WHEN I made an appointment to see health kinesiologist Sandra Adams, it's fair to say that I had absolutely no idea what I was letting myself in for.

I couldn't even pronounce kinesiology (kin-easy-ology, as it happens) and apart from realising that it was an holistic therapy, I hadn't a clue what was coming when climbing on to the couch at her Ingleton home.

But what I didn't expect was that the treatment would involve her only lightly touching my arm from wrist to elbow, which immediately had me intrigued.

It's probably at this point that sceptics of "alternative" therapies might begin to scoff. But to dismiss it would be to dismiss the intensive training Mrs Adams underwent, which has enabled her to read the body's messages through the responses she gets from muscle testing the arm.

She is quick to point out that there are many sections of kinesiology, hers being the health one (HK). It is derived from Chinese acupuncture and works with the same 14 meridian points, but uses no needles. It grew from research by Canadian Jimmy Scott in the Seventies.

When Mrs Adams holds your arm she is not testing muscle strength, so the technique is gentle; the arm is held at right angles to the body while she feels her way along the various points, and is laid at rest between each point tested.

"The body has the knowledge to heal itself," she said. "But when its balances are disturbed, either mentally or physically, HK identifies what is stressing it and tells me what to do to balance it back up again."

She likened the body to a suspension bridge, which if one part was weakened, could have a dramatic effect on the whole.

Sometimes she will recommend flower remedies or homeopathic treatments to help it along the way, and suggested I place a Lady Palm plant in my office to moisturise the dry atmosphere.

Mrs Adams is a registered practitioner with two years' training at Ripon under her belt. She has some experience with herbalism, having done some short courses as an interest rather than with a view to practising.

"I also tried aromatherapy and homeopathy, but they did not inspire me enough," she said. "It was only when I was really ill myself that I came across kinesiology and realised that the body could tell you what it wanted and was not getting."

She at first found the training quite daunting. "But it's like everything else once you get used to it," she said. "The testing is the most difficult part to learn because you must read the responses correctly."

While holding my arm she had me place my free hand over points on my torso such as the navel or breastbone, while she gently felt the level of resistance in my arm. She also attached - rather than held - energising and soothing magnets next to my mouth.

"These deal with fillings and the effect they can have on the system," she said. "There's nothing mystical or to be afraid of, it's just that we are not contortionists."

The information gained from the testing helps to define a programme of work that combines corrections to the energy meridian system with strengthening techniques for the immune, nervous and digestive systems. Testing also highlights any changes necessary to diet or lifestyle. This can include what kind of foods to avoid, exercise and what aspects of your life are having a negative effect on health and well-being.

Mrs Adams told how husband Jack had been sceptical about HK at first. "But after I had been for treatment and he had seen the results he was quite happy and has since received treatment himself," she added.

As HK deals with the whole body, emotional and mental well-being are also dealt with, as well as just the physical causes of ill health.

Mrs Adams asks clients to fill in and return questionnaires before their treatment so she can study their case histories and see what, if anything, is troubling them.

"Most come because they have not had satisfaction from conventional medicine, or they have had side effects with drugs," she said. "But I have had people come just to maintain good health rather than waiting for a symptom to show up before dealing with it."

She says HK has been used successfully to combat the effects of depression, irritable bowel syndrome, muscular structure problems, migraine, accidents and traumas, asthma, eczema, allergies and help through the menopause where the body is constantly changing.

"It can also help with old habits such as nailbiting, smoking and phobias," she said.

Mrs Adams works from home, which she feels offers a calm and peaceful healing space as well as offering easy access for parking. She still treats herself to keep her body in balance, but had to resort to consulting another kinesiologist last year after breaking her right wrist.

"I tried to help the healing process by treating myself, but I just couldn't get the hang of reading the responses with my left hand."

She normally charges £32 for a first 90-minute consultation and treatment, but D&S Times readers making a booking within the next week can take up her offer of a reduced fee of £20. Mrs Adams can be contacted on 01325 730601 for further details.