Quantum healing
| Alternative medicine | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Quantum mysticism |
| Claims | quantum phenomena are responsible for health and wellbeing |
| Original proponents | Deepak Chopra |
Quantum healing is a pseudo-scientific mixture of ideas purported to draw on quantum mechanics, psychology, philosophy, and neurophysiology that asserts that quantum phenomena are responsible for health and wellbeing. There are a number of different versions, which allude to 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.
The term was coined by Deepak Chopra.[2] His discussions of quantum healing have been characterised as technobabble - "incoherent babbling strewn with scientific terms"[3] which "drives crazy people who actually understand physics"[4] and "redefining Wrong".[5]
Quantum healing is controversial due to its systematic misinterpretation of modern physics.[6] It is widely regarded in the scientific community as being nonsensical,[7] but nevertheless has a number of vocal followers. The main criticism revolves around the fact that macroscopic objects (such as the human body or individual cells) are much 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]
Physicist Brian Cox argues that misuse of the word "quantum", such as its use in quantum healing, has a negative effect on society 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."[6]
See also
References
- ^ Alexander Dunlop. "Quantum Healing: Transforming Who You Are - Spiritual Life Coaching". Spiritualnutrition.org. Archived from the original on 2012-12-29. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Work of Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra-Two Holistic Health/New Age Gurus: A Critique of the Holistic Health/New Age Movements". doi:10.1525/maq.2003.17.2.233.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Strauss, Valerie (2015-05-15). "Scientist: Why Deepak Chopra is driving me crazy". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
- ^ Burkeman, Oliver (2012-11-23). "This column will change your life: pseudoscience". Retrieved 2018-05-19.
- ^ Plait, Phil (2009-12-01). "Deepak Chopra: redefining "wrong"". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
- ^ a b Cox, Brian (2012-02-20). "Why Quantum Theory Is So Misunderstood - Speakeasy - WSJ". Blogs.wsj.com. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
- ^ Francis, Matthew R. (2014-05-29). "Quantum and Consciousness Often Mean Nonsense". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
- ^ "'Magic' of Quantum Physics". Aske-skeptics.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
External links
Media related to Quantum healing at Wikimedia Commons
