As several others have said above, osteopathy - the most popular form of alternative / complementary treatment in the UK - is excellent for back problems.  It takes 4 years full time study (6 years part time) to train.  Different osteopaths use different forms of treatment, from the very gentle cranial approach to the clunk-click "adjustment" approach similar to chiropractic, and many variants on soft tissue work involving stretching, massaging, getting your body to push against a resistance, harmonic - in fact most osteopaths will use a combination of these treatments. 

We don't just look at the bit that hurts but look for other areas that can be adversely influencing you - whether it is assymetry in the structure of your body, a habit of sitting or moving in a particular way, or even your attitude or frame of mind.

All osteopaths have had to be registered with the General Osteopathic Council since May 2000.  Their list can be found at www.osteopathy.org.uk/find_osteo/

Peter Still, Registered Osteopath