Alternative medicine has grown into a $3.5 billion industry, supported by four out of five Australians, who admit to taking anything from vitamin supplements and echinacea to using acupuncture and homeopathy.

The problem is very few of these products are tested in the same way prescription drugs are reviewed. If they're considered low risk they are listed with the drug regulator, but very few have gone through independent investigation to test the claims they make.

This week the University of Sydney announced it would establish the Maurice Blackmore Chair in Integrated Medicine with the specific role of studying alternative medicine to see whether it worked, how it worked and whether it had any side effects.

But the $1.3 million donation from the vitamin giant to fund the position sparked controversy, with critics warning of the potential for a conflict of interest.

Friends of Science in Medicine president John Dwyer said although he supported research into complementary medicines in principle, "a huge amount" had already been conducted.

"It's a question of whether they work and whether you need them," Professor Dwyer said.

For more details, go to: http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/complementary-medicines-testing-the-claims-of-the-billiondollar-industry-isnt-easy-20150530-ghcrmn.html?eid=email:nnn-13omn656-ret_newsl-membereng:nnn-04/11/2013-news_am-dom-news-nnn-smh-u&campaign_code=13INO010&et_bid=23601440&promote_channel=edmail&mbnr=NDk5MDMw