Integrative medicine · London
Complementary and alternative medicine, integrated with your medical team.
A patient guide to CAM — what the evidence supports, what the safety catches are, and how a concierge helps you choose practitioners who work alongside your GP or consultant rather than around them.
Why patients choose us
- 01
Integrative medicine, done properly
CAM alongside — not instead of — your medical team. Evidence-based therapies with the conventional plan still front and centre.
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Practitioners we would send our own family to
We vet CAM providers for training, insurance and willingness to communicate with your doctors. No lone wolves.
- 03
Honest about what works and what does not
Some therapies help. Some do nothing. Some are dangerous. We say which is which, and why.
Indicative pricing
What CAM costs privately in London.
Indicative ranges across our vetted practitioners. Send us the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A first acupuncture session in our network: £70–£140, with a plan you can share with your GP or consultant.
| Therapy | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture (BMAS-trained clinician) | £70–£140 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| Osteopathy or chiropractic assessment | £80–£160 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| MBSR programme (8 weeks, group) | £300–£600 | 8 × 2 hr | Weekly |
| Yoga therapy (1:1, clinical) | £70–£120 | 60 min | Same visit |
| Nutritional therapy consultation | £120–£280 | 60–90 min | Same visit |
| Integrative medicine consultation | £250–£500 | 60 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by practitioner, by modality, by whether you attend 1:1 or in a group programme, and by how many sessions are planned. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right therapy, the right practitioner, alongside the right medicine.
CAM in the UK is a mixed picture — real evidence for some therapies, no evidence for others, and a regulatory patchwork that makes choosing safely hard. We fix that before you book.
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Not sure it will help?
We only refer for modalities with reasonable evidence in your indication. If the evidence is weak, we say so.
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Worried about interactions?
Every plan begins with a full medication and supplement review, screened for interactions with your prescriptions.
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Want it done properly?
Registered practitioners, professional insurance, and a letter back to your GP or consultant. Joined-up care, not parallel care.
The journey
From enquiry to review — what happens, in order.
One concierge from first message to the four-to-six-week review — including the honest conversation about whether to keep going.
Phase 1 · Before you book
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · During therapy
Sessions with your practitioner
Phase 3 · After
Review and adjust
- 01
Before
You tell us what you are hoping to add
A short, confidential form. What is going on, what conventional treatment you are on, and what you would like CAM to help with.
- 02
Before
We come back with a shortlist
Within one working day: two or three vetted practitioners for the modality that fits, an indicative price, and any safety flags for your case.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Usually within one to two weeks. Any medication, supplements or planned surgery are reviewed first so the therapy fits around them.
- 04
During
The consultation itself
A full history, an examination where relevant, and a written plan you can share with your GP or consultant.
- 05
During
The therapy sessions
Acupuncture, MBSR, yoga therapy, osteopathy — whatever was agreed. Sessions are unhurried and the practitioner explains what they are doing.
- 06
During
A copy for your medical team
The practitioner writes to your GP or consultant with the plan, so your care is joined up rather than parallel.
- 07
After
Review and adjust
We check in after four to six weeks. If it is helping, we continue. If not, we say so and stop — CAM should earn its place.
Typical end-to-end: 1–2 weeks from enquiry to first session. Review point: 4–6 weeks.
When it helps
Where CAM has genuine evidence.
The situations where evidence-based integrative medicine has a role, plus the one red flag that means CAM should wait.
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Chronic pain (NICE NG193)
Acupuncture is one of the therapies NICE recommends for chronic primary pain in adults, alongside exercise and psychological therapies.
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Migraine and tension-type headache
Acupuncture has reasonable evidence as a preventative — worth trying before or alongside drug prophylaxis.
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Stress and burnout
MBSR and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy have good evidence for stress reduction and preventing depression relapse.
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Lower back pain
Yoga, osteopathy and mindfulness all have evidence for chronic non-specific back pain — used alongside exercise and physiotherapy.
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Sleep, anxiety and low mood
Meditation, yoga and mindfulness-based approaches can help — best combined with conventional psychological therapy, not instead of it.
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Cancer-related fatigue and nausea
Acupuncture, yoga and mindfulness have evidence in oncology supportive care — always alongside your oncology team, never instead of treatment.
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Menopausal symptoms
Acupuncture, mindfulness and yoga are options for hot flushes and mood — modest evidence, but low risk when well delivered.
