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Why Do Patients Turn to Homeopathy?

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Abstract

It’s strange to observe that homeopathy is still very much in demand despite the considerable shortcomings that have been pointed out. In August 2014 Amazon listed 17,107 books on homeopathy.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    https://www.bah-bonn.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/artikel/repraesentative-befragung-immer-mehr-menschen-nehmen-homoeopathika/.

  2. 2.

    In the homeopathic sense, the so-called modalities also belong to the physical level. Modalities are defined as criteria that influence or are related to physical complaints, for example: Which influences cause improvement or worsening? Is there a characteristic (daily) course of symptoms or other anomalies? Modalities are usually somewhat more individualised than the mere facts, sometimes also specific to a certain homeopathic patient and drug image. In scientific medicine, modalities don't play such an important role.

  3. 3.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acceptance_and_commitment_therapy.

  4. 4.

    This is one of many possible positions in a wealth of (para-)scientific, psychological, and philosophical considerations. I have decided in favour of this position for pragmatic reasons, because the explanations discussed later as to why homeopathy may have real effects can be built upon it.

  5. 5.

    Richard M. Haehl 1873–1932 MD, a German orthodox physician who converted to homeopathy, studied at the Hahnemann College of Philadelphia, and wrote a biography of Samuel Hahnemann.

  6. 6.

    Paracelsus (1493/4–1541), born Theophrastus von Hohenheim, Swiss physician, alchemist, and astrologer, pioneered several aspects of the Renaissance "medical revolution".

  7. 7.

    Even the coffee abstinence which is often demanded during homeopathic treatment (for reasons that are no longer comprehensible today) can be put to rest by the level model. For how could coffee, for example, interfere with the awareness of a core spiritual problem? The fact that it makes sense in general to pay attention to overuse of stimulants speaks for itself and for a healthy mind.

  8. 8.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Mitscherlich_(psychologist).

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Grams, N. (2019). Why Do Patients Turn to Homeopathy?. In: Homeopathy Reconsidered. Copernicus, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00509-2_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00509-2_4

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  • Publisher Name: Copernicus, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-00508-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-00509-2

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