Paper short abstract:

This paper analyses the gradual integration of homeopathy into biomedical institutions and science in Germany and the public discourse that comes along with it.

Paper long abstract:

Homeopathy in Germany is currently on the rise. Due to increased demand from patients as well as practitioners, the University of Magdeburg is planning to offer the first postgraduate course in scientific research methods for homeopathy. This can be interpreted as a step in the gradual integration of homeopathy into biomedical institutions and science. Although homeopathy was founded in Germany and is widely practiced by physicians and non-university trained naturopathic practitioners, the announcement of the course's establishment sparked an immediate counter-reaction: a number of natural scientists labeled the course "institutionalized quackery" and undertook an online campaign to lobby against it. At the same time, the course has attracted the increasing interest of physicians and medical students. Using data from ethnographic fieldwork and document analysis, this paper examines the public discourse on the scientification of homeopathy and the process of legitimizing experience as evidence.