BMJ  2007;335:951 (10 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.39388.425799.1F

Letters

What to do about CAM?

Funding for CAM

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Colquhoun presents an interesting point of view.¹ In the United Kingdom, 0.0085% of the medical research budget is spent on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).² CAM is widely available throughout the NHS via physiotherapy departments and pain clinics (acupuncture and mind body therapies) as well as forming an essential and effective element of palliative care within hospices (mind body therapies, reflexology, massage, and aromatherapy). Much of our current conventional pharmacopoeia is derived from herbals.

Furthermore, 15-20% of the public in the UK access CAM each year in spite of the fact that they are "told not to"; as taxpayers surely they have a right to understand if what they are being offered is safe and effective. Can Colquhoun be seriously suggesting that no funding should be available for this mixture of therapies that we collectively define as complementary or integrative medicine? The history of the enlightenment would suggest this exclusive . . . [Full text of this article]

University of Southampton, Primary Medical Care, Aldermoor Health Centre, Southampton SO16 5ST

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Relevant Article

Dead

John H Noble, Jr
BMJ 2007 335: 736. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Vlieger, A. M., Blink, M., Tromp, E., Benninga, M. A. (2008). Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Pediatric Patients With Functional and Organic Gastrointestinal Diseases: Results From a Multicenter Survey. Pediatrics 122: e446-e451 [Abstract] [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Not accurate

Michael F Vagg
bmj.com, 14 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Re: Not accurate

Hilary Butler
bmj.com, 15 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Re: Not accurate

John P Heptonstall
bmj.com, 16 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Reply

Michael F Vagg
bmj.com, 19 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Re: Reply

John P Heptonstall
bmj.com, 22 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Re: Re: Reply

Michael Faltesek
bmj.com, 23 Nov 2007 [Full text]

To Dr Vagg: wherein does "evidence" start?

Hilary Butler butler@watchdog.net.nz
bmj.com, 23 Nov 2007 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Reply

John P Heptonstall
bmj.com, 24 Nov 2007 [Full text]