| Alternative medicine | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Quantum mysticism |
| Claims | Quantum phenomena are responsible for health and wellbeing |
| Original proponents | Deepak Chopra |
Quantum healing is apseudoscientific mixture of ideas purportedly drawn fromquantum mechanics,psychology,philosophy, andneurophysiology. Advocates of quantum healing assert thatquantum phenomena govern health and wellbeing. There are different versions, which allude to various quantum ideas includingwave particle duality andvirtual particles, and more generally to "energy" and tovibrations.[1] Quantum healing is a form ofalternative medicine.
Deepak Chopra coined the term "quantum healing" when he published the first edition of his book with that title in 1989.[2][3] His discussions of quantum healing have been characterised astechnobabble - "incoherent babbling strewn with scientific terms"[4] which drives many of those who actually understand physics "crazy"[5] and as "redefining Wrong".[6]
Quantum healing has a number of vocal followers, but the scientific community widely regards it as nonsensical.[7] The main criticism revolves around its systematic misinterpretation of modernphysics,[8] especially of the fact thatmacroscopic objects (such as the human body or individual cells) are much too large to exhibit inherently quantum properties likeinterference andwave function collapse.
Physicist and science communicatorBrian Cox argues that misuse of the word "quantum", such as its use in the phrasequantum healing, has a negative effect onsociety as it undermines genuine science and discourages people from engaging with conventional medicine. He states that "for some scientists, the unfortunate distortion and misappropriation of scientific ideas that often accompanies their integration into popular culture is an unacceptable price to pay."[8]
[Chopra]'s the guy behind Ask The Kabala and 'quantum healing', which involves 'healing the bodymind from a quantum level' by a 'shift in the fields of energy information', and which drives crazy people who actually understand physics; his critics accuse him of selling false hope to the sick.
Media related toQuantum healing at Wikimedia Commons