The man now charge of King Charles’ health is a doctor who practices homeopathy using alternative medicines and therapies.
Dr Michael Dixon has worked for the NHS for over 50 years before becoming the medic responsible for keeping the King healthy. He has joined King Charles on trips to Kenya and Germany, reports The Mirror.
Based in Cullompton, Devon, he now works as a part-time GP. Dr Dixon is known to use treatments such as “horny goat weed” for curing impotence and “devil’s claw” – an African shrub – to tackle pain.
He serves as the chairman of the College of Medicine. The college is a campaign group that has been arguing for the NHS to fund using herbal remedies.
Charles, 75, has himself been a long-time supporter of herbal treatments. According to The Sunday Times, Dr Dixon once wrote: “Data exists that indicates the effects of homeopathy may be real.”
He cited a test that suggested mixing alcohol and herbal remedies could kill breast cancer cells.
He added: “It is not true that science has proved homeopathy is nothing more than placebo. Evidence-based medicine is not the cure-all it is made out to be.”
The Times says Dr Dixon was made the King’s head of the royal medical household – a role created by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973. Until he took over, it was also said to be fused with the role of monarch’s physician.
As head of the royal medical household, Dr Dixon will have responsibility for the health of the king and the wider royal family. He may even represent them in talks with government.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman told the Guardian that Dr Dixon believes homeopathy can sit alongside traditional treatments. It says he does however not believe it would be a cure for cancer.
A Palace spokesperson said: “Dr Dixon is a practising GP; a Fellow of the Royal College of GPs; a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians; former chair of NHS Alliance; former co-chair of the National Social Prescribing Network; former NHS England national clinical champion for social prescribing and the chair of the College of Medicine. He also has an OBE for services to primary care.
“Dr Dixon does not believe homeopathy can cure cancer. His position is that complementary therapies can sit alongside conventional treatments, provided they are safe, appropriate and evidence based.
“As Prince of Wales, the king’s position on complementary therapies, integrated health and patient choice was well documented. In his own words: ‘Nor is it about rejecting conventional medicines in favour of other treatments: the term ‘complementary’ medicine means precisely what it says’.”
