You know you want to try something different, but how do you know if this treatment is right for your needs?  The best place to start is by being informed as to what the terms mean.  From Lomi-Lomi (a gently soothing Polynesian massage), to Rassoul (a detoxifying Moroccan mud therapy), from age-defying oxygen facials to the new breed of eco-spas( which honor the environment and educate guests), the electronic Spapedia will help you be prepared in this ancient, but ever expanding universe.  More indigenous ingredients are utilized today and cultural traditions may be unfamiliar yet welcoming.  Spas are elemental expressions of human healing and every civilization has a unique contribution to this great pursuit.

 

  A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z  
   
  H  
  hamam (hammam)


In Turkey this bathing and scrubing ritual is spelled with one 'm', elsewhere you see 'mm'.  Inspired and developed from the Roman Baths, this experience takes place in a humid rather than steamy environment and consists of two or three encounters with an attendant/massuse who will first soap your body, then scrub with an abrasive cloth, then apply gentle massage and finally shampoo your hair.  The traditional place has a large marble or granate circular platform in the center with light filtering in through small holes around the domed ceiling. Men and women are traditionally separated for this service, but some modern spas feature private hamams where couples can enjoy this experience.

  
  hatha yoga

Branch of yoga devoted to the physical processes, concentrating breathing and physical exercises.

  
  herbal wrap

Treatment using strips of cloth soaked in a heated herbal solution to wrap around the body, to promote relaxation and to eliminate impurities.

  
  holistic medicine

Approach to healthcare that focuses on the entire person, factoring in physical, emotional, nutritional, environmental, social, spiritual and lifestyle values. It takes into consideration all modes of diagnosis and treatment, including drugs and surgery, in the absence of other alternatives.

  
  homeopathy

Medical philosophy based on the principle that "like cures like." To stimulate the body to heal itself, it treats patients with small amounts of natural substances that cause symptoms similar to those of the disease they are intended to cure.

  
  hot stone therapy

Relaxing treatment using smooth stones heated in hot water or hot spring pools, which are then placed or stroked lightly on areas of the body including the back, the palms, and between the toes.

  
  hydrotherapy

Relaxing therapies including underwater jet massage, different types of showers, and mineral baths.

  

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