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News & Views
Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Under Threat in the UK
Date: 19/10/09
Now Herbal Medicine, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are under serious threat in the UK. Trade bodies believe these therapies could even cease to exist in Britain within a few years; practitioners could stop practicing and people may not be able to get some herbal pills, capsules, tinctures and ointments they use every day.
How did this happen and where does this sudden fear come from? The last we all knew ‘traditional therapists’ were to be regulated in the interest of public safety. It seemed fair...
I’ve alerted you in the past to the sinister dealings of Codex Alimentarius. This prompted one reader to ask me this: ‘If Codex is based on the safety and regulation of food, nutrients and supplements, what is the big problem? It’s not that these regulations are laws? So, surely we will still be able to buy and eat and supplement our diets with what we want to?’
The problem is – and I think this is what confuses most people – Codex’s regulations eventually become trade laws and once this happens we can all kiss our health freedoms goodbye because it will have a global impact.
The reality of this is much closer than many people realise...
Major crack down on alternative medicine
Herbal medicine, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine could become a thing of the past. Yes, you read that right and it is not a joke. Whilst this particular matter may not bare direct reference to Codex, it is a brilliant example of how government bodies and powerful corporations can take away something valuable and integral to many peoples’ lives very quickly.
In May 2008, the ‘Department of Health Steering Group on the Statutory Regulation of Practitioners of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Other Traditional Medicine Systems Practised in the United Kingdom’ published its report.
The report recommended the regulation of acupuncturists, medical herbalists and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners. In response to the report, the Secretary of State for Health announced that a consultation would be held on the report’s recommendations. This was anticipated to commence in autumn 2008.
However, now herbal medicine, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are under serious threat in the UK. Trade bodies believe these therapies could even cease to exist in Britain within a few years; practitioners could stop practicing and people may not be able to get some herbal pills, capsules, tinctures and ointments they use every day.
How did this happen and where does this sudden fear come from? The last we all knew ‘traditional therapists’ were to be regulated in the interest of public safety. It seemed fair...
But now the government seems to have made a sudden U-turn and is instead considering a ‘lighter touch’ licensing system.
Red Light! – Licensing?
This special licensing system will give no special legal rights to practitioners. As a result, medical herbalists will not have access to some regulated herbal medicines. They will instead only be allowed to work with simple tinctures, extracts and dried herbs. Medical doctors will also not be allowed to refer patients to them.
This will have a significant and detrimental impact on traditional medicine:
• The public will lose the choice of a wide range of high quality herbal remedies.
• Traditional remedies from China and India will only be available through the Internet or backstreet suppliers – thus posing a serious health risk to the public.
• The public will forever lose important professional expertise in ensuring standards for herbal medicine, including opportunities for integrative healthcare with mainstream health professionals.
• A number of businesses that have specialised in manufacturing top quality herbal products for professional use only (e.g. MediHerb products) will cease business.
The government has set up a very complex consultancy process regarding this issue, which frankly is so confusing that it almost appears as if they are trying to hinder the man on the street from getting involved and voicing an opinion. They are almost certainly bargaining on the fact that many of those affected by their planned ‘crack-down’ don’t speak English as a first language and will find this ‘consultancy’ very difficult to understand. The deadline to respond is 2 November 2009, so at least we still have time on our side...
Look back in anger
The last thing we want to do is look back in anger in a few years time and wonder why things have changed for the worst.
In matters such as Codex Alimentarius and this latest threat to TCM – and other forms of alternative medicine, we have to act now. More so, we need to make people aware of what is happening and we need to question the actions of our own governments and ask why laws are changed. Or do we want to face our children one day knowing that their lives are ruled by ‘green-room’ decisions in which we played no part.
Act now to safeguard your right to choose
With the help of my friend Nikki Ferraz of St James's Place Partnership, I managed to dig deep and found more things we all can do to make a difference.
1. Dr. Robert Verkerk from Alliance for Natural Health has set up a petition - Unfair EU Restrictions on Vitamin & Mineral Levels - which he will present to the European Commission to stop Codex. Dr. Verkerk is the one man we have on our side to make our voices heard. I urge you to sign his petition, it carries 15,835 names at the moment. It is a European petition so the entire continent can put there names down. Sign it today!
Unfair EU Restrictions on Vitamin & Mineral Levels
2. You can also write a letter to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. I have it on good authority that his team makes a point to bring important issues to his attention. Writing a letter may seem like a laborious job, but if it’s for the future of the planet, 10 minutes is surely not too much to ask. In fact all you have to do is follow the link below, print the template letter out, fill in the date, sign the letter and post it. Do it today!
Contact President Barroso
3. Sign a similar petition against Codex and its regulations by following the link below. This is also a European petition so you can forward the link to all your friends across the continent and urge them to sign it today:
Stop Codex
4. Support the Statutory Regulation of Herbal Practitioners by filling in the on-line Consultation. Indicate clearly where you feel you cannot answer a question – even if this turns out to be most of the questions! All responses are valuable - even ones which just show that the public has difficulty in responding to it!
Online Consultation
5. This is probably the most important point. Get people to talk about these issues. Find out as much as you can and make your friends and families aware of the petitions they need to sign. There is always power in numbers and it is time for us to stand together and do the right thing.
