Herbal medicines and complementary therapies

Types of herbal medicines and complementary therapies

Herbal medicines and complementary therapies include:

• herbal medicines – made using plants or parts of plants like liquorice root
• acupuncture – needles are put in parts of the body to relieve pain
• Alexander technique – lessons to improve posture and ways of moving
• chiropractic – using massage and stretching to try to keep bones, joints and muscles healthy
• homeopathy – using very watered-down mixtures made from plants, animals or minerals to try to treat symptoms
• hypnotherapy – using relaxation techniques to try to improve unhealthy habits or ways of thinking
• osteopathy – using massaging and stretching to treat injuries, improve movement and relieve pain

Herbal medicines and complementary therapies are not tested in the same way as standard medicines to see how well they work.

Herbal medicines and complementary therapies on the NHS

Herbal medicines are not available on the NHS.

The NHS may offer some complementary therapies based on evidence on how well they work, and whether they're good value for money.

The NHS may offer:

• acupuncture for people with long-term pain, migraine-type headaches, or severe hiccups
• Alexander technique lessons for people with Parkinson's disease who have problems with balance or movement that put them at risk of a fall
• hypnotherapy for people with irritable bowel syndrome if treatment has not worked, or for severe hiccups

Who should not use herbal medicines or complementary therapies

Not all herbal medicines or complementary therapies are safe or suitable for everybody.

Herbal medicines

Herbal medicines are not recommended for children. This is because not enough is known about their safety.

You should not take herbal medicines if:

• you're pregnant or breastfeeding
• you have kidney or liver problems
• you're taking certain medicines from a pharmacy or doctor

There are some medicines that do not mix well with herbal medicines. These include:

• statins
• antidepressants
• medicines for diabetes, such as metformin
• medicines for high blood pressure, such as ramipril
• blood thinning medicine, such as warfarin
• hormonal contraception, such as the combined pill

If you're taking any of these medicines, it may cause harmful effects or stop your medicine working if you take a herbal medicine as well.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture may not be safe for you if:

• you're taking blood thinning medicine or are at increased risk of bleeding
• you have a skin condition or skin infection

Chiropractic and osteopathy

Chiropractic or osteopathy may not be safe for you if:

• you're taking blood thinning medicines or are at increased risk of bleeding
• you have bones or joints that are very weak or seriously damaged
• you have a condition affecting your nerves, like peripheral neuropathy

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy may not be safe for you if:

• you have schizophrenia or a history of psychosis
• you have epilepsy

How to check the safety of herbal medicines and complementary therapies

If you're thinking of using herbal medicines or complementary therapies, there are some things you can do to keep as safe as possible.

Check any herbal medicine has a traditional herbal registration (THR) mark and a product code from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

These will be on the medicine packaging. They show the medicine has been licensed for use in England and meets safety standards.

Check a chiropractor or osteopath is registered with 1 of these official organisations:

• General Chiropractic Council
• General Osteopathic Council

Chiropractors and osteopaths need to be registered by law.

Other complementary therapists and herbal medicine practitioners do not need to be registered by law. Some choose to be a member of the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). The CNHC can look into any complaints you may have about your treatment.