Either/Or? Homeopathy and Conventional Medicine in Germany

Much of the public debate around Homeopathy and conventional medicine frames the issue as two contradictory and clashing forms of knowledge that are pitted against each other. Curious about the current situation in Germany, where Homeopathy was established and where Homeopathy is practiced by 7,000 doctors and Homeopathic treatments sold in pharmacies, we spoke with people from different areas to see if it is indeed viewed and practiced today as an Either/Or question (Homeopathy vs. conventional treatment). We found out that the current way it is practiced is a little bit more complex.

We found out about ways the two systems are actually combined by speaking to:

  • Dr. Robert Jütte, professor of medical history, director of the Institute for the History of Medicine of the Robert Bosch Foundation, to learn about how the two types of knowledge developed, leading to how they’re viewed today.
  • Dominik Bauer, a pharmacist, who told us about how Homeopathy was mentioned within his scientific studies, and about its status and regulation when patients come asking for a homeopathic treatment.
  • General physician Dr. Markus Sommer on his source of trust in homeopathy and other alternative treatments, and how he combines conventional and alternative treatments in his practice.
  • Two individuals: Annika, who grew up in Germany and was exposed to homeopathy since her childhood, and Camila from Brazil who was extensively introduced to homeopathy in Germany. They both tell us how they view the combination of conventional and alternative medicine.