A recent national survey of more than 700 US physicians revealed that they are divided evenly on the impact of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) on U.S. health care. Approximately 36% believe it has a negative impact, 35% believe it has a positive impact and 20% feel CAM has no impact.

Despite their close division on the impact of CAM on U.S. health care, 64% of doctors reported that they have recommended complementary treatments to their patients, while 36% indicated they have not. Sixty-three percent would be willing to recommend them under some circumstances and 65% believe that the National Institutes of Health should fund research on CAM.

The survey which probed physicians' views on controversial techniques such as acupuncture, therapeutic touch and homeopathy, was conducted by HCD Research and The Louis Finkelstein Institute for Religion and Social Studies of The Jewish Theological Seminary, during September 1-2. The margin of error for the study was plus or minus 3% at a 95% level of confidence.

The well-known alternative and complementary therapies including acupuncture, chiropractic and massage received higher marks for their effectiveness than treatments such as aromatherapy, electromagnetic field therapies, homeopathy and naturopathy.

Among the findings:

* More than half of the physicians (59%) believed that acupuncture can be effective to some extent.

* Nearly half of the physicians (48%) believed that chiropractic can be effective, while 29% indicated that it is ineffective, and 57% of physicians reported that massage therapies can be effective.

* A mere 10% of physicians reported aromatherapy to be effective. Similarly, only 12% indicated that electromagnetic field therapies were effective, and 16% of physicians believed that homeopathy and naturopathy were effective to some degree.

* While a plurality of doctors (46%) felt that alternative approaches could be helpful to patients in some cases, 28% felt that they could be harmful. Thirteen percent believed that the putative helpfulness of CAM was due to the placebo effect.'The one trait that all complementary and alternative therapies share is the fact that they are not conventionally used,' noted Glenn Kessler, co-founder and managing partner, HCD Research. 'However, they are not all the same and as we see in this study, physicians clearly recognize that each therapy must be judged on its own merits.'

'The message here is that techniques, like acupuncture, which have made it into the mainstream, are recognized by physicians as useful complements to scientific medicine,' said Dr. Alan Mittleman, Director of the Finkelstein Institute. 'Other therapies remain on the fringe and are viewed with suspicion. Nonetheless, physicians seem willing to let their patients - and future research - decide what has credibility and what doesn't.'

To view detailed results for this poll, please go to: http://publish.hcdhealth.com/P1007.

Nine national organisations working together as the Traditional Medicines (TM) Congress  have released the first public draft of 'A Proposed Regulatory Model for Traditional Medicines: Guiding Assumptions and Key Components.' This comprehensive document presents ideas for a new model for the regulation of traditional medicines in the United States, and will now be subject to an open review process by interested individuals and organisations.  

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) joined with 8 other organisations to exchange ideas about the future of traditional medicines in the U.S. The result of these discussions was the formation of the TM Congress. In seeking to emphasise both the value of traditional medicines and the responsibilities that are associated with their use, it was agreed that:

The goal of the Traditional Medicines Congress is to benefit public health by ensuring access to traditional medicines in a manner that provides a reasonable expectation of public safety.

'We are extremely pleased to be part of this group of national organisations working cooperatively together for the first time to address one of the most critical issues facing our profession' said Dr. Kory Ward-Cook, Chief Executive Officer of NCCAOM. 'This is an important first step in protecting access to traditional medicines and improving people’s health and well being.' 

The Chair of the NCCAOM Board of Commissioners, Alice McCormick, Dipl. Ac. And C.H. (NCCAOM), stated, 'We are hoping that this document will provide a real opportunity for our community to dialogue about this important issue. Access to the tools we need for the practice of our medicine is a critical issue and together we must decide how we will work to create the future that our patients need to be well.' 

Anyone with an interest in traditional medicines is now invited to review the draft document that the TM Congress has developed. A Proposed Regulatory Model for Traditional Medicines is posted (in PDF format) at http://www.nccaom.org/TMCPDraft.pdf. Comments can be emailed to TMCongressFeedback@pobox.com.

Doctors' Campaign Against Alternative Therapies

'We are a group of physicians and scientists who are concerned about ways in which unproven or disproved treatments are being encouraged for general use in the NHS. We would ask you to review practices in your own trust, and to join us in representing our concerns to the Department of Health because we want patients to benefit from the best treatments available.

There are two particular developments to which we would like to draw your attention. First, there is now overt promotion of homeopathy in parts of the NHS (including the NHS Direct website). It is an implausible treatment for which over a dozen systematic reviews have failed to produce convincing evidence of effectiveness. Despite this, a recently-published patient guide, promoting use of homeopathy without making the lack of proven efficacy clear to patients, is being made available through government funding.

Further suggestions about benefits of homeopathy in the treatment of asthma have been made in the ‘Smallwood Report’ and in another publication by the Department of Health designed to give primary care groups 'a basic source of reference on complementary and alternative therapies.'A Cochrane review of all relevant studies, however, failed to confirm any benefits for asthma treatment.

Secondly, as you may know, there has been a concerted campaign to promote complementary and alternative medicine as a component of healthcare provision. Treatments covered by this definition include some which have not been tested as pharmaceutical products, but which are known to cause adverse effects, and others that have no demonstrable benefits. While medical practice must remain open to new discoveries for which there is convincing evidence, including any branded as ‘alternative’, it would be highly irresponsible to embrace any medicine as though it were a matter of principle. 

At a time when the NHS is under intense pressure, patients, the public and the NHS are best served by using the available funds for treatments that are based on solid evidence. Furthermore, as someone in a position of accountability for resource distribution, you will be familiar with just how publicly emotive the decisions concerning which therapies to provide under the NHS can be; our ability to explain and justify to patients the selection of treatments, and to account for expenditure on them more widely, is  compromised if we abandon our reference to evidence. We are sensitive to the needs of patients for complementary care to enhance well-being and for spiritual support to deal with the fear of death at a time of critical illness, all of which can be supported through services already available within the NHS without resorting to false claims.

These are not trivial matters. We urge you to take an early opportunity to review practice in your own trust with a view to ensuring that patients do not receive misleading information about the effectiveness of alternative medicines. We would also ask you to write to the Department of Health requesting evidence-based information for trusts and for patients with respect to alternative medicine.

