How You Can Help
We are the UK’s leading centre for research in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). We have produced 10 years of ground-breaking work on back pain, arthritis, depression, headache, obesity, smoking, hypercholesterolaemia, bronchitis, asthma, eczema and other conditions.

Donors to the cause
Our research fund helps pay for researchers, equipment and informing patients and practitioners of our results. We are always glad to talk with donors about the possibility of major gifts to support particular research posts or projects. We can also advise on tax-effective donations through our University’s registered charity, the Peninsula Medical School Foundation.

Partners in research
In the past Boots the Chemist has funded an eight-year research fellowship and other companies like Pharmaton (Switzerland) and Schwabe (Germany) have recognised the benefit of supporting independent research at our unit.

Endowments
If you include a bequest in your will for complementary and alternative medicine at Exeter, you will be investing in the role that research and study play in creating a better future. If you decide to do this, please do let us know. It gives us the opportunity to thank you and to explore with you the ways in which you would like your bequest to be used.

Our Supporters
"Edzard Ernst is an international scholar who has consistently contributed to our collective understanding of complementary and integrative medicine"
Prof. David Eisenberg
Harvard School of Medicine, USA

List of funders (past and present)
* The Maurice Laing Foundation
* The Boots Company, plc
* The Pilkington Charitable Trusts
* Lichtwer Pharma
* Pharmaton SA
* The Foundation for Integrated Medicine
* The Arthritis Research Campaign
* Mitra Charitable Trust
* The Northcott Devon Medical Foundation
* British Medical Association
* Hepatitis C Trust
* Schwabe GmbH
* Cochrane Review Group
* British Johrei Society
* Novogen
* World Health Organisation
* Back Care
* ViFab
* Association of Commonwealth Universities
* GEOTA
* I1 Maek, Korea

Building Confidence in CAM
Complementary and alternative medicine will become more widely accepted and thus available to those in need, when there is solid evidence to answer three questions.

Is it safe?
With virtually all therapies, direct and indirect risks exist. Compared to main stream medicine, CAM is probably associated with far fewer risks. However, we need to find out how often side effects or complications happen.

Examples:
1. After monitoring 30,000 acupuncture treatments, our researchers have demonstrated conclusively that this form of treatment is safe.
2. By evaluating all the information available we have ascertained the safety of a range of herbal medicines including Hypericum perforatum (St Johns wort), Actaea racemosa (black cohosh), Ginkgo biloba and Echinacea spp.

Is it effective?
To CAM providers, the effectiveness of their treatment appears obvious. However, success can be due to several factors including a specific therapeutic effect, a placebo effect, and the natural history of the disease. Our researchers aim to differentiate between these elements.

Examples:
1. An analysis of clinical trials has demonstrated that seed extracts of Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) are an effective treatment to alleviate the symptoms of varicose veins.
2. Ginkgo biloba is more effective than placebo, and as effective as conventional medication, in prolonging the walking distance of patients with peripheral arterial disease.
3. An analysis of all randomised clinical trials and other studies has shown that species of the genus Crataegus (hawthorn) are effective in alleviating the symptoms of heart failure.

Is it value for money?
Most CAM providers take it for granted that complementary and alternative medicine saves cost. However, our recent review of the most rigorous UK cost-effectiveness studies suggests that CAM usually represents an 'add-on' expense within the NHS. At a time when rationing of costs within health care systems has become a major issue, consideration of studies like ours alongside rigorous tests of effectiveness has never been more important.