One of the problems for newcomers to spas is the bewildering array of
treatment choices. Not only can you be kneaded, scraped, stewed and hosed down,
but there are mudpacks and salt baths and hundreds of oils implemented in spa
therapies. Taking a quick look at the benefits of these concoctions will help
you make the right choice of treatment for whatever ails you.
Mud
Admittedly, this doesn't sound so glamorous at first, but it isn't the same
kind of stuff that pigs roll around in. Unlike that stuff, Spa mud is 'clean',
especially chosen for its purity and other properties and usually is clay based.
Clay draws impurities out of the skin, and can be applied directly in scrubs or
wraps, or you may find yourself in a tub full of the stuff. Some people find
this a little claustrophobic the first time, both because of the thickness of
the mud and the unusual sensation of the extraction effect on the skin, but most
just lie back and enjoy it.
Mineral Springs
Mineral springs have been prized for their medicinal properties since at
least the time of the Roman Empire. As they conquered their part of the world,
they found new springs and built baths around them. (The town of Bath in the UK
is such a place.) Through the ages, baths have been attributed with all sorts of
magical properties - some of them true, some utter nonsense. According to modern
science, various minerals (and particularly salts) in the water can have effects
of the person soaking in them, from drawing out toxins to oxygenating skin
cells.
Aromatherapy
There is some debate about aromatherapy. Some medical professionals dispute that
holistic treatment with essential oils has any profound effect on the body. Mind
you, modern medical science is often given to doubting any treatment that
doesn't involve the use of pharmaceutical drugs or a scalpel.
One thing is sure about aromatherapy though: it smells good and it feels even
better - as essential oils are applied to the skin via a relaxing massage and
allowed to permeate the atmosphere of the massage room.
Proper aromatherapy requires years of experience to match the physical and
emotional needs of the client with the huge selection of oils and their varied
properties.
Fundamentally though, relaxing preparations are usually based on lavender, while
energizing mixtures use rosemary as a foundation.
Thalassotherapy
This type of treatment is founded on substances taken from the sea - many of
which have been used since ancient times as folk remedies. Such substances as
sea salts, seaweeds, algaes and sand, can be used in a variety of ways, through
various spa techniques, such as scrubs, soaking, body and facial masks and even
steam room inhalation. In many spas, sea salt is a staple of hydrotherapy.
Signature Treatments
A signature treatment is a specialised treatment that has been created by the
individual spa, and often makes use of native products. As the popularity of
spas grows, so does the outlandishness of some of these treatments. You may find
yourself soaking in milk, or being covered with particular indigenous clay,
having crystals placed on your chakra points at new age spas, or even being
dipped in chocolate or slathered with fresh fruit paste (no you don't get to
lick it off.) Generally speaking these treatments are perfectly valid, and add
an interesting twist to your spa visit.
