All the Therapies in One Beautiful Place

by John Beck with RSHC staff

The anthroposophical approach to medicine inspired and developed by Rudolf Steiner considers the entire human being, adding spiritual insight to diagnosis and healing. It takes into account that human beings, nature and the cosmos are interrelated. It is a complementary approach meaning that conventionally trained medical doctors combine orthodox medical treatment with many therapeutic disciplines including homeopathic and herbal remedies, homecare, nursing, artistic therapy, music therapy, hydrotherapy, curative eurythmy (movement), and massage. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, two anthroposophically trained doctors led the creation of a health center to bring all these treatments together in one place, along with a patient organization, health retreats, and youth internships.

I appreciated how movement, art, and music integrated harmony; massage therapy was very relaxing; compresses and rest. The food and menus were excellent as were the evening educational programs. Color therapy was awesome. All (staff) were friendly, caring, and informative consistently... Timing was perfect because of finishing the last week of radiation and the first week recovering from 35 treatments and burn and fatigue side effects. Spiritual aspect encompassed healing for body, mind, spirit, and soul. —J.D., cancer patient, 2011

The Physicians and a Therapist

Molly McMullen-Laird, MD

Molly McMullen-Laird, MD, specializes in Internal Medicine with particular interests including weight loss, nutrition, and women’s issues. Quentin McMullen, MD, also specializes in Internal Medicine and with special concerns including Lyme disease, chronic fatigue, and toxin exposure. Both physicians received their medical degrees from Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans. They both have a long connection with anthroposophy. As Margaret Runyon recalled in our spring 2012 issue, they were hosting an anthroposophical study group there in 1983 with environmental scientist Mary Lee Plumb-Mentjes when Inge Elsas, a nurse trained by Dr. Ita Wegman, Rudolf Steiner's collaborator in the medical work, found their group. The two doctors completed internship and residency at Reading Hospital in Pennsylvania, and served in U.S. Air Force in Bitburg, Germany. Molly then spent a year working at the Ita Wegman Klinik in Arlesheim, Switzerland, while Quentin trained at Filderklinik in Germany and the Lukas Klinik in Switzerland.

Quentin McMullen, MD

Sara McMullen-Laird, art therapist, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Michigan and has further training in anthroposophical art therapy. She has been art therapist since 2003 and was general manager of the Center 2009-2013. Sara also has a passion for music. She is a past member of the UMS Choral Union and leads the morning singing during many retreat sessions.

Sara McMullen-Laird

Initiatives in Ann Arbor

Rudolf Steiner Health Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Our doctors were inspired to create an inpatient program for chronically ill patients and those with cancer using the modalities they had learned and seen to be so helpful. The practice of anthroposophical medicine is well complemented by the external applications, hydrotherapy, artistic therapies and nutritional support applied through Steiner’s indications. To prepare for that possibility, they organized a two-week session at a retreat center in Michigan and gathered many doctors, nurses, therapists, volunteers, and kitchen helpers to implement the Summer Therapeutic Retreat. This annual session provided the groundwork for a year round program once a facility was obtained in Ann Arbor for that purpose.

In 1998 the two doctors worked with patients to form a Community Supported Anthroposophic Medicine – Patient Organization (CSAM-PO), on lines similar to the widespread Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups. This non-profit anthroposophical medical practice is designed to accommodate both patients with private insurance paying per visit, and members of a patient organization making monthly payments entitling them to all forms of treatment available from the practice. The goals included a fuller involvement by patients and a freeing of the medical staff from the burdens of a for-profit business.

The Center

Several attempts were made to buy, build and obtain a building. Eventually, the prior Anna Botsford Bach Home, an elder residence for women, became available and with help from many, many donors and volunteers it was transformed into the Rudolf Steiner Health Center, a non-profit care facility geared toward helping chronically ill patients with the full palette of anthroposophical therapies and providing a teaching/training facility.

The Center is environmentally friendly:

We are happy that the building has no sources of modern building materials, which tend to give off gases. We use only biodegradable and perfume free laundry and cleaning agents. The food we purchase is organic or biodynamic and includes as much local produce as we can organize. We have relationships with many of the local farmers and use food that is in season and as fresh as we can find.

We work very hard to maintain high environmental standards and sustainable practices. Here are some actions we take to do so: rain water collecting, composting, keeping bees, growing our own herbs and some vegetables, making 95% of our meal components from scratch (including yogurt, kvass, hummus and many other items in our kitchen, which saves packaging and transport), making our own cleaning agents, hanging laundry to dry...

To experience the Health Center is like stepping into another world of light and caring... —B.B., retreat participant 2002

The Internship Program

At the Rudolf Steiner Health Center students and young professionals ages 18-30 participate annually in a unique and educational internship program and gain hands-on experience in anthroposophic medical and therapeutic work. The program begins with a three-day introductory conference, introducing participants to the foundations of anthroposophy, anthroposophic and sustainable medicine, nursing care, therapies, nutrition, lifestyle, biodynamic agriculture, and community building.

