Culture and society

Alternative medicine

DEUTSCHKURSE | Harry-Folge-018-Landeskunde-Bild
Some plants are used in medicine.null DW

Harry finds jars of dried herbs in Dr. Wohlfahrt's house. That's enough to convince him that she must be a witch. But he's completely wrong. Dr. Wohlfahrt studied medicine and earned her Ph.D., but she is interested in what is known as alternative medicine, especially naturopathic medicine. Alternative medicine is a holistic approach that views a person's emotional, spiritual and physical sides as a whole. Naturopathy is based on the belief that the body can heal itself. Natural remedies, such as medicinal plants, are prescribed to activate or improve the body's ability to heal itself.

The German health care system is based on scientific medicine. But since the 1980s, alternative treatments, such as acupuncture and homeopathy, have been growing in popularity. Nowadays, there are many doctors who combine conventional and alternative approaches to medicine. It has nothing to do with witchcraft. But try explaining that to Harry.