Why do Germans entertain homeopathy as a real medicine when studies have shown that it is useless?

Every pharmacy it seems sells homeopathy, my vet recommended it for my dog when she had an infection, even my midwife (Hebamme) offered it to me while I was in labor... Every scientific study (and there are many) says that homeopathy is a pseudoscience with no real effect other than placebo...

So why do so many Germans believe (and spend so much money) on diluted sugar pills? And why hasn't the government done anything to regulate it's use?

Also, I'm of the strong opinion that even if taking homeopathy isn't directly harmful to the physical body, the breakdown of scientific belief in society is leading society down a dangerous path.