Art speaks where words fall short

At the international congress “The Healing Arts – Forging Alliances of Arts & Medicine”, held in Berlin from 18 to 20 June 2026, researchers from the Havelhöhe Research Institute and Havelhöhe Community Hospital presented current findings on artistic and integrative therapeutic approaches in oncology.

Christian Grah presented current results of the integrative care programme ACCEPT® (A Complementary Anthroposophical Program for the Palliative Treatment of Lung Cancer) for lung cancer patients. The prospective study showed significant improvements in health-related quality of life, psychological burden, sleep quality and cancer-related fatigue, along with significant indications that high programme adherence positively influences overall survival.

Mona Gad presented interim results of her doctoral research: a controlled study on the effect of a structured Argentine tango programme for breast cancer survivors. The study showed marked and lasting improvements in cancer-related fatigue — an eightfold stronger reduction compared with a historical control group — as well as improvements in physical and social functioning and sleep quality.

Charlotte Streffer presented interim results of her doctoral research on metal colour light therapy (MFLT) in breast cancer aftercare. Early results show significant and sustained improvements in cancer-related fatigue and sleep disturbance. Both doctoral projects were developed in cooperation between the FIH (Friedemann Schad) and the breast centre of Havelhöhe Community Hospital (Jessica Groß).

The contributions underline the institute’s long-standing expertise in artistic therapies. The congress made clear that artistic interventions can help people process burdens, develop new perspectives and strengthen resilience — particularly in times of personal and societal crisis.

Art opens up spaces for encounter, self-efficacy and healing, and is therefore an important part of integrative, patient-centred medicine.

The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 explicitly states that traditional, complementary and integrative medicine should be integrated into health systems in an evidence-based, safe and patient-centred way — a strong incentive to continue developing this medicine through sound clinical practice and research.

Article by Anja Thronicke und Friedemann Schad