After this initial training, the internship program then moves into a hands-on portion, where students assist staff members in giving anthroposophic care to patients during the week long Support Retreat where qualifying low-income patients can experience anthroposophic treatment at subsidized rates. Internship participants apply what they have learned according to their interests and abilities, living at the Center and working closely with staff, patients, and fellow interns as they engage the anthroposophic care concepts. They may enter a career in one of the therapeutic disciplines they experienced or simply carry the wisdom of such an approach with them in their chosen field of work.

Health Retreats

The two-week intensive Life Force retreats offered by the center give participants the opportunity to focus on their physical, spiritual, and emotional health with the help and expertise of anthroposophic doctors, therapists, and nurses. Participants come from all over the country to experience a wonderful healing environment. Along with individualized medical treatment plans, retreats focus on the rhythm of the day, the importance of diet, adequate rest, a supportive community, and how patients may adapt their lifestyle at home towards healing and restoration of inner vitality. The effects of the retreats continue after patients leave, equipped with knowledge and motivation to lead a healthier life, despite the challenges of chronic illness.

This retreat gave me time to rest and concentrate on getting well. —K.B, cancer patient and retreat participant in 2010

The next retreat is scheduled for April 25-May 7, 2016. The two-week intensive therapeutic session is designed for ambulatory individuals with a variety of ailments, chronic illnesses, or anyone seeking a restorative regimen. Past patients have suffered chronic fatigue, recovery from chemotherapy, arthritis, stroke, MS, digestive issues, and many other problems. Many receive Viscum Album, an anthroposophical cancer treatment, as well as diverse anthroposophical therapies. Both physicians are happy also to work with patients’ current physician and treatments. People have come from all over North America, and even as far as Japan and Israel to attend retreats.

Thank you for providing one of the best experiences of my life. It was everything one would only dream an ideal retreat might be—restful, renewing, healing, peaceful, intellectually exciting, fun—and all in a beautiful location. —retreat participant 2008

Therapies

Just as anthroposophic medicine looks at all dimensions of the human being, so the supporting treatments are wide-ranging. Some therapies in use at the Center include the following:

• Anthroposophic nursing treatments: compresses, footbaths, applications of oils, and therapeutic baths including oil dispersion and over-warming baths.

• Rhythmical massage: a specific form of massage, individually prescribed and performed by specially trained massage therapists.

• Therapeutic eurythmy or Spacial Dynamics: movement therapy used to harmonize and strengthen body and soul.

• Artistic therapy: promotes healing through use of drawing, watercolor painting, and clay modeling.

• Intravenous therapies: depending on the diagnosis, a number of IV therapies may be given during your stay, including high dose Vitamin C, glutathione, Myer’s Cocktail and others.

• Color light therapy: a special color exposure and response therapy developed in Europe.

• Music therapy: harmonizes the activities of inner organs through concentrated listening, singing, and playing of instruments.

The movement therapists’ joy and humor and good perception were appreciated. The compresses were so soothing, the color sessions enlivening, the painting was joyous, the massage strengthening. —G.H. retreat participant 2011

It has been a total joy to be able to be here for two weeks. Everyone is so kind, pleasant, and nonjudgmental. You make us feel totally accepted no matter what we do or say. I have felt like I was in a cocoon of love. I came here very despondent about all my health issues and I am leaving with hope and a new lease on life. —B.W., 2010

Nursing Care

Anthroposophical nursing goes beyond traditional nursing by addressing the need of patients to be listened to and cared for in their surroundings. The quality of the air, light, heat, textures of bedclothes, fresh water and flowers, appropriate for the illness of the patient, are attended to. Footbaths, bodywork with oil rubbings, and encouragement in all the rhythms of the day are found in the relationship between nurse and patient.

The staff is extremely caring and there is a lot of individual attention. This is true across the doctors, nurses, chefs, and aides. —S.S., 2011

Meals, Activities

Three meals per day are served in a beautiful community dining room. All food is organic or biodynamic, with preference given to local produce. Delicious vegetarian meals are based on the therapeutic diet plan of the Lukas Klinik in Arlesheim, Switzerland.

Group activities are an important aspect of the experience. Group singing starts the day (after breakfast), and evening cultural programs are spread throughout the session. There are also weekend outing opportunities, as well as nearby parks available for walking, hiking and plant observation. Ambulatory patients are encouraged to participate in the varied aspects of maintaining gardens, and to walk in the open air. Evening and weekend social events such as musical performances further enhance the sense of community.

I appreciate and honor that you have created a profound, holistic approach to healing and health in this country in one facility... I liked being with interesting, more like-minded people who, despite having serious health challenges, had a vibrancy and enthusiasm about their health care and their life... I really like singing. Sara is a lovely leader/teacher and I felt free to open my voice and find joy in singing. It felt uplifting to start the day with rhythms and sound. ... This is an impressive program... —SBL, Cancer patient, 2011

For more information visit steinerhealth.org or email the staff at info@steinerhealth.org