Complementary and Alternative Medicine



The January/February and March issues of Family Medicine feature articles about the evidence to support the three most popular form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM): homeopathy, osteopathy and chiropractic. Below are listed a number of organisations which provide further information on various forms of CAM


Research Centres and Umbrella organisations

Department of Complementary Medicine, University of Exeter
25 Victoria Park Road, Exeter, Devon EX2 4NT
Tel/Fax:+44 (0) 1392 424989; email: E.Ernst@exeter.ac.uk
Department of Complementary Medicine's homepage

School of Postgraduate Medicine and Health Sciences's homepgage
Website: http://www.ex.ac.uk/FACT/ (for details about research papers)


The Foundation for Integrated Medicine
Suite 210, 16-16A Baldwins Gardens, London EC1N 7RG
Tel: 0171 688 1881; Fax: 0171 688 1882; email: FIMed@compuserve.com

The Foundation for Integrated Medicine was established by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. Its purpose it to work with healthcare institutions and professionals to achieve the Prince of Wales' vision of integrated healthcare in the 21st century. In 1997, the Foundation published on behalf of the Steering Committee for the Prince's initiative a discussion document Integrated Healthcare: A Way Forward for the Next Five Years. The document sets out a suggested programme of action in four priority areas: research and development, education and training, regulation of complementary medical practices, and delivery of integrated healthcare. For a copy of the document, contact the Foundation at the above adress.


Council for Complementary Medicine Association
249 Fosse Road, Leicester LE3 1AE
Tel: 0116 282 5511

Publications

FACT(Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies)
FACT is a review journal that aims to present the evidence on complementary medicine in an analytical and impartial manner. Mainstream medical literature and complementary medicine-related journals are systematically scanned to identify key papers for review. Information is presented as structured summaries, each including an expert commentary on the paper. FACT also contains: book reviews, conference reports, recently published books on complementary medicine, an extensive list of recently published literature on complementary therapies, contents pages of complementary-medicine-related journals, recently published books on complementary medicine, complementary-medicine-related websites, an events diary. FACT is written by research staff within the Department of Complementary Medicine, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Exeter, and also by members of FACT's international Editorial Board.

Website: http://www.ex.ac.uk/pgms/

The CompMed Bulletin
Newsletter published ten times per year. Includes summaries of major trials, reviewed by orthodox and CAM practitioners, plus information on training.
For mor information or to subscribe (£75 per annum), contact Eleanor Lines at CompMed, Church Farm Cottage, Weethley Hamlet, Evesham Road, Alcester, Warks B49 5NA.
Tel: + 44 (0) 1789 400295; Fax: + 44 (0) 1789 400423; Email: e.lines@virgin.net


Associations/societies

British Medical Acupuncture Society
Newton House, Newton Lane, Whitley, Warrington WA4 4JA
Tel: +44 (0) 1925 730727; Fax: +44 (0) 1925 730492; Email: Bmasadmin@aol.com
Website: www.ella.co.uk/acupuncture

British Acupuncture Council
Park House, 206-208 Latimer Road, London W10 6RE
Tel: +44 (0) 181 964 0222

Represents five acupuncture associations

The British Chiropractic Association
17 Blagrave House, 17 Blagrave St, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1QB
Tel: +44 (0) 118 950 5950

The UK Homeopathic Medical Association
6 Livingstone Road, Gravesend, Kent DA12 5DZ
Tel: +44 (0) 1474 560336

Association of reflexologists
27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3XX

Tel: +44 (0) 8705 673320. email: aor@reflexology.org

Website: www.reflexology.org/aor

Other links:

Health Watch

PhytoNet Home Page (An information resource for herbal medicines)

Institute for Scientific Information

BioMedNet: The World Wide Club for the Biological and Medical Community

Alt-MEDMarket's Alternative Healthcare Index