Medical Spa content: Acupuncture

medical SpaAcupuncture is a technique of inserting and manipulating fine filiform needles into specific points on the body to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes. The word acupuncture comes from the Latin acus, "needle", and pungere, "to prick". In Standard Mandarin refers to acupuncture together with moxibustion.

According to Traditional Chinese Medical Theory, acupuncture points are situated on meridians along which qi, the vital energy, flows. There is no known anatomical or histological basis for the existence of acupuncture points or meridians. Modern acupuncture texts present them as ideas that are useful in clinical practice. According to the NIH consensus statement on acupuncture, these traditional Chinese medical concepts "are difficult to reconcile with contemporary biomedical information but continue to play an important role in the evaluation of patients and the formulation of treatment in acupuncture. "Acupuncture originated in China and is most commonly associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)".

Because acupuncture has been the subject of active scientific research only since the beginning of late 20th century, its effects are not well-understood by Western medicine, and its application remains controversial among Western medical researchers and clinicians. A 2007 review led by Professor of Complementary Medicine Edzard Ernst finds that the "emerging clinical evidence seems to imply that acupuncture is effective for some, but not all conditions.

"The WHO, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Medical Association (AMA) and various government reports have studied and commented on the efficacy of acupuncture. There is general agreement that acupuncture is safe when administered by well-trained practitioners using sterile needles, and that further research is appropriate.

Indications according to acupuncturists in the West
The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (2004) states: "In the United States, acupuncture has its greatest success and acceptance in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain." They say that acupuncture may be considered as a complementary therapy for the conditions in the list below, noting: "Most of these indications are supported by textbooks or at least 1 journal article. However, definitive conclusions based on research findings are rare because the state of acupuncture research is poor but improving."

• Abdominal distention/flatulence
  Acute and chronic pain control
  Allergic sinusitis
  Anesthesia for high-risk patients or patients with previous adverse responses to anesthetics
  Anorexia
  Anxiety, fright, panic
  Arthritis/arthrosis
  Atypical chest pain (negative workup)
  Bursitis, tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome
  Certain functional gastrointestinal disorders (nausea and vomiting, esophageal spasm, hyperacidity, irritable bowel)
  Cervical and lumbar spine syndromes
  Constipation, diarrhea
  Cough with contraindications for narcotics
  Drug detoxification
  Dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain
  Frozen shoulder
  Headache (migraine and tension-type), vertigo (Meniere disease), tinnitus
  Idiopathic palpitations, sinus tachycardia
  In fractures, assisting in pain control, edema, and enhancing healing process
  Muscle spasms, tremors, tics, contractures
  Neuralgias (trigeminal, herpes zoster, postherpetic pain, other)
  Paresthesias
  Persistent hiccups
  Phantom pain
  Plantar fasciitis
  Post-traumatic and post-operative ileus
  Selected dermatoses (urticaria, pruritus, eczema, psoriasis)
  Sequelae of stroke syndrome (aphasia, hemiplegia)
  Seventh nerve palsy
  Severe hyperthermia
  Sprains and contusions
  Temporo-mandibular joint derangement, bruxism
  Urinary incontinence, retention (neurogenic, spastic, adverse drug effect)
  Weight Loss

Medical Spa content: Hydrotherapy

Research has shown hydrotherapy is extremely effective in aiding pain relief and rehabilitation while also promoting general fitness and a sense of well-being.

The healing power of hydrotherapy lies in the combination of warmth, buoyancy and gentle resistance provided by the water. Hydrotherapy is not only physically therapeutic, it also helps to promote relaxation and improve general fitness.
Delivering health and lifestyle benefits to people of all ages hydrotherapy is particularly beneficial to people in their later years. As the body ages, strenuous physical exercise becomes more difficult and less desirable. Hydrotherapy can help people maintain a low-impact exercise program as they age leading to better health and mobility. One of the greatest benefits of hydrotherapy to older people is its potential to reduce falls through maximising balance and mobility.Hydrotherapy is also a particularly effective form of rehabilitation as the therapeutic effects of buoyancy and turbulence, combined with warm water, help reduce pain and muscle spasm.

