of the Summit in a meeting report: the Gujarat Declaration.

The meeting report sets out an action agenda towards the implementation of evidence-based TCIM interventions and approaches in support of the goal of universal health coverage and health-related Sustainable Development Goals, among others, and the application of science, technology, innovation and knowledge exchange to validate and unlock, as appropriate, the contribution of TCIM and Indigenous knowledge to advance planetary health and people’s health and well-being across the life course.'

INFO

REPORT

We are delighted to share with you the recent Press Release from the International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations (IVAA)!

In 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined the integration of traditional and complementary medicine into health systems as an important strategic goal (WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy: 2014-2023).

To date, the WHO has published comparable training standards for various established traditional, complementary and integrative practices, such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine."

The benchmarks for training in Anthroposophic Medicine by the WHO are available at https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/366645

In 2023, WHO has published benchmarks for training in Anthroposophic Medicine. Setting WHO qualification standards for Anthroposophic Medicine practitioners reflects its relevance as a global medical practice and provides patients with a predictable level of care >>.

Representatives of Anthroposophical Medical Trainings from many countries met to agree appropriate international standards of training for doctors wishing to practice Anthroposophic Medicine (AM). These were incorporated into the WHO Benchmarks. The English Training in Anthroposophic Medicine, based in the UK, is open to doctors world-wide, as amongst 10 trainings throughout the world meeting these benchmarks. This means that doctors graduating from this training have their qualifications internationally recognised by the Medical Section. All Anthroposophic Doctors are medical doctors in their own right and with this further training in anthroposophic understanding of human beings, nature and of health and disease have the competence to apply the AM discipline in concepts and practice. In the UK they meet the requirements of revalidation with General Medical Council when practising. Of course, professionalism, collaboration, patient rights and research methods are also part of the AM training.

To find Anthroposophic Doctors near you, please visit our Directory.

Published in August 2022, Soul-Size: The Eternal Psychosomatic Dilemma: An Exploration of Anthroposophic Physiology and Psychology is a book by Dr. James Dyson, co-founder of the Park Attwood Clinic, England where he worked from 1979 to 2003. 

The psychotherapeutic approach is one which takes account of the whole person, considering the mind, body and spirit together. This leads to a deeper understanding of the person which helps practitioners take a holistic approach to the care of their patients.

Building on his expertise as a physician, James Dyson went on to study psychosynthesis psychology, nonviolent communication and organisational development. Here, he offers his analysis from these studies which, combined with his engagement with the work of Rudolf Steiner for over 50 years and with the therapeutic practice of eurythmy, provides readers with practical tools that they can apply in their work.

The selected lectures, essays and interviews cover topics including Moral Intuition and the Value of Education, The Challenges of Adolescence in Challenging Times and Parsifal Seen Psychologically. This book also includes an appendix featuring an introduction to eurythmy and exercises.

An insightful and empowering guide for anyone engaged in healing, health care, counselling, and psychotherapy who wants to take a more holistic approach to their caregiving.

A worldwide project calling for full access to traditional, complementary and integrative healthcare should be part of the right to health.

'The People’s Declaration calls for the respectful collaboration between traditional, complementary and biomedical practices with the aim of achieving a person-centred and holistic approach to health. The healthcare we want focuses on the whole person, is participative, respects individual choices as well as cultural diversity and integrates clinical experience and patient values with the best available research information. Full access to traditional, complementary and integrative healthcare should be part of the right to health.'

To read more on desirable healthcare, benefits & limitations, inspirations & concerns and call to action, please visit TCIH website.

Join the call to action, sign, support and follow the Declaration milestones at https://www.tcih.org!

27th OCT Q&A Webinar: United for Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Healthcare

Click here to access  multiple languages PDF of TCIH's declarations.