by Dr.Harald Wiesendanger– Klartext
What the mainstream media is hiding
England’s king has cancer. Leading media immediately unanimously worried: Will alternative medicine kill him? After all, he swears by them, as does his personal doctor.
On Monday, February 5, 2024, Buckingham Palace let the bomb go off: King Charles III. is suffering from cancer. Possibly the prostate? The tabloid press doesn’t know anything for sure.
However, she thinks she knows one thing for sure: Her Majesty is in extreme danger. Since the 1980s, he has been a staunch supporter of alternative medicine, particularly homeopathy. (1)
He repeatedly demanded that this should be included in the National Health System (NHS), Great Britain’s state health system. (2) In 2019, he took over the patronage of the “London Faculty of Homeopathy.” (3)
Charles is somewhat distant from conventional medicine. He confessed in 2010 that he was proud of being insulted as an “enemy of the Enlightenment.” (4)
In 2004, he publicly spoke out in favor of coffee enemas and plenty of fruit juice for cancer – “bizarre,” as the Bild newspaper found. (5) Beginning in 2008, Charles Duchy marketed Herbals Detox Tincture, a dietary supplement containing Artichoke and dandelion that was intended to provide a “detoxification.” (6) British health experts described the effect as “implausible, unproven and dangerous,” even as “quackery.” (7)
The king is encouraged in his “esoteric” extravagances by a doctor who has been one of his close advisors for 22 years: Dr. Michael Dixon. In 2022, Charles appointed him head of the royal family’s medical team, the “Palace Practice.” Dixon also supports homeopathy and believes in aromatherapy and medicinal herbs. As the journalistic tabloid claims to have found out, Dixon doesn’t even shy away from using devil’s claw and goat weed as therapy. Yes, scandalously, he even works with spiritual healers.
Charles’ doctor heals with “goat weed” and “devil’s claw” – Cancer diagnosis! The monarch trusts the homeopath and esoteric Dr. Dixon.
For the journalists, a found treat
When it became known who the king had chosen to be his personal physician, there was a hail of harsh criticism. The Guardian quoted scientists and doctors who found the changes “worrying and inappropriate.”
But Charles was undeterred. “Dr. “Dixon does not believe that homeopathy can cure cancer,” the royal family made a public statement. “But he takes the position that complementary therapies can be used provided they are safe, appropriate and evidence-based.”
How much experience and expertise does Dr. Dixon have in his leadership position in the Royal Medical Household? Has it not yet been acknowledged by any editorial team? It was clear from the start that he must be a charlatan. For forty years, he has been running a large family practice group in Cullompton, Mid Devon, where he and seven medical colleagues provide medical care to an area of 1,600 square kilometers with around 13,500 patients. Here, he made a name for himself as a pioneer of social prescribing: “social interaction on prescription” to meet non-medical needs that are important for the physical and mental health of patients. The National Health Service (NHS) Care Quality Commission recognized Dixon’s practice as “excellent”.
For eighteen years, from 1998 to 2015, Dixon was Chair of the NHS Alliance. Their role is to “give GPs and their patients a voice” in planning hospitals and community health services.
In addition, Dixon was an Honorary Research Fellow at the Universities of Exeter and Birmingham, with complementary medicine as his research focus. His stimulating book The Human Effect in Medicine. Return of the Physician Healer – Theory, Research, and Practice was published in 2000. In it, he promotes “patient-centered medicine” that is able to awaken the self-healer in the sick.
From 1992 onwards, Dixon had a spiritual healer work in his medical center on an hourly basis – especially for chronically ill patients who apparently could no longer be helped by conventional medicine or other unconventional measures. Dr. published highly acclaimed reports about this. Dixon in respected medical journals such as the British Journal of General Practice (45/1995 and 49/1999) and the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (91/1988). Dr. Dr. contributed to Harald Wiesendanger’s anthology Spiritual Healing in Medical Practice. Dixon includes an essay that will not leave unbiased readers with the impression that it comes from an esoteric weirdo. (8th)
Would Dr. Dixon recommend spiritual healing even for cancer? Probably yes, and he would have good reasons for it. (9)
Dr. Med Dixon about the spiritual healing practice of Gil White, who achieved a success rate of 70% in his medical practice for supposedly “out-treated” chronic long-term patients.
