The HWG applies to alternative practitioners without restriction. As there is no statutory professional code, misleading claims about efficacy and qualifications are the main risk.
Legal framework
- § 3 HWG: no efficacy promises without scientific proof
- § 11 HWG: limits for public advertising, e.g. misleading testimonials
- § 5 UWG: no doctor-like titles or misleading qualifications
Case law
- OLG Düsseldorf, 20 Feb 2025, I-20 U 53/24 – a patient quote (“my pain is simply gone”) was exceptionally allowed as a recognisable individual report with a clear statement that no cure is promised
Case examples
Bioresonance
“Bioresonance against hay fever – 90 % success rate” based on own patient surveys is misleading without scientific backing.
Cancer therapy
Advertising “complementary cancer therapy with mistletoe” with healing stories breaches § 12 HWG and the ban on misleading case histories.
