• How do I join the RCHM? I haven't qualified at one of the RCHM's affiliated colleges - I studied overseas
• Please send me a list of your members in my area – but how do I know that they are genuine practitioners?
• Please tell me if a certain company is registered with you.
• I've been seeing a practitioner who is not registered. What does this mean?
• I'm seeing one of your members soon and wonder if you can give me an idea how much treatment will cost?
• I'm unhappy with the standard of treatment I've received from my CHM practitioner and want to make a complaint.
• I want to buy a herb or herbal products from you.
• My CHM practitioner, who is a member of the RCHM, wants to give me acupuncture treatment as well. Is this OK?
• Please identify these herbs for me. I want to know if they are safe to take for [medical condition] and if there will be any side effects.
• I am concerned about the use of endangered species in Chinese herbal medicines.
• Please can you recommend a specialist practitioner in a certain field.

How do I join the RCHM? I haven't qualified at one of the RCHM's affiliated colleges – I studied overseas.
The RCHM welcomes membership applications from fully qualified practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine who have graduated overseas or in the UK at colleges other than those that are affiliated to the RCHM. Initially you will be required to complete an application form and return this to the RCHM office with copies of your qualification certificates. If these are in order you will then be invited to attend an interview with one of our interview panel, who will be a senior member of the RCHM. During the interview you will be asked to present two case studies, identify raw herbs and discuss safety and legal issues relating to the practice of CHM in the UK. When you successfully complete this process, and once we have taken up references, you will be invited to become a full member of the RCHM. We attach an application form, interview guidelines, fee information, and further information about the RCHM. If you would prefer to receive these attachments in the post then please let us know.  Back to top.

Please send me a list of your members in my area – but how do I know that they are genuine practitioners?
Members of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) are all fully qualified practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine. They have either graduated in the UK from a college affiliated to the RCHM or, if they have graduated overseas, they will have passed our stringent application and interview procedure. Our members have to abide by our Code of Ethics and Dispensary Practice, and they are encouraged to use suppliers who have undergone a full quality control audit which allows the supplier to be placed on our Approved Suppliers List. They also take part in Continuing Professional Development activities to keep their knowledge up to date. In addition, they have to hold full professional insurance and, in the unlikely event of a problem occurring, the RCHM has a formal complaints procedure.  Back to top.

Please tell me if a certain company is registered with you.
The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) is responsible for the registration of individual Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) practitioners in the UK. We don't register clinics, shops or business addresses, just the practitioners themselves.  

We therefore need the name of the practitioner who will be, or has been, treating you. You should always know the name of your CHM practitioner and the staff at the clinic should, of course, be happy to tell you this. Once you have his or her name please come back to us and we will be very happy to check our database.  

If you cannot find out a name for any reason, please provide the FULL postcode and our database may show if a member is working there. You should then only ever see the member whose name we give you as we cannot guarantee the quality of any other practitioners working at the clinic if they are not also registered with us.  Back to top.

		Did you know
		that dandelion gets its name from the latin "Dens Lionis" as the leaf resembles the shape of a Lion's tooth? Read more...

I've been seeing a practitioner who is not registered. What does this mean?
Registration is currently voluntary in the UK and so you will find that a number of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) practitioners are not registered. This does not mean that they are not qualified. However, it does mean that we (the RCHM) know nothing about their qualifications and professional background and we cannot comment on the quality of their knowledge and experience. The RCHM recommends that you always consult with one of our members.

Members of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) are all fully qualified practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine. They have either graduated in the UK from a college affiliated to the RCHM or, if they have graduated overseas, they will have passed our stringent application and interview procedure. Our members have to abide by our Code of Ethics and Dispensary Practice, and they are encouraged to use suppliers who have undergone a full quality control audit which allows the supplier to be placed on our Approved Suppliers List. They also take part in Continuing Professional Development activities to keep their knowledge up to date. In addition, they have to hold full professional insurance and, in the unlikely event of a problem occurring, the RCHM has a formal complaints procedure.

If you are generally happy with your practitioner, even though they are not registered with the RCHM:

•  try to find out if they are registered with any other organisation in the UK and ask to see proof

•  ask whether they have full professional indemnity insurance cover

•  ask where they get their herbs and herbal products from

•  are the products you buy clearly labelled?

