Which alternative therapy deserves more respect — or is it all just expensive nonsense?

Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and now available on some NHS pathways, acupuncture has a growing body of evidence behind it — particularly for back pain. Yet plenty of GPs still treat it like a punchline.

From the Serpentine to the Scottish Highlands, Brits are hurling themselves into icy water and swearing it transforms their health. The science on inflammation and mood is genuinely intriguing — even if the screaming puts people off.

The idea that pressing specific points on your foot can heal your organs sounds mad — and yet reflexology has a devoted following across the UK. Relaxing? Undeniably. Medically proven? That's where it gets trickier.

Used for everything from quitting smoking to IBS management, hypnotherapy is quietly gaining clinical credibility. The NHS even references it for certain conditions, which is more than most people realise.

Osteopathy sits in a fascinating grey zone — it's a regulated profession in the UK, yet its broader claims about the body remain controversial. Millions swear by it for back and joint problems, and it's not entirely without evidence.

Reiki practitioners channel universal energy through their hands to restore balance — which either sounds profound or completely bonkers depending on your worldview. It's widely offered in UK hospices, which at least says something about its comfort value.

Before pharmaceuticals, plants were all we had — and herbalists argue we've thrown the baby out with the bathwater. St John's Wort for low mood has solid research behind it, yet herbalists remain largely unregulated in the UK.

Climbing into a pod filled with Epsom salt water and floating in total darkness sounds like a peculiar way to spend £60 — yet devotees report profound stress relief and even pain reduction. London's float studios are fully booked most weekends.