General Medical Council (GMC) guidance states that doctors can refer patients to practitioners on Accredited Registers.
The Accredited Registers programme is run by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Cate (PSA) who assess and accredit organisations who register practitioners who are not regulated by law. You can find out more about the PSA’s Accredited Registers Programme here.
The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council is the UK’s independent voluntary regulator of complementary healthcare practitioners. We were set up with government funding and support in 2008. Our sole purpose is to protect the public and we investigate complaints against our registrants.
Find out about who we are and what we do.
Complementary therapies are used alongside, or in addition to, conventional medical treatments.
Complementary therapies can help to support lifelong health and wellbeing goals.
A joint report from the Royal Society for Public Health and the Professional Standards Authority, Untapped Resources: Accredited Registers in the Wider Workforce, highlighted that “Practitioners registered with CNHC support public health by encouraging their clients to make a range of lifestyle changes. These include improvements to diet and nutrition, support with giving up smoking and losing weight, support with reducing stress, improving sleep, managing pain and other symptoms, as well as overall enhancements to wellbeing. All CNHC registrants are committed to enhancing the UK public’s health and wellbeing.”
Practitioners registered with CNHC have demonstrated that they meet National Occupational Standards,abide by a rigorous Code of Conduct and hold professional indemnity insurance.
As CNHC registrants appear on an Accredited Register they meets the statutory definition of Healthcare Practitioner and are recognised as part of the wider health workforce (Sections 25D and 25E of the NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002, as inserted by the Health and Social Care Act 2012).
Your patients can find a complementary therapist near them by searching our online Accredited Register.
You can find out more about the therapies we register below:
The Alexander Technique is an educational method intended to support self-management, including of conditions such as back pain by improving posture and movement through psycho physical re-education.
NICE Guideline NG71 includes the statement that Alexander Technique should be considered for people with Parkinson’s disease who are experiencing balance or motor function problems.
Regular long term Alexander Technique lessons can benefit sufferers of persistent or recurrent back pain by reducing pain and improving associated activity. Lessons could benefit people with chronic uncomplicated neck pain which is interfering with daily life and which may have gone on for several years. Alexander Technique Teaching could also lead to better respiratory function in healthy individuals and possible greater functional reach (a clinical measure of balance) in elderly women.
In a typical Alexander Technique lesson a teacher will explain, and use gentle hands-on guidance, to help an individual find ease and balance in their simple movements and everyday activities such as sitting, standing, walking or bending. The Technique also teaches strategies for control of balance, movement and improved posture.
Alexander Technique may be found to help people find relief from unnecessary tension and its effects. This can help to bring about an enhanced sense of wellbeing.
Naturopathy is a philosophy and holistic healthcare system that recognises the healing power of nature present in all living things. As an holistic system it aims to promote and restore health by employing various natural treatment approaches that may include: naturopathic nutrition, lifestyle advice, hydrotherapy, physical therapy, naturopathic psychosocial support and other appropriate techniques.
Naturopathic practitioners interpret presenting symptoms as the individual’s unique response to physical, emotional, environmental or genetic stress factors which can be identified by asking about your family history. The practitioner’s role is to identify these underlying causes and to promote the inherent self-healing power within the individual. Naturopathy is also a way of life and the naturopath will help empower individuals through education about lifestyle, diet and exercise.
"Reiki" (ray-key) is Japanese for ‘universal life energy’, a term used to describe a natural system to help bring about an improved sense of wellbeing and a positive feeling of spiritual renewal. This tradition was founded by Dr Mikao Usui in the early 20th century and evolved as a result of his research, experience and dedication. It is a tradition that is open to any belief system and benefits may include deep relaxation and the promotion of a calm peaceful sense of wellbeing.
The method of receiving a Reiki treatment from a practitioner is simple. The recipient remains clothed and comfortably lies on a couch or sits on a chair. The practitioner gently places their hands non-intrusively, on or near the body using their intuition and training as a guide. There is no massage or manipulation. Reiki can be used on the person as a whole, or on specific parts of the body. It is also possible to receive Reiki at a distance.
Reiki is taught by Reiki Master/Teachers, who have trained in the tradition passed on, in person, from Master to student. Students go through a process of initiation/attunement to the Reiki energy. They are then able to treat themselves and others, not only from a personal and emotional perspective, but also as an aid to individual development and spiritual growth.
Shiatsu is a touch based therapy that applies pressure to areas of the surface of the body through loose comfortable clothing for the purpose of promoting and maintaining wellbeing.
A Shiatsu practitioner will initially consult with the client and plan the Shiatsu treatment. The client will then be positioned comfortably, with appropriate adjustments being made throughout the session. Clear and accurate aftercare advice will be given.
Shiatsu is a Japanese word that literally means finger pressure and derives its theoretical and practical roots from the ancient traditions of Oriental medicine.
Today it is an autonomous treatment method influenced by Chinese, Japanese and Western knowledge. In addition to being regularly used by thousands of people all over the world, a variety of charities, health foundations, NHS trusts and hospitals in the United Kingdom provide Shiatsu to support patients whilst receiving treatment for a range of health issues and to help them maintain their general wellbeing.
Sports therapy uses a range of therapeutic techniques for the prevention, recognition and treatment of minor sports injuries. It can also be used to provide support with people wanting to maintain and improve fitness.
A typical session will involve appraising the injury using a number of techniques including posture analysis, gait analysis, biomechanical assessment, as well as soft tissue assessment. The session itself may include soft tissue therapy, mechanical and electrical treatment, cooling or warming therapy and mobilisation.
Sports therapy may be used to address an extensive range of injuries. Sports therapy may also be found to be helpful in the mental preparation of athletes for sporting participation.
Those who wish to develop their natural wellbeing may find yoga therapy a useful route. Yoga therapy is taught by yoga teachers with additional training and experience in the therapeutic adaptation and application of yoga. People may be taught one-to-one or in a therapy group setting.
Yoga therapy may help with many issues and can be appropriate for a wide range of ages and lifestyles as well as those looking for a healthier way of life. All that is needed from the participant is the desire to help her or himself and the willingness to practise regularly. Through practising a yoga therapy programme the participant may, for example, become more aware of posture and breathing. She/he may also find regular practice can help to promote relaxation, aid sleep and relieve tension; it may help to contribute to an increased sense of wellbeing and a positive mood.
In a typical first yoga therapy session a medical history will be taken by the yoga therapist. The body, posture, simple movements and the breath may be observed and issues and concerns discussed. Working with yoga therapeutically is about the whole person. The yoga therapist will then assess how yoga therapy may help before planning and teaching a practice tailored to the needs of that individual. Practices may include one or more of a range of techniques such as posture work, breathing, relaxation, working with sound, reflection, and/or meditation. A number of sessions are likely to be needed to confirm safe and appropriate practice.