Yours sincerely
Professor Michael Baum
Emeritus Professor of Surgery, University College London

and
Professor Frances Ashcroft FRS
University Laboratory of Physiology, Oxford
Professor Sir Colin Berry
Emeritus Professor of Pathology, Queen Mary, London
Professor Gustav Born FRS
Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology, Kings College London
Professor Sir James Black FRS
Kings College London
Professor David Colquhoun FRS
University College London
Professor Peter Dawson
Clinical Director of Imaging, University College London
Professor Edzard Ernst
Peninsula Medical School, Exeter
Professor John Garrow
Emeritus Professor of Human Nutrition, London
Professor Sir Keith Peters FRS
President, The Academy of Medical Sciences
Mr Leslie Rose
Consultant Clinical Scientist
Professor Raymond Tallis
Emeritus Professor of Geriatric Medicine, University of Manchester
Professor Lewis Wolpert CBE FRS
University College London.

HRH Prince of Wales Address to the 59th World Health Assembly (Abridged)

I believe that there is now a desperately urgent need to redress the fragile, but vital balance between man and Nature through a more integrated approach where the best of the ancient is blended with the best of the modern. We must think beyond the practice of reducing everything to component parts, and this is where, I believe, modern medicine needs to accommodate a more integrated and holistic approach.

To my mind, this is even more true in regard to long-term diseases. I have heard them referred to as the 'silent epidemic', but the statistics speak as loudly as those of infectious diseases. According to the World Health Organization, of fifty-eight million annual deaths worldwide, a staggering thirty-five million are the result of chronic diseases. They are now the major cause of death among adults in almost every country of the world. In the United Kingdom, the Government’s Department of Health has discovered that eighty per cent of all consultations are taken up with chronic complaints, which range from heart disease, stroke and diabetes to depression and addiction.

None of us is immune. And it is vital to be very clear that these conditions are not just diseases of affluence. They belong to rich and poor alike.

I am told, for example, that in Nigeria thirty five per cent of women are obese. In China, one hundred and sixty million people are reported to be hypertensive; while in Asia, cases of diabetes will apparently rise by ninety per cent over the next twenty years. In the United Kingdom, the number of obese children is predicted to double over the next ten years.

Indeed, the Chief Executive of the United Kingdom’s Audit Commission recently said that this alone will lead to a reduction in the overall life expectancy of the next generation of British adults. Not only do these conditions drastically reduce life spans, but they seriously compromise the quality of many lives as well, causing people to become progressively ill and debilitated. This acceleration in long term disease, it seems to me, can be seen as the result of fragmented approaches to health which, in turn, fail to produce that apparently most elusive quality, which is harmony.

As few long term diseases are curable, we need also to think radically about our objectives in improving the lifestyles of those who suffer from chronic conditions. The need to prevent deterioration, to maximize the quality of life and the ability of a patient to function, calls for a more holistic approach – one which respects an individual’s choices, culture and expectations.

This is where orthodox practice can learn from complementary medicine, the West can learn from the East and new from old traditions. For the past twenty-four years I have argued that patients should be able to gain the benefit of the 'best of both worlds' – complementary and orthodox – as part of an integrated approach to healing. Many of today’s complementary therapies are rooted in ancient traditions that intuitively understood the need to maintain balance and harmony with our minds, bodies and the natural world. Much of this knowledge, often based on oral traditions, is sadly being lost yet, orthodox medicine has so much to learn from it. It is tragic, it seems to me - and indeed to many people who have studied this whole area - that in the ceaseless rush to 'modernise', many beneficial approaches, which have been tried and tested and have shown themselves to be effective, have been cast aside because they are deemed to be 'old-fashioned' or 'irrelevant' to today’s needs.

There are clear examples which come to mind, particularly in the fields of acupuncture and herbal medicines. While scientists try to learn more about how acupuncture works, increasingly robust evidence, drawn from a number of international studies, indicates that it does work, particularly for the treatment of conditions such as osteoarthritis of the knee. It can, according to the evidence, also alleviate the nausea and vomiting that can be so debilitating for those taking anti-cancer drugs.

In the case of herbal applications such as St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), which has been used since the time of the ancient Greeks, about thirty clinical trials have shown some positive effects in treating non-severe depression, with a remarkably low incidence of side-effects. However, it is perhaps worth pointing out that just at the moment the world begins to realise the immense value of Nature’s gift, in the management of our health, the ecological or traditional habitats from which they come are being rapidly destroyed as I speak. And if we are not very careful, we will lose a vital life support system for future generations.

In the United Kingdom, my Foundation for Integrated Health has been the leading champion of this integrated approach for the past eleven years. Another of my organisations, the International Business Leaders Forum, has been working with the W.H.O. on a number of projects aimed at, amongst other things, finding ways of improving health through better diets and increasing physical activity, in a number of countries.

My Foundation for Integrated Health has, as part of its approach, encouraged better research and regulation of complementary medicine so that patients can be confident of its safety and effectiveness. I am delighted that F.I.H. is now also working with the World Health Organization and the King’s Fund in London on a new project which has, as its main objective, the aim of examining and exploring different approaches to the regulation of complementary medicine worldwide.

The Foundation also has an awards scheme for integrated projects. I recently visited one in a deprived inner city area which showed how an integrated approach, involving acupuncture and other complementary treatments, appears to have been particularly helpful for patients with mental health problems. Recently, my Foundation has also created an association of clinicians who are developing integrated approaches throughout the U.K. What was once regarded as peripheral is increasingly now seen as mainstream.

Now ladies and gentleman, the question, to my mind, should no longer be whether healthcare services should be integrated, but how and how soon it can be done? But you don’t just have to take my word for it… look at the all indicators that there are around. For example, in the United Kingdom, research in recent years has shown that fifty per cent of General Practitioners are referring their patients to complementary Practitioners, and, according to B.B.C. Television surveys, over seventy-five per cent of patients would like to have the choice of a complementary as well as an orthodox approach to their problem.

The case of Artemesia is a classic example of where real progress can be made. A naturally growing plant, long used in China for treating Malaria, Artemesia is now a treatment of choice in many parts of the World. I have also heard that it is currently being grown in Africa and that the W.H.O. is working to try to ensure that it will eventually become available to all who need it.

Last year I commissioned a report in order to encourage a better informed debate about the effectiveness of different therapies and treatments which might eventually result in savings. The report, compiled by a British economist, Christopher Smallwood, was published last October and it found evidence that complementary approaches could help to fill gaps in some orthodox treatments, particularly in relation to many chronic conditions such as lower back pain, osteoarthritis of the knee, stress, anxiety and depression, and post-operative nausea and pain.

