The research and practice initiative: Complementary and Integrative Healthcare for Baden-Württemberg (KIG BaWü) (spokespersons: Prof. Dr. Yvonne Samstag, Dr. Marcela Winkler und Dr. Thomas Breitkreuz) was founded in June 2020 and was funded by the State Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration as part of the “Forum Gesundheitsstandort Baden-Württemberg” (Baden-Württemberg Health Location Forum).

The Academic Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine (AZKIM) and the Competence Network for Integrative Medicine (KIM) are joining forces to implement this research and practice initiative.

KIG BaWü aims to contribute to optimally supplementing conventional medicine with naturopathic and other complementary medical treatment concepts, thereby providing patients with “hand-in-hand” care in the future.

The supportive treatment of cancer, the stabilization of patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, and the treatment of respiratory and urinary tract infections are important areas of application and research for the establishment of integrative medicine. Many people are affected by these conditions. Complementary medicine concepts can, for example, help to improve quality of life, alleviate the side effects of oncological therapies, and encourage those affected to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

The aim of KIG BaWü is to compile empirical knowledge and conduct interdisciplinary research into promising approaches in order to ultimately provide physicians and patients with concrete concepts for integrative healthcare. This has long been a key demand of patients and self-help groups. However, such services have been largely lacking to date.

With the help of new scientific methods and testing procedures, the functional effects and mechanisms of action of herbal preparations, dietary supplements, vegan nutrition, acupuncture, and relaxation techniques will also be researched. At the same time, the practical application of individual procedures will be evaluated in the context of healthcare research studies. The findings will be incorporated into medical and interprofessional training and continuing education formats both within and outside university hospitals. 

The project uniquely combines basic research with clinical research and health services research, thereby strengthening Baden-Württemberg as a center of research.

AZKIM (spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Yvonne Samstag) is a supraregional association of physicians and scientists at the four university hospitals in Heidelberg (Prof. Dr. Yvonne Samstag, Immunology), Tübingen (Prof. Dr. Stefanie Joos, Prof. Dr. Holger Cramer, PD Dr. Jan Valentini, General Medicine and Interprofessional Care), Freiburg (Prof. Dr. Roman Huber, Internal Medicine and Naturopathy), and Ulm (Em. Prof. Dr. Thomas Simmet and Prof. Dr. Tatjana Syrovets, Clinical Pharmacology and Naturopathy).

KIM (spokespersons: Dr. Marcela Winkler and Dr. Thomas Breitkreuz) brings together renowned clinics and outpatient networks in Baden-Württemberg with experience in integrative medicine.

For further information, please contact

Dr. Verena Beier (Coordination)
E-mail : info@azkim.de
Phone: +49 (0)6221 56-310998

Prof. Dr. Yvonne Samstag (spokesperson for AZKIM and KIG BaWü)
E-mail : yvonne.samstag@urz.uni-heidelberg.de
Phone: +49 (0)6221 56-4039

Dr. Thomas Breitkreuz (spokesperson for KIM)
E-mail : tb@paracelsus-krankenhaus.de
Phone: +49 (0)7052 925-1160

KIG BaWü at Heidelberg University Hospital