Background

Body treatments are a group of therapies that involve applying a mixture of substances to almost all of the patient's exposed skin or submerging the body in specialized baths. Body wraps, seaweed wraps, and mud baths are all types of all-over body treatments. Whole body treatments are generally described as a relaxing experience. Relaxation and temporary cosmetic changes are the primary reason people receive whole body treatments.

Advocates claim that body wraps may successfully alter the appearance of the skin and cause weight loss. Generally, these effects are advertised as being relatively short-lived. However, some providers of whole body treatments claim that regular application will result in long-term cosmetic changes.

Whole body treatments have their origin in a variety of cultures. The diverse and varied materials used in whole body treatments were not created in any one time or place. The wide selection of body treatment types and materials used in whole body treatments in contemporary spas is a unique fusion of many different cultural practices.

Due to the amounts of materials and space required, whole body treatments are most commonly practiced at spas.

Though advocates purport that whole body treatments remove toxins from the body and infuse the skin with nutrients that create a healthy appearance for the skin, there is a lack of higher quality clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate these claims. Research conducted by manufacturers of individual products may be potentially biased.

People use this for...

Safety Safety definitions

Pregnancy: There is insufficient reliable evidence about the safety of whole body treatments in pregnancy. There's no reason to expect safety issues if treatments are not too hot.

Lactation: There is insufficient reliable evidence about the safety of whole body treatments in lactation. There's no reason to expect safety issues if treatments are not too hot. Body treatments may use a number of herbs and supplements that will come into contact with a majority of the skin surface. Individuals with allergies should inform their attendant before beginning the treatment. Mud bath dermatitis (skin inflammation) has been reported due to cinnamon oil.

Effectiveness Effectiveness definitions

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE TO RATE

Ankylosing spondylitis. Preliminary clinical research suggests using mud baths for 2 weeks in patients with spondylitis and inflammatory bowel disease may result in symptom relief.

More evidence is needed to rate whole body treatments for this use.

Natural Medicines rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Dosing & administration

Adverse effects

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

None known.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

None known.

Interactions with foods

None known.

Interactions with lab tests

Interactions with diseases

HYPERTENSION: Whole body treatments that are very hot may increase blood pressure and should be avoided in patients with hypertension.

Mechanism of action

The materials used in whole body treatments may be comprised of a variety of mixtures - from aromatherapy oils to hydrated volcanic ash. Regardless of the individual components of a body treatment, theoretically, these mixtures enhance the appearance of the skin and remove toxins, which are substances considered harmful to the body.

The rejuvenation of the skin and removal of toxins from the body is attributed to the process of diffusion, a process in which molecules move from areas of high concentration to those of low concentration without any expenditure of energy. The ingredients used in body treatments in theory, donate minerals that help the skin remain attractive, while removing substances that may result in signs of aging.

Weight loss from whole body treatments may occur due to water loss from the excessive sweating due to high temperatures of most treatments.