Centuries ago, Plato said, 'The cure of the part should not be attempted without treatment of the whole'. Centuries later, the World Health Organization recognized this principle in its 1948 constitution (incidentally, the year I was born!), when it defined health as a 'complete state of physical, mental and social wellbeing'. Today, therefore, is our chance to redefine our health systems so that they provide the balance and connectedness that the Twenty-First Century so desperately needs.

NB: The full speech can be found at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/even...h/en/index.htm

Foundation for Integrated Health is at: http://www.fihealth.org.uk

Should the NHS Fund Complementary Medicine?, asks Poll

Mike Simpson, Editor of NHS Networks, says: ‘Complementary’ or ‘alternative’ medicine (sometimes called CAM) is a hot topic right now. Thirteen of the most senior medical experts in Britain have this week signed a letter which was sent to the Chief Executives of every PCT and Acute Trust in England. The letter argues that, at a time of financial crisis, NHS funds should not be spent on therapies which have not undergone proper clinical trials proving their effectiveness.

'On the other side of the fence, Prince Charles has been advocating ‘integration’ of alternative therapies with conventional medicine in a speech delivered to the annual assembly of the World Health Organisation.

'The NHS currently provides a range of complementary therapies, not least through the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital (part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust). In February, the Prescription Pricing Authority was in the news when it licensed a brand of magnetic bandage for prescription. It would be fair to describe the provision of CAM through the NHS as controversial and this week’s combination of the letter to Trusts and the Prince’s comments has certainly stoked the debate.

'The question we asked in a recent poll is not: ‘do these therapies work?’ (although we invited readers to debate that in a discussion thread) but this: Should the NHS, which has a finite amount of public money available, spend some of it on therapies for which there is a considerable body of anecdotal evidence but which have either not undergone rigorous clinical trials or have undergone trials which failed to prove their effectiveness?

The table below shows thew results of the poll, which is now closed.

General Chiropractic Council Responds to Times NHS Letter

NHS resources are finite and every penny must be spent wisely for the benefit of patients and the public. The focus therefore on evidence of efficacy and cost effectiveness when commissioning new treatments for NHS patients is essential. This is why the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) considers it important that chiropractic management of back pain must be made more accessibie for NHS patients.

Chiropractors, who are regulated in the UK by the GCC, undergo a four year honours degree course so that, upon graduation, they can deliver evidence-based care to their patients. They are also trained in differential diagnosis so that they can identify underlying disorders that require urgent referral for medical help.

There is very good evidence that the chiropractic management of back pain is effective in terms of cost and outcome. Gold standard trials funded by the Medical Research Council have clearly demonstrated this. There is nothing simple about managing back pain - it requires a package of care - involving advice about exercise, lifestyle and activity as well as spinal manipulation.

Best practice guidelines on the management of back pain formulated by multiprofessional teams of experts in musculoskeletal disorders have been available for years but have not yet been widely implemented within the NHS. This omission is not in the interests of the public or the UK's economy.

Peter Dixon, the GCC's Acting Chairman, said: 'A Majority of patients consult chiropractors because of back pain. The inclusion of the chiropractic profession in the coverage of the heart-felt letter circulated by Professor Baum and his colleagues seems to be based on the wholly inaccurate impression that chiropractors practice altemative medicine.
Time has moved on. Let's all please move with it and give credit to a health profession that, given half a chance, could provide care that would be of real benefit to NHS patients'.

The Role Of Chiropractic Within The NHS

The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) notes with interest the joint letter sent by Professor Baum and others to Health Trust Chief Executives.

The BCA fully supports the notion of a national policy review of all treatment choices to ensure cost effectiveness to the state, but also to provide the maximum range of healthcare options for patients. There can be no doubt that the provision of chiropractic ultimately increases patient choice. Research has repeatedly demonstrated that chiropractic significantly improves the recovery time, reduces 'sick' days and offers cost savings to the NHS.

Chiropractors are primary health care practitioners, regulated by law, who provide a package of care that can work independently, or alongside treatment prescribed by NHS doctors and other health care professionals.

Chiropractic is a mature profession, and the treatment has been the subject of numerous research studies, including three funded by the Medical Research Council. These results published in the British Medical Journal, demonstrate the efficacy and cost effectiveness of chiropractic care. In fact, there is more evidence-based research to support chiropractic treatment than for any other complementary disciplines.

Barry Lewis, BCA President comments: 'The vast majority of chiropractic patients are suffering from lower back pain or neck pain. When it comes to back pain, there is no single treatment that has been researched more than chiropractic, and the results speak volumes.'

General Osteopathic Council Calls for More Patient-Focused Care

Calling on the NHS to abandon Complementary and Alternative Medicine is irresponsible and counter-productive to improving health services in Britain today ('NHS told to abandon alternative medicine', Times, Tuesday, 23 May 2006.) 

With existing NHS resources under intense pressure, patients, the public and the NHS are indeed best served by using available funds for treatments that are based on solid evidence. 

Osteopathic services adopted by the NHS across the UK are clear evidence of the cost-effectiveness of integrating a truly patient-centred, multi-disciplinary approach into standard NHS care.  Fast access and the highly-skilled diagnostic intervention offered by osteopaths is indubitably helping to reduce the immense cost of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) to the UK economy, but there is clear and urgent need for further expansion into primary care.  (MSDs make up 20% of GP consultations and the NHS spends an estimated £480 million a year on services used by people with back pain alone.) 

The public already recognise the value of these complementary services – researching options and choosing to invest £1.6 billion of private income each year to resolve personal health problems where conventional care has not succeeded.  It is not acceptable in today's society that those of limited means have also to suffer limited healthcare options. 
 
GOsC Chief Executive Madeleine Craggs said: 'All recognise the value of evidence-based practice, but given the lack of funding for controlled trials, an interim solution may be to pilot more integrated services. Outcome measurements will provide a first step towards clearly-targeted, cost-effective care.

'Never more so than at this time of economic strain in the NHS – and if it is really patients who are to benefit – it is beholden on healthcare leaders to look beyond the conventional. '

The National Council of Osteopathic Research (NCOR): www.ncor.org.uk

The General Osteopathic Council: www.osteopathy.org.uk

Federation of Holistic Therapists Responds to Times Letter

In response to the Doctors' Letter reproduced in The Times on 23rd May 2006 we would like to raise a number of points.

