Conventional medical treatments can be highly effective where disease has harmed the body - particularly in severe infections and major injuries, or deficiency states like diabetes. And it can be life-saving in serious heart disease and cancer, or when intensive life support or surgery are needed. But high-tech medicine seems less appropriate for many ordinary medical problems - conditions where the body (or the mind) is not working well even though organs have not yet been damaged. Long-term illness is often complicated by pain, fatigue, poor wellbeing and even depression: problems which blood tests and XRays wont reveal.

Conventional medicine may have little to offer if someone has ongoing pain - fibromyalgia, headache, irritable bowel syndrome - or fatigue or persistent vague un-wellness. Yet if we consider problems like these as signs of poor function and imbalance, then the challenge we face is to restore energy and harmony; and here, the older traditions of medicne can be helpful.

The bodymind is like a gyroscope: given the energy it will find its equilibrium, unless pushed too far. And because the illnesses of the late 20th century are commonly triggered by environmental, stress, or lifestyle factors, they require treatments that re-activate our physical and mental potential for restoring a healthy balance. As a GP, I found therapies like homoeopathy, osteopathy, simple acupuncture techniques, nutritional medicine and stress management training very effective, in acute back pain, for instance - but also for helping people deal with long-term illnesses such as respiratory and circulatory problems, migraine or digestive disorders.

Proper diagnosis is important: blood tests, X rays or a consultant opinion may be needed; modern drugs may be too. So If I think my approach is not going to help I can suggest appropriate colleagues in conventional specialties. Wherever possible, I prefer clients to be referred by their own GP, and to keep them informed about treatment and progress.