About 500,000 people believe work-related stress is making them ill.

Some stress can be positive and research suggests a moderate level makes us perform better, make us more alert and can help us in challenging situations.

But stress is only safe when it is short-lived and too much can lead to illness and physical and mental exhaustion.

Reiki is one way to beat stress by not only helping you relax but also dealing with physical symptoms such as skin irritation and loss of appetite. One of the most common symptoms of stress is loss of sleep.

Kate Jones, of the Reiki Association, said: "Reiki is very good in helping people to sleep. Sometimes people go to sleep in the treatment but sometimes they feel energised as well."

Reiki originated in Japan after being discovered by a priest called Dr Usui. It means universal life force. Reiki masters have passed the tradition down to students.

The treatment process involves the fully-clothed patient lying on the couch and relaxing while the practitioner gently places his hands over the chakras, the energy centres in the body, in a non-intrusive way.

Some practitioners touch the patient and others place their hands above the areas but there is no massage or manipulation. The practitioner acts as a channel through which energy is drawn.

Each position is held for several minutes and the whole person is treated rather than symptoms. The patient may feel some warmth or a slight tingling sensation over the area. A session normally lasts from an hour to 90 minutes.

Reiki is also used to heal physical problems. It can be used on people receiving cancer treatment, helping them deal with pain. The technique is used to help injuries heal more quickly and heal wounds after surgery.

Kate said: "One of the things which is appealing about reiki is it is simplistic. It is very simple to learn and is easy to receive because you just lie there. It is very non-invasive."

Anyone can learn reiki from a reiki master. If you are interested, call the Reiki Association and ask for its directory of reiki masters. Send a cheque or postal order for £5 made payable to the Reiki Association to Jean Jones, The Reiki Association, 1 Craigmyle Gardens, Clovenfords, Galashiels, TD1 3LP.

For more information, log on to the web site at www.reikiassociation.org.uk