Task Force - «Naturheilkunde und Komplementärmedizin in medizinischen Leitlinien»

Abstract

In the context of current scientific culture, the implementation of evidence-based complementary and integrative medicine in the medical guidelines represents a special challenge. In Germany, medical guidelines are developed by scientific medical societies and their coordinating organization, the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften e.V. (AWMF). So far, the great clinical potential of complementary and integrative medicine is not sufficiently considered in many guidelines. With the acceptance of the Society of Phytotherapy (GPT) as full member in the AWMF in 2013, a new chapter in the guidelines work funded by the Rut- and Klaus-Bahlsen-Foundation was opened. The aim to implement complementary and integrative treatment approaches in the conventional medical care in Germany, thus further gets a boost. Promoted by the Rut- and Klaus- Bahlsen-Foundation, the work group has participated or assisted in more than 20 national and international medical guidelines and has created 8 Cochrane reviews, 4 of these in leading responsibility, as well as 40 systematic reviews and meta-analyzes in international peer-reviewed journals. The aim for the future is to further strengthen the recognition and acceptance of naturopathy and complementary medicine in the medical guidelines and the health system.