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The Other Medicine
Welcome From Anna Ford
Welcome to the website for The Other Medicine. I was delighted to be asked to present the programme, as alternative and complementary therapies are a fascinating subject - complex, controversial and yet with the potential to make a major difference in people's lives. Indeed, about a quarter of the adult population of the UK use some form of complementary treatment each year.

Too often, the debate around the subject is portrayed as the 'alternative' against the 'mainstream'. As we explore in the series, the real position is a lot more complex - there are major differences of opinion within the alternative medicine movement, while, more and more, the medical establishment are coming to see value in many of the treatments that have previously been summarily dismissed.

The website here on Open2.net gives you background to some of the issues, and offers hints on getting the best from Complementary and Alternative treatments. And if you're interested in making careers in CAM, there's advice for you, too.

I hope you enjoy the series and the website. I've certainly learned a lot from making it, and it was wonderful to be working again with the Open University. Before working in TV and Radio, I was a staff tutor for the OU in Northern Ireland, so in a way making this series has been like coming home!

Anna



Anna Ford
Meet Anna Ford
You'll know her from The One O'Clock News - but did you know about Anna's links with the Open University? Or her tribute to Lennon and McCartney? Meet Anna Ford.
About The Series
Every year, one in five of us tries some sort of complementary or alternative medicine - what's the attraction? And what do we get in return for the millions spent? Find out more about the series.
Make up your own mind
Further reading, further study - visit our books and courses page for tips on how to find out more.