Complementary Therapies effective says research

Research into 50 different forms of complementary therapy highlights their effectiveness in treating a wide range of common health conditions, according to Holistic Community

According to Holistic Community ( http://www.holistic-community.co.uk ) - an organisation dedicated to raising awareness of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the UK.

In a study, taking place throughout 2008, key players in complementary medicine were asked to identify conditions that would benefit from their particular approaches. More than 1,000 practitioners, schools and associations in UK were contacted and over 200 contributions were recorded. The results suggest that CAM can be applied to a wide range of ailments - including anxiety, insomnia, arthritis and depression.

Half the therapies examined in the study could help treat more than 30 different ailments, and seven could help more than 75% of all conditions researched.

Anxiety and stress were identified as complaints that best respond to complementary therapies, with more than 90% of practitioners able to help in these areas.

The study also shows that some therapies have their 'niche' in terms of issues they can address. For example, hypnotherapy was found to be highly effective in helping depression and insomnia but was markedly less effective against joint pain and muscular tension.

Dave Bruton, director of Holistic Community, comments: "The original motivation for this research stemmed from the realisation that the general public did not know which therapies could be used to help which conditions. The study undertaken addresses a common problem people face when seeking help from our field: they often possess limited knowledge of different forms of treatment, and may fail to recognise the full range of options available for their condition."

He adds: "This research underpins our new online system at http://www.holistic-community.co.uk whereby people can find therapists who can alleviate their particular problems - without needing in-depth knowledge of specific treatments. Our aim is to make complementary therapy much more accessible to the general public, and to end much of the confusion that exists."

With this in mind, the website provides information on different therapies, relevant news and articles, and a directory of practitioners. The new 'search by ailment' (http://www.holistic-community.co.uk/ailment/search) feature means people can find suitable practitioners in their area by specifying their health problems. Some 2,000 therapists are registered on the directory.

Bruton concludes: "With the recent launch of the National Healthcare Council, complementary therapies are moving towards greater regulation and protection for people looking for treatment. These findings help support what is sometimes seen as a controversial side of healthcare in the UK but one that is growing rapidly."