Body Wrap Spa Treatment

Body wrap spa treatments can be used for both cosmetic reasons and for detoxification, fatigue, arthritis and to improve the immune system. According to Anne Williams, author of "Spa Bodywork," there are different styles of performing body wraps, such as wrapping with a hot sheet soaked in herbs or other liquid. The cocoon-style body wrap and wrapping the body in plastic film are both used after applying a treatment product to the body. Some of the treatment products that can be used in a body wrap spa treatment are body butters, herbs, milk and honey, seaweed, coffee, mud and clay and essential oils.

Herbs

A herbal infusion hot sheet body wrap is a natural healing remedy. Depending on the herbs that are chosen, it can be used to decrease toxins, support a cleansing program, expel excess water in the cells, relax tense muscles and decrease pain. Rosemary, juniper and lemon peel are herbs that can aid in detoxification, along with ginger root and echinacea. Herbal infusions for sore muscles and joint relief could include peppermint, pine needles, bay laurel leaves and cloves.

Milk and Honey

Milk and honey softens and smooths the skin, and can be used in a hot sheet body wrap. Milk proteins help support the skin's collagen, and natural honey has soothing and healing antibacterial properties. This combination makes it especially useful for dry or mature skin. In "The Illustrated Guide to Massage and Aromatherapy," editor Catherina Stuart mentions that milk and honey has a fragrance that is deeply relaxing, and this property makes it an excellent choice for a nourishing, relaxing and stress-reducing body wrap spa treatment.

Body Butters

Body butters have moisturizing and healing qualities, and are usually made of such emollients as almond butter, shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, and jojoba and hemp seed oils. These increase the skin's moisture content and provide a moisture barrier.

A cocoon-style body wrap spa treatment works with warm body butter applied to the skin. The body is then wrapped in warm steamy towels and a blanket to increase body temperature. This allows the body butter to penetrate deeply into the skin.

According to Williams, an especially beneficial emollient for sore muscles, chronic pain and soft tissue conditions, such as fibromyalgia, is hemp seed oil, because of its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving qualities.

Seaweed

Seaweed benefits the body in several ways when applied topically. It decreases muscle pain, stimulates lymph flow and circulation, and because of its iodine content, balances the endocrine system. It is also detoxifying, and Williams relays that it is a prominent treatment product for body wraps, promoting weight loss and body sculpting. Seaweed can be used in hot sheet, cocoon and plastic film spa treatment body wraps.

Coffee

Coffee spa treatment body wraps decrease water retention and firm tissue. Coffee evens out skin tone and has the same pH balance as the skin. A hot sheet body wrap is a good choice for applying coffee as a treatment product. Coffee is also sometimes added to warm body butters for an emollient application using a cocoon-style or plastic film body wrap. Stuart adds that ground coffee beans can also be used as an exfoliation treatment to smooth the skin before a spa treatment body wrap.