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Red flag: delaying cancer treatment
Choosing CAM instead of chemotherapy, surgery or radiotherapy is associated with worse survival. We will say so plainly.
The main modalities
Not all CAM is the same.
What each modality actually involves, and where the evidence sits — from acupuncture through to therapies we do not recommend.
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Acupuncture
Fine needles at defined points. Good evidence for chronic pain and migraine; done by a BMAS-trained doctor or a regulated acupuncturist.
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Osteopathy and chiropractic
Manual therapy for musculoskeletal problems. Useful for back and neck pain — with caution in osteoporosis and no cervical high-velocity thrusts.
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Mindfulness and MBSR
An 8-week structured programme with strong evidence for stress, anxiety and preventing depression relapse. Group or 1:1.
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Yoga and meditation
Movement, breath and attention. Evidence for chronic back pain, stress and cardiovascular risk factors when practised regularly.
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Herbal medicine
Plant-based remedies with real pharmacology — and real interactions. Only via a practitioner who reviews every drug you take.
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Nutritional therapy
Diet and targeted supplements. Useful when grounded in evidence; unhelpful when it drifts into elimination diets and expensive tests without a plan.
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Homeopathy
Ultra-dilute preparations. Evidence does not support efficacy beyond placebo — NHS stopped funding it in 2017. We do not recommend it.
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Aromatherapy and Reiki
Low-risk, relaxing, and useful for wellbeing — but not treatments for disease. Honest framing matters.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of CAM practitioners, we picked them.
BMAS-trained doctors, registered osteopaths, chiropractors, acupuncturists, mindfulness teachers and nutritional therapists across central, north, west and south London.
Selection criteria
How we choose every CAM practitioner in our network.
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Registered with a recognised UK body (BMAS, GOsC, GCC, BAcC, NCH, BANT)
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Willing to write to your GP or consultant and coordinate care
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Reviews all medication and supplements before treating you
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Says no when a therapy is not indicated, or when conventional care should come first
Safety and red flags
The things you need to know before you start.
Most CAM is safe in trained hands. The risks are almost always about interactions with your medicines, delays to conventional care, or the wrong practitioner for the wrong body.
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Herb–drug interactions are real
St John’s wort, ginkgo, garlic, ginseng and many others interact with antidepressants, anticoagulants, chemotherapy and hormonal contraception. Always disclose everything you take.
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Warfarin, DOACs and supplements
Fish oil, vitamin E, garlic and ginkgo can increase bleeding risk on anticoagulants. Never start a supplement without checking with the prescriber first.
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Chemotherapy and antioxidants
High-dose antioxidant supplements can interfere with some chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Discuss anything you plan to take with the oncology team.
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UK regulation of CAM is patchy
Osteopaths and chiropractors are statutorily regulated; most other CAM disciplines are not. We only refer to practitioners on recognised voluntary registers.
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Hepatotoxic herbal remedies
Kava, comfrey, chaparral and some Chinese and Ayurvedic remedies have caused serious liver injury. We do not refer for these.
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Acupuncture safety
Serious complications are rare in trained hands. Single-use sterile needles, proper technique and a clean clinic are non-negotiable.
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Spinal manipulation in osteoporosis
High-velocity spinal manipulation is not appropriate in osteoporosis, on anticoagulants, or over the cervical spine in most cases. A good practitioner adapts.
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Anaphylaxis and topical reactions
Aromatherapy oils, herbal extracts and some acupuncture points can trigger allergic reactions. Rare, but a reason not to skip the history.
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Red flag: never delay cancer treatment
Choosing CAM instead of proven cancer treatment worsens survival. CAM is alongside chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy — never a replacement.
Reading your CAM plan
Your CAM plan in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever modality you choose, the written plan the practitioner sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
The plan is written to your GP and consultant, not just to you.
If you would like us to talk you through it before or after your first session, just ask.
- 01 Header
Reason for referral and plan
Why CAM was added — chronic pain, stress, cancer supportive care — and which modality was chosen and why.
- 02 Findings
History, examination and medication review
What the practitioner found on assessment, and every medication, supplement and herbal remedy you take, checked for interactions.
- 03 Plan
Schedule, expected effect and stopping rule
How many sessions, what change to expect, and the point at which you agree together to stop if it is not helping.
