According to a recent article in Ärzte Zeitung online, 31.08.2018, by Matthias Wallenfels, the vast majority of Germans (80 percent) consider it important to be able to help decide on their treatment and medicines. 89 percent of patients generally care about knowing what their doctor is doing and what treatment they are given. 64 percent find it important that their GP also prescribe natural medicine and homeopathy. These are the findings of a representative survey by the opinion research institute Kantar TNS on the topic of homeopathy and complementary medicine commissioned by the homeopathic manufacturer DHU.
According to the study, 66 percent of the respondents want to be free to choose between medicines from both conventional medicine and natural medicine or homeopathy. Integrative medicine – the coexistence of conventional medicine and complementary therapies such as natural medicine and homeopathy – is advocated by 75 percent of Germans.
With regard to a possible general ban on medicines from natural medicine or homeopathy, there is heavy resistance, with 72 percent of respondents being firmly against any such ban.
The survey shows that 56 percent of Germans already have experience with homeopathy and homeopathic medicines and use them mainly for everyday problems, both for themselves and others. The spectrum of the treated complaints is wide. In the forefront are colds and flu infections (51 percent), followed by sleep disturbances and restlessness (33 percent), pain and joint problems (29 percent) as well as acute and chronic stomach and intestinal problems. Allergies and hayfever also feature heavily (24 percent), injuries in sports and games (16 percent), skin problems (15 percent), and menstrual and menopausal symptoms (eight percent).
Th study also touches on the virulent criticism of both the evidence and effectiveness of homeopathy in particular, as well as the wider world of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in general. 68 percent of Germans find that counter-arguments in the field of homeopathy are simply patronizing, since everyone should decide for themselves what they believe. 42 percent think that the counter arguments are wrong, as they believe that you can see for yourself that homeopathic remedies work. In general, only 26 percent of Germans in the media perceive critical reporting on homeopathy to be of use.
