AS a qualified acupuncturist working in Kidderminster I would like to make some comments regarding acupuncture being offered on the NHS, following your View on the Street feature last week.

Acupuncture is a system of medicine/ healing that has been used for almost 3,000 years, and enables the body/mind/spirit to heal itself as far as nature will allow.

When the body sends out distress signals in the form of any symptom, it is a sign that there is an imbalance within the body/mind, which must be re-balanced to restore health.

To this end the traditional acupuncturist will carry out an in-depth consultation of approximately two hours, to ascertain where the imbalance lies, and treat the appropriate meridien (energy channel). Diagnosis takes into consideration many aspects of one's life, such as diet, exercise, lifestyle, past medical and family history, and any emotional stress.

A traditional Chinese acupuncturist will have trained for three to four years, which will also include anatomy, physiology and western medicine.

Training is carried out at accredited colleges around the country, the cost of the course averaging £15,000. Qualified acupuncturists are registered with the British Acupuncture Council.

What the public does not appreciate is that the acupuncture offered on the NHS is far removed from this.

The training offered by the British Medical Acupuncture Council to medical professionals (GPs and physios) is referred to as "western acupuncture" and the course averages four days at around £640.

Western acupuncture only treats the symptoms, not the cause and, therefore, if a knee problem were to be treated, the likelihood is that all the acupuncture points affecting the knee would be used. This is an unpleasant fail-safe method where by the law of averages some effect could be attained.

A traditional acupuncturist would arrive at the points through diagnosis and would probably use only two needles, making it a totally painless experience.

I have just completed a first aid course, but it does not mean that I can offer medical treatments or call myself a doctor. With any complementary therapy it is up to the individual to check up on the qualifications of the practitioner before embarking on any form of therapy.

At present the Department of Health is working to bring in legislation to make it illegal for unqualified persons to practice alternative/complementary therapies.

Unfortunately this is precisely what they are encouraging within the NHS. Although not calling them acupuncturists, the medical profession are offering acupuncture, and the uninformed public do not realise that they are often receiving treatments from inadequately trained NHS staff.

Yes, alternative therapies would certainly enhance the realms of the NHS and work very well with orthodox medicine, but using qualified therapists will enable a good quality of service.

SUE MARSTON

Natural Therapy Clinic

Chester Road North

Kidderminster