UCLH facing therapy claim rap - ASA to intervene over “Cranio Sacral Therapy” (CST) treatment

Published: 23 June 2011
by TOM FOOT

HOSPITAL bosses face being hauled before the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over “utterly baseless” claims made in a leaflet about alternative therapy.

University College London Hospital have been repeatedly warned about promoting “Cranio Sacral Therapy” (CST) as a valid health treatment. David Colquhoun, professor of pharmacology at neighbouring UCL, said the hospital had been referred to the ASA because there was not “the slightest evidence the therapy is good for anything and its ‘principles’ are pure nonsense”.

The NHS literature said CST could be used by children and adults to combat joint pain, disorders, anxiety sinusitis, nightmares  and exhaustion.

According to the Association of CST, based in Bloomsbury, a typical session involves lying on a treatment couch “with a therapist placing their hands lightly over the body” of the patient.

The ASA warned: “The references to the benefit and help provided by CST, could encourage readers to use CST to relieve their symptoms rather than seek advice from a medical professional.”

The health authority  is considering whether to continue funding integrated medicine.