Reviewed on : 9 Oct 2023

Reviewed by : Gateway Editor

Expires : 9 Oct 2025

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Complementary and alternative therapies are not commissioned by the ICB as “stand-alone” treatments due to a paucity of information on clinical effectiveness

In certain circumstances some of the procedures are commissioned as part of a broader contract with a mainstream provider (for example specialist pain management, oncology, palliative care and musculoskeletal [MSK] services) in a multi-disciplinary approach to symptom control

The alternative and complementary therapies and alternative disciplines covered by this policy include:

• Acupuncture

• Alexander Technique

• Anthroposophical medicine

• Aromatherapy

• Bach and other flower remedies

• Chinese herbal medicine

• Chiropractic

• Crystal therapy

• Dowsing

• Eastern medicine

• Healing Nutritional medicine

• Herbal medicine

• Hypnotherapy

• Iridology

• Kinesiology

• Maharishi Ayurvedic medicine

• Massage

• Meditation

• Naturopathy

• Neutralising Antigens/clinical ecology/environmental medicine

• Osteopathy

• Pilates

• Radionics

• Reflexology

• Shiatsu

• Traditional Chinese medicine

• Yoga

N.B. The alternative and complementary therapies/disciplines listed above are not exhaustive.