Natural Spa and Hydrotherapy

Description

The recent growth of the spa industry has resulted in a need for highly educated practitioners of spa and hydrotherapy treatments.

Natural Spa and Hydrotherapy: Theory and Practice is designed to meet the needs of today’s spa practioners. This text can be used for spa training as well as for skill enhancement for individual therapists.  It will assist instructors and students of massage and bodywork as well as practitioners in spa settings and private practice who have the desire to increase their knowledge and understanding of, and competency in, natural spa and hydrotherapy. 

Natural Spa and Hydrotherapy: Theory and Practice

 

Chapter 1 History of Spa and Hydrotherapy

            What is Spa?

Early History of Spa

            Water

            Origins of Organized Hydrotherapy and Spas  

Decline of Hydrotherapy

            Christianity and Islam

Resurgence of Hydrotherapy

            Innovations in Science and Medicine

Prominent Persons

Birth of Modern Spa and Hydrotherapy

            Prominent Persons

            Hydrotherapy and Spa Today

            Types of Spas

Summary

Activities

Study Questions

 

Chapter 2 The Science Behind Spa and Hydrotherapy

The Connection Between Science and Spa and Hydrotherapy  

Water

            Ways Water is Used in Treatments

            Water of the Earth; Water of the Body

Chemistry of the Body

            Atoms

            Ions

            pH

Ebb and Flow of Body Fluids

          Blood, Interstitial Fluid, and Lymph

            Body Water Gain and Loss

Body Systems

            Integumentary System

Cardiovascular System

            Lymphatic and Immune System

            Respiratory System

            Digestive System

            Skeletal System

            Muscular System

            Nervous System

            Endocrine System

            Urinary System

            Reproductive Systems

A Closer Look at Four Systems

            Integumentary System

            Cardiovascular System

            Nervous System

            Lymphatic and Immune System

Body Temperature Homeostasis

            Metabolism of the Body

            Thermoregulation

            Mechanisms of Heat Transfer

Summary

Activities

Study Questions

 

Chapter 3 Elements of Practice

Successful Spa and Hydrotherapy Practices

Elements Common to All Spas

            The Spa Experience

            Communication

What It Means to Work in a Spa

            Sales and Profits

            Expectations of Spa Staff

            Workforce Structure

            Supplies and Equipment

Universal Precautions, Hygiene, and Sanitation

          Guidelines

Helping Clients Choose the Best Treatments for Them

            Questions to Ask Clients

            Considerations for Package Treatments

Incorporating Spa and Hydrotherapy Treatments into a Bodywork Practice

            Legal Considerations

            Scope of Practice

            Starting off Small: Dry Rooms

            Expanding Further

Summary

Activities

Study Questions

 

Chapter 4 Hydrotherapy

What is Hydrotherapy?

Properties of Water

            Heat Transfer

The Effects of Hydrotherapy Treatments

            Mechanical

            Chemical

            Thermal

Four Main Variables in Hydrotherapy

          Temperature

          Duration

          Condition of the Client

          Location

Ways to Perform Treatments

Cold Therapies

            Local Cold Application

            Systemic Cold Application

            Contraindications and Considerations for Cold Application Treatments

            Treatments

            Treatment 4.1 Single Cold Compress

Cryotherapy

            Systemic Cold Treatments

Heat Therapies

            Local Heat Application

            Systemic Heat Application

     Contraindications and Considerations for Heat Application Treatments

            Treatments

            Treatment 4.2 Hot Compress

Treatment 4.3 Ginger Fomentation

            Treatment 4.4 Hot Foot Bath

            Systemic Heat Treatments

            Treatment 4.5 Heating (Cold Sheet) Wrap

Alternating or Contrast Applications

            Contraindications and Considerations for Alternating or Contrast Application Treatments

            Treatments

            Treatment 4.6 Alternating or Contrast Compress

Showers

            Spa Showers

            Showers and Baths in Private Practice

Balneology

            Spa Baths

            Alternating or Contrast Full Immersion Baths

            Partial Baths

Vapor Treatments

            Simple Inhalation Treatment

            Steam Bath

Sauna

Steam Baths and Saunas in Private Practice

 Other Hydrotherapy

            Hydrotherapy Tub (Hydro Tub)

      Whirlpool (Jacuzzi)

            Flotation Tank or Sensory Deprivation Tank/Room

            Hubbard Tank

            Watsu and Aquatic Massage

            Water Dance

Summary

Activities

Study Questions

Case Samples

 

Chapter 5 Exfoliation

What is Exfoliation?