Firstly we believe in the validity of Complementary Therapies and have witnessed first hand the far-reaching beneflts of various treatments. These therapies should be viewed as working in partnership with traditional healthcare - not as an alrernative to it. Our practitioners in these areas want to work with conventional medical practitioners to complement what they do not to underrmine it. They want to act responsibility and for that reason are actively working with the Department of Health to achieve self-regulation to ensure high standards of practice. Such co-operation should be applauded not condemned in such a narrow-minded manner.

The language within the letter demonstrates very little understanding of the subject of Complementary Therapy. They use both terms alternative and complementary medicine throughout Ihe Ietter and refer without distinction to a huge range of treatments from Homeopathy and Acupuncture through to Massage, Reflexology and Aromatherapy. The nonspecific nature of this attack means it is very difficult to answer their criticism in a coherent manner.

Contrary to the content of the letter there is an abundance of small scale research demonstrating the effectiveness of many therapies. These are available to see via the Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Health website, http://www.fihealth.org.uk Selected research abstracts are also available via our website www.fht.org.uk and through our Magazine, International Therapist. We may not be able to submit research in the quantities that drug companies do but that is due to the lack of funding that can be ploughed into large scale research projects. Whilst the major drug companies can pour millions into proving the efficacy of their medicines they would have no interest in proving the effectiveness of a hands-on therapy with no returns for them.

Complementary Therapies work because they are 'holistic' - concerned with the whole person and not just treating the disease or symptom. This is especially important in the treatment of chronic conditions for which conventional medicine has no solution. All aspects of a person's life are taken into account to discover the root cause. Most GP's surgeries are full of people with chronic conditions. These cost the NHS enormous amounts of money and here complementary therapies can help make considerable cost-savings.

We all know the problems of funding the NHS, which rise each year. But there is no reason to think that by expanding the use of complementary therapies that money will be diverted from conventional medicine. In fact it is more cost-effective to treat, for example, stress-related conditions before they manifest into acute medical problems. Just as it is more cost-effective to fund dietary and exercise advice before it manifests into diabetes or heart attacks. Most complementary therapies focus on preventative treatment and not just acute treatment. This is a major distinction from conventional medicine.

In palliative care complementary therapies have proved themselves time and again. Treatments that involve touch and not just drugs have major psychological and real physiological benefits. We can provide details of reports which can support our case, as well as medical practitioners committed to furthering the acceptance of Complementary Therapy into mainstream Healthcare.

Jackie Palmer, Chief Executive, Federation of Holistic Therapists

http://www.fht.org.uk

The CMA Responds to Dr Baum and Colleagues

Professor Michael Baum, Emeritus Professor of Surgery, University College London, and 12 other doctors and scientists published an open letter in The Times newspaper on 23 May which was circulated to all 476 NHS Trusts. This letter was basically an attack upon 'Alternative Medicine' and it’s use in the NHS.  Baum and colleagues letter to The Times was full of inaccuracies and was poorly researched. 
 
First of all, Baum and colleagues make the mistake of using the term 'Alternative Medicine' .  This is misleading as this implies that one form of medicine is used instead of another in an NHS setting.    In fact, this doesn’t happen and it would be more accurate to describe the adjunct treatments offered as 'Complementary Medicine' which works with conventional medicine – not instead of it.  In order to understand what is really going on and then portray an accurate picture of the situation, Baum and colleagues need to first of all get their terminology right.
 
There are many instances where 'Complementary Medicine' is used in the NHS – alongside conventional medicine.  This includes the use of acupuncture in pain clinics, as just one example.  Physiotherapy and massage are examples of treatment modalities that were once considered to be complementary and are now provided as a matter of course within NHS settings.  In addition, there are several NHS homeopathic hospitals that provide an extremely valuable service to patients.
 
Baum and colleagues imply that these 'Alternatives' are 'unproven or disproven'. Again, sadly they are mistaken and really need to look at the research before they undertake a smear campaign such as this.  The vast majority of the Complementary Medical treatments available on the NHS are in fact proven to work – however one of the most controversial disciplines on offer is homeopathy and this is the main area that seems to be causing Baum and colleagues some difficulty. 
 
Homeopathic medicine is indeed controversial, as in order for a homeopath to treat a patient, the person’s individual symptoms have to be taken into account in order to make an individualised prescription.  This means that homeopathy does not perform exceptionally well in Random Controlled Trials – where one group of people are all given the same medicine and another group of people are given placebo – or inactive medicine.  This is quite logical and expected – since well all know that no two people are alike and furthermore, no two people ever experience an illness in quite the same way.  So, when homeopathic trials are based upon individualised prescriptions we see a very different picture.  At the end of 2005 the results of a large six year study of 6,500 patients at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital reported 75% improvement in their health(1).  
 
There are many trials that support the efficacy of homeopathic medicine when it is prescribed in the correct manner.  One interesting trial in particular was undertaken on people who had had conventional medicine and had found that it had not worked or was unsatisfactory.  Out of the 829 patients questioned – 61% had a substantial improvement in their condition (2).
 
Baum and Colleagues question the need for provision of complementary medicine within the NHS – but they seem to have missed some rather important data that illustrates the fact that 70% of GPs feel complementary medicine should be freely available on the NHS(3). 
 
Furthermore research has demonstrated that substantial savings could be made by introducing homeopathy into general practice(4). 
 
As for the small matter of whether the public feel that complementary medicine should be available on the NHS – one only has to look at the BBC website to see that they have been running a poll in which at time of writing shows that over 12,500 people have made their position clear – over 50% are in favour of Complementary Medicine being provided on the NHS. 
 
So, Baum and colleagues really need to stop patronising the public and realise that people want these disciplines – because they know that they work.  Perhaps Baum and colleagues might like to get on with the job of researching complementary medicine to find out why these helpful disciplines work – and while they are at it perhaps they could look into the reasons why over 40,000 people are killed and over 850,000 injured in the UK each year as a result of conventional medical blunders(5).
 
