
Wellness
Health and well-being in the land of Asclepius
Greece has a great tradition in health and wellbeing practices. The medical approach in ancient Greece, preserved intact in folk tradition, sees man as an indivisible ‘whole’; the soul, mind and body interact and health is considered a state of balance and good relations between the emotional world and the person’s natural state. Greek medical tradition is based on mild forms of therapy. Healing spas, a balanced diet, herbal therapies, hypnotherapy, relaxing massage are just some of the ‘secrets’ that have survived from deep antiquity up to the present day.Greece has over 800 medicinal spas, with various properties and uses. The composition of the water varies and makes each spa unique. Some waters are considered ideal for drinking, like those from Arcadian springs, which clearly have an analgesic and therapeutic action on stomach disorders. Other springs are considered excellent for skin diseases and chronic diseases of the bones and muscles, such as the springs in Aidipsos in Evia, Loutraki in the Peloponnese and Eleftheres in Kavala, Macedonia. The facilities here at these thermal springs include excellent amenities and constant medical supervision by trained staff, who treat each case individually.
The healing properties of seawater, seaweed, or sea mud help you conquer stress and anxiety, and improve your mental performance. Adopt Aristotle’s motto:
“ The energy of the mind is the essence of life”.Sea water also has unparalleled therapeutic properties. Thalassotherapy centres throughout Greece, usually a part of luxury hotel facilities, offer a unique experience of wellbeing and relaxation.
Nature loves beauty
Natural cosmetics and grooming methods have a great tradition in Greece. Beauty is an internal process whose final stage is a dazzling appearance. A healthy and balanced body radiates strength and beauty.The Greek diet, rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre, helps the body centre itself and detoxify. Greek olive oil, wonderful fruits and healthy vegetables are indeed an elixir of youth.
Cosmetology using natural raw materials is widespread in Greece. Specialized stores stock a large variety of products that combine ancient secrets and more modern methods of research and production: vegetable skin-friendly colourings, skin-toning creams from natural products, beauty products that also help the face regain its vitality.
Well-being in the land of sunshine!
Apart from the special therapies one can enjoy at the many private and public wellness centres, Greek nature itself acts therapeutically to rejuvenate man. It is worthy of note that the ‘discovery’ of Greece by 19th century travellers was simply for reasons of rejuvenation. People from all over Europe arrived in Greece to revel in the therapeutic power of nature. Greek mountains, with their ‘thin’ air and mild climate, were considered ideal places for fortifying the body and coastal regions were preferred by those needing mental stimulation. The Mediterranean climate, with its mild winters and unbeatable sunshine, has always been a factor in balancing the human body.Greece is an ideal place for combining relaxing holidays with spa treatments. In exquisite natural surroundings brimming with healing properties, in the safety of specialized facilities dedicated to body treatment and rejuvenation, the visitor will immediately feel the positive effects. Even in the large urban centres, there are outstanding facilities where one can enjoy the experience of a relaxing massage combined with hydrotherapy, or other body and facial treatments. A body that feels beautiful will let the inner beauty shine through. This belief underlying the Greek concept of physical health is gaining more and more ground in the estimation of scientists as well as visitors to treatment centres.