Wellness From The Orient

It is difficult to speak talk about a” trend,” when the insight already prevails in the West that one can learn a lot from Asian culture.  The most important idea is the holistic balance of body and soul.  Thus, according to Asian alternative medicine, the care and maintaining healthy skin is just as important as promoting the general self-healing powers of the body.

Here a connection with nature, energy and harmony is regarded as essential to a fulfilled existence.  Health and beauty are also inextricably linked.  Now this philosophy has also become popular in spas and wellness salons in the west, whereby the focus is on holistic treatments that bring body, mind and spirit into harmony.

Balance of Yin & Yang

In Asia, massage means the transfer of energy from one person to another.  The harmonious flow of positive energy is called Qi (pronounced “chee”).  It is pivotal point of effectiveness between Yin and Yang.  When this life force is blocked, it causes an imbalance in the body.  When the Qi is flowing freely, it reaches every cell and activates the natural healing powers of the body.

Balance of Qi

Some forms of the practice devoted to the balance of Qi are Chinese tuina massage, Japanese shiatsu, traditional Thai massage, Asian foot reflex zone and meridian massage, and acupressure.  Restoring the balance of Qi is fundamental in Asian spa treatments.

Ginseng and Ginko

Blossoms, leaves, roots and fruit are prepared according to traditional Asian recipes for internal and external use.  Their detoxifying, regenerating, stimulating and soothing properties make ginger, papaya, ginseng, green tea and lemongrass ideal ingredients for wraps, herb pouches, and body and facial masks.  Whether pre-prepared in a bag, tube, or pot, or freshly prepared, they part of many Asian spa treatments.  The so called “wet treatments” are peelings that are applied before a bath and contain the symbolic power of regeneration.  They applied using brushes, sponges, salt, sea sand, papaya seeds, clay or peeling granules and water.

Lotus, Silk and Rice

Schwarzkopf has recognized the value of East Asian beauty ingredients and included them in cosmetic lines like Fa and Gliss Kur.  Its latest innovation is the use of rice extract in deodorants.  Ingredients found in rice make the new Fa deodorant Rice Dry* particularly effective against perspiration and body odour.  Gliss Kur uses fluid silk as a conditioning component.  Liquid Silk gives brittle and stressed hair extra shimmer and lustrous shine, which is otherwise only found in pure silk.

* Check a retailer in your country for product availability.