The Department of Integrative Health and Prevention at the Institute of Environmental Medicine conducts research at the intersection of Integrative Medicine, Environmental Health, and sustainable clinical innovation. Its work focuses on advancing evidence‑based Integrative Medicine by systematically combining conventional medical practice with scientifically validated TCIM-methods. Central to this is the rigorous evaluation of therapeutic efficacy, mechanisms of action, safety, and the ecological and health‑economic implications of integrative medicine approaches. Through such research, the department aims to shape a sustainable, future‑oriented model of integrative health care that meets both individual patient needs and broader societal challenges and needs.

The department’s research portfolio encompasses several core areas, including the scientific evaluation and implementation of forest therapy, the analysis of traditional medical systems, particularly in the context of sustainability and whole‑systems research and the development and investigation of integrative care models with special attention to implementation challenges and the translation of research into clinical practice. Mind‑body Medicine represents another major research pillar, with particular emphasis on identifying specific and non‑specific therapeutic factors using biomarkers, digital health technologies, as well as systems‑medicine methodologies and mixed-methods approaches.

Research activities are closely interlinked with clinical care and teaching and are guided by global challenges such as climate change and health, resilience promotion barriers, and sustainability in medicine and healthcare. Through interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration, as well as integration into primary care research networks, the working group strives to translate scientific findings into real‑world clinical settings. Its overarching goal is to help to establish robustly evidence‑based integrative therapies and to develop innovative care models that contribute to high‑quality, patient‑centered, and sustainable health care within the cutting-edge Augsburg University Medicine environment.

A central pillar of the department's current research activities is the systematic development of shared foundations for the clinical field of TCIM. Two ongoing Delphi studies—funded by the Karl and Veronica Carstens Foundation—are currently establishing the scientific basis for this work. Several additional projects are in preparation and will be presented here once funding has been approved.

Delphi Consensus Process on TCIM-Terminology 

What exactly constitutes TCIM? Where does Integrative Medicine begin, and where does it end? Although these questions may appear straightforward, they remain unresolved in scientific practice with tangible consequences for research, teaching, patient care, and scientific communication. This Delphi project on TCIM core terminology in Germany directly addresses this gap.

Using a structured consensus method, the Delphi technique, experts from medicine, academia, and clinical practice collaboratively develop binding definitions and terminology for the German TCIM field. The goal is to produce a consensus‑based glossary that can serve as a reference for future guidelines, study protocols, and textbooks. The project runs from January 2026 to December 2027 and is funded by the Karl and Veronica Carstens Foundation.

International Delphi Consensus Process on Terminology in Forest Therapy

Forest therapy is gaining increasing scientific attention as a therapeutic field; however, unified standards, definitions, and quality criteria remain largely absent. An international Delphi project addresses this need. Through a multi‑stage international consensus process, international experts work together to establish shared terminological foundations for forest therapy as a health intervention.

The project includes both an international expert panel (50 participants, four rounds) and a German‑specific panel (25 participants, three rounds) and is methodologically aligned with current approaches in health services research and social prescribing. The results are intended to inform quality standards, future clinical studies, and the implementation of “green prescription” concepts and beyond.

Further Projects

Additional research projects are currently under review and will be added here on an ongoing basis.