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The JECH gallery
Natural alternatives
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  1. David S Morrison1,
  2. Keith Beard2
  1. 1NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Glasgow, UK
  2. 2Mansionhouse Unit, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 D S Morrison
 NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Dalian House, PO Box 15329, 350 St Vincent Street, Glasgow G3 8YZ, UK; david.morrison{at}ggc.scot.nhs.uk

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    Patients may choose alternative medicine because it is more congruent with their own values, beliefs and philosophical orientations,1 or because of concerns about possible side effects of conventional treatments.2 Whatever the evidence of the efficacy3 or safety4 of Chinese medicines, there is certainly a convenient choice of alternatives in Glasgow, UK.

    Figure 1
    Figure 1

     Chinese Medicine Centre with pharmacy next door.

    REFERENCES

    1. ↵
      Astin AJ. Why patients use alternative medicine: results of a national study. JAMA 1998;279:1548–53.
    2. ↵
      Sharples MF, van Haselen Fisher P NHS patients’ perspective on complementary medicine: a survey. Complement Ther Med 2003;11:243–8.
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    3. ↵
      Tang LJ, Zhan YS, Ernst E. Review of randomised controlled trials of traditional Chinese medicine. BMJ1999;319:160–1.
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    4. ↵
      Medicines Control Agency. Safety of herbal medicinal products. London: Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, 2002.