Some alternative remedies have been questioned by the House of Lords. Are they right? We ask a specialist and three patients
　　
　　Traditional Chinese medicine combines herbs, acupuncture, massage and exercise techniques.For: Musician Andrew Golden, 47. decided to look for an alternative remedy for his psoriasis after giving up the drug that his GP had prescribed have suffered from psoriasis on my hands for years. In the past I gone to see my GP who prescribed Betnovate, which did sort it out. It was only when I discovered that the drug was carcinogenic that I decided to stop using it. I didn want to go back to my GP and yet I didn know what else to do. I a drummer in a band and I had a tour coming up ?psoriasis is a stress thing for me and it got really bad, affecting my ability to play the drums.

I decided to go to the Institute of Chinese Medicine in Chandos Place in London. One of its doctors had already cured me of back pain using acupuncture.

The doctor I saw told me that she could cure my psoriasis, which surprised me because I didn think there was a cure. I was given some lotion, along with some ghastly herbs, which I had to boil and drink. It worked very well, I not ured?but I blame myself for that ?I think if I finished the course of treatment I was prescribed, it would have disappeared completely.?

Against: Dr Graham Lord, a kidney specialist at the Hammersmith Hospital, published a paper in The Lancet in August last year which reported the cases of two women who had suffered kidney failure after taking Chinese herbal remedies for eczema.

More than 3,000 UK clinics now prescribe herbal remedies. In the cases of these women, a few years after starting the herbal treatment they developed rapidly progressive kidney failure and both needed dialysis. One has since had a kidney transplant and the other is still on the NHS waiting list.

The woman who has had the transplant went to see her GP because of sudden headaches and high blood pressure. Tests were done and she was found to have severe kidney failure.

He arranged for analysis of the herbs with colleagues at Kew Gardens and we found that both women had been exposed to a toxic chemical called Aristolochic acid. The import, sale and use of this acid, which may be a component of a number of Chinese remedies, has now been banned by the Medicines Control Agency. It is unclear how successful the ban is. I advise anyone who sees a Chinese herbalist to ask them whether there is Aristochic acid in the preparation and see their GP immediately if they feel unwell while taking any remedies.?

Kinesiology is muscle testing using acupuncture principles to assess 搃mbalances in the body?

For: Lucy McCann, 33, an events organiser from London, suffered digestive and irritable bowel problems for several years. She visited an applied kinesiologist as a final attempt for a cure.

Some days I was in agony with my stomach, others it was just a niggle, but I decided that I wanted it sorted out. I play a lot of sport and it was interfering with my fitness and social life. I had tried to cut out foods I thought might upset my system, but to no avail. The kinesiologist I saw assessed my lifestyle and diet and tested my muscles to work out my nutritional status.

Fairy foods, yeast, bread and mushrooms seemed to be the biggest offenders and I was prescribed desensitisers and vitamins to strengthen my immune system. On my second and third visits the therapist, a qualified osteopath, used manipulation and massage to stimulate blood circulation and help balance my emotions. Within days of excluding the foods, the pain in my stomach subsided, my energy levels rocketed and my attitude chan-ged. I now visit the kinesiologist every six months and she is reintroducing some of the foods to my diet with no ill-effect.?

Against: Ellen Sims, a 38-year-old teacher from Somerset, is concerned that people who are desperately searching for a cure could be put at risk from placing all their faith in some alternative treatments.

I am convinced that some alternative and complementary medicine works, but was struck by the pseudo-science of a kinesiologist I saw. I did not go for treatment for a specific problem, but to find out more, and I found it very flaky and unconvincing.

The kind of stretching, bending and organ massage that makes up some kinesiology sessions could be pleasant, and even offers symptomatic relief from some problems. The danger arises if you take this as curative, or are not being treated by someone with the skills and knowledge to diagnose the underlying problem, and this then gets ignored. If you抳e paid ?0 or so for a session, and you抮e desperate to get better, you might be persuaded to suspend your disbelief.?

Against: Anita Morgan, 28, a writer from Kent, visited an applied kinesiologist when she suffered repeated bouts of skin rashes on her face and body.

The skin had always been fairly sensitive, but I began to get unsightly rashes appearing regularly on my face, back and stomach. Someone told me it might be an allergy and that the best way to determine its cause was to visit an applied kinesiologist.

The therapist I saw agreed that I was probably intolerant to some foods and tested for more than 100 different sensitivities by holding a sample of each next to my stomach and then applying pressure to my arm. The theory is that if you can resist and your arm gives way, you have an intolerance to that substance. After that session I was told I should avoid 32 of the foods including tea, coffee, sugar and milk.

That initial consultation cost ?0 plus ? for each vial of desensitiser. I stuck rigidly to what she suggested, but three months and several follow-up consultations at ?0 each, later my rash was occurring more frequently. On a visit to my doctor, it happened to be particularly severe and he suggested I go to the hospital for a skin-prick allergy test. There, I was told I have a severe allergy to citrus fruits and pineapple, which I was eating frequently ?something the kinesiologist hadn picked up on at all. As soon as I cut them out, my rash disappeared. I feel kinesiology was a waste of money and a ruthless way to prey on someone ill health and insecurities.?

(From The Times)