Complimentary therapists are becoming more popular but do they really help? With AXA PPP's Nutrition and Fitness site, we take a look at some of the most popular alternative treatments to see what they are all about.

Dr Richard Halvorsen, an orthodox GP who is also trained in acupuncture, homeopathy and herbal medicine, believes that western medicine is not always the answer for some problems. He said: "Orthodox medicine has a lot to offer, but in terms of chronic conditions it palliates but doesn’t cure. Complementary therapies can provide relief for such conditions and also give more power to the patient.

"In conventional medicine we are moving more and more towards guidelines and protocols, which means that everyone with a particular illness gets treated the same. The great thing about complementary therapies is that they treat the individual.’ In this feature, we weigh up the evidence of three popular Eastern-based therapies."

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a system of movement founded by a Chinese Taoist monk between 960 and 1279AD. There are many different styles of the movement but in general each move is performed slowly with relaxed muscles and complete mental focus.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the system helps to rebalance the flow of the body’s ‘life energy’ or ‘chi’, which circulates around the body in invisible channels or ‘meridians’.

Tai Chi is currently offered to heart attack patients as part of their recovery. Consultant cardiologist Professor Kevin Channer, of Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital explains: T’ai chi is absolutely complementary. As orthodox doctors we are very good at treating physical problems, but have nothing that helps the psyche. A third of patients who have heart attacks get depressed but conventional cardiac rehabilitation does nothing to address that. I recommend all my patients to try it at least."

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient system of healing which has been practised in the Far East for more than 4,000 years. It involves inserting fine needles into specific points on your body.

According to traditional Chinese medical thinking, the needles stimulate the flow of vital energy, which is said to flow throughout the body. Conventional doctors believe that acupuncture triggers the release of chemicals in the nervous, hormonal and immune systems that can block pain pathways to the brain and enhance mood.

According to GP and acupuncture practitioner, Dr Richard Halvorsen: "I find it successful for painful conditions such as headaches and migraines, musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis, neck pain and tennis elbow. It can also help nausea and vomiting. I use it a lot for pregnancy nausea."

Some practitioners use it to reduce cravings in people who are trying to overcome addictions related to alcohol, smoking, food and drugs.

Yoga

Yoga includes following a regime of mental and physical training that originated 5,000 years ago in India as part of a programme of spiritual development. There are several forms, but the one most usually found in the UK is hatha yoga, which means ‘balance of mind and body’.

Yoga helps stretch and strengthen muscles and stimulates nerve centres and internal organs through the regular practice of physical postures. Breathing techniques, which help optimise the flow of prana, or ‘life energy’, help strengthen the lungs and improve breathing.

"Yoga is good for a wide range of psychosomatic and stress-related conditions, including back pain, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, high blood pressure, heart conditions, ME and diabetes," says Dr Robin Munro, founder of the Yoga Biomedical Trust.

"We have also had success helping people with breast cancer before and after treatment. Yoga is an economic way of treating a wide range of different conditions and of empowering people to manage their own health."

If you feel that all else is failing, consider turning to one of these alternative therapies. You may find that one works for you.