“As doctors, we should not dismiss the evidence for the success of spiritual healing just because we cannot explain it with our conventional theories (…). Incorporating spiritual healing into medical practice seems to me to be a logical step when conventional medicine no longer has anything to contribute”.
Turning the prayer wheel for the 1001st time
Is Dr. Dixon’s reputation ruined because he took homeopathy seriously and used it? The current state of research tends to embarrass the character assassins, especially a certain Karl Lauterbach. (See CLEAR TEXT “Homeopathy ‘useless’?”) Only recently, the first systematic review (10) of all six existing meta-analyses of controlled homeopathy studies confirmed: Globules work better than placebos. The methodological quality of the evaluated studies was in no way inferior to that of conventional medicine. (11)
Incidentally, homeopathic medicines also act on cells and plants that are unlikely to have beliefs about drug effects and are more likely to fall for placebos. (12)
And even the 1001st revolution of the prayer wheel doesn’t make the supposed killer argument any more convincing: “It can’t possibly work because the dilution is far too high.” Prof. Stephan Baumgartner from the Institute for Integrative Medicine at the University of Witten/Herdecke recently examined the principle by which homeopathic medicines work in detail in laboratory experiments, according to high scientific standards: blinded, randomized, controlled, repeated in a multicenter manner. Using copper chloride, he crystallized a solution with (D30) and without a potentized substance. He then analyzed the resulting patterns using AI software. The artificial intelligence found significant differences even when molecules were no longer detectable. (13) “Potentiation” – dilution and dynamization in regular sequence – appears to change the electromagnetic structure of water. (14)
Devil’s claw and goat weed: nonsense, of course?
How absurd is what Dr. Dixon otherwise finds therapeutically helpful, depending on the clinical picture?
Aromatherapy uses essential, volatile oils obtained from parts of plants. As soon as they come into contact with air, their liquid dissolves instantly, and their scent spreads throughout the room. When inhaled, they directly affect the brain – and have a beneficial effect, both physically and mentally. Used for massage oils, herbal and flower baths, compresses, and inhalations, experience has shown that they relieve a wide range of complaints – from skin rashes to hemorrhoids and urinary tract infections, menstrual and menopausal problems to sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression. Both the ancient Egyptians and traditional Chinese doctors used them thousands of years ago. Basically, they belong in every medicine cabinet. (15)
“Devil’s claw” sounds like something from a medieval witch’s kitchen, and this ridiculous association is, of course, intentional. To call it by its scientific name – Harpagophytum procumbens – would sound too serious, and the cheap polemic would be pointless. The roots of the sesame plant, which thrives in the savannahs of Africa, have long been used medicinally (16), for example, for osteoarthritis and other mobility restrictions and for a variety of pains, ulcers, and wounds. Their bitter substances stimulate the appetite and promote digestion. (17) Even the Committee for Herbal Medical Devices of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has officially recognized devil’s claw for use as a traditional herbal medicine. (18).
Isn’t it more likely that “goatsweed” would be found in Methusalix’s potion pot than in a modern pharmacy? Its second name, “fairy flower,” is also ideal for arousing ridiculous associations – and for concealing the valuable therapeutic services that the barberry plant has been providing in folk medicine for centuries thanks to its ingredient icarin. Traditional Chinese medicine uses it primarily for rheumatism, as well as against high cholesterol levels and blocked arteries. It helps women after menopause against high blood pressure and osteoporosis. (19)
And yes, Artichoke and Dandelion, two tried and tested medicinal plants, are indeed beneficial to health, as folk medicine has been known for centuries better than the average person among today’s medical journalists. In particular, they detoxify and protect the liver. Artichoke, Dandelion
Does His Majesty have a tit if she swears by coffee enemas? No, she just knows. Because coffee detoxifies, it is suitable for colon cleansing. Of course, you don’t get it from Tchibo for enemas but use the green, unroasted one. Even the German doctor Dr. In the 1930s, Max Gerson (1881-1959) treated degenerative diseases such as skin tuberculosis, diabetes – and especially cancer. Coffee enemas are also ideal for detoxifying the liver.
