Quantum healing
Quantum healing is a pseudo-scientific mixture of ideas drawing on quantum mechanics, psychology, philosophy, and neurophysiology that purports that quantum phenomena are responsible for health and wellbeing. There are a number of different versions, which draw on various quantum ideas including wave particle duality and virtual particles, and more generally energy and vibrations.[1] Quantum healing is a form of alternative medicine.
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Etymology [edit]
The term 'quantum healing' was coined by Deepak Chopra,[2] a Holistic guru who has more than 65 published works. It invokes the idea of a "healing" process, whereby an "imbalance" is corrected by quantum mechanical means.
Practitioners [edit]
Deepak Chopra is among the most popular alternative medicine practitioners alive today. He has attempted to integrate Ayurveda, a traditional Indian system of medicine, with quantum mechanics, in order to justify his teachings. According to Robert Carroll, he "charges $25,000 per lecture performance, where he spouts a few platitudes and gives spiritual advice while warning against the ill effects of materialism. His audiences are apparently not troubled by his living in a $2.5 million house in La Jolla, California, where he parks his green Jaguar."[3]
Danah Zohar is a motivational business speaker who incorporates some ideas from quantum healing and spiritual intelligence into her work.[4]
Kathy Freston is an a contributor to the The Huffington Post, and an advocate for a veganism, who has written material referring to quantum concepts.[5]
Criticisms [edit]
Quantum healing has attracted controversy due to its systematic misinterpretation of modern physics.[6][7] It is widely regarded in the scientific community as being invalid, but nevertheless has a number of vocal followers. The main criticism revolves around the fact that macroscopic objects are too large to exhibit inherently quantum properties like interference and wave function collapse. Most literature on quantum healing is almost entirely philosophical, omitting the rigorous mathematics that makes quantum electrodynamics possible.[8]
Quantum healing bears strong resemblance to cargo cult science, as named by Richard Feynman after the cargo cults that attempted to imitate landing strips in order to make planes land. Feynman describes cargo cult science as being where "they follow all the apparent precepts and forms of scientific investigation, but they're missing something essential, because the planes don't land."[9]
Many advocates of science argue that quantum healing has a negative effect on society, as it undermines genuine science and discourages people from engaging with conventional medicine. Brian Cox says 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."[6]
References [edit]
- ^ Alexander Dunlop. "Quantum Healing: Transforming Who You Are - Spiritual Life Coaching". Spiritualnutrition.org. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
- ^ Baer, H. A. (2003). "The Work of Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra - Two Holistic Health / New Age Gurus: A Critique of the Holistic Health / New Age Movements". Medical Anthropology Quarterly 17 (2): 233–250. doi:10.1525/maq.2003.17.2.233. PMID 12846118.
- ^ "Deepak Chopra - The Skeptic's Dictionary". Skepdic.com. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
- ^ An Interview with Danah Zohar
- ^ Kathy Freston
- ^ a b Cox, Brian (2012-02-20). "Why Quantum Theory Is So Misunderstood - Speakeasy - WSJ". Blogs.wsj.com. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
- ^ Observer effect and Deepak Chopra
- ^ "'Magic' of Quantum Physics". Aske-skeptics.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
- ^ ""Cargo Cult Science" - by Richard Feynman". Neurotheory.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
