Changes

For the popularity of offers outside of science-based medicine a variety of factors were identified.  

For the popularity of offers outside of science-based medicine a variety of factors were identified.  

People seeking alternative treatments were found to have had had a transformational experience that changed the person's worldview and often showed commitment to environmentalism, commitment to feminism, and interest in spirituality and personal growth psychology. One study found that dissatisfaction with conventional medicine did not predict use of alternative medicine. Only 4.4% of those surveyed reported relying primarily on alternative therapies. It concluded that people find these health care alternatives to be more congruent with their own values, beliefs, and philosophical orientations towards health and life.<ref name="Astin" /> Still, arguments like "[[alternative practitioners]] devote more time to patients than doctors" are frequently heard.  

People seeking alternative treatments were found to have had had a transformational experience that changed the person's worldview and often showed commitment to environmentalism, commitment to feminism, and interest in spirituality and personal growth psychology. One study found that dissatisfaction with conventional medicine did not predict use of alternative medicine. Only 4.4% of those surveyed reported relying primarily on alternative therapies. It concluded that people find these health care alternatives to be more congruent with their own values, beliefs, and philosophical orientations towards health and life.<ref name="Astin" /> Still, arguments like "alternative practitioners devote more time to patients than doctors" are frequently heard.  

Other studies found that disappointments with and distrust of conventional therapies play a role. Many patients and clients find pleasure in the more or less explicit criticism of [[mainstream medicine]]" or "the pharmaceutical industry" which is not uncommon in alternative medicine circles. Often, an anti-scientific attitude is mixed with [[New Age]] mysticism.  Vigorous marketing and extravagant claims create false hope. When people become sick, any promise of a cure is appealing.<ref>Beyerstein BL (March 2001). [http://dx.doi.org/10.1097%2F00001888-200103000-00009 "Alternative medicine and common errors of reasoning"]. Academic Medicine 76 (3): 230–7.</ref>

Other studies found that disappointments with and distrust of conventional therapies play a role. Many patients and clients find pleasure in the more or less explicit criticism of [[mainstream medicine]]" or "the pharmaceutical industry" which is not uncommon in alternative medicine circles. Often, an anti-scientific attitude is mixed with [[New Age]] mysticism.  Vigorous marketing and extravagant claims create false hope. When people become sick, any promise of a cure is appealing.<ref>Beyerstein BL (March 2001). [http://dx.doi.org/10.1097%2F00001888-200103000-00009 "Alternative medicine and common errors of reasoning"]. Academic Medicine 76 (3): 230–7.</ref>

==Research==

==Research==

In Germany, funding for research in the field of alternative medicine usually comes from private foundations, such as:

In Germany, funding for research in the field of alternative medicine usually comes from private foundations, such as:

* [[Karl und Veronica Carstens-Foundation]] (27&nbsp;million Euro). It sponsored 1.5&nbsp;million Euro in May 2008 for an endowed chair of alternative medicine at the Berlin [[Charité]].

* Karl und Veronica Carstens-Foundation (27&nbsp;million Euro). It sponsored 1.5&nbsp;million Euro in May 2008 for an endowed chair of alternative medicine at the Berlin Charité.

* Krupp Foundation

* Krupp Foundation

* Kneipp Foundation

* Kneipp Foundation

==Intimidation and actions against critics==

==Intimidation and actions against critics==

Individuals or institutions that have a critical view of alternative medicine and indicate its [[pseudomedicine]]character must expect personal attacks. Two women who asked critical questions at an event [[Helmut Pilhar]] about [[Germanic New Medicine]] in Frankfurt, Germany. were "accompanied home" by "bald gentlemen". The two women had to call police. A cellular therapist tried to stop a critic with a court order and from giving his assessment of [[cellular therapy]].<ref>LG Stuttgart AZ&nbsp;17&nbsp;0&nbsp;289/76 Claims 500,000&nbsp;German Mark</ref> A further example are civil actions against the project Paralexx which led to a temporary shutdown.

