Advertising Standards for holistic therapies
What can holisitic therapies acutally prove?
What can be said on the website regarding how therapies can help is very restricted by the Advertising Standards Authority. Since 2011 therapists are unable to claim to do any more than relax, improve general well-being and lower stress.
The ASA wants to see double blind trials with a placebo control, the kind that pharmaceutical companies spend millions on then rake the money back by charging high fees for their drugs. Since most therapy groups are not in the multi million pound league of the big pharma companies this evidence is not available.
So I may have treated many people over the last 20+ years for the same problem and helped them but I cannot tell anyone.
So I may have a treatment that will help a specific problem but without a double blind placebo controlled trial I cannot tell anyone.
ASA states "marketers may claim that aromatherapy products and massage can be used for beauty, relaxation or "feel good” purposes but should not claim medicinal or health benefits beyond those stated above. "
I have had a therapy that has greatly helped the symptoms from a head injury, eg slight tremor in left hand - but the person treating me cannot tell anyone......
Even where trials have taken place with positive results in a NHS hospital this cannot be referred to as I am not allowed to reference specific medical conditions.
The best I can do is add to my blog the research summaries that do exist.
I cannot say that aromatherapy oils that have anti bacterial components could be anti bacterial, I cannot say ..(sorry cannot tell you).
I CAN SAY
Treatments may help you relax and reduce stress.
You may experience a sense of well-being.
Any relief from muscle pain may be temporary....