• I SINCERELY hope many, many people signed and supported the petition to back natural medicine (that is, homeopathy and herbal medicine) on the NHS.

I strongly disagree with David Reed’s sweeping condemnation of homeopathy or “natural medicines” (Claims made for homeopathy are a nonsense, October 26). He wrote: “The NHS should direct all its funds to making sure people receive the best medical care available…”.

We can all agree, but I must add that this should include complementary medicine. People should have a choice, especially when so many pharmaceutical or synthetic drugs cause various and long-term side effects, and are not tailored to the needs of the individual.

Many herbal medicines and remedies are scientifically proven to work far better than synthetic ones.

I studied Western Herbal Medicine full-time for three years at the University of Middlesex (plus one before that). Why? Because herbal medicine and other complementary therapies gave me back my life after having had breast cancer in 2005.

The pharmaceutical drugs I was prescribed produced so many side effects that for a year I almost did not want to carry on living – and I was only 36.

It was only after consulting a qualified herbalist and taking herbal tinctures, supplements and other complementary medicines that I felt I had my life, my self, back and took the decision to study.

The problem, Mr Reed, is that not many people can afford a private consultation with a qualified practitioner, along with the prescribed medicines.

When I couldn’t afford a private consultation, the NHS offered me a choice – a referral to the Royal Hospital of Integrated Medicine – for which I am still grateful. In the health interests of the general public, this should be allowed to continue.

SABRINA BORDIN
Holly Lodge Mansions N6