British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS)

The British Medical Acupuncture Society is a registered charity established to encourage the use and scientific understanding of acupuncture within medicine for the public benefit. It seeks to enhance the education and training of suitably qualified practitioners, and to promote high standards of working practices in acupuncture.

Members are regulated healthcare professionals who practise acupuncture within the scope of their professional practice.

Acupuncture can help in a variety of conditions:

• Pain relief for a wide range of painful conditions
• Nausea, especially postoperative nausea and vomiting
• Overactive bladder, also known as bladder detrusor instability
• Menstrual and menopausal problems, eg period pains and hot flushes
• Allergies such as hay fever and some types of allergic rashes
• Some other skin problems such as ulcers, itching and localised rashes
• Sinus problems and more

The British Medical Acupuncture Society is a nationwide group of registered doctors and allied health professionals who practise acupuncture alongside more conventional techniques. The BMAS believes that acupuncture has an important role to play in health care today.

During the past few years, acupuncture has become increasingly popular. Whilst it is exciting that the range of medical applications of acupuncture is increasing, it does mean that the responsible practitioner of acupuncture has a duty to educate both other medical colleagues and the general public about the strengths and weaknesses of the technique.

Very large claims have been made for acupuncture in the past. Not all of them can be substantiated. Such claims are worrying and can alienate many people - doctors among them - who might otherwise be sympathetic to the view that acupuncture can, in selected cases, be an effective method of treatment.