Related Reading:
Codex Alimentarius: How Well Are You Informed?
Sources:
‘Regulation of Medical Herbalists, Acupuncturists and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners’ by Health Professions Council, published 11 September 2008, hpc-uk.org
‘Herbal Medicine and acupuncture under threat in the UK’ published online 14.10.09, wdtty.co.uk
Back to topThe problem is – and I think this is what confuses most people – Codex’s regulations eventually become trade laws and once this happens we can all kiss our health freedoms goodbye because it will have a global impact.
The reality of this is much closer than many people realise...
Major crack down on alternative medicine
Herbal medicine, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine could become a thing of the past. Yes, you read that right and it is not a joke. Whilst this particular matter may not bare direct reference to Codex, it is a brilliant example of how government bodies and powerful corporations can take away something valuable and integral to many peoples’ lives very quickly.
In May 2008, the ‘Department of Health Steering Group on the Statutory Regulation of Practitioners of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Other Traditional Medicine Systems Practised in the United Kingdom’ published its report.
The report recommended the regulation of acupuncturists, medical herbalists and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners. In response to the report, the Secretary of State for Health announced that a consultation would be held on the report’s recommendations. This was anticipated to commence in autumn 2008.
However, now herbal medicine, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are under serious threat in the UK. Trade bodies believe these therapies could even cease to exist in Britain within a few years; practitioners could stop practicing and people may not be able to get some herbal pills, capsules, tinctures and ointments they use every day.
How did this happen and where does this sudden fear come from? The last we all knew ‘traditional therapists’ were to be regulated in the interest of public safety. It seemed fair...
But now the government seems to have made a sudden U-turn and is instead considering a ‘lighter touch’ licensing system.
Red Light! – Licensing?
This special licensing system will give no special legal rights to practitioners. As a result, medical herbalists will not have access to some regulated herbal medicines. They will instead only be allowed to work with simple tinctures, extracts and dried herbs. Medical doctors will also not be allowed to refer patients to them.
This will have a significant and detrimental impact on traditional medicine:
• The public will lose the choice of a wide range of high quality herbal remedies.
• Traditional remedies from China and India will only be available through the Internet or backstreet suppliers – thus posing a serious health risk to the public.
• The public will forever lose important professional expertise in ensuring standards for herbal medicine, including opportunities for integrative healthcare with mainstream health professionals.
• A number of businesses that have specialised in manufacturing top quality herbal products for professional use only (e.g. MediHerb products) will cease business.
The government has set up a very complex consultancy process regarding this issue, which frankly is so confusing that it almost appears as if they are trying to hinder the man on the street from getting involved and voicing an opinion. They are almost certainly bargaining on the fact that many of those affected by their planned ‘crack-down’ don’t speak English as a first language and will find this ‘consultancy’ very difficult to understand. The deadline to respond is 2 November 2009, so at least we still have time on our side...
Look back in anger
The last thing we want to do is look back in anger in a few years time and wonder why things have changed for the worst.
In matters such as Codex Alimentarius and this latest threat to TCM – and other forms of alternative medicine, we have to act now. More so, we need to make people aware of what is happening and we need to question the actions of our own governments and ask why laws are changed. Or do we want to face our children one day knowing that their lives are ruled by ‘green-room’ decisions in which we played no part.
Act now to safeguard your right to choose
With the help of my friend Nikki Ferraz of St James's Place Partnership, I managed to dig deep and found more things we all can do to make a difference.
1. Dr. Robert Verkerk from Alliance for Natural Health has set up a petition - Unfair EU Restrictions on Vitamin & Mineral Levels - which he will present to the European Commission to stop Codex. Dr. Verkerk is the one man we have on our side to make our voices heard. I urge you to sign his petition, it carries 15,835 names at the moment. It is a European petition so the entire continent can put there names down. Sign it today!
Unfair EU Restrictions on Vitamin & Mineral Levels
2. You can also write a letter to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. I have it on good authority that his team makes a point to bring important issues to his attention. Writing a letter may seem like a laborious job, but if it’s for the future of the planet, 10 minutes is surely not too much to ask. In fact all you have to do is follow the link below, print the template letter out, fill in the date, sign the letter and post it. Do it today!
Contact President Barroso
3. Sign a similar petition against Codex and its regulations by following the link below. This is also a European petition so you can forward the link to all your friends across the continent and urge them to sign it today:
Stop Codex
4. Support the Statutory Regulation of Herbal Practitioners by filling in the on-line Consultation. Indicate clearly where you feel you cannot answer a question – even if this turns out to be most of the questions! All responses are valuable - even ones which just show that the public has difficulty in responding to it!
Online Consultation
5. This is probably the most important point. Get people to talk about these issues. Find out as much as you can and make your friends and families aware of the petitions they need to sign. There is always power in numbers and it is time for us to stand together and do the right thing.
Related Reading:
Codex Alimentarius: How Well Are You Informed?
Sources:
‘Regulation of Medical Herbalists, Acupuncturists and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners’ by Health Professions Council, published 11 September 2008, hpc-uk.org
‘Herbal Medicine and acupuncture under threat in the UK’ published online 14.10.09, wdtty.co.uk
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