Chinese spa therapies

“You work too hard,” said Dr Gua, the on-site traditional Chinese doctor at the Grand Hyatt spa in Shanghai. Previously a bone-setter in hospitals, Dr Gua is now sought after by VIP clients for his healing spa sessions. This wasn’t your usual feel-good spa treatment, though. For over an hour he worked on my body, combining a variety of rather vigorous Chinese massage techniques that left my kidneys aching for days. A good thing, according to Dr Gua, who explained that deep toxins were being released.

The Chinese have long known how to take care of their wellbeing. From acupuncture to herbs, it makes sense that these modalities are now being introduced into spas. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the oldest healing disciplines on earth.

“Acupuncture seems to be growing as a way of quickly destressing and rebooting the nervous system in a spa environment,” says Ken Rosen, head of traditional Chinese therapies at Chiva-Som International Health Resort in Thailand. “I have seen a lot of interest and success stories with auricular (ear) acupuncture for spa guests who want to lose weight or stop smoking.” He adds that the spa environment often feels safer for the novice to try something different, such as acupuncture or chi nei tsang, an abdominal detoxification massage developed in China.

The World Health Organization (WHO) now cites up to 100 conditions that can be treated with TCM. Recent surveys by the National Institutes of Health/CDC in the US reveals 38 per cent of adults and 12 per cent of children utilised complementary medicine in 2007, mentioning acupuncture as one of the fastest areas of growth. More recently, the WHO announced that in Beijing, all modern healthcare systems should incorporate traditional systems of medicine into their healthcare plans.

While most spa goers may have sampled reflexology, other well-regarded therapies that will soon be offered at spas include cupping and gua sha. During gua sha, the therapist uses a small utensil to scrape the excess heat out of the client’s body. For cupping, several glass cups are placed on your back to extract excess heat and wind from within that, in turn, restores balance.

However, according to Adria Lake of A.W. Lake Spa Concepts, who has been creating innovative spa treatments and products for high-end brands, the spa industry still has a very limited understanding of the Chinese healing systems. “Most spas pay lip service to TCM and feature treatments that lack depth or real understanding of the thought processes, philosophy and methods behind the system,” she says.

“TCM covers a lot of ground. It is a very complex system of medicine that requires years of learning to practise. Unless the spa is prepared to go the distance in giving their therapists proper training and have a qualified TCM doctor on staff, I do not think it is appropriate to call it a TCM spa.”

Lake, who is at the forefront of combining Chinese therapies and spa, is currently working on a range of unique TCM-related and driven concepts and therapies containing ingredients such as The Emperor’s Bathing Rituals and the Secrets of the Imperial Concubines. All these comprise tui na, acupressure and moxibustion as well as new concepts inspired by Chinese martial arts, meridian and Taoist meditations. As well, she is developing a series of seasonal rites such as an Imperial Dragon Massage made with Chinese herbal and gold-infused oil, Ginseng Leaf Baths and White Ren Shen & Rice Wine Herbal Wraps.

Curious? Here are a few Chinese-inspired recipes to try at home.