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Anthroposophic Nursing
Anthroposophic nursing is a holistic practice that uses external applications like teas, footbaths, compresses, embrocations, and hydrotherapy to restore health and vitality. This practice views humans as free, evolving beings connected to self, nature, culture, and the cosmos on the various levels of body, soul, and spirit. Nursing aims to maintain these dimensions, emphasizing warmth, rhythm, and conscious awareness to support the patient’s natural healing forces.
Key features, as outlined by the International Forum for Anthroposophic Nursing (IFAN), include:
- A holistic view of the human, integrating biological, soul, and spiritual rhythms.
- Supporting recovery and healing with focus on individual developmental needs.
- Using wraps, compresses, baths, and Rhythmical Einreibungen to enhance self-healing.
Primary Nursing Skills
Rhythmical Einreibungen (RE)
Rhythmical Eireibung or Rhythmical Embrocation (RE for short), developed by Dr. Ita Wegman in the early 20th century based on Anthroposophic Medicine principles and later refined by Dr. Margarethe Hauschka, is a therapeutic technique that supports healing across body, soul, and spirit.
Enhanced by nurses since the 1980s, it involves gentle, rhythmical, rounded stroking movements with natural oils or metal ointments, applied with a light, “unobtrusive” touch that alternates between contact and withdrawal (described as “suction”) to counter gravity and promote fluidity. It can target specific areas (e.g., arms, legs, organs like spleen or liver) or the whole body, with special embrocations for organs like the heart or kidneys.
The therapy fosters relaxation, renewed strength, and a sense of unity by balancing the nervous system within the body. It’s widely used in pediatric care, obstetrics, psychosomatic medicine, psychiatry, neurology, rehabilitation, geriatric care, special needs education, and home care.
- Whole Body Rhythmical Einreibung Single Session
(90 minutes) —- $149 - Partial Rhythmical Einreibung Single Session
(60 minutes) —- $129 - Whole Body RE Package
(4 sessions x 90 min each) —- $537 (10% discount) - Partial RE Package
(4 sessions x 60 min each) —- $465 (10% discount)
Therapeutic Foot Baths
Immerse yourself in the gentle warmth of Therapeutic Foot Baths, a cherished Anthroposophic nursing practice designed to restore balance and vitality. Infused with natural herbs and oils like chamomile or lavender, these soothing baths warm and relax the body, enhancing circulation, easing stress, and supporting your natural rhythms. This therapy nurtures your well-being, offering a grounding and rejuvenating experience. Perfect for stress relief, fatigue, or holistic renewal.
Therapeutic Organ Compresses
Therapeutic organ compresses, in Anthroposophic Nursing, represent a gentle, non-invasive method to support the body’s self-healing processes. These compresses involve applying moist, warm cloths soaked in herbal infusions—such as arnica, calendula, or ginger —directly to the skin over specific organs like the liver, lungs, or abdomen. The treatment typically lasts 20 minutes, during which the compress transfers therapeutic substances through the skin while harnessing elements of warmth, rhythm, and moisture to stimulate circulation, reduce tension, and foster inner balance. This is then followed by a period of rest in order to allow the body to integrate the healing.
- Single Session —- $99
- 4 Sessions —- $356 (10% discount)
Anthroposophic Nurses
Jennifer Bowen, RN, CSN
Jennifer Bowen received her degree in nursing from Santa Rosa Junior College and has a credential in School Nursing from Sacramento State University. She completed the Foundation Course in Anthroposophic Nursing in North America. She has worked in Post Acute settings and is a School Nurse and Anthroposophic Nurse. She is furthering her studies of Anthroposophic healing modalities by studying Hauschka Rhythmical Massage in Kimberton, Pennsylvania.
Jennifer offers Rhythmical Einreibung, a hands-on therapeutic application of oils, which was developed by Dr. Margarethe Hauschka and Dr. Ita Wegmann. Rhythmical Einreibung stimulates and harmonizes the inherent healing life forces of individuals.
She also offers Anthroposophic external applications in the form of compresses for both chronic and acute conditions.
Eira Klich-Heartt, DNP, RN, CNS, ANS
Eira I. Klich-Heartt graduated from Mt. St. Mary’s College with a BSN-nursing in 1974. Her interest in holistic nursing has come as an interest in botanicals and common health practices from childhood. She has studied anthroposophical nursing since the 1990’s in America as well as Switzerland. She obtained a MSN as a Clinical Nurse Specialist from Dominican University with her thesis “External Compresses with Lemon as a Nursing adjunct for Fever Treatment”. She is certified as an Anthroposophic Nurse Specialist and AHN-BC certified nurse. She completed her Doctorate in Nursing Practice, is retired from PACU, Emergency and critical care but remains active as adjunct faculty for the SRJC.