Therapeutic applications such as wraps, poultices and compresses were once a natural and valued part of care, both in professional practice and in the home. Today, they are far less widely known and are often seen as a supportive extra rather than as a meaningful therapeutic approach in their own right. Yet these simple, practical applications can be highly effective, offering both immediate symptom relief and the potential to support longer-term healing and transformation.

This short course at Emerson College introduces external applications as an effective, practical and cost-effective therapeutic approach within anthroposophical medicine. Through the careful use of poultices, wraps and compresses, it is possible to support the healing process in a direct and tangible way. As Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman suggest in "Fundamentals of Therapy", the skin can become an important pathway through which healing activity is stimulated from the outside inward.

During this course weekend, the focus will be on external applications for anxiety and depression. Participants will be introduced to a range of therapeutic approaches and will also have the opportunity to experience these treatments for themselves. Alongside the practical teaching, the course will explore the qualities of the substances used and how to choose suitable applications in relation to the individual and the condition being treated.

This workshop forms part of an ongoing series of short courses at Emerson College exploring the therapeutic use of external applications. Future workshops continuing in early 2027 will look at other areas, including upper respiratory conditions, urinary tract infections, skin conditions and fever, among others.

This course is designed for physicians, doctors in training, nurses in training, medical students, therapists, and therapists in training.

Applications from those who have completed a healthcare course, or who have experience in the health or care sector and a strong interest in this work, may also be considered on an individual basis.

During the course, you will:

• Learn a range of external applications for anxiety and depression
• Gain insight into the substances used in poultices, wraps and compresses
• Explore how to apply external therapies appropriately for different conditions and individuals
• Experience the treatments directly through practical sessions
• Develop knowledge that can be applied in clinical settings, therapeutic practice, or supportive home care contexts

Dates: 26 June 2026 – 28 June 2026

Times:
Start: 09.00am on Friday 26 June
End: 16.00pm on Sunday 28 June

Each day will run from 09.00am to 20.30pm, with breaks

Please see the course timetable below.

Friday 26 June

• 09:00 am - Welcome
• 09:30 am - Lemon footbath
• 10:30 am - Morning break
• 11:00 am - Introduction Cosmological Anthropology
• 12:45 pm - Lunch break
• 14:00 pm - Yarrow Liver Wrap I
• 15:00 pm - Yarrow Liver wrap II
• 16:00 pm - Break
• 16:30 pm - Discussion
• 17:00 pm - Pentagram rubbing I & Pentagram rubbing II
• 17:30 pm - Exchange
• 18:15 pm - Evening break
• 19:00 pm - Introduction to the kidney
• 20:00 pm - Questions & Group song

Saturday 27 June

• 08.30 am - Kidney wrap I (coffee)
• 09.30 am - Break
• 10:00 am - Kidney wrap II (coffee)
• 11:00 am - Discussion
• 11:30 am – Introduction to the heart
• 12:45 pm - Lunch break
• 14:00 pm - Heart wrap I
• 15:00 pm - Heart wrap II
• 16:00 pm - Break
• 16:30 pm - Discussion
• 17:00 pm – Introduction to the lung
• 18:15 pm - Evening break
• 19:00 pm - Lavender calf wrap
• 20:00 pm - Plenum 

Sunday 28 June

• 08:30 am - Arnica wrap
• 09:30 am - Break
• 10:00 am - Formica wrap
• 11:00 am - Oxalis wrap
• 12:00 am - Discussion
• 12:45 pm - Lunch break
• 14:00 pm - Salt foot bath
• 15:00 pm - Discussion
• 16:00 pm - End

Dr Astrid Sterner

Dr Astrid Sterner has worked as a general practitioner in Berlin for more than 22 years and is a board member of the Anthroposophical Medical Society in Germany.

She has spent many years developing and researching the healing indications given by Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman, with a particular focus on externally applied medicines and treatments, including poultices and wraps, for use both in clinical settings and at home.

Dr Sterner is deeply committed to the therapeutic value of external treatments and has taught a wide range of these approaches over many years. Her work is rooted in the understanding that warmth is fundamental to healing, and that these therapies can help awaken self-efficacy by enabling people to take an active role in their own wellbeing.

£340

This short course is part of Emerson College’s continuing work in anthroposophical medicine and holistic adult education, offering practical, experience-based learning in a supportive environment.

If you wish to stay on-site at Emerson College please book HERE