Europe May Try to Ban or Control Complementary Medicine

May 2002

One of the problems in the UK and in Europe is that hypnotherapy is often seen as a complementary medicine or alternative therapy. This continues even though many hypnotherapists, who may consider themselves psychophysiological therapists are now moving towards the banner of psychotherapists. Some are of course psychologists or medical practitioners first and foremost.

The Institute of Complementary Medicine (UK) has reported that it believes Europe may be trying to impose a ban on the practice of complementary medicines unless allopathic medically qualified doctors practise them. The ICM's worry is that now, as the UK is being drawn into Europe like fluff into a vacuum, that such bans will include Britain.

France has had an official ban on the practice of hypnosis, only being allowed by medical practitioners, since the 1850s. Switzerland and Spain have similar bans. The odd thing about some of these bans is that in some countries hypnosis is prohibited to only medical practices but hypnosis for stage entertainment is allowed.

These bans are always circumnavigated by the emergence of new practices such as auto-genics, Silver Mind Control, and Neuro Linguistic Programming which all use hypnosis by another name. While allopathic medicine has learnt to work alongside many complementary medicines it is unlikely to want to police hypnosis throughout Europe and in all practical terms would be unable to do so.

©HypnosisAustralia, May 2002