By inserting fine needles into certain points of the body, acupuncturists say they can treat, relieve and prevent a plethora of illnesses, conditions and complaints.

Acupuncturists look for signs in the body which might indicate an underlying imbalance and insert needles in order to balance a person's energy flow, or qi.

Some conventional medics have doubted whether acupuncture can really help people suffering from conditions ranging from infertility to hayfever.

But in May, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said acupuncture could be a more effective treatment for back pain than other traditional methods used by the NHS.

Acupuncturists like Roslyn Gibbs now hope that NICE's stamp of approval will pave the way for the NHS to offer the practice to patients who must currently pay privately for treatment.

'I think it's a very effective treatment,' says Roslyn, who runs Balanced Healthcare, which is based at the City Physiotherapy Centre in Granada Road, Southsea.

'I've had a lot of patients come to me for back pain and they've had good results from acupuncture.

'The fact that people still have to pay as a private patient will be an obstacle for some but hopefully with NICE's recommendations and traditional acupuncture going for statutory regulation people will be able to see an acupuncturist on the NHS in the future.'

She's treated patients for a host of complaints in the past, including depression, anxiety, migraines and digestion problems and says people often turn to acupuncture after finding more conventional methods haven't worked.

Before any needles are inserted she carries out a detailed consultation, asking patients about their symptoms and health history, and analyses their tongue and pulse.

The number of needles and sessions needed varies from patient to patient and Roslyn charges £50 for an initial consultation and £35 for treatment thereafter.

'There's a lot more to acupuncture than simply inserting needles,' she adds. 'We also give lifestyle advice and there's also the trust between a patient and a practitioner.'

Roslyn advises anyone interested in treatments to find a British Acupuncture Council-approved practitioner.

» Check out the BAC's website acupuncture.org.uk or call 020 8735 0400 for more.