Complementary therapy organisations

The websites listed on this page are sources of detailed information about complementary therapies and cancer. They may use more technical terms, longer pages and fewer images than this site. 

For a list of organisations and websites for specific types of therapies look in the types of individual therapies section.

Cancer Research UK
P.O. Box 123
London
WC2A 3PX
Admin phone number: 020 7242 0200
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org

Cancer Research UK is the largest cancer research organisation in the world, outside the USA. We are the European leader in the development of new anti cancer drugs. We fund research on all aspects of the disease from its causes, to treatment and prevention, education and psychological support for patients.

We are also committed to producing high quality information for people affected by cancer, health professionals and the general public. We do this through our website, which includes patient information and news and resources, and through our range of health awareness leaflets.

If you have a question about cancer, and you are in the UK or Ireland, you can contact our team of specialist cancer information nurses using this form, or calling freephone on 0808 800 40 40.

Penny Brohn Cancer Care (formerly Bristol Cancer Help Centre)
Chapel Pill Lane
Pill
Bristol
BS20 0HH
Phone: 01275 370 100 (switchboard)
Helpline: 0845 123 23 10 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.00pm)
Website: www.pennybrohncancercare.org
Email: Helpline@pennybrohn.org

This centre provides complementary care, using the Bristol Approach, to people with cancer, and their loved ones. Staffed by doctors, nurses and therapists working in complementary medicine. They can provide information about complementary treatments, alternative diets, holistic medicine, counselling and relaxation.

The British Complementary Medicine Association (BCMA)
P.O. Box 5122
Bournemouth
BH8 0WG
Phone: 0845 345 5977
Website: www.bcma.co.uk
Email: office@bcma.co.uk

The British Complementary Medicine Association represents over 20,000 complementary therapists whose therapies include acupuncture, yoga and homeopathy. All members are fully trained and subject to the BCMA’s code of conduct, and complaints and disciplinary procedures. The website has a searchable database of therapists and therapy associations, so if you are looking for a complementary therapist in your area, this is a good place to start.

The British Holistic Medical Association
5 Sea Lane Close
East Preston
West Sussex
BN16 1NQ
Website: www.bhma.org
Email: admin@bhma.org

This association was founded by doctors and students with an interest in holistic health care who feel that healthcare should include a person’s spiritual and emotional wellbeing, as well as their physical health. The BHMA promotes holistic healthcare in the UK. It does not list or recommend individual therapies or therapists.

The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)
83 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0HW
Phone: 0203 178 2199
Email: info@cnhc.org.uk
Website: www.cnhc.org.uk

CNHC is the UK regulator for complementary healthcare practitioners. Its key function is to protect the public by giving them access to a list of practitioners who have been assessed as meeting national standards of competence and practice. Registered practitioners are able to use the CNHC quality mark on certificates and publicity materials. Most NHS services require complementary therapy practitioners to be registered with the CNHC.

Health Professions Council (HPC)
184 Kennington Park Road
London
SE11 4BU
Tel: 0845 300 6184
Website: www.hpc-uk.org

An independent, UK health regulator. Sets standards of training, performance and conduct for health professionals, including music therapists, art therapists and drama therapists. Keeps a register of qualified therapists.

Hypnotherapy Directory
Coliseum
Riverside Way
Camberley
Surrey
GU15 3YL
Tel: 0844 8030 242 (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday)
Website: www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk

This website is a support network of UK hypnotherapists, with information about their training and experience, areas of hypnotherapy, fees and contact details. The service is free and confidential.

Paul's Cancer Support Centre
1st Floor
20-22 York Road
London
SW11 3QA
Phone: 020 7924 3924
Website: www.paulscancersupportcentre.org.uk

The Paul's Cancer Support Centre offers support groups, counselling and relaxation techniques to people with cancer. They have a telephone helpline, offer home visits for people who live locally, and run a programme specifically for people in the Asian community.

