Turn to naturopathy? More than half would like integrative medicine

Forsa survey confirms: Germans want more natural medicine

The Forsa Society for Social Research and Statistical Analysis recently published a survey showing that the majority of Germans want more inclusive medicine. By integrative medicine is meant a combination of conventional methods of conventional medicine with alternative treatments from natural medicine, homeopathy and anthroposophic medicine. 51 percent of respondents want a common approach.

The German Central Association of Homeopathic Physicians (DZVhÄ) recently published the results of a recent Forsa survey, which shows that the Germans want a stronger cooperation between conventional medicine and naturopathy. Switzerland can serve as a role model here. Since mid-2017, many alternative treatments have been fully reimbursed as basic health insurance provided they have been successfully tested for scientific effectiveness, expediency and cost-effectiveness. The law on the reimbursement of costs was obtained in Switzerland through a referendum.

According to a Forsa survey, the majority of Germans want homeopathy and natural medicine to be more involved in the generalized treatment of diseases. (Image: Alexander Raths / fotolia.com)

More cooperation of conventional medicine and naturopathy

"Are you of the opinion that the increasing demand for homeopathy initiates a turnaround in medicine towards an integrative medicine, ie the cooperation of school and natural medicine?" 51% of the 2,000 respondents agreed with this Forsa question, 21% abstained and 28 percent did not agree.

Germans want a medical turnaround

"The citizens want not only an energy turnaround and mobility turnaround but also a medical revolution in Germany," says Cornelia Bajic, the first chair of the DZVhÄ in a press release on the Forsa survey.

Homeopathy on the rise

The DZVhÄ also reports that the users of homeopathy continue to grow in Germany. In 2010, 45 percent of the population had stated that they have ever had experience with homeopathy. In the current survey, 53 percent said they had used homeopathic medicines before. "The wishes and values ​​of patients must also be taken into account in the context of evidence-based medicine," says Bajic. After all, medical homeopathy is one of the most widely used healing methods according to conventional medicine.

The three pillars of evidence-based medicine

"The concept of modern evidence-based medicine (EBM) is by definition based on three pillars," explains the homeopathy expert. On the one hand, the concept is based on the clinical experience of the physicians, on the other hand on the values ​​and wishes of the patient as well as on the current state of clinical research. For each of these pillars, medical homeopathy has to present study data and evidence for therapeutic benefit.

Is the concept of evidence too vague??

Critics of natural medicine often limit themselves to the pillar of clinical research alone. "Homeopathic doctors defend themselves against a narrowed evidence concept of the critics," emphasizes Bajic. In the view of Bajic society and politics have a clearer understanding of which evidential concept is now universally valid than a debate on homeopathy. (Vb)