Positive Health Online

Abstract

MILLS, Department of Library Learning, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK, S.Y.Mills@ex.ac.uk, summarized the House of Lords report on complementary medicine .

Background

Methodology

Results

Conclusion

The House of Lords report concludes that public satisfaction with complementary and alternative medicine is high, and its use is increasing . Evidence is required that it has an effect 'above and beyond placebo'. Appropriate regulation is necessary by and for each therapy . Acupuncture and herbal medicine, and possibly non-medical homeopathy, should be subject to statutory regulation . The regulatory status of herbal medicines is unsatisfactory and needs to be clarified . Training needs to be standardized and include basic biomedical science. Conversely, conventional health professionals should become more familiar with complementary medicine. The provision of information to the public and to health professionals is inadequate and needs to be improved. Health professionals should work towards integration between conventional and complementary health care.

References

Mills SY. The House of Lords report on complementary medicine: a summary. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 9 (1):34-9. Mar 2001.