With all the different terminology, it can get confusing as to exactly what treatment you are getting. This is our guide to the different treatments offered by spas in Southern Africa.
This spa glossary of South African Health Spa treatments will explain more about different health and beauty therapies. Our African Wellness Spa website lists the best Hotel Spas and Resorts in South Africa by province and according to your interests, from shopping to golfing and more besides. You'll find City Spas, Country and Safari Lodge spas as well as Exotic Island and Beach spas.
Acupressure
The therapist uses hand pressure on the meridian points of the body to relieve pain, alleviate stress, bring balance and strengthen the immune system for improved energy levels and health.
Acupuncture
This is an ancient therapy using tiny needles that are inserted just under the surface of the skin at specific meridians. This treatment stimulates the release of energy blocks to restore health.
Aromatherapy
Essential oils made from plants are very therapeutic when inhaled or applied on the skin in carrier oil, providing valuable benefits for the mind and body.
Aqua Aerobics
Burn fat and strengthen bones during while doing aerobic exercises in the swimming pool. Aqua aerobics also increases cardiovascular health and endurance.
Ayurvedic Spa Treatments
Ayurveda is a way of life and incorporates various aspects for a healthy and productive lifestyle. Therapies involve the removal of impurities from the emotional and physical body, strengthening the immune system, reducing stress and aging processes. Energy levels and well being is enhanced as well as appearance and health. The holistic treatments are customized to the individual and use natural foods and herbs for steam baths, pastes and oils for exfoliation, detoxification and massage.
Balneotherapy
Bathe in soothing thermal mineral waters and natural springs to treat a number of diseases. The common minerals that can be found in the spa waters include sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron and arsenic which all serve their healing purposes.
Bellabaci
This treatment uses special suction cups to massage your body, releasing stored toxins and restoring tired muscles. The treatment helps with Lymphatic drainage and improves circulation. It helps a range of disorders from stomach complaints to cellulite and stretch marks.
Botox
Botox (botulinim toxin), can be used for both cosmetic and medical interventions. The substance can be injected into facial muscles to relax them and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The treatment is not permanent and takes effect after about a week. Treatments should only be undertaken with a trained medical physician.
Chemical Peel
A gel containing chemicals is applied to the face and then peeled off after 30 minutes, removing damaged outer layers of the skin and revealing a younger, fresher complexion, very good for sun damaged skin and dark spots. Spa peels (like Enzyme or Vitamin A and C peels) use milder concentrations than Medi Spas or Cosmetic Surgeons.
Colour Therapy
Colour Therapy is also known as Chromotherapy. Colour comes from light and colour therapy is simply harnessing the light's energy. Colour has a huge effect on our emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Colour therapy treatments take advantage of these healing properties. Colour therapy applies light and colour through various tools and making use of visualization and verbal suggestion to balance energy in areas of our bodies. Our bodies absorb colour energy not only though our eyes, but through our skin and into our aura.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is the opposite of Thermotherapy. Cryotherapy creates a soothing effect leaving you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. It consists of a cycle of cooling which is designed to promote healing in the body. Cryotherapy is often used for injury rehabilitation. Often you will stand in a chamber as cold as -35 ̊ C for about 3 minutes before warming up.
Chocotherapy
For a sensational delight involving the wonders of chocolate and massage to condition the skin.
Dead Sea Mud Treatment
Rich in minerals, Dead Sea Mud Treatments detoxifies the skin and relieve rheumatic and arthritic pain.
Endermologie
This treatment is used for temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite - toxins and excess water are also released from the body. The machine has rollers and a gentle suction action which deeply massages the affected areas to bring about a smoother looking skin.
Essential Oils
These oils are used in Aromatherapy and made from the different parts of plants like the flowers, seeds, leaves and bark - they are very concentrated and have therapeutic benefits.
European Deep Suction Cleansing
Deeply cleansing, this facial treatment uses enzymes and suction to remove impurities.
Exfoliation
By rubbing coarse substances onto the body, old skin cells are removed to reveal younger, fresher skin and circulation is stimulated.
Gentlemans Spa Services
Spas now offer a variety of treatments and therapies tailored for men, these include facials, peels, microdermabrasion, brow care, manicures, hot stone massage, deep tissue or sports massage. Some Spas have saunas and steam rooms as well as pools for Thalassotherapy.
Facial
A complete treatment that includes exfoliation, conditioning and moisturising of the face. Impurities are removed and the skin looks fresher afterward.
Facial Contouring
Using a combination of therapies like acupressure and deep muscle massage to revitalize and tone the face and neck. It is a good alternative to plastic surgery and brings about a youthful looking skin.
Herbal Wrap
This soothing treatment requires herb soaked linen sheet to be wrapped around the body, to leave spa-goers revitalised. The treatment also requires the client to be covered with a blanket and relax with a cold compress applied to the forehead. The purpose of the treatment is to stimulate circulation, detoxification and ultimately to relax.
Hot Stone Therapy
Deeply relaxing and invigorating at the same time, this ancient healing system uses hot and cold stones which are placed on pressure points along the body.
