Integrating homeopathy and biomedicine: Medical practice and knowledge production among German homeopathic physicians

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the ways in which homeopathic physicians deal with the conceptual tensions between homeopathy and biomedicine. The data-collection included twenty semi-structured interviews which were conducted with homeopathic physicians in Berlin. Three distinct patterns of homeopathic practice emerged from the data: a) segregating the patients into categories of homeopathic and biomedical patients; b) complementing a predominantly homeopathic practice with a few biomedical strategies for diagnostics; c) focusing on homeopathy and condemning biomedicine with the exception of emergency medicine and surgery. On the level of medical knowledge the physicians' perspectives on the efficacy of homeopathy and some of its controversial concepts (opposition to vaccinations, miasm, vital force) are examined. It also becomes evident that German homeopathic physicians do not sacrifice central aspects of homeopathic concepts in order to gain legitimacy. Finally, it is argued that complementary medicine and alternative medicine are both rather unfortunate terms for studying homeopathy in micro-sociological settings. Heterodox medicine is favoured.