Our organization acts on a honorable basis to preserve and to develop naturopathy, natural medicine and pedagogical health promotion operating throughout Europe. In Europe these areas are summarized under the term “Complementary and Alternative Medicine” replacing the former term “Non-Conventional Medicine”. Worldwide the WHO defined the name “natural medicine” as “Traditional Medicine/Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TM/CAM).
Since 2001 we are active as a non-governmental and non-profit organization. We have constructed an European network with the highest number of members, supporting special institutions for therapy and their medical sundries. This success encourages and confirms our efforts.
In the following years we want to argue for naturopathy and health promotion with your assistance, seeking the direct dialogue with national and European institutions. In the first place we are concentrating on a legal practice of CAM, access to CAM for every patient and revision of the guideline for regulation of phytotherapy.
We will be supported by committed individuals of naturopathy orientated organizations, biological pharmaceutical manufacturers , independent professional institutions and therapists all over Europe; together we will form the future of health science and natural medical science in Europe.
Since 2003 ANME is a member of “European Public Health Alliance”(EPHA) in Brussels.
ANME Position Paper on Health and Politics:
Our values
- Who we are: A Voice for Civil Society
The Association for Natural Medicine in Europe e.V. (ANME) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) representing civil society. ANME unites organizations, experts, and citizens from across Europe who are dedicated to promoting a pluralistic, natural, humane, and animal-friendly health policy. Our activities reflect a holistic understanding of health, valuing both evidence-based and traditional, experience-based healing methods.
- Our allegiances: European, Non-Partisan and Holistic
ANME considers itself a pan-European organization that operates in a strictly non-partisan manner. Our goal is to promote a holistic and sustainable health policy for the benefit of all European citizens. To achieve this, we collaborate with political decision-makers and strategic partners. We view public health issues as integral to the political process and actively contribute our expertise to political discussions while maintaining our independence from party politics.
- Our Values: Commitment to Europe
Our position is grounded in the fundamental values outlined in the European Charter of Human Rights:
- Human Dignity & Human Rights: All forms of healthcare should prioritize the well-being of the individual.
- Democracy & Pluralism: Open debate and participation are essential for achieving fair healthcare.
- Rationality & Academic Approach: Traditional healing methods and natural medicine are integral to Europe’s cultural heritage. Whenever possible, they should align with a rational and science-based understanding of health. It is crucial to apply an appropriate scientific study design in evaluating traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM), ensuring that both the humanities and natural sciences are considered equally.
- Non-Discrimination: ANME advocates for open access to health promotion, prevention, and integrated healthcare, free from racism, sexism, and classism.
- Our communication: Dialog and Cooperation
We are eager to engage in dialogue with all groups and individuals across Europe, including those in the European Union, the countries of the European Council, and individual nation-states that share our values. Cooperation and alliances are vital for effectively incorporating our goals into political processes and actively shaping the future of healthcare.
- Political connectivity: Building Bridges Instead of Divides
ANME aligns with various political traditions because healthcare policy affects everyone:
- Conservative: Advocating for the preservation and further development of traditional healing systems, including approaches such as Traditional European Medicine (TEM), Homeopathy, Anthroposophic Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Ayurveda.
- Social Democratic: Viewing health as a fundamental element of social welfare and a human right, especially in the primary healthcare market.
- Liberal: Supporting the free practice of therapy and promoting patient self-determination in complementary healthcare markets.
- Ecological: Emphasizing sustainability and environmental awareness as crucial factors for the health of humans, animals, and plants.
- Our mission:
Sustainable and nature-friendly health policies are essential, impacting everyone. As a critical, solution-oriented, and value-driven organization, ANME is dedicated to promoting healthcare that emphasizes diversity, sustainability, and human dignity.