References
 
1 Homeopathic treatment for chronic disease: a six-year University-Hospital Outpatient Observational Study. Dr. D.S Spence, Dr. E A Thompson & S J Barron. J. Altern. Complement. Med. 2005; 11:5:793-798
 
2 Sevar, R. Audit of in 829consecutive patients treated with homeopathic medicine.
British Homeopathic Journal Vol89, No. 4 Oct 2000
 
3 GP Magazine, November 2004
 
4 The Role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the NHS led by Christopher Smallwood, October 2005
 
5 An organisation with a memory Report of an expert group on learning from adverse events in the NHS chaired by the Chief Medical Officer 13/06/2002.

One of the Most Proven Complementary Therapies is Least Known

On the eve of the re-opening of the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital by HRH The Prince of Wales, and after a week that saw calls for top level scientific evidence on the effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine, members of the British Autogenic Society are hoping for more public recognition of Autogenic Therapy.

‘There are a very great many scientific papers around validating the effectiveness of Autogenic Therapy – or AT -- for relieving and helping people cope with the symptoms of stress and other conditions.  AT is available on the NHS at the RoyalLondon Homeopathic Hospital, where it is found to be extremely beneficial for chronically ill patients.  It is suitable for people engaged in all areas of life, including those in the world of sport and creative arts.  The British Olympic Rifle Team Squad and astronauts at NASA have used it to enhance performance. As a non-drug technique that’s been proven to relieve the symptoms of a wide range of afflictions, AT really should enjoy the same kind of public recognition of say, acupuncture or homeopathy,’ says Sonia Saunders, Chairman of the British Autogenic Society, the professional and regulatory body for autogenic practitioners in the UK.

What’s more, unlike other CAM therapies that suffer from lack of professional regulation, AT is one of only a handful of techniques with an organisation like the British Autogenic Society dedicated to setting educational and professional standards, licensing practitioners, and providing a rigorous, 3-level training programme. 

So what doesn’t the public know about AT? ‘It’s from the Greek words that together mean ‘generated from within’ and is an entirely natural therapeutic process,’ explains Saunders, herself a licensed AT therapist.  ‘Our clients are taught a series of easily learned mental exercises that allow the mind to calm itself by switching off the body’s normal responses to stress. Once learned it’s a skill for life, and simple to do almost anywhere: on planes, at work, whilst waiting for your dentist. Anybody can do it.’ An open invitation to all, including perhaps, our heir to the throne.

The offices of the British Autogenic Society are located on the ground floor of the newly-reopened Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3HR.

www.autogenic-therapy.org.uk

Oregon College of Oriental Medicine Partners with Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) is continuing its partnership with Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to support and advance clinical acupuncture and Oriental medicine training in the United States. Representatives of Chengdu University of TCM visited the Portland campus this month to review the partnership agreement that supports OCOM’s clinical doctoral program.

The two institutions have developed a strong relationship that began in 1998 with the sharing of highly qualified and experienced faculty. Chengdu University of TCM now also provides externship opportunities for OCOM’s doctoral students in university-affiliated hospitals and clinics in China.

Last year representatives of OCOM visited the campus in Chengdu. This spring, Zhongyuan Zhang, CCP secretary of the university, and Hongwu Yao, director of foreign affairs, were both pleased to visit the OCOM campus. During their visit, they learned more about the college and the clinic doctoral program, and discussed the possibilities for increasing future collaboration.

'This visit marks the continued development of OCOM’s relationship with Chengdu University,' said Beth Burch, ND, dean of doctoral studies. 'We look forward to the educational, economic, and clinical rewards that emerge from such collaboration.'

The delegation also met with OCOM’s president, Dr. Michael Gaeta, members of OCOM’s board of trustees, and key OCOM administrators and faculty. They concluded their visit with some sightseeing, visiting such northwest attractions as the Rose Garden, Portland Classical Chinese Garden and Multnomah Falls.

Chengdu University of TCM, founded in 1956, is one of the four oldest universities of traditional Chinese medicine in China. The university trains approximately 15,000 students, conferring master’s and doctoral degrees in 27 different majors. Chengdu University of TCM also operates eight teaching hospitals and 18 hospitals for student practice. This October, the university will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Founded in 1983, the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland, Oregon is a nationally accredited four-year college that trains master’s and doctoral degree students in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. OCOM was one of the first colleges to gain approval from the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) in May 2002 for a post-graduate program in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. In October 2005, OCOM’s doctoral program became one of only two programs in the country to earn candidacy status from ACAOM.

OCOM also operates a teaching clinic, the OCOM Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic with a Faculty Practice, Intern Clinic, Herbal Clinic, and Massage Clinics. The OCOM Acupuncture & Herbal Clinic provides affordable health care to an estimated 1,500 patients per month throughout the Portland metropolitan area.

http://www.ocom.ed

The National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) welcomes five new members to the National Advisory Council for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NACCAM). The Council serves as the principal advisory body to NCCAM, a component of the National Institutes of Health within the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Council, which meets three times a year, is composed of physicians, scientists, licensed alternative and complementary medicine practitioners, and representatives of the public who contribute their time and expertise over a 4-year term. Council members offer advice and recommendations on the prioritisation, conduct, and support of complementary and alternative medicine research, including research training and disseminating health information derived from NCCAM's research.

New NACCAM members include:
* Silvia Corvera, M.D., Professor, Program in Molecular Medicine and Department of Cell Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
* Joan E. B. Fox, Ph.D., Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
* Ted J. Kaptchuk, O.M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director, Asian Medicine and Healing Program, Harvard Medical School, Osher Institute, Cambridge, MA
* Bruce G. Redman, D.O., Clinical Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI
* Danny D. Shen, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Silvia Corvera, M.D. Dr. Corvera is Professor in the Program in Molecular Medicine and Department of Cell Biology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She trained as an endocrinologist; she has focused her efforts on understanding type II diabetes, a metabolic disease that currently affects 12 million adults in the U.S. alone. Dr. Corvera has served on the editorial boards of Diabetes and the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Joan E. B. Fox, Ph.D. Dr. Fox is Professor in the Departments of Molecular Cardiology, Cardiovascular Medicine, and Center for Integrative Medicine (where she was the founding director) at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University. Her research focuses on intracellular signaling mechanisms regulating cell migration and movement, vascular biology, atherosclerosis, and formation of blood vessels. Her research also includes studying mechanisms by which complementary mind-body practices affect the cardiovascular system. Dr. Fox practices many complementary therapies, including Reiki.

