Grijze Cellen: De (on)zin van alternatieve geneeskunde

GRAY CELLS: THE (NON)SENSE OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Many people seek refuge in alternative medicine such as homeopathy, chiropractic and acupuncture. Some claim that certain alternative therapies work even in the absence of scientific evidence. Are there risks? How strong is the placebo effect? Should non-conventional therapies be reimbursed? Should we keep conventional medicine and alternative medicine strictly separated or can integrated medicine lead to better healthcare? Norbert Fraeyman (professor of pharmacology at Ghent University and author of Critical reflections on alternative medicine) and Hilde Vanthuyne (pedagogue and homeopath) will give a lecture and then have a discussion led by Eos editor Reinout Verbeke.

Norbert Fraeyman (°1948) studied chemistry and obtained his PhD in 1970 in the field of biochemistry. Fraeyman is professor of pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Ghent University and has given the annual lessons 'Reflections on Alternative Medicine' since 1992. In 2010, he published a book under the same title in which he provides a short tour through the field of alternative medicine through scientific information and critical comments, with extensive attention to acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathy and chiropractic. From 1998 to 2010 he was coordinator of the studium generale for the Medicine course. Fraeyman also worked for a number of years as a member of the Superior Health Council and is often consulted as an expert for studies and publications on alternative medicine.

Hilde Vanthuyne (°1969) studied pedagogical and psychological sciences at KU Leuven and cultural studies at the VUB. She subsequently studied Classical Homeopathy at the Center for Classical Homeopathy (CKH) and at the School for Homeopathy. Further training in homeopathy with Alfons Geukens, Alize Timmermans and Georges Vithoulkas was supplemented by postgraduate training in systems thinking and trauma healing at KU Leuven. Since 1999, Vanthuyne has worked as a classical homeopath in an independent practice in Leuven and in a midwifery practice in Brussels. She is affiliated with the CKH as a lecturer and has already given many guest lectures in the health care department at Thomas More in Kempen. In recent years, she has worked intensively on legislation on homeopathy (Colla Act) as a spokeswoman for the Liga Homeopathica Classica and as a Member of Parliament within the Ministry of Health. In addition to these activities, she strives for intrinsic quality requirements in the training and professional practice of classical homeopathy as a specific treatment method with its 'own' thinking framework.