This Alternative Healthcare Market Assessment concentrates on the major alternative therapy sectors of acupuncture, the Alexander Technique, aromatherapy, chiropractic, herbal medicine, homeopathy, osteopathy, physiotherapy and reflexology, plus herbal, homeopathic and aromatherapy products and remedies. Various other alternative medicine techniques are not covered, although many are either extensions of the above or are related more to exercise, spiritual welfare or personal fulfilment. In many cases, these therapies, products and remedies have been in existence for centuries and have formed the basis for modern `conventional' medicine. However, they tend to be regarded as `holistic', or treating the whole person, rather than targeting specific symptoms and their causes, as is the case with conventional medicine.
Many specialists, general practitioners (GPs), nurses and other health professionals practise alternative therapies or refer patients to alternative practitioners. In addition, for many years, the NHS has offered selected alternative therapies to patients, provided these healthcare options can be shown to offer definite benefits. However, nearly all such treatments are carried out privately at the patient's expense. The NHS has offered homeopathic treatment, in particular, for many years, but, at the beginning of 2008, some NHS trusts announced that they would be dropping this because of lack of proof of efficacy.
Since the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology published its report on complementary medicine in November 2000, there has been increased activity regarding the regulation of therapists involved in the major alternative healthcare segments. Only chiropractors and osteopaths are, at present, fully regulated, although self-regulation is on the way to being agreed for acupuncture, herbal medicine and aromatherapy. Among the major therapies, only homeopathy has no immediate agreement on a method of self-regulation.
In tandem with the regulation of therapies, the EU's directive on traditional herbal medicinal products (THMP) took effect in 2004. This addressed the growing problem of ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of herbal products and remedies, brought about by the increasing number on the market. The THMP product category allows herbal remedies that do not hold a full Product Licence of Right (PLR) to continue to be sold in the EU, on the proviso that they have shown proven efficacy over a period of 30 years to 2004 (only an estimated 20% of herbal remedies in the UK hold PLRs). Nonetheless, data on medicines without PLRs must be supplied by manufacturers for EU evaluation and approval; if this is not completed before April 2011, products cannot be sold after this date. The Traditional Herbal Medicines Registration Scheme and the National Rules Scheme (for homeopathic medicines) were set up in the UK in 2005 and 2006, respectively, to assist producers to continue to market their products.
Although regulations may threaten the existence of some existing herbal and homeopathic products and remedies, new products are still being launched. Two manufacturers offering new and more specifically targeted herbal formulations are Diomed and New Nordic. Some consolidation may also now appear in the sector, with Potters having acquired herbal products from Chefaro in recent years. The major suppliers in the UK are GR Lane, in the case of herbals, and A Nelson in homeopathics. Products are becoming more widely available through grocery multiples and over the Internet, in addition to the traditional outlets of chemists and health-food shops.
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