Ted J. Kaptchuk, O.M.D. Dr. Kaptchuk is Associate Director of the Osher Institute, Harvard Medical School, Director of the Asian Medicine and Healing Program at Harvard Medical School, and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. His original training includes a doctorate in East Asian medicine from Macau Institute of Chinese Medicine, and he is considered an expert in many forms of alternative medicine. His recent research centers on clinical, basic mechanism biological and psychosocial mechanisms, and methodological implications of placebo effects.

Bruce G. Redman, D.O. Dr. Redman is a Clinical Professor within the Department of Internal Medicine and serves as Chair of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Data Monitoring Committee at the University of Michigan. He is an advisor to the Food and Drug Administration as a member of the Oncology Drug Advisory Committee, and is also Executive Officer of the Southwest Oncology Group, the largest cooperative clinical trials group in the United States. Dr. Redman's research interests focus on immunotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of cancer, especially as they apply to melanoma and kidney cancer.

Danny D. Shen, Ph.D. Dr. Shen is Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Washington. He is also a Full Member of the Clinical Research Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre where he directs the Pharmacokinetics Laboratory within the Clinical Research Division. Dr. Shen's research focuses on metabolic interactions between drugs and herbal supplements and drug delivery to the central nervous system. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research and is a fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.

Don't let Your Holiday Make you Sick

You worked flat out to clear your desk, you forgot about who was going to feed the cat while you are away, your flight was delayed and on arrival at the resort your hotel is not what you expected! Still, you are at last relaxing on the beach and feeling great! Well actually not that great - your back aches, you sense a cold coming on and your digestion has started to play up already! What's going on?

Kinesiologists understand only too well: The cumulative effect of adrenal exhaustion, poor diet, unresolved infections and emotional turmoil all play a key role in triggering colds and flu, migraine headaches, irritable bowl syndrome, food sensitivities, rashes, low back pain and poor energy levels. These are unwelcome travelling companions and can cause unnecessary misery early on in a holiday.

If you work in a profession dominated by tight deadlines, you are particularly prone to becoming ill once you give your body the green light to relax after a bout of pressurised working.

Visiting a kinesiologist at least a month before your holiday can ensure that any problem areas are identified and effectively treated. This typically includes supplementation of vitamins and minerals you are deficient in, gentle massaging of reflex points and simple self-help exercises that can be maintained throughout your holiday.

The tendency is to fill up on junk food when stressed, so the kinesiologist would also examine your diet, checking for food sensitivities and allergies at the same time. The efficiency of your liver to detoxify body chemicals might be tested too, since an imbalance can result in eczema, rashes, spots and a general feeling of sluggishness.

As your holiday approaches you may become aware of unresolved, emotional problems, or even fears and phobias about flying, spiders, or other insects. Again a kinesiologist can identify these before you travel and assist with their removal and release. Flower essences and simple body tapping procedures work well in such situations - leaving you feeling fantastic and free to make the most of your time out.

Now all you need worry about is who fed the cat!

If you would like more information on what kinesiology is and how it can help you enjoy a symptom-free holiday contact the Kinesiology Federation on 08700 113545, or:
email: kfadmin@kinesiologyfederation.org
www.kinesiologyfederation.org.

Sick Days Cost the UK Economy £1.7bn per year

A major concern of most business owners and managers is staff absence. Just last year the UK economy was hit by a loss of £12.2 bn through staff absence according to a survey conducted by the employers’ group and insurance firm Axa.

The overall cost of £12.2bn has increased from £11.6bn in the previous survey. These figures represent the cost of covering salaries for absent staff, the resulting overtime and temporary cover, and lost service or production time. £1.7bn is due to staff 'pulling sickies' rather than absence resulting from genuine ill-health.

There are many different reasons that cause a person to become ill, but with a healthy balanced diet the risks of getting ill are greatly reduced.

G&G Vitamins, a nutritional company based in East Grinstead, have commissioned the creation of a FREE nutritional deficiency test. This test, which is available online at www.vittest.co.uk can be used by Human Resources and staff to help determine nutritional deficiencies. The test is quick and easy and comes with free nutritional advice from a trained practitioner.

Jeremy Stephens, MD of G&G Vitamins comments: 'here at G&G we provide our staff with free nutritional advice and a daily multi-vitamin supplement to help prevent against illness. Last year we launched the free online vitamin test to help provide people with a basic plan for their nutritional health. This year we have obtained the services of a qualified practitioner to offer a better service. We encourage other employers to try the vitamin test and help prevent staff illness. Maybe this year we can boost the UK economy with a healthy work force.'

http://www.vittest.co.uk

Licensing of Acupuncturists in Scotland

New legislation came into effect on 1st April 2006 in Scotland requiring acupuncturists to be licensed by their local authority.

Unless you are a medical practitioner practising acupuncture within a hospital or independent clinic, you will need to have the premises where you practice, licensed by the local authority. It is understood that physiotherapists and nurses or other healthcare professionals working in NHS premises are not required to register, but practitioners are advised to check this with their heads of department.

The Scottish Parliament have made provision for practitioners who apply to their local authority BEFORE 1st April, to continue practising subject to the local authority assessing their application up to twelve months after it has been made.

If this affects you and you would like to find out more about the legislation you can read a copy of Scottish Statutory Instrument number 43 on the internet.

Summary of changes in Scotland:
* Medical Doctors do not need a license if working in a hospital or independent clinic.
* Healthcare professionals working in NHS premises may not need to register but you should check this with the department that employs you.
* All other acupuncturists will need to be licensed and should apply.

Kentucky One of the Last US States to Regulate Acupuncture

An arduous, eight-year journey has come to an end for acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners and proponents living in Kentucky. Governor Ernie Fletcher signed HB17, the state's first law regulating acupuncture, on April 26, 2006, making Kentucky the 44th state to implement laws regulating the practice of acupuncture. The law will go into effect on July 15, 2006, and will require acupuncturists to meet national standards for education and certification.

The successful passing of the law is credited in part to an intensive grass-roots campaign that began one year before the 2006 legislative session, and in part to the cooperation of the Kentucky Medical Licensure Board and the Kentucky Medical Association (KMA). All parties agreed that 'the time had come' to regulate acupuncture in Kentucky. The new law stipulates that an Acupuncture Advisory Council be established under the Medical Licensure Board to oversee certification and regulation of acupuncturists in the state.

With only 18 practicing acupuncturists in Kentucky, supporters of the law had meager resources at their disposal. A professional association - the Kentucky State Acupuncture Association (KSAA) - was formed with the initial mandate of getting an acupuncture-licensing act passed.

