What is scientifically proven in Kneipp therapy? The internal medicine perspective
Authors: Dr. Lutz Ehnert and Caroline Geiser
Published on November 9, 2022 in the journal Die Innere Medizin | Issue 12/2022, pp. 1229-1236 (Springer Medizin)

Abstract
Kneipp therapy encompasses the five naturopathic elements of water, exercise, nutrition, medicinal herbs, and lifestyle. As a traditional method, it has proven effective in self-treatment at home. However, as a holistic therapeutic concept, it is also widely used in everyday medical and internal medicine practice for both prevention and treatment of functional disorders, as well as in the treatment of organic diseases and ailments. While naturopathic and complementary medicine methods enjoy high acceptance among the general public and the medical profession, and exercise and nutritional therapy in particular are already largely integrated into conventional medicine, the implementation of evidence-based medicine (EBM) in internal medicine practice presents a significant challenge for Kneipp therapy. This is especially true for Kneipp hydrotherapy. Unlike in the 1980s and 1990s, when Kneipp therapy was considered scientifically sound due to numerous preclinical, human physiological, and some clinical studies, the shift in medical perspective towards evidence-based medicine (EBM) has resulted in a research deficit in the area of ​​clinical trials. The demand for scientific evidence of effectiveness is met with a lack of reliable data and an overall heterogeneous body of studies and study quality. However, existing studies indicate positive or significant effects, making further research absolutely essential. Some of these studies are presented in this article.