Well regulated therapies acceptable within the NHS

Acupuncture: Chinese practice of inserting small needles into the body to stimulate nerve impulses.

Chiropractic: Treatment of musculo-skeletal complaints by through adjusting muscles, tendons and joints using manipulation and massage techniques.

Osteopathy: Similar to chiropractic but underlying theory is that impairment of blood supply, rather than nerves, causes problems.

Herbal medicine: Using plant extracts to treat disorders and maintain good health.

Homeopathy: Treatment involves giving people tiny doses, much diluted, of substances that in larger doses would cause the symptoms that are the problem.

Feel-good therapies that can be used alongside convent-ional medicine and do no harm.

Alexander Technique: Improving general health by teaching good posture.

Aromatherapy: Plant extract oils inhaled or used as massage oil to alleviate symptoms or as relaxant. Common in France.

Hypnotherapy: Use of hypnosis to treat behavioural disease and dysfunction.

Reflexology: Massage of the feet on the theory that each organ has a corresponding location in the foot.

Shiatsu: Japanese massage aiming to increase body's healing ability with light pressure on points across the body.

Alternative treatments which the committee found scientifically unproven and unregulated

Ayurvedic medicine: Ancient Indian discipline based on mind-spirit-body interaction, employing natural herbs, usually in mixtures for treatment.

Naturopathy: Stimulating the body's natural responses through diet, herbs and exposure to sun and fresh air.

Traditional Chinese medicine: Theory that imbalance of yin and yang energy causes symptoms, using acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage and exercise for treatment.

Crystal therapy: Crystals, said to absorb and transmit energy, used to "tune" the body by being placed in patterns around it.

Iridology: Diagnosing health problems through studying the iris of the eye and noting marks and changes.