Doctoring the spirit: Exploring the use and meaning of mimicry and parody at a healing centre in the North of England

The widespread increase of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in western societies has been well documented, yet biomedicine has not been significantly challenged by this resurgence. Even within the more esoteric practices such as spiritual and crystal healing, I show how the hegemonic discourse of biomedicine is reflected in the healing acts. Spiritual and crystal healers seemingly infuse their practice with some of the language and science of biomedicine. This throws into question the conventional biomedicine/alternative medicine interface, and offers some insight both into the common metaphorical basis of healing and medicine, and the continued influence of biomedicine. This article addresses this theme in relation to the empirical example of a healing centre in the North of England, where I conducted an ethnographic study