Resources

How to select a complementary health practitioner

Consider discussing your preferences with your doctor/healthcare practitioner. Word of mouth recommendation from friends/family about a practitioner with a good reputation can also be very helpful.

Contact the professional organisation for the complementary/alternative approach that you have chosen to use or contact one of the complementary therapists professional associations for example www.embodyforyou.com. See my web based information pages for further links.  For further information have a look at The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health - www.fih.org.uk. They have published Complementary Health Care: a patient’s guide.  This publication can be downloaded from their website. 

Questions to ask before having treatment

What are their qualifications and how long was their training? What professional organisation do they belong to – is it a recognized organisation with codes of practice? What is their experience? Is their type of approach the most appropriate for you? Do they have professional indemnity insurance? Are records confidential? What is the cost of the treatment and are there any extras for example cost of herbs? How many treatments will be required? What potential side-effects or risks are associated with the therapy? Are there any precautions you have to take before and after a treatment? Will the therapy interfere with conventional treatment? Can your GP refer to the practitioner? If using a private health insurance scheme will it cover complementary therapies?

Once you have contacted a practitioner ask yourself the following questions:

Did the practitioner answer your questions clearly and to your satisfaction? Did the practitioner conduct themselves in a professional manner? Did they provide you with information to look through at you leisure? Are they making excessive claims about their treatment? A good practitioner will always answer your questions fully, giving information and allowing you time to consider. A good practitioner will never guarantee a cure or complete recovery and they will tell you if they cannot help.

Web Based Information

Complementary Therapy Organisations and Associations

THE BRITISH COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE ASSOCIATION (BCMA)
www.bcma.co.uk
The BCMA lists qualified therapists of complementary medicine and acts as an ‘umbrella’ group for various therapies. If you are looking for a qualified therapist this is a good place to start.

THE INSTITUTE FOR COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
www.i-c-m.org.uk/
This website provides the public with information on all aspects of the safe and best practice through its practitioners, courses and research of complementary therapies.

THE PRINCE’S FOUNDATION FOR INTEGRATED HEALTH
www.fih.org.uk

The Foundation encourages conventional medicine and complementary health practitioners to work together – promoting an integrated approach to health and wellbeing. It also encourages complementary health practitioners to regulate themselves, and to develop nationally recognised standards of training.

Complementary Therapies and Cancer