Knee problems? Moderate to severe osteoarthritis? Seaweed extract may be the answer.

In a 12-week study at the University of Minnesota, 70 people were given either a daily seaweed supplement or the standard treatment of glucosamine suphate. Others took a placebo.

Both the seaweed and glucosamine groups showed significant progress compared with the placebo group. But the seaweed takers improved twice as much as those who were given glucosamine.

Kelp and other seaweed tablets may be just the job for stiff, painful knees.

Many of us know that peppermint is good for a stomach upset and even freshens the breath — for a while, anyway.

Now scientists in the U.S. are claiming that it also increases alertness by as much as one-third.

More, it reduces tiredness by 15pc, they say.

Peppermint is obviously a herb you should have on your shelf, not to mention a box of mint teabags.

It can also easily be grown in small containers or a few feet of spare garden soil.

Peppermint is delicious in salads, soups and casseroles.

Sales of alternative medicines are booming despite the long and crippling recession. In just two years, the market has grown by 18 per cent to £213million a year.

Analysts predict sales will increase by 33 per cent to £282million over the next four years. More and more people are rejecting prescription drugs, preferring milder natural remedies. Mintel says the rise is partly explained by official acceptance of many treatments such as acupuncture, which is now available on the NHS.

Other holistic treatments such as the Indian ayurveda, which concentrates on diet, yoga, massage and herbs are making ground against standard invasive therapies.

In these times of recessionary stress, depression has led to a surge of sufferers exploring holistic approaches rather than addictive prescription drugs.

Around 1.5million Britons bought St John’s Wort last year, mainly for depression.

If you’re game for some really sideways health, listen up.

A word of warning first for the fainthearted: if the whole concept of “channelling” freaks you out, turn away now.

Seth is what is described as a “non-physical personality essence” who was “channelled” by Jane Roberts in her New York apartment in years up to her death in 1984.

The extraordinary thing about Seth is how all-seeing, all-knowing and apparently all-understanding he was on so many subjects and aspects of life, death and even health.

The Way Toward Health makes the following very familiar points to supporters of sideways treatments:

1. Why medicine and therapy often perpetuate illness.
2. How the practice of naming diseases can work against us.
3. The influence of religion in creating disease.
4. How children’s health is influenced by parents’ beliefs.
5. Humour as an effective factor in healing.

There’s not much there that any self-respecting alternative therapist would disagree with, except, perhaps, the use of the word “therapy”.

If this rings your bell, the book is available at Amazon and other good bookstores.