Fruit juices for cancer? They provide those affected with plenty of vitamins that strengthen the immune system, including in the defense against degenerated cells – especially C, D, and E, contrary to rumors to the contrary.
With all of this, Dr. Dixon is not “alternative” but complementary: he does not want to replace tried and tested conventional medicine but rather undogmatically supplements it where experience has shown that this is useful.
How does the royal family come to call something like this “evidence-based”? It can because it seems to have understood better than its critics how much the concept of evidence encompasses not only what clinical studies reveal but also the accumulated wealth of experience of doctors and those treated.
What does conventional medicine have to offer His Majesty?
“Controversial” is the adjective that is currently by far the most frequently used before Dixon’s name in press releases. Would it be less appropriate in the context of the pharmaceutical-heavy, technophile, profit-oriented medicine that dominates our healthcare system? (20)
Not a single “quality media” that has pilloried the royal personal physician has so far even begun to question what England’s king would have to expect if he were to rely exclusively on conventional medicine. The fact that this is guaranteed to offer more promising, safer weapons against cancer has always been a lucrative PR fairy tale spread by legions of lobbyists. Of course, operations often make sense because they remove as much tumor as possible – but they are not always advisable if they lead to mutilation and destroy the quality of life. The chances of success with chemotherapy are encouragingly good for leukemia, lymphatic cancers, and testicular cancer, but for many other types of cancer, they are significantly lower than promised: for most organ tumors such as liver cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, and breast cancer in an advanced stage. The only thing you can really rely on is their nasty side effects. Intensive radiation often leads to serious long-term and permanent damage. The incredibly expensive immuno-oncologic drugs, hailed as “new miracle weapons,” can also cause massive collateral damage.
Nevertheless, no responsible complementary medicine doctor – and Dr. Dixon is truly one – the king who advises against conventional cancer medicine. In contrast to his character assassins, however, someone like this knows how to supplement and support it in an “alternative” way. For example, in order to dampen the side effects of chemotherapy, Charles III. Bitter substances help against loss of appetite, and the homeopathic remedy Nux vomica against nausea and vomiting.
All this and more would be Dr. Dixon would probably love to explain this to his character assassins in order to close their gaping educational gaps. When can he finally have his say?
(Harald Wiesendanger)
Remarks
1 Sarah Boseley: “Prince Charles: I use homeopathy in animals to cut antibiotic use,” The Guardian, 12. Mai 2016, abgerufen am 10. February 2024; Brian Brady: “He’s at it again: Prince Charles accused of lobbying health secretary over homeopathy,” The Independent, 21. Juli 2013, abgerufen am 10. February 2024; Edzard Ernst: “What Prince Charles tells us about complementary medicine – an essay by Edzard Ernst,” British Medical Journal (Clinical research ed.), Band 376, 21. February 2022, S. o310, doi:10.1136/bmj.o310, PMID 35190373.
2 »Was er sich rauspickt, ist alles Quacksalberei« , Der Spiegel, 15. September 2022, abgerufen am 10. Februar 2024.
3 Haroon Siddique: “Prince Charles becomes patron of homeopathy group,” The Guardian, 25. Juni 2019, abgerufen am 10. February 2024.
4 “Prince proud to be ‘enemy of Enlightenment‘”, Yorkshire Post, 4. Februar 2010, abgerufen am 10. Februar 2024.
5 Bild, 8.2.2024, S. 3.
6 Sarah Boseley: “Make-believe and outright quackery”—expert’s verdict on prince’s detox potion,” The Guardian, 10. März 2009, abgerufen am 10. February 2024.
7 Sarah Boseley: “Make-believe and outright quackery …”, a.a.O. (s. Anm. 6); Robert Booth: “Prince Charles’s aide at homeopathy charity arrested on suspicion of fraud,” The Guardian, 26. April 2010, abgerufen am 10. February 2024.
