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Fear Factor Spa Treatments
Published Thursday, 23rd April 2009I dare you to try these spa treatments! For the adventurous (and the curious), you will find that the spa industry is constantly innovating and exploring new and quirky treatments, which work! Behind every spa treatment, there is a health benefit. Something that improves your wellbeing in some way. Well these exotic treatments are no exception.
Leeches have been extensively used in medicine, and have the approval of the medical community in general. Som leeches, like the medical leech is actually FDA regulated and used to treat osteoarthritis, reduce swelling and detoxification. The leeches are placed all over the body for about 60 minutes…or until the little guys get their fill. And don’t worry, you’ll know when they’re done. They roll over and fall off.
Advocate: Demi Moore
Well you don't actually get masseurs rubbing those cactus spikes on your body. Instead, they use a special kind of cactus, that is spine free, to apply a warm concoction made from a pear cactus, pulque, and the cactus flower. This helps to remove toxins from your body, and moisturize the skin at the same time!
Advocate: Mexicans
The woman will be sitting naked in a special chair, made with a hole in its seat. A bowl of herbs is slowly burned from under the hole, and the smoke rises up. It is an ancient Javanese ritual for women that is meant to "stimulate and disinfect" by reducing excessive vaginal discharge, eliminating fungi and keeping it fragrant down there.
Upmarket Javanese spa brands like Martha Tilaar offer products and services for women who want to be pampered all over. Look for their Ken Dedes treatment, named after a Javanese princess in the 18th century, known for her legendary beauty.
Advocate: Ken Dedes
Geishas were known for their porcelain faces, pale and unblemished. Such makeup came at a price, as lead and zinc content in their face powder caused skin problems. However, a strange remedy was discovered! Nightingale droppings could be used to remove their makeup, and at the same time heal and brighten the skin! The bird poo contains natural enzymes and guanine, which gives the skin that smooth whitening effect. This beauty secret was only known to traditional kabuki performers and geishas. But spas are rediscovering this ingredient and using them in their facial treatments!
Also known as the "fanny facial", doing a facial for your booty is a little different.
Basically it involves three stages, exfoliation, micro-current therapy and finally a spray tan.
Advocate(s): Brazilian women
Used by ancient royalties of China and Egypt. Your face is first covered with a gold leaf foil, or gold-infused skin care products, and then massaged. How does this gold on your face actually benefit you? When your skin comes into contact with the gold, it sees it a foreign substance. The skin's natural reaction is to grow new skin cells at a faster rate, making it firmer! Amazing, but it is going to cost you.
Advocate: Cleopatra
Using non-venomous snakes (phew!), these slithering creatures are able to give you a massage, of sorts, as their bodies rub against yours. Cold to the touch, some people may actually find this soothing, therapeutic.
Advocate: Buddhist monks
Geisha Facial
http://www.shizukany.com/geisha-facial.htm
Fanny Facial
www.smoothsynergy.com/Newyorkcityspa_nyc/fannyfacialnyc.htm
Martha Tilaar
www.marthatilaarspa.com/
Leech Therapy
Leeches have been extensively used in medicine, and have the approval of the medical community in general. Som leeches, like the medical leech is actually FDA regulated and used to treat osteoarthritis, reduce swelling and detoxification. The leeches are placed all over the body for about 60 minutes…or until the little guys get their fill. And don’t worry, you’ll know when they’re done. They roll over and fall off.
Advocate: Demi Moore
Cactus massage
Well you don't actually get masseurs rubbing those cactus spikes on your body. Instead, they use a special kind of cactus, that is spine free, to apply a warm concoction made from a pear cactus, pulque, and the cactus flower. This helps to remove toxins from your body, and moisturize the skin at the same time!
Advocate: Mexicans
Vaginal Smoke / Fogging
The woman will be sitting naked in a special chair, made with a hole in its seat. A bowl of herbs is slowly burned from under the hole, and the smoke rises up. It is an ancient Javanese ritual for women that is meant to "stimulate and disinfect" by reducing excessive vaginal discharge, eliminating fungi and keeping it fragrant down there.
Upmarket Javanese spa brands like Martha Tilaar offer products and services for women who want to be pampered all over. Look for their Ken Dedes treatment, named after a Javanese princess in the 18th century, known for her legendary beauty.
Advocate: Ken Dedes
Bird Droppings Facial
Geishas were known for their porcelain faces, pale and unblemished. Such makeup came at a price, as lead and zinc content in their face powder caused skin problems. However, a strange remedy was discovered! Nightingale droppings could be used to remove their makeup, and at the same time heal and brighten the skin! The bird poo contains natural enzymes and guanine, which gives the skin that smooth whitening effect. This beauty secret was only known to traditional kabuki performers and geishas. But spas are rediscovering this ingredient and using them in their facial treatments!
Advocate: Geishas
Butt Facial
Also known as the "fanny facial", doing a facial for your booty is a little different.
Basically it involves three stages, exfoliation, micro-current therapy and finally a spray tan.
Advocate(s): Brazilian women
Gold facial
Used by ancient royalties of China and Egypt. Your face is first covered with a gold leaf foil, or gold-infused skin care products, and then massaged. How does this gold on your face actually benefit you? When your skin comes into contact with the gold, it sees it a foreign substance. The skin's natural reaction is to grow new skin cells at a faster rate, making it firmer! Amazing, but it is going to cost you.
Advocate: Cleopatra
Snake Therapy
Using non-venomous snakes (phew!), these slithering creatures are able to give you a massage, of sorts, as their bodies rub against yours. Cold to the touch, some people may actually find this soothing, therapeutic.
Advocate: Snake Lovers
Knife Therapy
Fancy a cleaver on your head to cure your liver problems? Or chest pains? Used in China by monks about 2000 years ago, this therapy spread to Japan when the monks brought Buddhism there. And they use samurai swords instead of cleavers.
Advocate: Buddhist monks
Conclusion
The thought of you being in that chair with leeches on your face or lying on that table being "chopped" by cleavers does not paint a pretty picture of a spa therapy. But for novelty or not, these treatments have their health benefits, and many originate from ancient health practices and therapies.Further reading
Geisha Facial
http://www.shizukany.com/geisha-facial.htm
Fanny Facial
www.smoothsynergy.com/Newyorkcityspa_nyc/fannyfacialnyc.htm
Martha Tilaar
www.marthatilaarspa.com/