Information on... Alternative Medicine

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Organisations

(* Member of the Evangelical Alliance)

Reachout Trust
24 Ormond Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6TH.
Tel/Fax: 0845 241 2158
Email: rt@reachouttrust.org
Website: www.reachouttrust.org
The aims of the trust are to examine cults, occult, new age groups in the light of the Christian gospel. It produces several informative publications on issues relating to alternative medicine, two of which are found in the booklist below. See the website for a full list of their publications.

Breath Ministries - Positive Approach to Complementary Therapies (PACT)
Weald House, 10a High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1UX.
Contact: Revd John Huggett
Tel: 01892 512520
Email: cjphuggett@yahoo.co.uk
Breath Ministries is a registered charity that teaches and trains people in Christian Healing and encourages and promotes healing ministry in the Churches and beyond.
The branch of Breath entitled Positive Approach to Complementary Therapies (PACT) seeks to promote a greater understanding of complementary therapies. PACT is in touch with about 300 Christian practitioners of many disciplines working in complementary medicine in the UK.
They also publish Breath of Life - A Believer's Guide to Healing, Wholeness and Complementary Therapies @ £12.50 (see book list below).

Professional Christian Bodies

Christian Medical Fellowship*

6 Marshalsea Road, London SE1 1HL
Tel: 020 7234 9660. Fax: 020 7234 9661.
Email: info@cmf.org.uk
Website: www.cmf.org.uk
The Christian Medical Fellowship is a Christian organisation encouraging Christian doctors and medical students to deepen their faith and to act competently and with compassion in their medical practice. They produce a range of resources looking at all sorts of issues facing the medical profession from a Christian perspective.

Christians in Caring Professions* (or CiCP)
PO Box 2828, Reading RG30 2GE.
Tel/Fax: 0118 959 5838
Email: office@cicp.org.uk
Website: www.cicp.org.uk
CiCP is a fellowship of Christians working in the caring professions in hospital and community services, and aims to envision, challenge and encourage members in the practical aspects of expressing the Christian faith within a professional context.

The Christian Therapists Network*
6, Lambourne House, Mallow Road, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 4TQ.
Tel: 07986 433493
Email: email@ctn.org.uk
Website: www.ctn.org.uk
The Christian Therapists Network (CTN) supports Christians who work in the Allied Health Professions and is affiliated to the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) as a professional group. Their website includes resources and book reviews including some on alternative medicine.

The Therapy Students Christian Fellowship*
TSCF, 38 De Montfort Street, Leicester, LE1 7GP
Tel: 0116 255 1700
Email: email@uccf.org
Website: www.uccf.org.uk/yourcourse/tscf/index.php
The Therapy Students Christian Fellowship (TSCF) is a body of Christian students training in the Allied Health Professions, and aims to support them by helping them to apply their faith to their work.

Resources

Alternative Medicine
The CMF website has a section dedicated to Alternative Medicine with articles and book reviews.
Visit www.cmf.org.uk/index/alternative_medicine.htm

True or Force - An investigation into Alternative Medicine.
A5 pack covering Homoeopathy, Acupuncture, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Alexander Technique, Hypnosis, Meditation, Tai Chi, Feng Shui, Reiki, Bach Flower Remedies, Yoga, and Shiatsu.
From Reachout Trust, £4.50. Also available as a download for £3.50.

Alternative Therapies
Part of Reachout Trust's 'A look into Series', this booklet explores aromatherapy, yoga, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy and reflexology from a Christian perspective in an overview of what alternative therapies really are and why they are not compatible with Christianity.
From Reachout Trust, £3.00. Also available as a download for £2.50.

Handle With Care
An Evangelical Alliance report on alternative medicine providing general principles on how to approach this area in a way that is consistent with the Christian faith. A good starting point for Christians wanting to get a handle on alternative therapies also pointing the interested reader towards further research. Please note that some of the contact details may have changed since the publication date.
Available the Evangelical Alliance's website: www.eauk.org/resources/publications/online.cfm

Books

Homoeopathy- What are we swallowing?
By Steven Ransom
This book aims to expose the 'shocking' truths behind homeopathy and other therapies that fall under the umbrella of Alternative Medicine. According to Dr. Andrew Fergusson, General Secretary of the Christian Medical Fellowship: "This book explodes the myths. We are indebted to Steven Ransom for unmasking the alternative health industry."
Published by Credence Publications, 1999. ISBN 0953501221.

Breath of Life - A Believer's Guide to Healing, Wholeness and Complementary Therapies.
By Revd John Huggett
Breath Ministries publication answering 36 popular questions about healing and therapies with practical discussion questions suitable for study groups in the churches. Its emphasis is that healing should be central, therapies can be helpful and wholeness is available.
Published by Sovereign World, 2004.
Available from Breath Ministries. Price: £12.50.

Why throw out the Baby with the Bathwater?: A Positive Christian Viewpoint on Natural Medicine
By Terry Stokes
A book which counters some of the misleading information given to Christians about natural medicine.
Published by RAPHA, 1999.
Available from RAPHA; Tel: 01584 781384; Email: rapha2@tiscali.co.uk.

A Time to heal -A Contribution Towards the Ministry of Healing
A Time to Heal is a report from the Church of England on the ministry of healing. It is a valuable resource for clergy and laity within the Church of England and its ecumenical partners, health-care professionals and those involved in training for ministry.
Published by Church House Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0715138375.
Available from Church House Publishing www.chpublishing.co.uk. Price: £12.95.

A Time to Heal Handbook
A summary version of the longer A Time to Healreport from Church House Publishing.
Published by Church House Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0715138383.
Available from Church House Publishing www.chpublishing.co.uk. Price: £3.95.

Alternative Medicine - The Christian Handbook
By Donal O'Mathuna & Walt Larimore
This book, endorsed by the Christian Medical Association of USA, is an attempt to evaluate alternative medicine, bringing together both faith and science. It is packed with valuable information and is particularly useful as a handbook for Christian carers who do not have opportunity to research these areas for themselves.
Published Zondervan, 2001. ISBN 0310235847.
Price: £11

Hard Questions about Health and Healing
By Andrew Fergusson
Readable yet researched, this book is for professionals and public who want credible answers to hard questions including: What are health, healing and healthcare? What are 'gifts of healing'? Why is complementary / alternative medicine so popular? Do healing miracles happen today? Why does God allow suffering?
Published by CMF London, 2005.
Available from the Christian Medical Fellowship. Price: £9.99.

* Member of the Evangelical Alliance