This gentle form of exercise is recognised as one of the most beneficial physiotherapy techniques in the treatment of:

• Post-operative orthopaedic conditions
  Osteoporosis
  Neurological conditions
  Arthritis
  Cardiac rehabilitation
  Skeletal and soft tissue injury
  Acute and chronic back pain
  Ante and post natal care
  Work-related injuries

Each hydrotherapy program is individually tailored to meet the needs of the client and sessions are conducted by physiotherapists who specialise in hydrotherapy

Medical Spa content: Aromatherapy

The Benefits
Aromatherapy doesn't just smell good, it also benefits you in many ways. Some aromatherapy benefits that are more commonly known include:
-Relaxation and stress relief
-Mood enhancement, balance and well being
-Relief of minor discomforts
-Boosting the immune, respiratory and circulatory systems

Aromatherapy is a great, natural compliment or alternative to other health treatment options such as certain prescribed medications.
Aromatherapy doesn’t “cure” major illnesses but it is effective at alleviating many of the discomforts associated with them.
Essential oils are the heart of aromatherapy. They have been used to:
Heal wounds
Energize
Improve skin tone
Relax muscles
Regulate hormones
Reduce inflammation
Relieve menstrual cramps
Improve sleep
Stimulate the immune system
Kill fungal & bacterial infections
Decrease sinus & lung congestion
Aid digestion
Relieve tension headaches
Aid blood circulation

Medical Spa content: Aromatherapy

The History

The history of aromatherapy is reputed to date back as far as 6000 years, although the term aromatherapy ("aroma" meaning fragrance, and "therapy" meaning treatment) wasn’t coined until the 20th Century.
The ancient Chinese, Greeks, Romans and Egyptians all used aromatherapy oils.
The ancient Egyptians used plants for religious rituals; it was believed that certain smells could raise higher consciousness or promote a state of tranquility. They used the fragrant oils from plants (essential oils) for embalming. Oils such as myrrh, frankincense, cinnamon, cedarwood, and juniper berry are all known to have been used in the mummification process to preserve the bodies of their loved ones in preparation for the after-life.
As time went on, the Egyptians continued to refine their use of aromatics in medicine, cosmetics, incense and perfumes.
The ancient Chinese were using some form of aromatherapy at or around the same time as the Egyptians. They used herbs and burned aromatic woods and incense to show their respect to God. The oldest surviving medical book in China, (dated around 2,700BC and written by Shen Nung, contains cures involving over three hundred different aromatic herbs).
The Greeks continued the use of aromatic oils. They used them for medicines and cosmetics. Aromatherapy came of age when they took medicine into a new light 2000 years ago. The earliest known Greek physician was Asclepius who practiced around 1200 BC combining the use of herbs and surgery with previously unrivalled skill. His reputation was so great that after his death he was deified as the god of healing in Greek mythology.
Hypocrates (400 BC), who was commonly known as the "Father of Medicine", was the first to study essential oils' effects. He believed that a daily aromatic bath and scented massage would promote good health.
Theophrastus, a physician, wrote of the healing properties of "aromatic" plants. For at least 1200 years, a book written by a Greek physician named Pedacius Dioscorides about herbal medicine was the Western world's standard medical reference. Many of the remedies he mentions are still used in Aromatherapy today.
The Romans built upon the knowledge of the Egyptians and Greeks and became well known for scented baths followed by aromatic oil massage.
It was during the 19th century that scientists in Europe began researching the effects of essential oils on bacteria in humans.
Rene Maurice Gattefossé, a French chemist, began research into the healing powers of essential oils in the early 1900’s after he accidentally burned his hand in his laboratory. On reflex, he immersed his burned hand in the closest liquid which happened to be lavender oil. He was quite impressed by how quickly the burn healed without infection and with no visible scar. Gattefossé is credited with coining the word "aromatherapy".
In 1937, Gattefossé wrote a book called Aromathérapie: Les Huiles essentielles hormones végétales which was later translated into English and renamed Gattefossé’s Aromatherapy.
As a result of Gattefossé’s experiments, Dr. Jean Valet used essential oils to treat the injured soldiers during world war two with great success.
Since then, there has been numerous studies and books published on aromatherapy and the healing powers of essential oils.
The late 1970’s / early 1980’s brought about the use of essential oils and aromatherapy as a major part of alternative and holistic healing across the world.

