CONSULT Dennis Child, masseur and healer extraordinaire, and you'll be confronted by an eccentric middle-aged man in a room full of pyramids.

The New Age therapist is a modern day healer who claims to use knowledge dating back thousands of years in an unusual approach to improving health.

Working from his home in Leicester Road, Preston, Mr Child uses an assorted set of tools including copper and brass structures, precious stones, crystals, and aromatherapy oils.

Treatment takes a several different approaches, all tailored to the individual's personal needs. A typical session might include meditating under a pyramid, having your energy centres (chakras - to those in the know!) assessed, and having a massage using a suitable essential oil.

Mystified? Me too - so I went along to find out for myself how sitting under a pyramid can improve your health.

"Everything is made of energy," explained Dennis: "And it is all moving. But when someone has a problem whether it's health, an emotional upset or whatever, then a blockage occurs.

"What I do is unblock it. I use pyramids, crystals, massage and even just let people talk about their problems, it helps to start the energy flowing again."

Sounds like a tall story?

Dennis mentioned the Egyptian Pharaohs who must have had amazing strength to build pyramids in the first place, he suggested they must have had some higher knowledge or understanding to deem them worth the effort.

I wasn't yet convinced of their power - I needed to try them for myself!

So I sat in the middle of a 6ft pyramid, crowned at the apex with a cluster of amethysts. I was expecting an explosion of light, colour, sound and dynamic energy!

But after a few minutes I realised it wasn't going to happen.

Disenchanted, I felt like a child who'd been given sweeties - only to be told not to eat them until after tea.

But as I listened to the eccentric healer putting the world to rights, I felt a gentle tide of well-being slowly flow over me.

It was tremendously relaxing, like meditating, but without closing your eyes or losing you head.

As I enjoy good health, I can't say I had a miracle cure or even an earth shattering experience, but it was certainly therapeutic.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the benefits of pyramids and other therapies available through Mr Child should go to the Complementary Medicine convention at the Carlton Hotel on North Promenade, Blackpool on March 15 and 16.

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