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“Georgian is seeing strong interest in the program,” added Fay Lim-Lambie, dean of health, wellness and science.

“As an educational institution we welcome critical discussion and debate,” she said. “It helps ensure the best possible curriculum and learning outcomes for our students.”

She added that, “In an era of patient choice, it is important for the college to provide students with the most diverse education possible, including options for care and different methods.”

A spokesperson for Matthews said Wednesday the minister “will not be commenting on this individual program.”

Georgian College received funding approval for its homeopathy program last August. “The board of governors of each college is responsible for approving programs of instruction,” said Tanya Blazina, of the ministry of advanced education.

It’s the air guitar of medicine. (It) goes through the motions of health care, and looks a bit like medicine, but actually accomplishes nothing at all Pharmacist Scott Gavura

Founded in 1796 by German doctor Samuel Hahneman, homeopathy is based on the philosophy “like cures like,” the theory that a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person will cure those symptoms in a sick person.

The “active” agent is placed in water and ultra-diluted; the more diluted, the higher its potency, the theory holds. But the final product becomes so “ridiculously diluted” it doesn’t contain a single molecule of the original substance in the final product, argues Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society.

The theory is that with each dilution and shakings the water molecules somehow retain a memory or “imprint” of the original substance. A drop of the diluted and “succussed” solution is added to pills made of sugar.