8 Michael Dixon: „Was bringt Geistiges Heilen für chronisch Kranke? Erfahrungen aus einem englischen Ärztezentrum“, in Harald Wiesendanger (Hrsg.): Geistiges Heilen in der ärztlichen Praxis – Damit die Humanmedizin humaner wird, 5. erw. Aufl. 2005, S. 71-76.
9 Siehe dazu Harald Wiesendanger: Geistiges Heilen bei Krebs – Ein unkonventioneller Ausweg, Schönbrunn 2004. Zur „Evidenzbasis“ Geistigen Heilens allgemein s. H. Wiesendanger: Das Große Buch vom Geistigen Heilen – Möglichkeiten, Grenzen, Gefahren, 4. Aufl. 2004; H. Wiesendanger: Fernheilen, Band 2: Fallbeispiele, Forschungen, Einwände, Erklärungen, 2004
10 H. J. Hamre u.a.: “Efficacy of homeopathic treatment: Systematic review of meta-analyses of randomized placebo-controlled homeopathy trials for any indication, “Systematic Reviews 2023; 12(191). DOI 10.1186/s13643-023-02313-2; https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02313-2; als PDF: https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13643-023-02313-2.pdf
11 Robert T. Mathie u.a.: “Randomised placebo-controlled trials of individualized homeopathic treatment: Systematic review and meta-analysis, “Systematic Reviews December 2014, 3(1):142, DOI:10.1186/2046-4053-3-142; Robert T. Mathie u.a.: “Clinical Evidence for Homeopathy “(2017), NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service; Robert T. Mathie u.a.: “Model validity of randomised placebo-controlled trials of non-individualised homeopathic treatment “, Homeopathy 2017 Nov;106(4):194-202, doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2017.07.003, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29157469/
12 C. M. Witt/S: Baumgartner u.a.: “The in vitro evidence for an effect of high homeopathic potencies – a systematic review of the literature, “Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2007, 15(2):128-138, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2007.01.011; A. Ucker u.a.: “Systematic review of plant-based homeopathic basic research: an update, “Homeopathy 2018, 107(2):115-129, DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1639580; A. Ucker/S. Baumgartner u.a.: “Critical Evaluation of Specific Efficacy of Preparations Produced According to European Pharmacopeia Monograph 2371 “, Biomedicines 2022, 10(3): 552, doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10030552
13 A. Ucker/S. Baumgartner u.a.: “Critical Evaluation of Specific Efficacy of Preparations Produced According to European Pharmacopeia Monograph 2371 “, Biomedicines 2022, 10(3): 552, doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10030552
14 C. M. Witt/S: Baumgartner u.a.: “The in vitro evidence for an effect of high homeopathic potencies – a systematic review of the literature, “Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2007, 15(2):128-138, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2007.01.011
15 Näheres: https://www.zentrum-der-gesundheit.de/bibliothek/naturheilkunde/aetherische-oele-uebersicht/aetherische-oele, https://www.naturheilkunde.de/naturheilverfahren/aroma-therapie.html
16 Volker Fintelmann/Rudolf Fritz Weiss: Lehrbuch der Phytotherapie, 11. Auflage, Stuttgart 2006, S. 276–277.
17 Näheres: https://www.medikamente-per-klick.de/apotheke/heilpflanze/teufelskralle/#:~:text=Die%20Teufelskralle%20(Harpagophytum%20procumbens)%20ist,verleiht%20Gerichten%20eine%20bittere%20Note; https://www.apotheken-umschau.de/medikamente/heilpflanzen/lindert-teufelskralle-gelenkschmerzen-733503.html; https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrikanische_Teufelskralle#Verwendung
18 “Teufelskrallenwurzel”, Sachverständigen-Ausschuss für Apothekenpflicht des Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, abgerufen am 10. Februar 2024.
19 Näheres siehe https://www.nq-online.de/anzeige-ziegenkraut-anbau-wirkung-wunderstrauches-id526748.html , https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elfenblumen#Sonstige_Verwendung_und_Inhaltsstoffe
20 Siehe Harald Wiesendanger: Das Gesundheitsunwesen – Wie wir es durchschauen, überleben und verwandeln, Schönbrunn 2019.
Porträtfoto Michael Dixon: By Issikkles – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46386184
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