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The Earths's Gift To Medicine
By K-G Wenzel M.D. & R. J. Pataracchia N.D.
'This book is as essential as the minerals it talks about. The word ‘trace’ hides the enormous importance of these minerals that work in concert and are essential for maintaining health
[Read a Review Here]

Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture
By Angela Hicks, John Hicks, Peter Mole
This textbook gives a clear, detailed, and accessible presentation of the main features of constitutional five element acupuncture treatment. It covers the context and history of this form of acupuncture, as well as the relevant Chinese medicine theory
[Read a Review Here]

Revealing the Tao Te Ching
Translation and Commentary by Hu Xuezhi; Edited by Jesse Lee Parker
There are many English translations of the Tao Te Ching. In fact, it is one of the most frequently translated works other than the Bible. This classic dates to 500 B.C. and was attributed to Lao Tzi. While the original work is relatively short, it presents a conflict of logic to the western mind, which can be very thought provoking. After all, ‘The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao.’
[Read a Review Here]

'Holistic Therapy: A Practical Approach'
The VTCT has endorsed the book 'Holistic Therapy: A Practical Approach' by Francesca Gould. This book is suitable for candidates undertaking the VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Holistic Therapies, but can also be used as a general reference book covering other VTCT holistic qualifications
[Read a Review Here]

Adventures in Psychiatry - The Scientific Memoirs of Dr Abram Hoffer
For those of us who have learned, through painful personal experience that drugs, surgery, and most of high-tech medicine offer only very temporary benefits, but rarely if ever a cure, this book tells the wonderful story of the rebirth of nutritional medicine. Based on the science of biochemistry, now known as orthomolecular medicine.
[Read a Review Here]

Natural Healing for Schizophrenia by Eva Edelman
A sizeable number of schizophrenics and their families are dissatisfied with conventional methods and actively seek information on alternative treatments. Individuals interested in brain biochemistry and the influence of nutrients, toxins, and illness on brain functioning will also find this book valuable.
[Read a Review Here]

Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation
In his latest book, Ayurvedic Medicine practitioner and health consultant Andreas Moritz brings to our attention all of the major issues concerning health, offering information and effective methods of cleansing for many of the primal organs and systems of the body, including the blood and blood vessels and the lymphatic system
[Read a Review Here]

CD Helps Holistic Practitioners 'Earn Their Worth'
Amanda Goldstone has created a comprehensive CD and workbook to help practitioners achieve their goals and overcome any limiting beliefs.
[Read a Review Here]

Set up of Nutrition Strategy Steering Group (NSSG)
The Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health have established a Nutrition Strategy Steering Group (NSSG), jointly chaired by Public Health Minister, Caroline Flint and FSA Chair, Dame Deirdre Hutton
[More on This Here]

UK Worst for Nutrition and Obesity
British people have the worst diets in Europe according to the head of the nation's food watchdog. Food Standards Agency (FSA) Chairman Dame Deirdre Hutton says all parts of society are eating badly and the nation has a 'troubled' relationship with food.
[More on This Here]

Is Regulation the Way Forward?

In a move designed to prove themselves on 'our side', the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) held a press conference this week in the very opulent premises of The Royal Society in the St James area of London, to explain its position on herbal medicines.

This complies with a European Union directive which fufills the dual role of ensuring consumer safety in terms of the ingredients used in herbal medicines, and, perhaps more importantly, allows claims of effectiveness to be included in the product description 'on the basis of evidence of traditional usage'.

This is a victory for evidence based wisdom and common sense against empirical, placebo obsessed 'science' which better suits the aims of the modern drugs industry, but it did not stop a number of eminent medical figures, and representatives of the pharmaceutical sector from trying to derail it. Their efforts were in vain, however, and the first herbal remedy to be awarded an MHRA product registration is Atrogel Arnica Gel, from A.Vogel Bioforce.

The Society of Homeopaths, the UK’s largest register of professional homeopaths, and Jayney Goddard of the Complementary Medical Association, have both weighed in against the opponents of regulation (see their comments below).

In this issue, we publish some timely advice from The Food Standards Agency on imported Zam Zam water, which is sacred to Muslims and is supposed to come from a specific source in Saudi Arabia. Leicester City Council have impounded quantities of counterfeit Zam Zam water for commercial sale which contains elevated levels of arsenic and nitrates, both potentially deadly.

So, to bring us back to the friendly face of the MHRA: they want the CAM community to work with them to make the business of alternative medicines a safer one, and that can only be good for both consumers and those who make a living from it. After all, we don't want to kill anyone do we?

Stephen West (BSc Lic.Ac MBAcC)
Email: stephen@altmedzine.com

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The Reiki Regulatory Working Group
The Reiki Regulatory Working Group (RRWG) was set up by representatives of a number of Reiki organisations in collaboration with the Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health.
[More on This Here]

Hypnosis - Correcting a Few Misconceptions
by Debbie Waller

When I first became a Hypnotherapist I discovered that hypnosis is a topic that everyone has a view on, but not many people know much about. Most people's understanding of hypnosis is based on what goes on during a stage show or TV programme.
[More on This Here]