Individuals or institutions with a critical view of alternative medicine pointing out its [[pseudomedicine|pseudo-medical]]character must expect personal attacks. Two women who asked critical questions of the lecturer at an event on [[Germanic New Medicine]] in Frankfurt, Germany were "accompanied home" by "bald-headed gentlemen". The two women had to call the police. A cellular therapist tried to stop a critic with a court order and from giving his assessment of [[cellular therapy]].<ref>LG Stuttgart AZ&nbsp;17&nbsp;0&nbsp;289/76 Claims 500,000&nbsp;German Mark</ref> A further example are civil actions against the former project Paralexx which led to a temporary shutdown.

The German consumer protection foundation "Stiftung Warentest" wanted to publish a book with a critical analysis and evaluation of natural and alternative medicine. The magazine "Stern" seized the opportunity to do a prior publication: Krista Federspiel, one of the two authors and her colleague Hans Weiss offered to do a undercover report on the scene and have ten natural healers give them a diagnosis. Stern offered generous payment for the report and requested a second part that should present victims of alternative methods by name. To prove that the journalists had indeed visited natural healers a photographer was documenting it. Each attended healer imputed the subject with several diseases: A total of 38&nbsp;different diseases and an myriad of ailments and allergies were diagnosed and more than 130&nbsp;drugs prescribed. When the report "Wunderheiler und Krankbeter" (miracle healers and patient prayers) was published in Stern&nbsp;49/1991, the raised criticism was met by outrage and massive protests by healing practitioners that the editors postponed and later cancelled the second part fearing the loss of readers. The rights were returned to the autors.<ref>http://kritischgedacht.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/sanfte-alternative/</ref>

The German consumer protection foundation "Stiftung Warentest" wanted to publish a book with a critical analysis and evaluation of natural and alternative medicine. The magazine "Stern" seized the opportunity to do a prior publication: Krista Federspiel, one of the two authors and her colleague Hans Weiss offered to do a undercover report visiting ten alternative practicians to obtain a diagnosis. "Stern" offered generous payment for the report and requested a second part presenting victims of alternative methods by name. To prove the journalists had indeed seen these alternative practicians, a photographer documented the visits. Each prcitioner attended imputed the subject with several diseases: A total of 38&nbsp;different diseases and a myriad of ailments and allergies were diagnosed, and more than 130&nbsp;drugs prescribed. When the report titled "Wunderheiler und Krankbeter" (Miracle Healers and Faith Un-Healers) was published in "Stern"&nbsp;49/1991, the criticism raised was met by outrage and massive protests by alternative practitioners to such an extent that editors postponed and later cancelled the second part, fearing the loss of readers. The rights were returned to the authors.<ref>http://kritischgedacht.wordpress.com/2007/12/25/sanfte-alternative/</ref>

In a TV-show of the German station ZDF on September 5, 2007 titled "Heilen mit dem Nichts?"(Healing with nothing?) the journalist Joachim Bublath reported about scientific findings on [[homoeopathy]] (including an analysis of the renowned journal ''The Lancet''<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16125589 Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homoeopathy and allopathy], The Lancet, 2005</ref>) that questioned a possible effectiveness of this controversial method beyond [[placebo]]s. This led to a call from advocates of homoeopathy to ''spam'' and ZDF shied away by deleting the websites citing the Lancet figures.<ref>http://www.promed-ev.de/modules/news/article.php?storyid=110</ref><ref>http://www.bdhn-ev.de/uploads/media/Die_modernen_Wunderheiler.pdf accessed June 13, 2011</ref>

In a show aired by German TV station ZDF on September 5, 2007 titled "Heilen mit dem Nichts?"(Healing with nothing?), journalist Joachim Bublath reported about scientific results on [[homoeopathy]] (including an analysis of the renowned journal ''The Lancet''<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16125589 Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homoeopathy and allopathy], The Lancet, 2005</ref>) which questioned a possible effectiveness of this controversial method beyond [[placebo]]s. This led to a call from advocates of homoeopathy to ''spam'' the station's website and ZDF shied away by deleting the site citing the Lancet figures.<ref>http://www.promed-ev.de/modules/news/article.php?storyid=110</ref><ref>http://www.bdhn-ev.de/uploads/media/Die_modernen_Wunderheiler.pdf accessed June 13, 2011</ref>

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