List B: Conditions for which evidence could be sought
Most health practitioners specialise in treating different types of ailments and medical conditions. For example, a physiotherapist may treat aches and pains. According to CAP, practitioners of the disciplines represented by the (M) or (Ac) below can probably treat those listed ailments or medical conditions.
If you are accredited by a relevant professional or regulatory body, it may be acceptable to mention any of the below conditions if you are suitably qualified in that specific area.
- aches and pains (M)
- acid indigestion
- acidity, stomach ache
- allergic rhinitis
- alopecia (hair loss)
- anxiety
- arthritic pain
- athlete's foot
- backache (M, Ac)
- back pain (M, Ac)
- bacterial vaginosis, BV
- bedwetting
- bronchial congestion
- bunion
- calluses
- candida
- catarrh
- chilblains
- circulatory problems, local or minor (c.f. poor circulation) (M)
- cold
- cholesterol, high
- chronic fatigue syndrome (formerly ME)
- colic
- concentration
- confidence
- constipation
- conjunctivitis
- cough
- cramp (M)
- cystitis
- dandruff
- dental pain (Ac)
- dermatitis
- diarrhoea, acute
- diet, trouble sticking to (c.f. obesity)
- digestion problems (M)
- dyspepsia
- earache
- eczema
- eczema, stress-related
- emotional problems
- enuresis (bedwetting)
- erection, improved
- erection problems, temporary; erectile dysfunction, temporary (c.f. impotence, erection problems, erectile dysfunction)
- fears
- feeling down or feeling blue (c.f. depression)
- fever
- fibromyalgia (fibrositis) (M)
- flatulence
- fluid retention
- foot odour
- frozen shoulder (M)
- gastric reflux
- gastroenteritis
- gingivitis
- glue ear
- grief
- guilt
- haematoma
- haemorrhoids
- halitosis
- hayfever
- headaches (Ac)
- heartburn
- herpes simplex
- hoarseness
- impetigo
- indigestion
- indigestion, nervous
- inflammation
- influenza
- insomnia
- irritable bowel syndrome, IBS
- joint pains (M)
- jumpy
- lethargy
- libido, low
- lumbago
- menopause menstrual pain migraine headache (c.f. migraine)
- motion sickness
- mouth ulcers
- muscle spasms (M)
- muscle tension (M)
- nailbiting
- nails, fungal infections
- nappy rash
- nausea (Ac)
- neck ache (Ac)
- neuralgia
- numbness
- panic attack
- period pain
- phobias
- piles
- pins and needles
- pre-menstrual tension or pre-menstrual syndrome
- relationship problems
- relax, inability to (M)
- rheumatic pain (M)
- rheumatism (M)
- ringworm
- sexual counselling
- sciatica
- sinuses, congested
- sinusitis
- skin problems (c.f. psoriasis)
- skin problems, stress-related
- sleep, trouble getting to
- sleeplessness, intermittent
- smoking cessation
- snoring
- spasms (M)
- sports injuries, minor
- stammering
- stomach, upset stress
- tension (M)
- tiredness
- thrush, vaginal (c.f. thrush, oral)
- travel sickness
- verrucae
- water retention
- warts
- wind
(M) stands for Manipulation eg. osteopathy, physiotherapy, chiropractic.
(Ac) stands for Acupuncture.
Please note: This list is not exhaustive and is subject to amendment and updating in line with ASA adjudications and prevailing medical opinion, including Government reports.
Useful resources
- CAP Help Note on Health, beauty and slimming marketing communications that refer to medical conditions – A help guide produced by Copy Advice featuring guidance on medical conditions that can be acceptably referred to in marketing communications and those that cannot. This document is also the original source of lists A and B.
- List A – Conditions for which suitably qualified medical advice should be sought.
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