Hyaluronic Fillers
Facial wrinkles and fine lines can be reduced with the help of dermal fillers such as Hyaluronic Acid, a natural acid that can be found in the human body. When injected, Hyaluronic Acid acts as an inflated cushion to support facial structures that lost elasticity and volume due to aging.
Hydrotherapy - Baths, Scrubs and Wraps
This is a broad term for treatments involving the use of hot and cold water, as well as various products to invigorate the body.
Infrared Treatment
Sore muscles and joints are relived and detoxified during a treatment that makes use of infrared light to mimic sunlight, minus the harmful ultraviolet rays.
Ionithermie
This detoxification treatment reduces the appearance of cellulite, slims the body and tones muscles. It consists of electrical stimulation and an algae and clay body wrap.
Japanese Facial
This energising technique stimulates the acupressure points through lifting and toning of the face and scalp. This facial is known to have accumulative effect to fights the signs of aging when treated on a regular basis.
Kinesiology
This form of kinesiology is called applied kinesiology. It is mainly used as a diagnostic tool. It measures your muscle responses to help diagnose where you have problems and imbalances. The treatments are meant to help restore full functionality to the body.
Laser Hair Removal
This system uses lasers for a permanent hair removal.
Manicure
Very soothing and relaxing, the nails are trimmed and shaped, then painted according to your choice. The hands and arms are moisturized and massaged.
Massages
There are many different types, but all are deeply relaxing and beneficial, some work on healing aspects also for the body and mind. Read our Guide to Massages to learn all about the different types of massage.
Mesotherapy
This is the latest wonder treatment where homeopathic or medication together with vitamins and herbal extracts is injected just under the skin for a wide range of benefits.
Microdermabrasion
This treatment does not use chemicals or invasive procedures, but the tiny crystals effectively remove layers of dead skin cells revealing younger and healthier skin underneath, encouraging elastin and collagen growth.
Oxygen Therapy (Facial)
Vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids are combined in pure oxygen to hydrate, cleanse and revitalise the complexion.
Ozone Therapy
Pure oxygen is fed into an upright steam chamber to treat injuries, many diseases and disorders even chronic ones, improve health and for weight and cellulite issues.
Pedicure
Tired feet and legs love the pampering! While relaxing in a massage chair, the feet are soaked in warm water laced with bath salts and oils; later the nails are trimmed, shaped and painted, then the feet and legs are moisturized. For a more advanced version then a MediPedi will restore feet to happy smoothness.
Permanent Makeup
Basically a type of cosmetic tattooing using permanent pigment to highlight eyebrows, lips and eyes to give the appearance of makeup.
Photofacial
This treatment helps to refine the complexion, reducing fine lines and skin damage using high density pulses of light.
Reflexology
This age old therapy incorporates pressure on the feet along reflex points to release energy blockages and encourage revitalised life force and restore balance, these points correspond to organs and systems in the body.
Reiki
This is a healing modality where the therapist uses certain hand positions along the body to bring about harmony on all levels of being.
Self-Tanning
Without having to go in the sun, a natural looking all over tan can be obtained with the use of spray-on treatments and self-tanning booths.
Shiatsu
A traditional Japanese therapy which is based on finger pressure massage. It is used to release blocked energy points in the body through pressure. The therapy calms the nervous system, improves circulation, relieves stiff muscles and alleviates stress.
Sugaring
This is an alternative hair removal system similar to waxing but the method is cooler and more comfortable, there is less pain and results are just as good if applied by a competent person.
Sound Therapy
Sound therapy is based on the belief that each of our organs vibrates at a different frequency. When we are ill, this frequency is disrupted. Sound therapy is based on using the vibration of instruments played at a certain frequency to help our organs return to vibrating in the correct manner. This is a soothing treatment that affects both your mood and your physical well-being.
Swedish Massage
This massage technique employs gentle yet firm manipulation of pressure points and muscles. Single or blended oils are use to lubricate the skin to promote friction and ease the manipulation of the skin.
Thalassotherapy
A treatment that makes use of seawater heated to different temperatures to promote health and wellbeing. It aids in relaxation, decreases stress and increases circulation. The sea water replenishes depleted minerals and helps to detoxify and tone your skin.
Ultrasound Therapy
The use of sound waves above the range of human hearing is used to treat muscle pains and runner's knees, and is commonly used among physical therapists. The treatment can be used in different intensities and frequencies of sound, but all comes down to the basic principle of stimulating or provoking tissue.
Vinotherapy
This is a beauty treatment that soothes the skin and has anti-aging properties. The treatment makes use of the leftovers from wine making. The skins, stems and seeds of grapes have exfoliating properties when used as a massage. They are said to be very high in polyphenols and reversatol which have anti-aging properties.
Watsu
This is a water-based floatation massage. You climb in a pool with the therapist and float in their arms. You are then guided through stretches and are massaged by the therapist. This is a deeply relaxing treatment that reduces stress and is good for chronic pain.
Waxing
This involves the use of heated wax applied to the body and then sharply removed for unwanted body and facial hair. Most Spas offer this service which includes bikini wax, brazilian, underarm, leg, eyebrow and lip waxing.
Yoga
This is part of the Ayurvedic health system and incorporates specific poses, breathing and self awareness to improve flexibility, concentration and health. There are many different types of Yoga including Hatha, Ashtanga and Bikram.
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