Getting a bit bored with the usual spa treatments you receive? Have a look below for some more unusual treatments available around the world.

Brewery spa – There are a number of brewery spas in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, in these you can have a good soak in a small swimming pool filled with beer, it seems that the vitamins and yeast in beer are quite cleansing for the skin, as well as indulging in the twenty minute dip in dark beer which is mixed with carbonated mineral water, yeast, hops and aromatic herbs, afterwards you can enjoy some relaxation time or an optional massage or treatment involving hot stones or being packed in hot grains.

Snake massage – Not for those who suffer from ophiophobia (fear of snakes) with this treatment you have various non-venomous snakes like California king, Florida king, milk and corn varieties slithering and sliding over your body to sooth aching muscles and joints. You can experience one of these treatments in Talmei Elazar which is in North Israel.

Geisha facial – You can now have a facial treatment that gives you the complexion of a geisha, the facial which uses the geisha skin care routine is available in New York and uses the secret ingredient geishas use, nightingale excrement (i.e. bird droppings). During the treatment you have a facemask made from the excrement which has been dried and sterilized, called uguisu no fun which exfoliates, nourishes and brightens the skin.

Cactus massage – This may sound like a very painful treatment however it’s not as prickly as you may think. This massage does involve Nopal paddles however they are spike free, they are used to massage in a mixture of prickly pear cactus, pulque (an alcoholic beverage similar to tequila but made from agave) and tuna (the cactus blossom, not the fish). These ingredients are known for their healing properties, removing toxins as well as moisturising the skin.

An extravagant facial – For those with an expensive and luxurious taste why not try a caviar facial or full body caviar treatment. You are covered in green gunk that contains sevruga fish eggs) extracts and “spirulina algae”, hence the colour. Another wallet busting treatment is a 24K Gold facial which involves covering your face with gold leaf or gold dust ala Cleopatra. The gold is thought to remove blemishes and purify the skin, and it apparently has anti-aging properties.

caviar

Picture courtsey of star5112

Travel sickness is caused by the vestibular system in your inner ear not understanding the visual clues it is getting, basically your eyes telling you one thing and the balancing system in your ears telling another. It leaves you feeling sick, looking pale and clammy and also gives you a headache. A lot of people suffer travel sickness from a young age and generally grow out of it however for those who don’t there a couple of things you can do to help avoid travel sickness.

There are a few over the counter drugs that can prevent motion sickness however you do generally have to take them about 30 minutes before you travel.

There are also herbal remedies you can take, many people believe ginger can help in preventing motion sickness and with herbal remedies you won’t get any side affects unlike the over the counter drugs.

There are other options as well that don’t involve taking anything, you can get special wristbands the work by controlling your pulse or try simple things such as sitting by the window looking at the distance may help. Do not read books, watch videos, or play on a games console. Listening to story tapes is a good alternative. Do open a window.

It’s that time of your again when many of us will be heading off to the slopes of Austria or Canada for our well earned ski holidays. And whether you’re a seasoned skier or a first-timer, a bit of preparation beforehand can definitely help your skills and stamina, and also add to your enjoyment of the holiday.

There’s nothing worse than spending the first day of your ski holiday enjoying the slopes and the next two days in bed with a bad back or other painful aches. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun, the trick is to get in shape before setting off. If you want to get the most benefit and enjoyment  from your valuable time on the slopes, then start training at least 4 weeks before you go by targeting the muscles that control your skiing and snowboarding. Most of us hit the slopes and plan on skiing all day, even if it’s been months or years since we last skied and by afternoon, you get so tired that you lose focus. This is often the time when injuries and accidents happen as the more tired you are, the more your concentration suffers and muscles become increasingly slower and weaker to respond.

What makes skiing holidays such great exercise is that it uses all of your muscle groups, although some muscles are used more than others and these are the ones you want to concentrate on when it comes to your pre-holiday training.  The primary muscles used in skiing are your calves, quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, inner and outer thighs, abs and back and your arms

To build stamina and prepare your heart and body for long-term skiing, you need to have a cardio programme in place at least 4 weeks before you go which should include 3 to 5 days each week of your favourite activity (the best for skiing include running, step aerobics or cross trainer).  Try to have a variety of workouts lasting from 20 to 45 minutes. As you get closer to your trip, you can also add time to one of your workouts so that you have one long workout each week.             

If you are already planning on next year’s holiday, you need to be aware of the vaccines needed for foreign travel. A recent survey found that 56% of travelers did not know what medicine or injections were needed for certain destinations, while 31% did not know what they had already been vaccinated against.  Many people are also unaware that tetanus and hepatitis A vaccinations were recommended for travel to European destinations such as Slovenia and Bulgaria or that when travelling to destinations in Thailand such as Phuket and Koh Samui, there are various vaccinations required.

A lot of people also don’t realise the risks they are taking by not getting vaccinated, not only do you leave yourself unprotected against various illnesses like Diphtheria, tetanus and hepatitis A, which could result in a stay in hospital but also it could mean your travel insurance is invalid. Many people seem to be unaware that most of the jabs needed for foreign travel are free on the NHS, as well as information of what precautions you need to take and where, which is available on the NHS website.

injection

Picture courtesy of alvi2047