Walking into my local doctor's surgery recently, I found myself embarrassed to admit to my very stern looking GP that I'd been having homeopathic treatment.

However, instead of the expected grunt of disdain, I received an approving nod and she continued to ask me more questions on the subject.

This delightful reaction is hardly the norm.

I frequently have completely bewildered customers walk into the complementary health centre I work in part time, just wondering What on earth is it you do here?' It's amazing and, more often than not, quite amusing to find that some people imagine all sorts of witchcraft and spiritual enchantments to take place inside the very normal four walls they find themselves in.

On the contrary, centres such as this offer a wide range of alternative therapies that really are quite normal'.

Despite the negative attitudes a large number of sceptics hold against alternative medicine, therapies such as acupuncture, shiatsu and aromatherapy massages are becoming more and more popular as relaxing treatments, alongside real' medical physiotherapy such as osteopathy and chiropody.

Many centres offer dietary plans, natural homeopathic remedies and exercise classes such as yoga or pilates, proven to improve posture and fitness levels.

It really is becoming a natural, healthy, new way of living; trained medics charging affordable prices for alternative solutions to all of life's little and more serious problems.

There's only one thing to say - don't knock it til you've tried it!