Dr Richard Rawlins, of Beacon Road, Kingswear, Dartmouth, writes: Sam Acourt's report that a centre for peaceful restoration, recovery and recuperation is to be started by four local ladies is most interesting and timely. The centre intends that 'working as the Healing and Spiritual Network, we support those who are suffering from trauma through all means associated with global conflict'. These objectives are to be applauded, but it is important that anyone thinking of giving to the charity, or using its ­services, knows what is ­intended and that patients give fully informed consent. We have to consider how the centre proposes achieving its aims; what the evidence is that its techniques have any effect beyond the placebo effects of a therapeutic relationship; and whether the practitioners are quacks or even frauds seeking to gain advantage of the ­vulnerable. The 'healing modalities' cited include: a 'life-tracking ­programme to sift through the client's energy field'; 'crystal therapy technology healing' with an 'Atlantean crystal ­master' (therapy that, so it is claimed, 'is being accepted as an effective way to regulate the body's energy field'); and care from an angelic reiki practitioner who can, so it is claimed, transmit healing over considerable distances (as all reiki ­masters can). In order that the authorities can carry out appropriate health and safety checks on these 'energies' (which may cause serious complications if misapplied), and so that patients can give properly informed consent, it is essential we are advised of the evidence that these 'modalities' can do any of the things claimed. For a start: how many patients have been treated ­successfully? How many patients treated have not had benefit? The centre's 'medical model' states that 'patients will be screened to ensure the ­rightness of the programme [...] and this will be followed with confirmation from their medical team that this programme will be appropriate to their needs.' I am pleased that is so, but how is a doctor to offer such ­confirmation unless the centre publishes the evidence on which it bases its programme? I hope this evidence is ­rapidly forthcoming so that we can all have confidence in ­offering support to this most worthwhile initiative and be reassured that these proposals are not simple quackery.