Important points to be aware of before having treatment
If you are planning to see a complementary practitioner because you feel unwell, you should see your doctor first about the symptoms you have. It is important that your doctor has the chance to rule out any dangerous or life threatening illness and to discuss treatment options with you. It is also important that your complementary practitioner is made aware of any medical conditions you are known to have. A well-trained complementary practitioner should tell you to see your doctor if they suspect you might have something that requires further investigation. The practitioner should also know when they are unable to help you and suggest that you see someone else.
When to speak to your GP
Many people use complementary medicines as a treat – you might feel like a massage after a stressful week at work, for instance. If you are healthy and using complementary therapies recreationally, there is no need to tell your GP.
But if you are ill or on medication, we urge users of this guide to speak to your GP before having complementary treatment. There are a number of good reasons why.
A complementary health practitioner may often be trained in basic physiology, but they may not be qualified to spot the signs of serious pathology. You might end up trying to cope with an undiagnosed serious condition with mild relaxation techniques.
You should be aware that there are sometimes interactions between mainstream and complementary medicines. For example, St John’s Wort, a herb proven to be effective for mild depression can inhibit immune boosting HIV drugs. Some massage and aromatherapy may be inappropriate for women who are pregnant, or people with serious health conditions like high blood pressure.
We know that many people don’t tell their doctors about their complementary treatments. Some may worry that their GP will react badly. Many other patients just don’t think of complementary and mainstream medicine as part of the same continuum, and don’t realise that one may affect the other. However, a large number of GPs refer patients to some form of complementary therapy, and might not be as unsympathetic as patients think.
Finally, bear in mind cost. You may want to think about whether mainstream or complementary approaches will be the quickest and cheapest solution to your condition.
If you talk things through with your GP, you will be able to make more informed decisions, and get the most out of mainstream and complementary healthcare.
Claims about cures
A reputable practitioner will not tell you, nor say in advertisements, that they can cure a specific disease or condition. You should, therefore, be suspicious of anyone who does. Such claims can lead patients to have unrealistic expectations of their treatment and are not legal unless they can be proved. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) oversees advertising in newspapers, magazines and direct mail and provides information about what can be said about the effectiveness of products and treatments. The ASA says that unqualified claims such as “cure” are generally not acceptable.
Medical history
When you see a complementary practitioner for the first time, they should take a medical history from you. This should include finding out what other medication, conventional and complementary, you are taking. You should tell them about everything you are taking, whether it has been prescribed for you or whether you have bought a product yourself. You should also let them know about any other complementary treatments you are having. The practitioner should ask what illnesses or medical conditions you have and whether you are pregnant. If they do not ask you about all these things, you should tell them.
How much will it cost?
Before you start treatment find out exactly what you will have to pay.
NHS treatment
In some areas you may be able to get complementary treatment on the NHS at no cost, however, in other areas you may be asked to pay something towards your treatment. At the homeopathic hospitals, your treatment is on the NHS but you will be asked to pay for any prescription you could be given. If your doctor has recommended you to a complementary practitioner, either in a GP practice or outside, check beforehand how much you will be expected to pay.
Private treatment
If you are seeing a complementary practitioner privately and paying all the cost yourself, bear in mind that the first consultation may be longer, and so cost more. What you are paying for is the practitioner’s time but with some therapies there may be extra costs for herbs or nutritional supplements. Some private health insurance schemes and medical cash plans cover the cost of selected complementary therapies, so if you belong to one of these, check beforehand what is covered and the terms and conditions imposed.
In the sections on each therapy we give an idea of how much you might expect to pay a private practitioner. These are usually the minimum you could pay, as the costs will vary depending on the practitioner and where you live. London, other large cities and the south of Britain are likely to be more expensive.
Low cost treatment
Complementary healthcare is sometimes available in healthy living centres, voluntary organisations or charities. In these cases, you might be able to get free or subsidised treatment. Some practitioners offer reduced rates for small children, pensioners or people on income support.
Length of treatment
The total cost of your treatment will depend also on how long your course of treatment is and how often you see the practitioner. After your first appointment with a practitioner they should be able to give you an estimate of how long your treatment is likely to continue.
