The essence of alternative medicine : A dermatologist's view from Germany

Author(s): Happle, R.

Journal/Book: Arch Dermatol. 1998; 134(11): 1455-1460.

Abstract: In Germany, alternative medicine is presently very popular and is supported by the federal government. When deliberating on the essence of alternative medicine we should simultaneously reflect on the intellectual and moral basis of regular medicine. To provide an epistemological demarcation of the 2 fields, the following 12 theses are advanced: (1) alternative and regular medicine are speaking different languages; (2) alternative medicine is not unconventional medicine; (3) the paradigm of regular medicine is rational thinking; (4) the paradigm of alternative medicine is irrational thinking; (5) the present popularity of alternative medicine can be explained by romanticism; (6) som ation of mind that hopefully will last for only a short time.

Keyword(s): cam. var. theor

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