Medical Spa content: Mesotherapy

What is Mesotherapy?
Pioneered by the French physician Dr. Michel Pistor in 1952, Mesotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that is widely used in Europe and elsewhere to treat various injuries and medical conditions. This medical specialty targets problem areas with microinjections of conventional or homeopathic medicines, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Tiny "medicinal bullets" are delivered directly into the mesoderm (middle layer of skin) that are highly specific to the condition being treated.

Among its many applications, Mesotherapy can be used for the following:
Mesotherapy to eliminate cellulite
Mesotherapy to promote weight loss
Mesotherapy to provide anti-aging benefits
Mesotherapy to eliminate localized fat deposits

Mesotherapy was recognized by the French National Academy of Medicine in 1986 as an integral part of traditional medicine. Each day, thousands of doctors worldwide use Mesotherapy to help tens of thousands of patients.

Dr. Michael Pistor, the founding father of Mesotherapy, referred to the treatment as "Surgical Medicine," meaning medications are injected directly into the skin at the site of the pathology or problem area(s). To treat cellulite, medications are injected into the skin and the fat. During a cellulite treatment of the legs, medications are injected from the buttocks to the knees, including the front, back and sides of the thighs.Mesotherapy introduces microscopic quantities of homeopathic medications, traditional pharmaceuticals, vitamins, mineral and amino acids into the skin to treat a variety of conditions. All medications are selected for the specific condition being treated. For example, the emphysema medication Aminophyilline is used to treat cellulite because it's been proven to break down fat, as has Isoproternol. Both medications work to achieve the same purpose in different ways, which is why the medications are often combined. The needles used in Mesotherapy are very short and thin.

By definition any medication injected into the skin, fat or tissues of Mesoderm (middle layer of skin) is considered Mesotherapy.The advantages of injecting medication into the skin/fat include the elimination of side effects and contra-indications. Intolerance to a medication is often triggered by factors such as dose and the body's ability to break down and excrete the product. In many cases, formerly intolerant patients can tolerate a medication in Mesotherapeutic form. Once the medication is delivered, the body is stimulated to heal itself. And because the target areas are directly reached, smaller amounts of medication are needed and the effects of Mesotherapy are instantaneous. Micro-injections are relatively painless, and the potential side effects limited to:
Burning that can last 15-20 minutes.
Minor swelling that can last 1-5 days (this can vary with some patients).
Minor soreness that can last several days.
Minor skin discoloration, which resolves on its own, or can be treated with chemical peels to remove it quickly.
A slight risk of infection (which may occur whenever an injection is administered).

Medical Spa content: Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy

The term massage therapy (also called massage, for short; massage also refers to an individual treatment session) covers a group of practices and techniques. There are over 80 types of massage therapy. In all of them, therapists press, rub, and otherwise manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body, often varying pressure and movement. They most often use their hands and fingers, but may use their forearms, elbows, or feet. Typically, the intent is to relax the soft tissues, increase delivery of blood and oxygen to the massaged areas, warm them, and decrease pain.
A few popular examples of this therapy are as follows:
In Swedish massage, the therapist uses long strokes, kneading, and friction on the muscles and moves the joints to aid flexibility.
A therapist giving a deep tissue massage uses patterns of strokes and deep finger pressure on parts of the body where muscles are tight or knotted, focusing on layers of muscle deep under the skin.
In trigger point massage (also called pressure point massage), the therapist uses a variety of strokes but applies deeper, more focused pressure on myofascial trigger points--"knots" that can form in the muscles, are painful when pressed, and cause symptoms elsewhere in the body as well.
In shiatsu massage, the therapist applies varying, rhythmic pressure from the fingers on parts of the body that are believed to be important for the flow of a vital energy called qi (In traditional Chinese medicine, the vital energy or life force proposed to regulate a person's spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health and to be influenced by the opposing forces of Yin and Yang)
Massage therapy (and, in general, the laying on of hands for health purposes) dates back thousands of years. References to massage have been found in ancient writings from many cultures, including those of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Japan, China, Egypt, and the Indian subcontinent.According to recent reviews, people use massage for a wide variety of health-related intents: for example, to relieve pain (often from musculoskeletal conditions, but from other conditions as well); rehabilitate sports injuries; reduce stress; increase relaxation; address feelings of anxiety and depression; and aid general wellness.