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) was invited to testify about the importance of implementing and maintaining national standards for education and certification, an important component of Kentucky's bill.

'The law will ensure that Kentucky moves into the category of states that have high standards for acupuncture and Oriental medicine,' said Kory Ward-Cook, chief executive officer of the NCCAOM. 'It means citizens will be better protected and the state will attract top acupuncturists. When you raise the standards, you attract highly qualified practitioners.'

According to NCCAOM, one in 10 adults has had acupuncture, making it one of the most popular forms of alternative medicine.

Since 1973, when Maryland, Nevada and Oregon became the first states to pass laws on acupuncture and Oriental medicine, other states have slowly implemented laws of their own. As of today, there are still six states, including Alabama, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming that have no regulatory laws for the practice of acupuncture. In most of these states, only physicians and osteopaths, often with little or no formal education in acupuncture, are allowed to practice. As a result, healthcare consumers in these states may not experience the full efficacy of acupuncture treatment. In addition, the healthcare consumer is potentially placed at risk for treatment received from an unqualified individual who claims to be an acupuncturist. Without regulation, the public has no way to confirm whether a practitioner is qualified or not.

'Acupuncture is a well-regulated, well-established profession in the rest of the nation,' said Shelley Ochs, president of the Kentucky State Acupuncture Association. 'I'm pleased to say that I can now practice my profession in Kentucky, where I was born and raised, as I would be entitled to do in 43 other states.'

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) is a non-profit organization established in 1982. Its mission is to establish, assess and promote recognized standards of competence and safety in acupuncture and Oriental medicine for the protection and benefit of the public.

It is a considerable professional achievement to earn the designation 'Diplomate in Acupuncture (NCCAOM).' NCCAOM certification indicates to employers, patients and peers that one has met national standards for the safe and competent practice of acupuncture as defined by the profession. The first NCCAOM Comprehensive Written Examination (CWE) in Acupuncture (ACP) was given in March 1985. Since its inception, the NCCAOM has issued more than 25,000 certificates in Acupuncture, Oriental Medicine, Chinese Herbology and Asian Bodywork Therapy.

For more information on the NCCAOM, please visit its Web site at www.nccaom.org.

Quarter of all Diseases Caused by Environmental Exposure

As much as 24% of global disease is caused by environmental exposures which can be averted. Well-targeted interventions can prevent much of this environmental risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) demonstrates in a report. The report further estimates that more than 33% of disease in children under the age of 5 is caused by environmental exposures. Preventing environmental risk could save as many as four million lives a year in children alone, mostly in developing countries.

The report, Preventing disease through healthy environments - towards an estimate of the environmental burden of disease, is the most comprehensive and systematic study yet undertaken on how preventable environmental hazards contribute to a wide range of diseases and injuries. By focusing on the environmental causes of disease, and how various diseases are influenced by environmental factors, the analysis breaks new ground in understanding the interactions between environment and health. The estimate reflects how much death, illness and disability could be realistically avoided every year as a result of better environmental management.

'The report issued today is a major contribution to ongoing efforts to better define the links between environment and health,' said Dr Anders Nordström, Acting WHO Director-General. 'We have always known that the environment influences health very profoundly, but these estimates are the best to date. This will help us to demonstrate that wise investment to create a supportive environment can be a successful strategy in improving health and achieving development that is sustainable.'

The report estimates that more than 13 million deaths annually are due to preventable environmental causes. Nearly one third of death and disease in the least developed regions is due to environmental causes. Over 40% of deaths from malaria and an estimated 94% of deaths from diarrhoeal diseases, two of the world's biggest childhood killers, could be prevented through better environmental management.

The four main diseases influenced by poor environments are diarrhoea, lower respiratory infections, various forms of unintentional injuries, and malaria. Measures which could be taken now to reduce this environmental disease burden include the promotion of safe household water storage and better hygienic measures; the use of cleaner and safer fuels; increased safety of the built environment, more judicious use and management of toxic substances in the home and workplace; better water resource management.

'For the first time, this new report shows how specific diseases and injuries are influenced by environmental risks and by how much,' said Dr Maria Neira, Director of WHO's Department for Public Health and Environment. 'It also shows very clearly the gains that would accrue both to public health and to the general environment by a series of straightforward, coordinated investments. We call on ministries of health, environment and other partners to work together to ensure that these environmental and public health gains become a reality.'

This research, which involved systematic review of literature as well as surveys of over 100 experts worldwide, identifies specific diseases impacted by certain well-known environmental hazards -- and by how much. 'It brings together the best evidence available today on environmental links to health in 85 categories of disease and injury. Since the research focuses strictly on environmental hazards that are amenable to change, we can also see where preventive health measures combined with better environmental management and cleanup can have the biggest impact. In effect, we now have a 'hit list' for problems we need to tackle most urgently in terms of health and the environment,' noted Dr Neira.

Diseases with the largest total annual health burden from environmental factors, in terms of death, illness and disability or Disability Adjusted Life Years (Disability Adjusted Life Years: The sum of years of potential life lost due to premature mortality and the years of productive life lost due to disability) are:

* Diarrhoea (58 million DALYS per year; 94% of the diarrhoeal burden of disease) largely from unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene

* Lower respiratory infections (37 million DALYs per year; 41% of all cases globally) largely from air pollution, indoor and outdoor.

* Unintentional injuries other than road traffic injuries (21 million DALYs per year; 44 % of all cases globally), classification which includes a wide range of industrial and workplace accidents.

* Malaria (19 million DALYs per year; 42% of all cases globally), largely as a result of poor water resource, housing and land use management which fails to curb vector populations effectively.

* Road traffic injuries (15 million DALYS per year; 40% of all cases globally), largely as a result of poor urban design or poor environmental design of transport systems.

* Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD) -- a slowly progressing disease characterized by a gradual loss of lung function. (COPD, 12 million DALYs per year; 42% of all cases globally) largely as a result of exposures to workplace dusts and fumes and other forms of indoor and outdoor air pollution.

