[ad_1]

After the shocking news that both King Charles III and the Princess of Wales will have had medical procedures by the end of next week, the man in charge of the royal family’s health and wellbeing has been thrust back into the limelight.

Dr Michael Dixon, who heads up the team of medics who will be responsible for Charles and Kate’s recovery, has previously been the subject of discussion in the media over his support for homeopathy.

The 71-year-old GP, who has an OBE for services to primary care, has railed against those who call the practice ‘quackery’ and thrown his support behind offering treatments such as aromatherapy and reflexology on the NHS.

In one paper he authored, he referenced an experiment suggesting Indian herbal remedies which had been ‘ultra-diluted’ with alcohol might be able to cure cancer, although Buckingham Palace has staunchly denied Dr Dixon himself believes this can work. 

Dr Dixon, who has reportedly prescribed plants to patients such as devil’s claw and horny goat weed, has also written papers suggesting Christian healers may be able to help people who are chronically ill.

Dr Michael Dixon pictured with the then-Prince of Wales at the opening of the Culm Valley Integrated Centre for Health in Devon in 2008

Dr Michael Dixon pictured with the then-Prince of Wales at the opening of the Culm Valley Integrated Centre for Health in Devon in 2008

Dr Dixon (pictured) has been supportive of homeopathy and alternative medicine in the past

Dr Dixon (pictured) has been supportive of homeopathy and alternative medicine in the past

He has a kindred spirit and staunch supporter in the shape of King Charles, who has himself been outspoken on how he believes alternative medicine can help people with illnesses, and was appointed patron of the Faculty of Homeopathy in 2017.

Charles will undergo a ‘corrective procedure’ for an enlarged prostate next week, while Princess Catherine was said to be ‘doing well’ after undergoing successful abdominal surgery yesterday.

The future Queen is expected to remain in hospital at The London Clinic in Marylebone for ten to 14 days, and faces a recovery time of two to three months following the planned operation. It is understood the procedure was not cancer-related.

When discharged it will be Dr Dixon who takes control of the team of doctors and specialists that the royal family have to look after them.

In his role he manages the team looking after the King and his family, while other responsibilities include being present at family births and deaths should any occure in the course of his tenure. 

The medic, who is often seen wearing a suit and bow tie at public appearances and continues to work part-time at a GP surgery in Devon, was given the position in late 2022.

Despite his conventional training, he has embraced an alternative view on some aspects of medicine, in particular homeopathy – the idea that hugely diluted quantities of a substance can help the body overcome sickness or malfunction.

The Sunday Times reported that during his career, the physician has written papers suggesting Christian healers may be able to help chronically ill patients, despite this being an ‘unfashionable’ assertion.

Kate, Charlotte, George, William and Louis at the Sandringham Christmas Day 2023 service

Kate, Charlotte, George, William and Louis at the Sandringham Christmas Day 2023 service

Kensington Palace announced on Wednesday that the Princess of Wales has had abdominal surgery

Kensington Palace announced on Wednesday that the Princess of Wales has had abdominal surgery

Charles attends a Sunday  church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on January 7

Charles attends a Sunday  church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on January 7 

The statement about Charles' health released on Wednesday by Buckingham Palace

The statement about Charles’ health released on Wednesday by Buckingham Palace 

In another paper he cited potential benefits of homeopathy, and referred to an experiment that suggested Indian herbal remedies which had been ‘ultra-diluted’ with alcohol might be able to cure cancer.

He once wrote that ‘it is not true that science has proved homeopathy is nothing more than placebo’.

It is also claimed that in the mid-2000s he was prescribing an African plant known as devil’s claw for shoulder pain, as well as horny goat weed to help patients suffering from impotence.

Dr Dixon has rallied against the suggestion that homeopathy is just a placebo and insists there is not scientific data to back this up, adding that ‘data exists that indicates the effects of homeopathy may be real’.

It is not a view shared by Lord Stevens of Birmingham, who as chief executive of the NHS in 2017, banned the prescription of homeopathic remedies and called them ‘at best a placebo and a misuse of scarce NHS funds’.

However, Dr Dixon appears to be one of many medics who opposes Lord Stevens’ view, and has previously suggested some homeopathic remedies should be available on the NHS.

The newspaper reported he has put his support behind calls from advocacy group the College of Medicine for treatments like aromatherapy and reflexology to be offered to NHS patients.

In 2010, he was a voice against MPs who were campaigning to end homeopathic treatments on the NHS, saying we must not ‘abandon’ people who are, so far, not being helped by scientific medicine.

Kate arrives for the royal carol concert at Westminster Abbey on December 8 last year

Kate arrives for the royal carol concert at Westminster Abbey on December 8 last year

Kate with her family at the Westminster Abbey carol concert on December 8 last year

Kate with her family at the Westminster Abbey carol concert on December 8 last year

Police officers stand outside The London Clinic today where Kate is staying after surgery

Police officers stand outside The London Clinic today where Kate is staying after surgery

Despite his alternative views, Dr Dixon has a keen supporter in King Charles, who has himself been outspoken about complementary medicine.

In 2017, when he was named patron of the Faculty of Homeopathy, the Good Thinking Society, an organisation which describes itself as ‘pro-science and anti-pseudoscience’, said the appointment was ‘obscene’.

Michael Marshall, the organisation’s director, told the Guardian at the time: ‘We have been reminded only recently that plenty of homeopaths claim to be able to treat autism and discourage vaccinations.

‘If [King] Charles wants to have a genuine positive effect on the health of the nation he intends to one day rule, he should side against those who offer dangerously misleading advice, rather than fighting their corner.’

The King has also been embroiled in an historic dispute with Professor Edzard Ernst over his support of homeopathy – with Ernst once labelling him a ‘snake oil salesman’.

In 1993, King Charles founded the Foundation for Integrated Health, which was established to explore the combination of ‘safe, proven complementary therapies’ with modern medicine.

A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace previously 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.’

Police officers at the London Clinic today after Kate underwent surgery there yesterday

Police officers at the London Clinic today after Kate underwent surgery there yesterday

Kate attends the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London last November

Kate attends the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London last November

It is believed that both Charles and Kate will follow the more conventional routes for recovery after their respective medical procedures in the coming weeks and months.

Kate is not expected to return to public events until after Easter following her abdominal surgery, and her husband Prince William will combine being by his wife’s and children’s side throughout.

She was not rushed for hospital and her condition was not something that developed over the weekend, according to reports.

It is unclear what the exact nature of the surgery, with The Palace unwilling to reveal any details in respect of Kate’s ‘medical privacy’. However it did not rule out the prospect that she may choose to speak publicly about it herself in the future.

Meanwhile Charles will attend hospital next week to be treated for an enlarged prostate.

Aides said the King’s condition was benign and he would be having a corrective procedure. His engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation. 

It is believed he is staying at his private home, Birkhall, on the Balmoral estate where he received the diagnosis today.

While the level of detail on Charles’s health is uncommon, royal sources said that he was keen to share the details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked, in line with public health advice.

Charles had a series of meetings and events planned at Dumfries House in Ayrshire tomorrow and on Friday, which have now been postponed on doctor’s advice.

[ad_2]
This post first appeared on Daily mail