Medical Spa content: Balneotherapy

The term Balneology refers to the study of the art and science of bathing. Balneotherapy refers to the use of balneology in the treatment of disease. The aim of these treatments are to enhance the immune system, stimulate circulatory process including lymph and blood circulation, accelerate cell activity, dilating tissue and vessels activating the self healing potential naturally.

Balneotherapy is a natural therapy which makes the best use of natural elements, such as hot springs, climatic factors, chronobiological and circadian rhythmic phases and natural herbal substances.
In Japan, the traditional form of balneotherapy is hot water springs water bathing; in Europe, mineral bathing. Both are characterized by repeated immersion of the whole body in hot water, that is stimulating to the body.

For centuries the benefits of therapeutic bathing have been recognized for the ability to relieve pain and improve the general well being of the body and the spirit. In fact, Balneotherapy (the use of baths in the treatment of various maladies) is one of the oldest of medical procedures, well known and widely regarded throughout Europe & Asia, where people have historically flocked to luxury spas for recreation and treatment.

Mineral Submersion Bath Formula combines a heated submersion bath with its special blends of minerals, enzymes, and other natural enriching agents to activate the body's self healing mechanisms. The combination of heat, water and dissolved mineral substances helps increase circulation and relaxation of muscles and tissues. It stimulates the body's natural cycle of recuperation and healing.
In general, the effect of the application of heat is to produce dilation of vessels in the skin, thus promoting better circulation.

This application of heat to the skin produces effects in the deeper portions of the body inducing muscle relaxation, increasing blood supply due to dilation of the vessels and stimulating metabolic activity. The relaxation of muscular tissue results in the relief of pain due to rigidity and spasms in the muscles. Local hot applications or full submersion baths, in which thermal factors necessarily apply, have a soothing, relaxing effect and produce the maximum desired result.

Medical Spa, terminology

Medical spa

A medical spa or med spa is a day spa that operates under the supervision of a licensed health care professional, such as a medical doctor.
Medical spas may offer additional treatments that can only be administered by licensed medical practitioners.
Additional treatments offered depend upon the scope of practice of the licensed practitioner and may include:

• Laser and intense pulsed light procedures
• Medical microdermabrasions
• Photo-facials
• Botox and Restylane injections
• Medical peels
• Others

Medical Spa definition

MEDICAL SPA DEFINITION:
A medical spa is a facility that operates under the full-time, on-site supervision of a licensed health care professional. The facility operates within the scope of practice of its staff, and offers traditional, complementary, and alternative health practices and treatments in a spa-like setting. Practitioners working within a medical spa will be governed by their appropriate licensing board, if licensure is required.
(Adapted by the NCEA, an organization comprised of 16 member associations in the esthetic and other related professions)

Types of Medical Spa

Four basic Medical Spa categories - and many variations on each theme:

Beauty / Skin Medical Spa:
Physician owned, usually a plastic surgeon or dermatologist who is on premises, offering medically based treatments, and physician trained and supervised aesthecians.

Therapeutic Medical Spa:
These facilities are owned by orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine or rehabilitation physicians, who enhance their treatments by offering chiropractic, physical therapy and therapeutic message, as well as other therapeutic spa treatments.

Hospital Based Medical Spa:
Hospital / medical facilities provide fully integrated care, employing conventional and complementary therapies in a specially designed healing environment. Services include: clinical evaluation and treatments (both eastern and western), spa services, mind-body techniques, nutrition, biofeedback and other modalities.

Wellness Centers:
This type medical spa comes in many varieties. It is usually owned by primary care physicians or entrepreneurs, and encompasses alternative treatments, i.e., holistic medicine and Chinese medicine, acupuncture, herbal and supplemental counseling, bariatrics, and modalities based on cardiovascular issues.