Keeping a pendulum handy might be a good idea if you're swinging into the new year with a resolution for good health and have an interest in natural remedies.

This is the message from dowser and healer Wilma Davidson, of Walkford in Dorset, whose new book explains how to dowse for possible cures and treatments – including rainforest medicines and minerals – for a wide range of illnesses.

Wilma, who has been a dowser for 20 years, describes in simple terms, through a series of basic lessons, how a dowsing pendulum can be used to diagnose ailments, determine remedies to reduce symptoms, and to send healing.

"The majority of people who dowse don't know they can dowse for health and it works more or less instantly," said Wilma.

"It's a very useful tool and, if you know whatever it is that a person is suffering from, then you can channel all sorts of energy. People say it's ridiculous but, when you stop and think about it, we are made of energy so it's just literally a transfer of energy."

Wilma points out that her book is to give readers information and guidelines on the art of dowsing and is not intended as an alternative to medical advice.

■ Dowsing for Cures: Finding Natural Treatments for Illnesses, an A-Z Directory is published by Green Magic, of Somerset, at £9.99.