Alternative medicine in France - Statistics & Facts

Although there is no scientific proof of their efficacy, alternative medicine enjoys a big following in France. Alternative medicine encompasses a broad spectrum of therapies, treatments, and drugs. What they have in common is that they are not connected to medical science and are either not confirmable or have even proven ineffective. Over a third of French people believe that alternative medicines are less effective than traditional medicine, while 91 percent believe they are effective for treating minor ailments.

Alternative medicine and health behaviors

Roughly one in ten French people see an alternative medicine practitioner ten times a year, and half have already consulted an osteopath at least once in their lifetime. The reasons for resorting to alternative medicine are manifold and range from a desire to complement conventional treatments to a complete rejection of traditional medicine. The main reasons for not relying on alternative medicine are the absence of need and the cost of such treatments. Also, 24 percent of French people have already questioned a doctor’s diagnosis based on the advice of an alternative medicine practitioner and stopped taking a treatment prescribed by a doctor, replacing it with alternative medicine instead. Even though alternative drugs are generally not harmful, stopping traditional treatment can have grave consequences in severe conditions and illnesses.

Osteopathy and homeopathy in France

The practices of alternative medicine which have the best image among French people are osteopathy and homeopathy. These are alternative medicine types officially recognized by the French Medical Council (CNOM). Osteopathy is a technique that aims to detect and treat functional disorders through physically manipulating muscle tissue and bones. According to a survey, around 85 percent of French people believe in the health benefits of this practice. The second most popular type of alternative medicine, homeopathy, is based on the pseudoscientific belief that it is possible to treat a patient by very strongly diluting substances that, if concentrated, would cause symptoms similar to those being experienced. France is notably the home to Boiron, the world leader in homeopathic products. After a long debate, the French government announced in 2019 that French social security will gradually stop reimbursing patients for homeopathic treatment until 2021. The French National Authority for Health (HAS) concluded that homeopathic medicines were of insufficient efficacy to justify reimbursement. Despite this decision, only 11 percent of French people think that beneficiaries of alternative treatments should cover the costs themselves.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Jan 10, 2024

Key insights

Turnover of homeopathic medicines in 2016
620m EUR
Share of people who trust alternative medicine in 2018
69%
Share of people who absolutely believe in the health benefits of alternative medicine in 2018
16%
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Global group revenue of Boiron laboratories from 2012 to 2022 (in million euros)

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Global turnover of Boiron laboratories 2012-2022

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Perception of the efficacy of alternative medicines in France 2019

Annual frequency of alternative medicine consultations in France in 2018

Therapy & Treatment

Annual frequency of alternative medicine consultations in France 2018

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