University's 'quackery' courses slammed
New science degrees in Chinese medicine on offer in Preston have been labelled "quackery" by a senior lecturer at the city's university.
From next month, the University of Central Lancashire will run the qualifications in herbal medicine and acupuncture in conjunction with the Northern College of Acupuncture.
But one member of staff has accused the university of running courses that would "severely damage" its reputation and have "no academic justification".
Dr Mike Eslea, a senior lecturer in psychology, has written an open letter to vice chancellor Malcolm McVicar.
He said: "Although acupuncture and herbalism have been practised in one form or another for thousands of years, most of what we now call 'traditional' Chinese medicine is quite a recent invention."
He said: "It was concocted in the 1950s from a hotchpotch of folk myths and superstitions.
"Our hopes of being taken seriously as a research institution are being severely damaged by our association with such quackery, but now we are adding yet more bogus therapy to our portfolio.
"I believe it is time to call a halt. I implore you to act now to prevent further damage to UCLan's reputation and to defend the scientific status of our BSc title."
Emma Farrant, of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine, described Dr Eslea's comments as "absurd."
She added: "There is an enormous evidence base for Chinese medicine. It isn't quackery."
A spokesman for UCLan said: "Our complementary medicine courses share a common core of health sciences, research and critical reflection, representing more than 50% of the academic modules studied."
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 29 July 2010
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