* Perinatal conditions (11 million DALYS per year; 11% of all cases globally).Most of the same environmentally-triggered diseases also rank as the biggest killers outright -- although they rank somewhat differently in order of lethality. Diseases with the largest absolute number of deaths annually from modifiable environmental factors (these are all parts of the environment amenable to change using available technologies, policies, preventive and public health measure). These diseases include:

* 2.6 million deaths annually from cardiovascular diseases
* 1.7 million deaths annually from diarrhoeal diseases
* 1.5 million deaths annually from lower respiratory infections
* 1.4 million deaths annually from cancers
* 1.3 million deaths annually from chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease
* 470,000 deaths annually from road traffic crashes
* 400,000 deaths annually from unintentional injuries

The report shows that one way or another, the environment significantly affects more than 80% of these major diseases. Moreover, it looks to quantify only those environmental hazards that are modifiable - that is, those that are readily amenable to change through policies or technologies that already exist. The report also spells out us how much environment-related disease is preventable.

By acting assertively and setting priorities for measures aimed at curbing the most serious killers, millions of unnecessary deaths can be prevented every year. Working with sectors such as energy, transport, agriculture and industry to ameliorate the root environmental causes of ill health is crucial

BCNH Nutritional Therapy Course Gains University Recognition

BCNH, the UK College of Nutrition and Health, has today announced that courses forming their nutritional therapy programme have been credit rated by the University of Greenwich. Students can opt to study concurrently the BCNH Diploma and the BSc (Hons) in Complementary Therapies (Nutritional Health) at the University of Greenwich.

The announcement makes BCNH one of only a handful of private colleges to offer such an opportunity. The course can be taken over four years part-time (with attendance at weekends and evenings only) or it can be achieved within three years full-time. There is also a correspondence option for students wishing to study from elsewhere in the country and from abroad.

The BCNH programme meets all of the current National Occupational Standards for Nutritional Therapy. Consequently, graduates are fully qualified to practice as Nutritional Therapists and are eligible for membership of the British Association of Nutritional Therapists; The British Complementary Medical Association and The Complementary Medical Association.

Breda Gajsek, founder and principal of BCNH, said, 'Our aim has always been to train nutritional therapists to the highest standards of excellence. We are thrilled with this collaboration with the University of Greenwich and the endorsement it brings to the high standard of our teaching'.

Christine Stacey Programme Leader at University of Greenwich said “We are delighted to have given academic credit to the BCNH programme for its extremely high quality modules in nutritional therapy. This route within our Honours degree is a welcome addition to our existing portfolio of health and complementary therapy courses. We are looking forward to working in partnership with BCNH to provide students with the professional, practical and academic skills to equip them to succeed in the nutritional healthcare arena'.

Complementary Medical Association Approved Suppliers

The following companies and organisations have demonstrated to the Complementary Medical Association that their products and services are exceptional and in many ways unique and ground breaking.  Each ofthese companies is demonstrably committed to excellence and because of this the CMA has chosen to award them with 'Complementary Medical Association Approved Supplier Status'.

Antiaging Systems  the world’s largest supplier of specialist antiaging medicines, supplements and nutrition.

AOR Inc. is N. America’s  leading manufacturer of novel and clinically proven dietary supplements used with confidence by physicians and top level CAM practitioners

Bionetics - offer a quick and afforable 'test' which helps to identify the underlying factors that have caused your ill health and how to solve them.

Bio Vitality is a leading natural hormone specialist company that aids its customers to achieve hormonal balance safely, with confidence and with certainty.  You can AskOurSpecialist because we like to help you to make informed decisions about your health.

Cambridge Nutritional Sciences is a diagnostic laboratory offering scientifically verified tests for food intolerance, candida albicans, parasite screening and osteoporosis.

Cellfood the world’s leading range of oxygen mineral supplements and skincare for optimum health, vitality and well-being.

Dr Richard Moat is creating a revolution in wellbeing at richardmoat.com

Eva B Original skin care  products manufactured to a high standard without the use of harsh chemicals caring for your health and your skinsappearance. Email sales@evaboriginal.com

Energy for Health The Surge of Chi Exerciser gives stress-relieving exercise for the back which releases tension and stimulates the body’s healing and energy systems

The Food Detective - The Worlds first food IgG test for use in the clinic.  The 'Food Detective'is a food IgG test for 59 foods that can be run by a practitioner in their own clinic.   It takes about 45 minutes and you can report the results to your client the same day.

Green People  Pioneers of Organic Health & Beauty, we use 100% pure, gentle, natural & organic ingredients and provide personal care products for all the family.

KIKI Health was born out of a desire to promote optimum health and well being and is fast becoming one of the leading distributors of natural health products in the UK.

Mint-e Health Laboratories Research, develop and manufacture organically certified nutritional supplements which address imbalances on an emotional, physical and vibratory level.

Molar Ltd has been committed to bringing quality products, innovation and variety in oral care to UK health professionals for almost a decade.

Neways has more than 300 innovative and exciting products, coupled with a lucrative business opportunity, you choose a healthy life and a healthy lifestyle

Winning Team - Specialists in safe and effective natural products for gut and immune health

GOsC Prosecutes Fiona Judson of Evesham

Fiona Judson pleaded guilty today to unlawfully describing herself as an osteopath when not registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). Ms Fiona Judson of Jasmine Walk, Evesham, was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of almost £2,000 by Worcester Magistrates' Court.

With the passing of the Osteopaths Act 1993 the title 'osteopath' is protected by law. Under Section 32(1) of the Act, it is a criminal offence for anyone to claim, expressly or by implication, to be any kind of osteopath, unless registered with the GOsC. The GOsC is the only statutory regulator in the UK that registers qualified osteopathic professionals and sets standards of osteopathic practice and conduct.

The purpose of restricting the use of the osteopathic title to those registered with the GOsC is patient safety. The GOsC ensures that the practitioners on its register are safe and competent osteopaths, who follow strict codes of professional conduct, carry adequate professional indemnity insurance and maintain a programme of continuing professional development.

Despite previous instruction from the GOsC that she stop describing herself as an osteopath, Ms Judson continued to practise under the title and deliberately mislead the public. Prosecution by the GOsC was brought following a complaint from a member of public.

Mr David Simpson, Head of Legal Affairs at the GOsC said: 'These convictions are a victory for patient safety, indicating the Courts' stand on the seriousness of protecting the public from bogus practitioners. We [the GOsC] will continue to prosecute anyone who unlawfully describes themselves as an osteopath, in order to maintain the high reputation of the osteopathic profession and, above all, protect the public.'

For details of osteopaths in your area, please contact the General Osteopathic Council on tel: 020 7357 6655 or visit the GOsC website: www.osteopathy.org.uk.

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