For thousands of years, people all over the world have searched for curative methods and remedies to improve their health and find balance and peace. In modern spas, where technology has advanced with cutting-edge, state-of-the-art treatments offering new ways to look and feel better, traditional health and wellness treatments using ancient healing modalities still play an important role—and remain popular with customers of all ages.
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For thousands of years, people all over the world have searched for curative methods and remedies to improve their health and find balance and peace. In modern spas, where technology has advanced with cutting-edge, state-of-the-art treatments offering new ways to look and feel better, traditional health and wellness treatments using ancient healing modalities still play an important role—and remain popular with customers of all ages.
Today, ancient remedies can easily find their place in modern spa and wellness treatments. These age-old therapies go back centuries and offer restorative ways to maintain the health of the body, mind and soul. Conceived thousands of years ago, they are primarily holistic and focus on healing the whole person, rather than on one specific problem, area or symptom.
Traditional ancient therapies that include the use of herbs, water and heat rituals, massage techniques, body scrubs and meditation are effective, easily accessible and valuable modalities that fit well into any modern spa. For example, bathing rituals using mud and clay were used for centuries by the Greeks and Romans. Ancient Egyptians also used mud therapies in conjunction with scrubbing techniques to exfoliate, as well as aromatherapy oil massages to pamper the skin and soothe the senses. Indian therapies based in Ayurvedic medicine also include essential oil massages that are healing for the body and mind.
Many therapies from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), considered one of the oldest healing systems, are also easily integrated into modern spas. Acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology, herbal medicines and heat techniques like moxibustion are powerful healing methods.
The following ancient modalities can be combined with cutting-edge therapies in today’s modern spas.
Aromatherapy
This therapeutic art has long been used in India, China and Egypt as a healing ritual using the power of scent. Aromatherapy is a complementary alternative therapy that uses essential oils and other aromatic plant compounds to improve physical and emotional health and alter mood. It’s often used in conjunction with massage to further relax the body and mind.
The inhalation of essential oils stimulates the olfactory system, and a signal is sent to the limbic system of the brain that controls emotions and retrieves memories. This causes chemicals to be released that can promote a state of mind, whether it’s relaxed, calm, energized, sensual or simply happy, to name a few. Aromatherapy and essential oils are believed to have a direct pharmacological effect.
Aromatherapy can be part of almost any spa treatment. Massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, energy work and more all benefit from a soothing scent.
It is also easily customized. Offer guests a choice of several oils, such as calming lavender or rose, energizing eucalyptus or peppermint, and sensual sandalwood or cedarwood. These can be easily blended into an unscented carrier oil, salt scrub or mud bath to create a much more personal and holistic wellness experience.
Acupressure
Similar to acupuncture but without needles, acupressure involves manual pressure applied (usually with fingertips) to specific points on the body.
Developed as an important part of TCM, acupressure is based on the concept that the body has life energy, called “chi” or “qi,” which flows through 14 invisible lines, called “meridians,” that connect organs to other areas. By stimulating specific points along these meridians, aka acupressure, you can elicit a response from the nervous system that has a wealth of benefits, such as improving blood and energy flow, releasing tension, promoting deep relaxation and unblocking any congestion of life energy within the body.
This has to do with the philosophy that illness and disease are caused by an obstructed flow of energy along a meridian. By applying pressure to certain points, you can unblock that energy and ameliorate many acute and chronic problems, including nausea, fatigue, headaches, stomachaches, menstrual cramps, back pain and muscle tension.
An experienced, well trained massage therapist can implement acupressure into any massage treatment. A quick conversation between the therapist and customer about any issues or problems to focus on will give the therapist essential information on how to proceed and where to apply acupressure. This personalizes the treatment, making the guest feel special and cared for.
Acupressure can be enhanced with moxibustion, which involves the burning of mugwort leaves. Believed to encourage more healing when combined with acupressure and acupuncture, the small, spongy herbs are burned close to the skin’s surface, using a stick to apply heat. This stimulates energy to move through the body to the specific areas where the leaves are burning.
Body Scrubs & Poultices
Body scrubs have been an integral part of beauty rituals in Europe, Egypt, Asia and other cultures for thousands of years. In these rituals, women would come together regularly to relax, bathe together and talk while they scrubbed each other’s bodies. Many different natural items were used in these scrubs to exfoliate the skin and promote vibrant health.
Some Native Americans used dried corncobs, for instance, and certain tribes would exfoliate with handfuls of sand scooped up from the bottom of a riverbed. Polynesians used crushed seashells to slough off dull skin, and ancient Egyptians used pumice stones mixed with plants and minerals, including alabaster particles, sand and aloe vera.
Regardless of the components, these cultures knew that scrubs can help stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities, eliminate excess fluids and encourage cell renewal to leave skin healthy and glowing.
Meanwhile, poultices have been used for centuries in Southeast Asia and India, part of the Ayurvedic healing system. In the West, poultices were applied to draw out inflammation and help fight infections, insect bites and other skin problems. In the 18th century, poultices were considered essential when treating colds, congestion and any type of soreness or pain.
A poultice was also a popular home remedy for the treatment for abscesses, as the moist heat would help to draw out the infection and cause the abscess to shrink and drain naturally. Since then, poultices have become one of the most restorative spa treatments.
Reflexology
Reflexology is based on the theory that every single part of the body is connected through nerve pathways to the hands, feet and ears. By pressing on specific reflexes on these areas, you can elicit a response from the nervous system that can improve energy flow, relieve stress, reduce pain, support immunity, increase circulation, promote healing and improve well-being.
Similar to acupressure, reflexology essentially clears energy pathways that have been blocked. It is a great therapy to include as an add-on to many services, including facials, massages and even pedicures. After a brief discussion about problem areas or concerns, an experienced massage therapist can easily customize a reflexology treatment for each individual.
Michelle Ebbin is a renowned touch therapy expert and the author of four books on massage, including the award-winning The Touch Remedy: Hands-On Solutions to De-Stress Your Life. She appears regularly in the media, including on The Doctors, to discuss the benefits of touch therapy.
