The York International Women's Festival finished last Sunday, and early feedback shows it was a resounding success. The two week festival hosted a vast range of events, from walking tours and political discussions to art exhibitions and even a Kate Bush dance flash mob. Of particular interest to me though were the many and varied complementary health treatments on offer – many of them free or low cost.

Here in the UK we are accustomed to healthcare being free thanks to our NHS. For many people complementary health options are simply unaffordable; particularly – and unfortunately – for chronically ill people, who would benefit from them the most.

In other countries therapies such as nutrition, acupuncture and massage are more mainstream and as a result, more affordable and viewed as sensible investments for preventative healthcare.

Cost need not always be a barrier to accessing complementary therapies though - especially not here in York. We are blessed with several excellent training schools offering low-cost appointments in their student clinics, alongside a number of community acupuncture centres.

The Northern College of Acupuncture on Micklegate offers low-cost appointments in their student clinics for both Traditional Chinese Acupuncture and Nutrition. Students are carefully supervised by experienced practitioners and the standard of treatment is high.

One of the additional benefits of these clinics is the way Nutrition and Acupuncture work incredibly well together in restoring wellbeing. In my own clinic I share several clients with a local Acupuncturist and we have had many successes, particularly in cases of low energy, digestive problems and managing stress. The combination of a healthful food plan and appropriate supplements alongside the power of acupuncture needling in relieving pain and restoring energy flow truly does work wonders. Long standing health issues such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, chronic fatigue and migraines seem to respond especially well to the supportive and rebalancing effects of personalised optimum nutrition and acupuncture.

Community Acupuncture centres offer low-cost treatments (usually around £12 per session) with several people receiving treatment at the same time on individual beds in a large room – a bit like a hospital ward setting. The fact that the practitioner can attend to several people simultaneously means the same standard of care can be given as in a private consultation, but for a lower fee.

If you’ve pulled your hamstrings playing Sunday league football, or attempted to recreate the Six Nations with disastrous results then a Sports Massage could be the answer. The York College student clinic offers an hour long sports massage for less than £10. Swedish and Indian Head massages are also available, alongside a therapeutic steam and sauna session.

With so many amazing, safe and effective therapies on offer, the chances are there to take your health into your own hands and give yourself the attention and focus you deserve – without breaking your budget.

- Sally Duffin is a nutritional therapist and writer based in Holgate, York.