Well done Dr Eslea for speaking his mind (and no doubt risking his job). I'm sick of universities running courses that are 'popular' rather than training students for a life in the big world of work. Yes, I know it brings cash in, but surely it is morally wrong to train students purely on this basis.

And as for TCM; there are many questions that should be asked about its effectiveness. Acupuncture has never truly been proven to be effective, for example, in 2004 researchers at University of Heidelberg proved that 'fake' acupuncture (using a device with a blunt tip that gives a sensation similar to a needle without piercing the skin) got the same result as 'real' acupuncture when used to reduce nausea after surgery.

One American GP, Harriet Hall, summed it up as: "Acupuncture studies have shown that it makes no difference where you put the needles. Or whether you use needles or just pretend to use needles (as long as the subject believes you used them). Many acupuncture researchers are doing what I call Tooth Fairy science: measuring how much money is left under the pillow without bothering to ask if the Tooth Fairy is real."

As for the herbs used in TCM, there have been countless deaths attributed to these over the years around the world. Just this week a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that nearly 21 % of Ayurvedic medicines actually contain lead, mercury or arsenic, especially products that are sold via the Internet.

We have a good, scientifically-based, NHS and methods such as TCM are a radical backward step to a time when we didn't really understand how the body works. It's up to UCLan to recognise this and not drag us back to the Dark Ages.

Leaving aside acupuncture and herbalism, why on earth does UCLAN offer a BSc(Hons) in Homeopathic Medicine?? I've no problem with a degree in homeopathy being offered; homeopathy bizarrely seems to have its uses for some people, but no way can it be a Bachelor of Science degree - there is no science involved in homeopathy, that's for sure. Dilutes the reputation of the rest of the decent BSc degrees offered by UCLAN, which is a shame for anyone who has worked hard for one.

Didn't know our local polytechnic had a reputation worth damaging!!

Kelle95e - you sound bitter, did you fail your 11plus or something?

Emma Farrant added: "There is an enormous evidence base for Chinese medicine.

Is that the same evidence as for ghost's and ufo's??

I have been practicing acupuncture for 33 years. There is a large body of animal evidence supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture and acupuncture is an accepted part of veterinary medicine. Most of the studies and especially those cited above by others, have been picked up by the media but are significantly flawed with methodological problems. There is some truth to the fact that the modern history of acupuncture has been greatly affected especially in the '40s and '50s to comply with communist philosophy--nothing that looks mystical or spirtiual allowed--and by "modern scientists" also trying to fit an alternate way of relating to and manipulating the world into pre-existing concepts and constructs. Although I think acupuncture is not "scientific" at this time, like chemistry or biology, that does not mean it is not effective, and cannot be subject to open-minded scientific study.

Where's Richard Dawkins when you need him?

Sounds like someone could do a very useful science degree involving properly researching the effectiveness of acupuncture...

It's also telling that Dr Mike Eslea is a senior lecturer in psychology - a field which itself was regarded as "quackery" for many years, and which still draws a lot of criticism for its "unscientific" methodology.

Does he even realise what he sounds like this lecturer??
He lectures Psychology, which has huge amounts of theory based ideas in it. Not to mention the huge intake of undergrads in that field, who eventually leave. How many actually make it in the career of psychology? Not a lot I would imagine.

Alternative medicines have proven to enhance patients health, whether its of a placebo or not, is irrelevant.

And no, I'm not a fan of alternative treatments, I'm a guy of science, so I'm not being blinkered in my views.

It is a shame that all complementary therapies are being put together here. I am highly allergic to antibiotics so have had to find natural alternatives. There are simple herbs, garlic, manula honey and colloidal silver which are very effective. There is already an excellent school of herbalism attached to UCLAN. I use a combination of medical and natural therapies. I have tried most natural therapies and some work well for me and others don't. I have also met excellent therapists and poor therapists just as you will find excellent doctors and poor doctors. I would, however, never try Chinese Medicine because of the animal welfare issues involved. The horrendous bear farms extracting bile widely used in Chinese Medicine, the now banned but still used tiger bones, rhinoserous horn etc. I hope that the University will exercise strict control on the orgainsers of this course not to include animal extracts.