Who regulates TCM and Acupuncture practitioners?

[Dyann S]

Hi,

I'm just curious about who (if anyone) regulates people that practiceChinese herbal medicine or Tui Na or Acupuncture?

Is there any minimum qualification people need? Is it against the law to operate without *some* kind of qualification, or can anyone (in theory) do it?

As a patient, what questions should one ask in order to know if the practitioner is genuine or a cowboy?

I have heard that diagnosing patients is a touchy area in terms of the law. Is that correct? Also, does that apply to the use of tongue and pulse diagnosis? Or is it really talking about diagnosing specific, named, conditions or diseases?

Cheers

 

[The Stubborn One]

Hi Clifton

In the UK? ...

Regulation:
Chinese Herbs: RCHM (Register of Herbal Medicine)
Acupuncture: BAcC (British Acupuncture Council)
Tuina: proper courses require students to already have an acupuncture qualification (LicAc).

BAAB = British Acupuncture Accreditation Board: these guys set the standards for acupuncture education in the UK.

So for herbs, look for the letters RCHM, for acupuncture look for MBAcC

"Cowboys":
If the practitioner doesn't have these letters, they may have done as little as a couple of weekends training or no training at all (that includes GPs, nurses, physios, osteo etc).

As a rough guide, you can ask about training in the specific discipline: for example acupuncture and herbs each take around 3 years full time.

Pretending to be a practitioner:
Yes, anyone can set up as a practitioner of any therapy that isn't state regulated (currently medics, physios, osteos and chiros). Everything else is open to whoever, so always check the qualifications!!!! (That includes GPs, nurses, physios, osteo etc who are offering complementary medicine!!!!). Acupuncture & Herbs are undergoing state regulation, which will come into effect within a few years.

Diagnosis:
A properly qualified practitioner of Chinese medicine is qualified to make a Chinese medical diagnosis. This is usually the only diagnosis that has relevance to Chinese medicine (funnily enough!).


HTH
Aragorn x

 

[Cyd]

Thank you Aragorn.

Would studying Tui Na and Acupuncture via Bodyharmonics college lead to problems in the future?

The details are here: [link=http://www.bodyharmonics.co.uk/courses/index.htm]http://www.bodyharmonics.co.uk/courses/index.htm[/link]

It doesn't seem to be BAcC or BAAB registered, but neither is it a one-weekend Mickey Mouse diploma. (Or at least it doesn't seem to be.)

The site says the following about the accreditation:

Cheers

 

[Dodger]

Hi Clifton
Sorry, but I don't recognise this course or the professional body mention, which sort of implies that it may not be accredited, but you might be better off checking with the BAcC as they are more likely to know.
www.acupuncture.org.uk