Extent of acupuncture services being offered to patients via primary care services in the UK

A large proportion of the responding GPs (58%; n = 208 / 358) reported that they had arranged CAM for their patients, with the most popular therapies being acupuncture (47%; n = 169), followed by osteopathy (30%) and homoeopathy (25%) (Figure 1). As well as these main therapies, some GPs specified arranging healing, massage, reflexology, clinical ecology, Bach Flower remedies, Bowen technique, and hypnotherapy. No significant differences in referral were found between age groups or gender. A significant, but small, number of the GPs (11%; n = 41) employed a complementary therapist in their practice, whilst 41% (n = 150) provided the services of a physiotherapist.