Types of Exfoliants

A Closer Look at the Skin

            Layers of the Skin

Manual Exfoliation

            Lymphatic Flow and Manual Exfoliations

            Treatment 5.1 Full Body Dry Brushing

 

            Treatment 5.2 Quick-Prep Dry Brushing             Manual Exfoliation Using Natural Substances             Treatment 5.3 Manual Exfoliation Using Natural Substances

Chemical, Enzyme, or Dissolving Exfoliation

Summary

Activities

Study Questions

Case Samples

 

Chapter 6 Pelotherapy

Types of Pelotherapy

Muds

            Therapeutic Properties of Muds

            Types of Muds

Clays

           Therapeutic Properties of Clays

           Types of Clays

           Fuller’s Earth

Peat

            Moor Mud

Treatments

          Body Wraps

            Treatment 6.1 Mud or Peat Body Wrap

          Masks

          Treatment 6.2 Mud, Peat, or Clay Mask

          Moor Peat Packs

          Mud or Peat Bath

            Rasul Spa Treatment

            Mud, Peat, and Clay Poultices

Earth Salts

            Types of Earth Salts

Treatment

            Salt Glow

            Treatment 6.3 Salt Glow           Salt Bath

 

Paraffin

Paraffin Treatment

            Treatment 6.4 Paraffin Applications

          Parafango

Geothermal Therapy

            Mary D. Nelson

            Benefits of Hot and Cold Stones

            Treatment 6.5 Hot and Cold Stone Therapy

Summary

Activities

Study Questions

Case Samples

 

Chapter 7 Thalassotherapy

What is Thalassotherapy?

          Early Use of Thalassotherapy

            Modern Thalassotherapy

            Elements of Thalassotherapy

Seawater

Sea Products

            Seaweed

            Other Algae

            Sea Mud

            Sea salt 

Treatments

            Body Wraps

            Treatment 7.1 Seaweed or Other Algae Body Wrap

            Treatment 7.2 Sea Mud Body Wrap

          Masks

            Treatment 7.3 Seaweed, Other Algae, or Sea Mud Mask

            Poultices

Salt Glow

            Treatment 7.4 Sea Salt Glow

          Baths

Brine Inhalation Treatment

Summary

Activities

Study Questions

Case Samples

 

Chapter 8 Aromatherapy and Herbs

Aromatherapy and Bodywork

History of Aromatherapy and Herbs

           Plant Use by Ancient Civilizations

           Aromatics from the Middles Ages to Present

Essential Oils

            Essential Oil Extraction

            How Essential Oils Work

            Precautions for Working with Essential Oils

            Purchasing Essential Oils

           Storage and Shelf Life

            Notes

Ten Foundational Essential Oils

            Blending Essential Oils

Additional Essential Oils

Ways to use Essential Oils in a Spa or Private Practice

            Diffusers

            Light Bulb rings

            Aromastone

            Scented Candles

            Scented Massage Oils, Lotions, and Crèmes

            Liniments

            Simple Inhalation and Facial Sauna Treatments Using Essential Oils

            Hot and cold compresses

            Manual Exfoliations Using Natural Substances

            Aromatic baths

Using Herbs in Spa and Hydrotherapy Treatments

            Purchasing and Storing Herbs and Plants

            Herbal Infusions

            Treatment 8.1 Herbal Wrap

            Treatment 8.2 Simple Inhalation and Facial Sauna Treatments Using Herbs

            Herbal Baths

            Compresses

            Poultices

Summary

Activities

Study Questions

Case Samples

 

Appendix 1 Poultices

Appendix 2 Ayurveda

Appendix 3 Resources

Appendix 4 Answers to Multiple Choice Questions

Appendix 5 References

Glossary

Index

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The recent growth of the spa industry has resulted in a need for highly educated practitioners of spa and hydrotherapy treatments. Natural Spa and Hydrotherapy: Theory and Practice is designed to meet the needs of today’s spa practioners. This book can be used for spa training as well as for skill enhancement for individual therapists.  It will assist students of massage and bodywork as well as practitioners in spa settings and private practice who have the desire to increase their knowledge and understanding of, and competency in, natural spa and hydrotherapy.

Features

Each chapter has a number of pedagogical features designed to help readers generate interest in the material, retain information, and integrate the knowledge into their own experience.   

Chapter Learning Objectives

Each chapter-opening page contains measurable objectives for the reader.  Each objective allows the reader to identify what the key goals are and what information should be studied thoroughly.  Readers can use these as a checklist for recall of important information.  Those readers who are students can use the objectives in preparation for exams.

Key Terms

When key terms are initially introduced and defined within the text, they are boldfaced to highlight their importance.  Readers can watch for these bolded key terms, knowing that these point to the most useful pieces of information.

Treatment Boxes

To ensure clarity of information, all the treatment protocols are set apart in individual boxes within the text. Within the treatment box are Rationale, Indications, Contraindications, Equipment and Supplies, Preparation, Procedure, After the Treatment, and Hygiene.  Readers can be assured that the information they need for any given procedure is contained in one place and that they will not have to hunt through the text. Clinical Alert Boxes

Clinical Alert boxes contain essential cautionary information readers need as they prepare for and perform treatments. 

Did You Know… Margin Notes

Did You Know margin notes are throughout each chapter and contain pieces of trivia designed to add more interest to particular subject matter.

 To Get You Started… Boxes

To Get You Started boxes are found throughout chapters 4 through 8 and contain recipes for various treatment substances and applications that readers can try.  The recipes are designed to stimulate readers’ creativity and can be used by readers as tools for designing their own treatment menus.

Chapter Summaries

Summaries at the end of each chapter provide an overview of major topics and information discussed.  Readers can use these as quick references and for quick searches of the material presented in the chapter.

Activities

Activities at the end of each chapter contain questions designed to stimulate readers’ retention of the material presented in the chapter.  Readers are also encouraged to receive treatments presented in the chapters, perform assessments of these treatments, and formulate what improvements they would make.  Other activities are designed to support readers in thinking about the material presented in the chapter in new and different ways.