•  ask yourself if you are happy with the level of communication and understanding caused by any language differences (use of a good interpreter is acceptable and not unusual)

•  ask yourself if you are confident that the practitioner took a full medical history and is aware of any other medication (pharmaceutical drugs) that you are taking.  Back to top.

I'm seeing one of your members soon and wonder if you can give me an idea how much treatment will cost?
The RCHM does not dictate fee levels to members. However, all prices and fees should be discussed with you prior to treatment being undertaken; this is part of our Code of Ethics and so the practitioner will be happy to do this.  Back to top.

I'm unhappy with the standard of treatment I've received from my CHM practitioner and want to make a complaint.
We are sorry to hear that you are unhappy with your experience of Chinese herbal medicine. We will do our best to help you but first we need to find out if the practitioner you are seeing is a member of the RCHM. Please let us have his or her name and full clinic address.

If the practitioner is a member of the RCHM then we can pursue your concerns through our formal complaints procedure. We take any such complaints very seriously and we can assure you that the matter will be dealt with fairly and efficiently by our Ethics Committee.

If the practitioner is not a member of the RCHM then unfortunately we are limited as to what we can do, since our complaints procedure only applies to members. However, depending on the sort of complaint you wish to make you could:

•  Contact your local trading standards department

•  Contact a solicitor for legal advice (an initial consultation may be free of charge)

•  Contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

(NOTE: For complaints involving abuse we also suggest contacting the police and the organisation called WITNESS against abuse by health and care workers (formerly POPAN) which is an organisation providing support and advocacy.  Back to top.

I want to buy a herb or herbal products from you.
The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) is responsible for registering Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) practitioners across the UK. Unfortunately we don't supply herbs or herbal products. We strongly recommend that if you are seeking CHM treatment you consult with a member of the RCHM. All our members are fully qualified CHM practitioners subject to our Codes of Ethics and Good Practice and who hold full professional insurance. We also encourage our members to use herb and herbal product suppliers who have undergone a quality control audit and are listed on our Approved Supplier Scheme. Please let us know your preferred location (town/county/postcode) and we will send you a list of our members practising in your area.  Back to top.

My CHM practitioner, who is a member of the RCHM, wants to give me acupuncture treatment as well. Is this OK?
It is not unusual for acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treatments to be combined. However, the RCHM does not register acupuncturists specifically, although the majority of our members do also provide acupuncture treatment and will be members of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC). You should check acupuncture qualifications and registration by contacting the BAcC on 0208 735 0400 or info@acupuncture.org.uk.  Back to top.

Please identify these herbs for me. I want to know if they are safe to take for [medical condition] and if there will be any side effects.
Unfortunately this is purely an administrative office and we are unable to advise on herbal treatments or on specific medical conditions. Any queries regarding your treatment, or the herbs or herbal products you have been prescribed, should really be referred to your practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM). CHM treatments are very much tailored to the individual, dependent on a number of factors including medical history and any other drugs you may be taking. Your practitioner should be happy to discuss with you any concerns you may have, explain your prescription and advise on what to do in the event that you experience any side effects. You should certainly contact your practitioner if you do experience what you consider to be side effects of the prescription you are taking. If you would like to check that your practitioner is registered with us, and therefore subject to our Codes of Ethics and Good Practice, please let us have his or her name and we will be happy to check our database.  Back to top.

I am concerned about the use of endangered species in Chinese herbal medicines.
The RCHM has always condemned the illegal trade in endangered plant and animal species, and our members are subject to strict rules which prohibit the use of any such material.  Back to top.

Please can you recommend a specialist practitioner in a certain field.

The RCHM doesn't recommend specialists, just practitioners who have expressed a special interest in a certain subject. We (the RCHM) cannot vouch for this special interest or the extra training/research.

We ask members to express the fields that they have a special interest in, but this does not necessarily mean that they are specialists in this field. The enquirer is encouraged to find out for themselves what additional training and experience that RCHM member has. However, we cannot comment on additional qualifications, training or experience.  Back to top.