The House of Lords report on complementary medicine: a summary

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee reviewed a large amount of oral and written evidence from a wide variety of sources in order to scrutinize CAM. In their published report, they propose that CAM be subdivided into three groups for operational purposes. They note that public satisfaction with CAM is high and use of CAM is increasing. Evidence is required that CAM has an effect above and beyond placebo, and once this is provided the public should have access to it and its potential benefits. Public interest is not protected by the current lack of regulation of CAM, which should be organized in an appropriate way by and for each therapy. Acupuncture and herbal medicine should be subject to statutory regulation, and possibly non-medical homeopathy. The regulatory status of herbal medicines is particularly unsatisfactory, and should be clarified and enforced in law. Training for CAM professionals should be standardized and independently accredited and, for many, should include basic biomedical science. Registered conventional health professionals should become more familiar with CAM. Research into CAM requires the same rigour as is required of conventional medicine, and recommendations are made as to how research could be encouraged, including pump-priming by the National Health Service and Medical Research Council. The provision of information to the public and health professionals is inadequate and recommendations are made on how this should be improved. Those working in the best regulated CAM professions should work towards integration with conventional medicine.