From en.wikipedia.org:
[Naturopathic profession in Germany] [fringe]
_HEILPRAKTIKER_ ("healing practitioner") is a naturopathic profession in
Germany. It is recognized as an alternative and complementary health care
profession by German law.
** Profession in Germany
_Heilpraktiker_, or non-medical healing practitioner, is recognized as an
alternative and complementary health care profession by German law.<ref
name="Law 1939" /> A _heilpraktiker_ does not need to have any formal
education or training but must do an exam at the health authorities. This
exam used to be somewhat basic until the 1980s, at which time it was made to
become much more demanding. A candidate needs to have good knowledge of
medical sciences, such as anatomy, physiology and pathology and psychiatry; a
good knowledge of law regulations is also needed.<ref name="Law 1939" />
_Heilpraktiker_ often specialize in a complementary and alternative field of
healthcare that could be anything from faith healing, homeopathy,
phytotherapy, Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, to reflexology or
acupuncture. A _heilpraktiker_ is a person who is allowed to practice as a
non-medical practitioner using any unconventional therapy.
*** History
The profession of _heilpraktiker_ is based on healing therapies beginning in
the Middle Ages.<ref name="Krüger" /> The _lîbarzet_ Jörg Radendorfer from
Vienna received around 1496[1] rights in Frankfurt that were otherwise
restricted to academic physicians, which were withdrawn in 1499 after protests
of doctors and pharmacists, and the death of a patient. He then worked in
Nuremberg from 1500 to around 1503.[2]
After the First World War, the _heilpraktiker_ began to organise. They formed
an association "Verband der Heilkundigen Deutschlands" in Essen in 1920, which
was renamed "Großverband der Heilpraktiker Deutschlands" (Great Association of
the healing Practitioners of Germany" in 1928. By 1931, 22 organisations of
_heilpraktiker_ had been established. In 1933, the Nazi Reichsministerium des
Innern appointed the _heilpraktiker_ Ernst Heinrich as commissioner of the
profession. Per the Gleichschaltung, all associations were combined in a
central _Heilpraktikerbund Deutschland_, with enforced rules for membership
and education. The organisation published the magazine _Der Heilpraktiker_
first in August 1933.<ref name="Krüger" />
The Nazis promoted _heilpraktiker_ as a counter within alternative medicine to
the "occult" practices of anthroposophy.[3][4] Alternative medicine researcher
Edzard Ernst have written about the links between _heilpraktiker_ and
Nazism,[5] and described it as "a relic from the Nazis that endangers public
health" in a series of blog posts,[6] also arguing against extension of the
practice.[7] _Heilpraktiker_ have been identified as involved with fake cancer
cures.[8] A law regarding the profession of _heilpraktiker_ was issued on 18
February 1939, named "Erste Durchführungsverordnung zum Gesetz über die
berufsmäßige Ausübung der Heilkunde ohne Bestallung" (First regulation
implementing the law on the professional practice of medicine without
bestowal), or short: _Heilpraktikergesetz._<ref name="Law 1939" />
*** Organisation
According to the Statistisches Bundesamt, 45,000 _heilpraktiker_ were
accredited in Germany in 2017.[9] They are organised in several associations
which represent the interests of the profession and offer education and
services. Several associations run schools.
- Allgemeiner Deutscher Heilpraktikerverband (ADHV)
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft Anthroposophischer Heilpraktiker-Berufsverband (AGAHP)
- Berufsverband Deutsche Naturheilkunde (BDN)
- Bund Deutscher Heilpraktiker (BDH)
- Bund Deutscher Heilpraktiker und Naturheilkundiger (BDHN)
- Fachverband Deutscher Heilpraktiker (FDH)
- Freie Heilpraktiker (FH)
- Freier Verband Deutscher Heilpraktiker (FVDH)
- Union Deutscher Heilpraktiker (UDH)
- Verband Deutscher Heilpraktiker (VDH)
- Verband Heilpraktiker Deutschland (VHD)
- Verband Unabhängiger Heilpraktiker (VUH)
- Vereinigung Christlicher Heilpraktiker (VCHP)
They collaborate in the organisation _Die Deutschen Heilpraktikerverbände_
(The German _Heilpraktiker_ Associations). Beginning in 2011, five
associations have collaborated in the umbrella organisation _Dachverband
Deutscher Heilpraktikerverbände_ (DDH).[10] The central organisation has
published a magazine _Volksheilkunde_.<ref name="Krüger" />
** Education
While there is no regulated curriculum to become _heilpraktiker,_ several
schools offer classes.
** References
{{reflist| | refs =
[11]
[12]
}}
** External links
- [4024079-4]
- Dachverband Deutscher Heilpraktikerverbände (see https://ddh-online.de/)
- Heilpraktiker: Why are they only available in Germany?, MedizinDoc NGO, 17. September 2019 (see https://medizindoc.de/naturopaths-why-are-they-only-available-in-germany/)
[authority control]
[DISPLAYTITLE: _Heilpraktiker_]
Category:Naturopathy Category:Health care occupations