Activities of the Society 1. Implementation of research plans and scientific meetings and events   In the foreground of all activities is the endeavour to enable the society and individual sections and working groups as well as individual members of the society to develop scientific studies. Apart from a qualified basic research, the indications demanded by the classical method of naturopathy must be evaluated and documented according to modern clinical and bio-mathematical methods. Considering that up till now, hardly any public or state-supported institutions have been available for scientific work, and that relevant branches of industry are not interested in heavy spending for promoting research, the Society will to a high degree be obliged to find institutional and new financial resources for its scientific work.

At the same time the Society is to be a forum for interchange, discussion and reciprocal stimulus on a scientific level. For this purpose scientific congresses and meetings of individual working groups are to be organised and held. Scientific contact is to be sought and maintained to other societies whose work shows an affinity to ours, from fields of recognized scientific medicine (e.g. dietetics and sport medicine, phytotherapy, physical medicine and health resort medicine) and to close and befriended societies from fields of medicine which have up till now concentrated on the more unconventional forms of medicine. In cooperation with these societies certain points of view and methods of classical natural medicine can be worked on.

2. Promotion of students’ training

An important part of the tasks will be to develop and promote academic teachings for students. The Society will therefore endeavour to make clinical and scientific contact to universities in the respective countries. Both personal and scientific prejudice will have to be dismantled and significant elements of classical natural medicine should be integrated – or reintegrated – into the so-called study of medicine at university level.

The European Society will develop curricula including both theoretical and practical themes which should be accepted by universities. Ideological differences and disagreements should be avoided or overcome. Tuition programmes are to be evaluated according to educational
guidelines, this form of work will give way to themes for the academic examination.

The forming of independent scientific working groups is of vital significance. These should be on a par with independent professorships, allowing the entire field of study to participate in scientific work at university level with the possibility of also working independently, having critical discussions and training up-and-coming academics.

3. Postgraduated training

Amongst doctors there is great interest in further vocational training in the field of classical natural medicine and also in several medical directions with similar leanings. In several countries curricula and other possibilities for offering doctors an additional qualification have been developed.

The European Society endeavours to seek harmonisation at least in the sector of the European Union. The formulation of questions is an important aspect also affecting the wording of individual lecturing, the examination system and the possibility of qualification. Here both theoretical tuition and the possibility of a practical training are to be considered. In order to realise these purposes non-profit making academies with no courses of their own should be founded – if possible in coordination with the universities.

4. Representing classical natural medicine in public
and in the public health service

The general public should be regularly informed of the message, the fundamental ideas and the potential of classical natural medicine. Particularly in public and private medical care (hospitals and clinics, places of rehabilitation and health resorts, institutions and initiatives for general health prevention) and also in health insurance and other institutions which care for the public health there is considerable uncertainty as to the potential and the conditions of classical natural medicine. The European Society shall be at the public’s disposal as far as competent information and consultation are concerned.

Here too, only non-profit making goals shall be pursued. Financial advantages shall at no time be striven for.