asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the Government's policy in relation to medical herbalism; if he remains in contact with developments in this field; and if he will make a statement.
Medical practice outside the National Health Service is permitted by common law and, with certain exceptions, there is nothing to prevent treatment being offered for most conditions by medical herbalists. Registered medical practitioners working in the National Health Service are at liberty to offer any forms of therapy they consider to be in the interests of their patients, including herbal remedies. It is left to members of the medical profession to take account of developments in the field of medical herbalism to such extent as they consider them relevant to medical practice.