A Hobart reiki master has backed the Tasmanian Health Minister's decision to appoint a health administrator who is also an alternative therapies practitioner to run the state's hospital network.

Dr Anne Brand left her New South Wales alternative therapy business, which offers energy healing, crystal therapy and aurasoma, to take up the role of interim chief executive of the new Tasmanian Health Service (THS) next week.

Senior doctors have said they cannot work with Dr Brand, arguing her interest in alternative therapy is incompatible with running modern hospitals.

But Howrah reiki and crystal therapy practitioner Wendy Williams said she believed it would assist her in the job.

Ms Williams, who practices reiki on humans, animals and plants, rejected doctors' criticism that the practice was mumbo jumbo.

"It's a form of energy healing, it's channelled through your hands," she said.

"A person has to be tuned to reiki by a qualified reiki master teacher.

"The energy is channelled through a practitioner from the creator, our creator or God whatever you like to call it."

Dr Anne Brand came under fire from the AMA because of her side business offering alternative therapies. ( Supplied: Health Mind Body )

Dr Brand reassured doctors from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) her interest in alternative therapies would not influence how she carried out the role, but Ms Williams said that would be a missed opportunity.

"I would like to be able to see the option of reiki practitioners in a doctors' surgery, being asked in to help the people in hospital going through severe medical procedures," she said.

Ms Williams said she would never advise a client against undergoing conventional medical treatments.

"Reiki does not replace normal medical procedures and functions, it enhances it," she said.

"It can calm people down prior to surgery, it can calm people down after surgery when they're going through withdrawal from anaesthetic."

Brand fires back over appointment

In a statement, Dr Brand said she was surprised and disappointed by the attack from the AMA.

"I can assure the AMA that my personal interests have absolutely no bearing on my role as acting CEO of the THS," she said.

"It is also incorrect to infer from my business interests that I do not have great respect for Western medicine.

"In any case, as a manager it is not my role to offer any clinical or medical advice.

"That has always been the domain of doctors and medical staff, not the CEO, and that will remain the case while I am acting in the role."

Dr Brand has not applied for the permanent CEO position.