"Dr and Herbs" shops. Reputation? Are they ethical?

[Love Always]

Hi,

I have noticed a lot of branches of this shop popping up all over the UK. I went into one for a "Free Consultation" and was seen by a Chinese doctor who diagnosed me as "having too much fire" which was causing my stomach pains and mood swings. This was after taking my pulse and looking at my tongue.

I was then told I need a course of 6 acupuncture sessions at a cost of 150 pounds plus a supply of herbal medicines for another 155 pounds. Total of 305 pounds.

When I said I wanted to consider it, the doctor and his interpreter looked taken aback and offended and then proceeded to do a hard sell on me that would have made a used car salesman cringe.

They kept trying to close me with the old"Do you want to pay by cash or card?" tactic.

When I said that I couldn't afford 305 pounds they wanted me to explain why not. They alsoinsisted I could afford it because I had a credit card in my wallet.

They then said they would throw away my consultation notes unless I committed to the treatment on the spot.

Now, is this type of pushiness typical of TCM practitioners? Did I just happen to find a bad apple? What sort of reputation do these shopping mall "Dr and Herbs" clinics have?

 

[Ingrid]

Hi

I used a shop called 'herb medic' - these are also a 'chain' of shops.The male practitioner was extremely helpful and in my opinion gave a very accurate diagnosis (without me giving to much info!) The accupuncture I had did help a lot- I was suffering from stress / depression / anxiety. This also gave rise to skin flare ups and the cream given helped too.

The only reservation I had was I booked 5 sessions of accupuncture and each time I went, I was prescribed further tablets (herbal), potions and creams. It wasnt really explained well enough to me what they for for and why I needed it - and they were waiting at the counter for me as I came out and rang up on the till!!! I didnt like this as I flet 'pushed' into buying products. As I was suffering from anxiety this used to upset me as I didnt feel strong enough to decline the products at the time but then felt really mad / frustrated with myself for rolling over and paying for them. After my paid sessions had run out I didnt go again, which was a shame in some ways as I enjoyed the treatment but I did feel that I was being taken for a mug [&o]

I do feel these high street stores are very commercialised as is the nature of the high street [] The problem as I see it, is holistic therapy does not sit well with the hard sell! In my opinion there should be trust between client and practitioner and the whole experience should be relaxing and stress free.

Vicky

 

[Memster]

I think that these places are purely businesses, and they are there to sell. Selling comes first, the patient second. A pensioner friend of mine went to two different shopping mall Chinese Herbalists, and both times she was coerced into parting with a lot of money after already paying £30 for a consultation. When she explained that she was not very well off, she was sold herbal teas.

We all know about herbal teas and they are excellent. However, these particular ones struck me as being a complete rip - off. £5 for ONE tea - bag, to be used once. My friend was persuaded to buy quite a few of these. These people should be ashamed to call themselves practitioners. They are in it for the money and nothing else, and I hope people give them a wide berth.

Love
Moonstone

 

[Aaron Michael]

I forgot to mention a similar experience at the place.
I had a neck and back massage in one of their chairs(which was, admittedly very good)
It was meant to be 5 pounds for 8 minutes. Halfway through, the doctor put a medicated plaster on my back without asking me and without me asking for it.
Then when I went to pay, they tried to add another 5 pounds for the plaster. [sm=aaarg.gif]

 

[? Ally Gal 123??]

Hi Clifton
What a nasty experience.
Unfortunately there's nothing (yet) to stop these places opening up all over the place and spoiling the reputation of those trying to do it ethically and properly.

All I can advise for you and anyone else is to only see practitioners who are registered with the British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC) for acupuncture, or the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) for herbs: practitioners will be members of both bodies if they are so qualified.

These bodies ensure very high standards of practice and ethics (and we're talking really high here!!). There are also proper complaints mechanisms in place that protect you, should you ever need them.

Pricing will always be transparent, and you will never be sold anything that you do not fully consent to. This is, of course, exactly how it should be.

Cheers
Aragorn