Jeremy Campbell discovered that the best bit about an Amatsu massage is the day after ... and the day after that.

THE day I confidently bound in for my first-ever Amatsu massage I was fairly sure I was a reasonably healthy person.

I don't do enough exercise, but I do some. I eat a decent quantity of fruit and veg, but also too much junk. Overall, I felt there was nothing wrong that a couple of good months in the gym couldn't cure. I certainly did not feel that I needed healing.

How wrong I was.

The most interesting thing about a Amatsu massage a Holistic Japanese medicine that has evolved during a 5,000 year history is what happens in the days following your treatment.

I spent the next two days going through a detox, going to the toilet a lot, and feeling full of energy one minute, and tired the next. But all the time a relaxed feeling of well-being meant it was not unpleasant.

Eventually that feeling was all that was left, along with the thought that someone had replaced all my insides with new ones.

Particularly my muscles felt better, more relaxed.

This was proved by my next visit to the gym, where I was considerably more flexible than normal. My digestion improved, my appetite became more regular, and my energy levels were more balanced through the day.

And I slept great. I felt noticeably different for six days after the treatment.

And the person responsible for all this? Lucy Anning.

I went to see her at the Odyssey Health and Fitness Club for my Amatsu massage. I expected to have an interesting couple of hours, but I am afraid to say I am hooked.

And I've already been back for more. It was a lovely, relaxing experience in itself, but the residual feeling of well-being lasted long enough that I found myself talking about it for days, fascinated that it could be so pervasive.

Amatsu works when certain areas of the body are gently moved to release tension and tightness in order to restore the normal flow of blood and lymph.

The theory is that the body has the natural capability to heal itself, it just needs a bit of help here and there. By moving and re-patterning' limbs, by applying pressure to points on the body and by deeply massaging the muscles, an Amatsu practitioner can stimulate the body to begin the healing process.

In the treatment room I lie down fully clothed, shoes off. First she presses a few points and says "I'm switching you, to centre and balance your energy".

OK. Then she begins to gently move limbs around, apply pressure with thumbs, fingers or elbow, and massages muscles, and head.

And then she pulls my ears. Lucy told me that the first therapy often has the most dramatic results, as the body needs to adjust.

At one or two times during the hour, although lying down, I felt a rush of blood to my head. I also suspected that when I got up the sensation would return, and it did.

After sitting up, it took a while before I felt comfortable standing, and then I floated through the next two or three hours, with an incredibly light head. It was then that I was shown around the Odyssey gym, which is extremely well-equipped, plush and friendly. I can confirm this, but at the time, with my head in the clouds, I would have walked around a power plant and said it was lovely.

This was thoroughly enjoyable, but it grew weaker over time, and faded to a warm glow for the rest of the day, which was equally satisfying.

Lucy assures me that there is science behind the magic. Some of the principles are used in other massage techniques, and "complementary" therapies, but some techniques are unique to Amatsu.

During two years of training to become a practitioner, she completed in depth anatomy and physiology studies to substantiate the techniques. She is regulated by the Amatsu Therapy Association (ATA), and the Institute of Complementary Medicine.

The basis for the treatment is the use of kyushu points, which are linked to various parts of the body.

She explains: "Simply put these are entry points into the body which affect change and are unique to every individual. They can be linked to accupressure points."

She did stress the experience I had would not happen so obviously for everyone.

A large majority of people she has treated have felt those kinds of effects in varying degrees, but a few don't get anything from it.

I did not have any condition or symptoms that I felt required healing, so it was a great surprise to me to feel so much better than I had before the treatment.

There are a number of conditions that Amatsu can help with, according to the ATA.

These include: sciatica, arthritis, colic, headaches and migraines, postural and circulatory problems, and digestive disorders.

But I found that even without any of these conditions, Amatsu might just make you feel like you have a slightly different body, one which is better than it used to be.

- Lucy Anning practises at the Odyssey Gym, Glory Mill Lane, Wooburn Green. An initial massage costs £45 per hour. Subsequent treatments are £40 per half hour.

She can be contacted on 01582 737913 or at www.amatsu-gairon.co.uk

For more information about Amatsu therapy go to the website www.amatsu.co.uk