- 04 Impression
Communication back to your medical team
Read this first: a copy of the plan is sent to your GP and, where relevant, your consultant, so your care is joined up.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for CAM varies by insurer and by therapy — acupuncture and osteopathy are often covered for musculoskeletal indications; most other CAM is self-pay. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about CAM.
Quick answers on evidence, safety, cost and how to keep your GP or consultant in the loop.
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What is the difference between complementary, alternative and integrative medicine?
Complementary means used alongside conventional medicine. Alternative means used instead of it. Integrative medicine combines the two in a coordinated plan — this is the model we work with, and the one supported by the Royal College of Physicians’ integrative medicine faculty.
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Does CAM actually work?
Some of it, for some things. Acupuncture has evidence in chronic pain and migraine. MBSR has evidence for stress and depression relapse prevention. Yoga has evidence for chronic back pain. Homeopathy does not have evidence beyond placebo. We treat each modality on its own merits.
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Is CAM safe with my prescription medicines?
Not automatically. Herbs like St John’s wort, ginkgo, garlic and ginseng interact with antidepressants, anticoagulants (warfarin and DOACs), chemotherapy and hormonal contraception. Always tell every clinician everything you take — prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal.
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How much does a CAM consultation cost in London?
Roughly £70–£140 for acupuncture, £80–£160 for osteopathy or chiropractic, £120–£280 for nutritional therapy, £250–£500 for an integrative medicine consultation, and £300–£600 for an eight-week MBSR programme. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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Can I use CAM alongside cancer treatment?
Alongside, yes — acupuncture, yoga and mindfulness have evidence in oncology supportive care for fatigue, nausea and mood. Instead of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery, no. Studies consistently show worse survival when patients replace conventional cancer treatment with alternative medicine.
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Is CAM regulated in the UK?
Only partly. Osteopaths and chiropractors are statutorily regulated. Acupuncturists, herbalists, nutritional therapists and homeopaths sit on voluntary registers (BAcC, NIMH, BANT, Society of Homeopaths). We only refer to practitioners on recognised registers with professional insurance.
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Does the NHS or my insurer cover CAM?
NHS provision is very limited — some pain clinics offer acupuncture, some mental health services offer MBSR. Insurers vary: acupuncture and osteopathy are often covered for musculoskeletal indications; most other CAM is self-pay. We confirm cover before booking.
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Which herbs and supplements should I be most careful with?
On anticoagulants: garlic, ginkgo, ginger, fish oil, vitamin E, dong quai. On antidepressants: St John’s wort. On the pill: St John’s wort. On chemotherapy: high-dose antioxidants, St John’s wort, grapefruit. On the liver: kava, comfrey, chaparral, some Chinese and Ayurvedic remedies. Always disclose.
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How do you choose CAM practitioners?
We look for statutory or recognised voluntary registration, professional indemnity insurance, willingness to write to your GP or consultant, and a history of saying no when a therapy is not indicated. Practitioners who oversell or who tell you to stop conventional treatment are not in our network.
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When should I not use CAM?
Active psychosis, uncontrolled bleeding, suspected cancer awaiting diagnosis, or a proven cancer where you are being asked to delay treatment. In each of these, the priority is conventional medicine — CAM can come in later, once the acute problem is under control.
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In practice, in London
The honest picture around complementary alternative medicine in London
For complementary alternative medicine, the private London route is mostly about consultant fit and hospital choice rather than raw waiting time. The NHS route for complementary alternative medicine is thorough, but the queue is real. Most patients we speak with have been told to expect anywhere from a handful of weeks to several months, depending on their local trust and how the referral is graded. Going private in London usually collapses that window to a matter of days — often the same week if the diary allows. It isn’t about jumping a queue so much as buying time back while you still have the flexibility to plan around it.
A typical private booking for complementary alternative medicine in London starts with a consultant conversation — sometimes in person on Harley Street or Marylebone, sometimes on video if that suits better. Any imaging or diagnostics happen at a nearby CQC-registered facility, and reports usually land within 24 to 72 hours. The whole loop, from first call to written report, is often done inside a fortnight. For complementary alternative medicine in particular, we bias towards consultants who do this every week rather than every month.
The value of going through a concierge for complementary alternative medicine isn’t access — anyone with an insurer or a credit card can get a private appointment in London. The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.