Dietary aspects to the treatment of autoimmune diseases

By: Roman Huber
Original Title: Diätetische Aspekte in der Behandlung von Autoimmunerkrankungen. Der Merkurstab 2004; 57/5:366-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14271/DMS-18542-DE
English by A. R. Meuss, FCIL, MTA.
This translation is published with the kind permission of the journal Der Merkurstab.

DM English edition 2005

Abstract

Compared to the nutritional medicine of today, the anthroposophical view is that qualitative aspects such as methods of cultivation and the content of etheric forces play a major role in nutrition. Etheric forces can be differentiated as relating to life, sound, light and warmth. As they are also active in the human being and can be stimulated by the etheric forces in the food, the rationale is given for a differentiated approach to dietetics. Patients with autoimmune diseases often have reduced etheric forces. It is thought that extraneous etheric forces can then invade the organism especially if animal products are consumed in large amounts. Different studies have shown that a vegetarian or vegan diet has positive effects with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. A vegan diet should, however, only be recommended for patients with symptoms of'fullness'. Foods containing large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids also seem to have positive effects. From the anthroposophical medical point of view, these foods have stimulant effects on the etheric forces which relate to warmth. The diet of patients with autoimmune diseases should primarily be designed to strengthen them. Dietary recommendations should be adapted to the nutritional state and to constitutional factors.

Citation: Huber, R. (2005). Dietary aspects to the treatment of autoimmune diseases (A. R. Meuss, Trans.). Der Merkurstab, 2005(English issue), 28–30.