Complementary therapy is increasingly being recognised by the medical world for its healing qualities. CORINNE McPARTLAND finds out more.

MANY doctors in Dartford, Swanley and Gravesham have begun to refer patients to complementary therapists to receive alternative care.

Julie Quick has been practising complementary therapy in Dartford for 13 years.

The 63-year-old trained in the medical profession as a radiographer at Guy's Hospital, in London, for two years.

The mother-of-four became interested in the field while working at Lowfield Adult Education Centre, Lowfield Street, Dartford.

She worked at the education centre as a course organiser before she started to take lessons in complementary therapy.

Julie, of Hillcrest Road, Dartford, says the medical profession is beginning to recognise the treatment as a good thing.

She said: "During some of my courses I had to have practical experience in hospitals.

"I worked at the Charing Cross Hospital on the cancer wards for six weeks.

"Doctors found many of the patients who chose to receive complementary therapy did not need as much medication for pain relief.

"I also worked in the heart wards and we found massage brought the patients' blood pressure levels down."

Doctors in the area have started to refer patients to therapists to receive treatments such as aromatherapy, reflexology and therapeutic massage.

Julie said: "Doctors are starting to see the benefits of the holistic approach.

"They can see it can be an alternative choice or work alongside traditional medicine."

Julie has also had success at diagnosing deadly diseases.

She said: "A lady came to me for reflexology and we had three or four sessions and I sensed she had something wrong with her ovaries.

"I recommended she should get it checked out and it turned out she had ovarian cancer."

Among the many types of therapies Julie practices, she says reiki, a form of spiritual healing for the treatment of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual diseases, has become very popular.

Brenda Gosling has been teaching Iyengar yoga for 17 years and practises at the Heathside Centre for Health and Healing, Hillcrest Road, Dartford.

The Iyengar method focuses on precision, alignment and safety in each posture and it is supposed to build strength, flexibility, stamina and balance.

Brenda, of Cugley Road, Dartford, says yoga goes hand in hand with complementary therapy.

She said: "It has suddenly become popular with the stars such as Madonna and it is a great way to stay fit and improve your wellbeing.

"It is another alternative to medication, for example I used to suffer a lot with my nerves but it stopped since I took up yoga 17 years ago."

One doctor interested in complementary therapy is Dr Howard Stoate, MP for Dartford.

He said: "I have recommended some people to go to try things like acupuncture and osteopathy when western medicines are not working.

"I think complementary therapies which have been scientifically proven to work are good and I would recommend them.

"But I think there needs to be a lot more scientific research done into complementary therepy so we can make an informed decision."