King Charles' new top doctor is a semi-retired GP who believes in the power of alternative medicine – and has even suggested such therapies could cure cancer.
Michael Dixon, 71, worked in the NHS for almost 50 years and now practices as a part-time GP in Devon.
However, his other, much more prestigious role is responsible for the health of the royal family, as head of the royal medical household. The role, which involves managing the medical team around the royal family and being present at the births and deaths of family members, was created in 1973 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
While the role itself has been around for a long time, Dr. Dixon is perhaps the most modern and forward-thinking person to hold the position since it was created. '.
King Charles has previously been criticized for his support of homeopathic practices and was appointed patron of the Faculty of Homeopathy in 2017.
Dr. Michael Dixon, who has previously advocated homeopathic medicines, is the head of the royal medical household, the Sunday Times reports
The Sunday times reports that Dr. Dixon has held his position in the royal family for about a year.
During his career, the report says the doctor wrote papers suggesting Christian healers could help chronically ill patients, despite this being an “unfashionable” claim.
In another article, he cited the potential benefits of homeopathy, and referenced an experiment suggesting that Indian herbal medicines “ultra-diluted” with alcohol could cure cancer.
The king has long been an advocate for homeopathic and alternative treatments, for which he previously came under fire
King Charles pictured at the Culm Valley Integrated Center for Health in Cullompton with Dr Dixon in 2008
Dr. Dixon has pushed back against the suggestion that homeopathy is merely a placebo, insisting there is no scientific data to support this.
The medical profession in Britain and the rest of the world remains deeply divided over homeopathic remedies. In 2017 they were banned on prescription by the NHS, with then Birmingham chief executive Lord Stevens describing them as a 'misuse of scarce NHS funds' because they were simply a 'placebo'.
Dr. However, Dixon appears to be one of many medics opposing Lord Stevens' view, and has previously suggested that some homeopathic remedies should be available on the NHS.
The newspaper reports that he has backed calls from advocacy group the College of Medicine to offer treatments such as aromatherapy and reflexology to NHS patients.
In 2010 he spoke out against MPs who were campaigning to end homeopathic treatment on the NHS. He said that we should not abandon people who have not been helped by scientific medicine so far.
Despite opposition to homeopathy from many in the medical community, King Charles has long spoken about its potential benefits and has previously come under fire for his stance on the subject.
When he was appointed patron of the Faculty of Homeopathy in 2017, the Good Thinking Society, an organization that describes itself as “pro-science and anti-pseudoscience”, said the appointment was “obscene”.
Michael Marshall, director of the organization, told the Guardian at the time: 'We have only recently been reminded that many homeopaths claim to be able to treat autism and discourage vaccinations.
“If (King) Charles wants to have a truly positive impact on the health of the nation he hopes to one day rule, he must side with those who give dangerously misleading advice, rather than fighting their corner.”
The king is also embroiled in a historic dispute with Professor Edzard Ernst over his support for homeopathy – with Ernst once calling him a 'snake oil salesman'.
In 1993, King Charles established the Foundation for Integrated Health, which was established to explore the combination of 'safe, proven complementary therapies' with modern medicine.