Lie back and relax: reflexology and aromatherapy degrees are dropped Although the university says it remains "fully committed to excellence in complementary medicine" The Daily Telegraph understands that the remaining courses are under review and may soon be cut. This follows a spate of closures in the past two years after mounting pressure from scientists and doctors, who are furious that taxpayers" money is being spent on teaching students about crystal-therapies and "energy fields." The closures are partly the result of a campaign led by Dr David Colquhoun, professor of pharmacology at University College London, and the rationalist pressure group Sense about Science. In 2007, when alternative medicine was highly popular, 16 state-funded degree-awarding institutions were offering 42 fully accredited BSc/BA courses in 12 non-evidence-based forms of medicine. These included ayurveda, naturopathy, therapeutic massage and homoeopathy. Dr Colquhoun said: "Universities are using shocking teaching, like suggesting that amethysts emit high 'yin energy."" Only the medicines and therapies that are backed by some form of clinical evidence of efficacy, albeit controversial, remain in any number as degree-level subjects, most notably acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. In 1992, John Major's administration created 66 universities which were able to award complementary medicine degrees. Their popularity was helped by the support of the Prince of Wales, who campaigned to enhance the status of alternative medicine in the NHS.