Alistair Richardson - new Counsellor and EFT practitioner at Foreman & Jones, read on for more information...
'My name is Alistair, and I have been working as a professional counsellor (MSc) for 6 years. I currently work in an addiction treatment centre and have a wide experience of counselling for a variety of issues. I am also an EFT practitioner/trainer, and a Reiki master/teacher. I often combine my counselling work with energy therapy as it can make it more effective. I am now starting to build a private practice.'
We are looking forward to welcoming Alistair to the practice -to book an appointment with him or for more information call 01303 760001
Herbal Medicine is under Threat ! - what's happening:-
After almost 10 years of commitment to the statutory regulation of herbal medicine it is now very likely that the government will withdraw from that commitment.
A failure to bring in statutory regulation for herbalists will have disastrous consequences for both practitioners and patients. Why?
Because in early 2011 a change in medicines law will come into effect whereby a wide range of over the counter herbal remedies and medicines made up by a third party will cease to be available to practitioners to prescribe to their patients. These herbal remedies will have to be licensed in the manner of pharmaceuticals drugs. So far very few herbal products have made it though the licensing process. After 2011 the only way herbalists can continue to have access to the full range of herbal medicines is by being designated ‘authorised health care professionals’. They would then be able to legally commission a medicine to be made up for their patients. The only way we can achieve the status of ‘authorised health care professional’ is if herbalists have a statutorily protected status.
What will be the effect of this on western herbal medicine?
Initially at least herbalists will continue to have access to tinctures which are currently classed as ‘start up materials’ – not a finished medicine. However it is possible that we would no longer be able to use cough syrups, medicinal creams and capsules or tablets. Access to things like Mediherb products is at risk and any members who currently use a third party to send a medicinal tea mix or a tincture mix to their patients will no longer have the right to do so. Herbalists who work in shops will not be allowed to dispense (unless it is their own shop)
The result will be that many suppliers of herbal medicines will go out of business. Practitioners will lose the tools of their trade, and many members of the public who benefit from herbal medicine will cease to have access to a range of medicines that have been available under UK law for decades.
There are powerful other reasons to support statutory regulation,
- To enable the public to clearly identify well-qualified practitioners, subject to an enforceable ethical code.
- To enable other health care professionals to recognise our standards of training and expertise.