Health Minister, Mary Harney, has appealed to people not to avail of complementary therapies without first discussing it with their GP.

Minister Harney made her comments at the launch of the Report of the National Working Group on the Regulation of Complementary Therapists. An information leaflet for the public was also launched.

The report stated that the complementary and alternative therapy community in Ireland 'is a very disparate one with a broad range of levels of expertise and training'.

It noted that the term 'complementary therapist' is often inaccurately applied, 'usually by the media, to an untrained and/or unregistered self-styled practitioner who has come to public notice through malpractice'.

"A sham practitioner or rogue trader might be a more accurate description. With greater unification of the sector and availability of reliable, accessible sources of information for the public, it is hoped that such sad cases will become even more of a rarity", the report said.

It recommended statutory regulation for herbalists, acupuncturists and traditional Chinese medical practitioners. For all other groups, 'the development of a robust system of voluntary self-regulation is recommended'.

Commenting on the report, Minister Harney said that international experience is largely in favour of self-regulation with some limited statutory regulation or registration. Initially, she said, the Department of Health intends to support voluntary self-regulation within the sector.

The information leaflet meanwhile will be circulated to GPs, complementary therapists and pharmacies. According to the department, its key message is that if people have a condition which could need medical treatment, they should visit their doctor first.