LAUSR

BACKGROUND Signs and symptoms of dis-ease are considered observable manifestations of an immaterial (i.e., not directly observable) Vital Force. Likewise, experimental results on quantum systems are thought to indicate the presence of something that does not show up. Consequently, the discourse of conventional quantum theory (CQT) - with its notions of non-locality and entanglement being objective (i.e., ontic) facets of reality - has been considered useful metaphor for the therapeutic process (TP) in homeopathy/CAMs. Thus, Patient-Practitioner-Remedy (PPR) entanglement, postulated an ontic non-local interaction between patient (Px), practitioner (Pr), and potentised medicine/curative procedure (Rx), resulting in the patient's 'journey to cure.' Recently, a new epistemic interpretation of quantum theory has arisen called QBism. Rooted in the subjectivity of Bayesianism, QBism refutes the notion that the quantum state of a system is a separate ontic property of reality. In QBism therefore, non-locality and entanglement are not ontic but are considered 'subjective degrees of belief' of an agent, i.e., they are personally epistemic. OBJECTIVE To examine whether previous CQT-based entanglement metaphors for the therapeutic process need re-evaluation in the light of the subjective Bayesianism inherent in QBism. METHOD Pr, Px and Rx quantum states/wavefunctions - Px, Rx, and Pr - are reinterpreted in QBist terms. Unlike CQT, this means each quantum state/wavefunction is postulated to have no ontic non-local existence in a presumed external reality. Instead, they are said to represent local subjective 'degrees of belief' of an agent who in this case, is the Pr. RESULTS & CONCLUSION Compared to earlier quantum entanglement metaphors based on CQT, QBism's interpretation of the probabilities inherent in the Px, Rx, Pr quantum state/wavefunctions are Bayesian and subjective. Their resulting highly personal epistemology makes them more aligned with (and therefore potentially more useful to) how practitioners might experience the evolution of the TP. Also, because QBism predicts non-locality and entanglement can only be at best, subjective properties of a practitioner's own beliefs, the overall significance of previous ontic non-local CQT-based entanglement metaphors for the TP is questioned.