Living individuality in the health care system: Thomas Lambert Schöberl makes a passionate plea for the profession of alternative medicine practitioner

In his book “ Green Souls ” and the audio book of the same name, naturopathy expert Thomas Lambert Schöberl describes his very personal path to his calling. At the same time, he intervenes in the current debate about the future of the alternative medicine profession and explains why it is so important.

Profession in danger

About a year and a half ago, on October 30, 2019, the Federal Ministry of Health announced a legal opinion on the law governing alternative medicine practitioners, which is intended to assess possible changes in the profession of alternative medicine practitioners. The aim is to clarify what scope the legislature would have in the event of a reform of the law governing alternative medicine practitioners to strengthen patient safety. Specifically, it concerns the regulation of training and professional practice - even the abolition of the profession of alternative medicine practitioner is still an option.

In view of the recent public attacks and critical discussions about the effectiveness of individual forms of therapy, there is great concern among the approximately 47,000 alternative practitioners, but also among hundreds of thousands of patients who fear for their trusted point of contact, especially in the case of chronic illnesses.

In his book " Green Souls ", the alternative practitioner and educator Thomas Lambert Schöberl not only describes his personal life as a therapist, but also takes the opportunity to make a passionate plea that emphasizes the necessity of the profession for our health system. Because alternative practitioners relieve the burden on this system and are therefore "system-relevant" especially today: "In times of a commercialized health system dominated by elites, a monopolized food industry and the exploitation of entire social classes, the alternative practitioner profession represents a wondrous forest clearing that, once discovered, reveals a treasure trove of innovative, long-forgotten visions of a sustainable and healthy future."

Healers, witches, heroes – the story of a calling

The history of healers and alternative medicine practitioners goes back to the early days of humanity and is marked by persecution, defamation, abuse of power and patriarchy. Nevertheless, the profession of alternative medicine practitioner has held its own over the centuries and established itself in society. Regardless of all trends and zeitgeists, alternative medicine practitioners have remained a bridge builder between medicine, natural history, spirituality and pastoral care.

Numerous other professions and movements have emerged from it. There are close connections between the emergence of health food stores, organic farming, the reform educational movements and the establishment of today's naturopathy centers. The alternative medicine profession therefore represents an important opposition to the mass operation of conventional health, nutrition, environmental and educational policies.

It was mainly alternative practitioners who imported the art of acupuncture, meditation and yoga to the West in the 1980s. Initially ridiculed, these procedures are now therapy methods that are even prescribed by doctors and recognized by health insurance companies. Alternative practitioners were often way ahead of their time. In contrast to academic medicine, their healing knowledge is based on the purely practical experience of many generations. Alternative practitioners are the heirs of the pagan seers, shamans and priests, descendants of the persecuted herbalists and midwives of the Middle Ages. What distinguished all of these practical laypeople was their deep roots in the people and their holistic worldview.

Diversity and networking – the task and claim of the alternative practitioner

It is undisputed that medical progress is a great blessing and scientific standards in the treatment of acute illnesses and medical emergencies are a great advantage, but human life also has an unmeasurable, unobjectifiable side. According to Schöberl, this is exactly where the fascinating world of alternative practitioners begins. The independence and versatility, the freedom of therapy, ensure that their practices are some of the few places in the health care system that still embody truly lived individuality. This makes it possible for every individual alternative practitioner to develop their own very special offer based on their own life experience and philosophy.

Abolishing the profession of alternative medicine practitioner would mean that the holistic world view would lose its representatives and champions. Acupuncture, homeopathy and herbal medicine would continue to be used in private medical practices, but definitely not in their original quality. This diversity is needed to provide good care for sick people in order to find holistic medical answers to the challenges of the future. Medicine does not take place in isolation from the ecological, economic and demographic developments of the world, stresses Schöberl. "In an over-academic world and an ever-increasing specialization in individual areas, we also need therapists whose expertise lies in networking and communicating individual disciplines - this is the work we alternative medicine practitioners do."

Book tip:
Thomas Lambert Schöberl: Green Souls. About the wisdom of nature: From the (life) practice of a naturopath. Mankau Verlag, 1st edition February 2021, paperback, 13.5 x 21.5 cm, 318 pp., 18.95 euros (D) / 19.50 euros (A), ISBN 978-3-86374-598-1.

Audiobook tip:
Thomas Lambert Schöberl: Green Souls (audio book). About the wisdom of nature: From the (life) practice of a naturopath. Mankau Verlag, 1st edition February 2021, 1 MP3 CD in a jewel case, running time approx. 632 min., 15.00 euros RRP (D/A), ISBN 978-3-86374-601-8

Link recommendations:
More information about the book “Green Souls”
To the reading sample in PDF format
More information about the audio book “Green Souls”
More about author Thomas Lambert Schöberl
Our social networks − for questions, criticism, suggestions