The Institute for Complementary and Natural Medicine
Can-Mezzanine
32–36 Loman Street
London SE1 0EH
Phone: 0207 922 7980
Fax: 0207 922 7981
Email: info@icnm.org.uk
Website: www.icnm.org.uk

This charity provides information on specific complementary therapies. You can write to them, enclosing an SAE and two loose first class stamps, stating clearly what information you are looking for, or what type of complementary therapist you are trying to find.

Research Council for Complementary Medicine
Faculty of Health & Social Care
London South Bank University
103 Borough Road
London SE1 0AA
Email: info@rccm.org.uk
Website: www.rccm.org.uk

The RCCM collects and reviews research into the effectiveness of complementary therapies and alternative medicines. The Complementary and Alternative Medicine Evidence Online (CAMEOL) database reviews specific therapies on various conditions, including cancer. You can find the evidence on their website.

The Complementary and Alternative Medicines in Cancer Consortium website
The UK site aims to provide reliable information on complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) relating to cancer. The target audience is health professionals but the information is understandable. The information can assist patients and professionals in making decisions about whether to use these medicines.
Website: www.cam-cancer.org

Medicdirect website – section about complementary medicine
This website has information on a wide range of complementary therapies. It contains information about different therapies and gives research evidence on how well they work, where available.
Website: www.medicdirect.co.uk/alt_medicines

The Haven: Breast Cancer Support Centres
The London Haven
Effie Road
London
SW6 1TB
Tel: 020 7384 0099 (gives information about all Haven Centres in the UK)
Email: info@thehaven.org.uk
Website: www.thehaven.org.uk

Breast Cancer Haven offers free support, information and complementary therapies to anyone affected by breast cancer. They have drop in centres in London, Hereford and Leeds. They also offer a programme of care designed to help women with breast cancer feel better and develop a healthier lifestyle. For people unable to get to a Haven centre, they offer the Haven at Home multi media package.

Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres
1st Floor
1 Waterloo Street
Glasgow
G2 6AY
Tel: 0300 123 1801
Email: enquiries@maggiescentres.org
Website: www.maggiescentres.org

Maggie’s Centres in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Highlands, Fife and Charing Cross Hospital, London, offer care and support to people affected by cancer. Each Centre is beside an NHS cancer hospital and is run by professional, specialist staff who can discuss any aspect of cancer. You can join a support group, take part in weekly sessions like relaxation and stress management or learn about nutrition and health. Or you can just visit to have a cup of tea, a biscuit and a friendly chat.

Therapy Directory
Coliseum
Riverside Way
Camberley
Surrey
GU15 3YL
Tel: 0844 8030 245
Website: www.therapy-directory.org.uk

The Therapy Directory is designed to put individuals in touch with a professional who is both qualified and suitable for their needs. These practitioners focus on alternative and complementary therapies.

International Society for Complementary Medicine Research
The International Society for Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR) is an international professional, multidisciplinary, non profit scientific organisation devoted to fostering complementary and integrative medicine research. It provides a platform for knowledge and information exchange to increase international communication and collaboration.
Website: www.iscmr.org

US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health
This US site has information about complementary and alternative therapies. It provides detailed information about herbs and supplements, as well as latest news on various therapies.
Website: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/complementaryandalternativemedicine.html

US National Institute of Health Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The cancer specific section of the US National Instritute of Health.
Website: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/cam

MD Anderson Cancer Centre's Complementary / Integrative Medicine Education Resources
This American site has information about complementary therapies in cancer care. It offers information to patients and health professionals to help them decide how to best combine conventional cancer treatments with complementary therapies.
Website: www.mdanderson.org/departments/CIMER/

US National Cancer Institute's National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
NCCAM is an American government funded institution that supports scientific research into complementary and alternative therapies. It also provides training for clinical researchers, and supports schemes to integrate proven therapies into medical training for doctors and nurses.
Website: http://nccam.nih.gov

The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre: Integrative Medicine Service
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre is a leading cancer hospital and research centre in New York. Its Integrative Medicine service was founded in 1999. It carries out research into the effectiveness of complementary therapies for cancer. The section Information Resource, About herbs, botanicals and other products is a searchable database of herbs, vitamins and plants. It lists side effects, drug interactions, clinical information and clinical trials.
Website: www.mskcc.org/mskcc