Australian Medical Association

MJA media release: Alternative therapies including Chinese herbal products need more stringent regulation, according to an article in the Medical Journal of Australia.

Ms Winnie Chau from the Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, said that online shopping has made herbal medicines more available, and regulation more difficult.

The AMA responded to an invitation from the Australian Register of Naturopaths and Herbalists to comment on the development of practice, registration and accreditation standards for naturopathy and western herbal medicine in Australia. The AMA advised that it could not provide comments until the proposals had legal standing and a board for naturopaths and herbal medicine practitioners is established under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009.

MJA Media Release -  No convincing evidence reflexology works

An extensive review has failed to find good evidence which convincingly demonstrates reflexology (a practice involving applying pressure to, or, massaging feet) is an effective treatment for any medical conditions.

Details of the review, conducted by Dr Edzard Ernst, Director of Complementary Medicine at the Peninsula Medical School in the United Kingdom, were published in the Medical Journal of Australia.

“There is little doubt that a foot massage is pleasantly relaxing, however specific medical claims should always be supported by sound evidence,” Dr Ernst said.

“In the case of reflexology, this unfortunately does not appear to be the case.”

AMA Position Statement: Complementary Medicine - 2002