Massage group denounces "fringe" practices.

The American Medical Massage Association (AMMA) has issued a
position
statement denouncing six categories of metaphysical, paranormal, and
pseudoscientific practices that are part of the massage therapy
marketplace. The paper states that many subjects taught in massage
schools and/or practiced by massage therapists are "so extreme in
nature as to constitute health care fraud." The objectionable
practices include reiki, polarity therapy, therapeutic touch, touch
for health, crystal healing, craniosacral therapy, subtle energy,
aroma energy, aura reading, hypnotherapeutic massage, chakra
healing,
five-element healing, vibrational healing, zero balancing, emotional
balancing, unwinding, and many others. AMMA was founded in 1998 to
promote medical massage therapy as an allied health care profession
and to differentiate it from other forms of massage. It seeks this
goal through professional standards, education, and testing. Noting
that "the situation . . . has advanced to the point of becoming a
serious problem that is adversely affecting the overall professional
image and reputation of massage therapy in the United States, AMMA
will no longer accept fringe massage courses for continuing
education. [Categories and definitions of fringe massage therapy -
AMMA position statement, Oct 2005]
http://www.americanmedicalmassage.com/news/news01.html However, the
AMMA Web site promotes questionable practices such as acupuncture,
naturopathy, and herbalism.