Wellness treatments you've never heard of

It used to be that aromatherapy massage was considered "exotic" and European facials were "fancy." Today, you'd be hard-pressed to find a wellness or beauty treatment that doesn't involve a futuristic-sounding gadget or ancient ritual, reinterpreted for our fast-paced lives. They may sound wacky but these five intriguing services are definitely worth exploring:

CUPPING

An ancient healing method traced back to the Egyptians and Chinese, cupping or "fire cupping" is usually used in conjunction with acupuncture or massage to treat sore muscles and stubborn injuries. Bubble-like glass cups are heated with the flame from lit alcohol-soaked cotton balls then applied to the skin, forming an airtight seal. As the air inside the cup cools, it creates suction that draws blood to the treatment area. The increased circulation and chi, or energy, oxygenates and helps heal the affected muscles. Although the (temporary) red welts that cupping leaves behind suggest a form of torture, it's actually surprisingly painless. $

CURATIVE BATHS

Before there were decongestants and energy drinks, there were baths. For centuries, Asians and Europeans have relied on hydrotherapy to restore well-being and treat various ailments. Inspired by these time-honored traditions, Fusion LifeSpa in Deephaven recently introduced a series of curative baths. The 30-minute, self-guided soaks combine essential oils, colored water (chromatherapy), and alternating hot and cold temperatures to alleviate the usual subjects: fatigue, jet lag, stress, bloating and the common cold. The fact that Fusion takes same-day appointments means relief is imminent. $60 each, Fusion LifeSpa, 18142 Minnetonka Blvd, Deephaven, 952-345-3335, fusionlifespa.com.

GROUNDING TREATMENT

"Everyone is so in their head," says Spot Spa owner Nell Rueckl. "This ritual makes you feel more in your body." One of the Twin Cities' most sought-after body workers, Rueckl developed the Grounding Treatment to help her clients feel literally more grounded. The focus on feet -- first with an aromatic soak and salt scrub, then a full 15 minutes of reflexology -- relieves tension and increases awareness from head to toe. Lying between a "stone blanket" of warm basalt rocks further creates a sense of calm and consciousness. $60 for 60 min., Spot Spa, two Minneapolis locations including Northeast (612-331-4182) and Uptown (612-823-7767); spotspas.com.

MICROCURRENT SCULPTING FACIAL

Originally developed in the late 1980s to treat paralyzed muscles in Bell's palsy patients, microcurrent technology gained buzz-worthy status when doctors discovered its ability to smooth fine lines and tighten the skin. Turns out that low-level electricity increases circulation and triggers collagen and elastin production, resulting in a facelift effect. Unlike shock therapy, you won't feel much more than static electricity when the aesthetician moves two wand-like devices over your face. The results are visible after one treatment and last up to 72 hours. With a series of treatments and regular maintenance it's possible to prolong the benefits. From $95 with packages available; Thomas Charles Salon, 4008 Minnetonka Blvd., Minneapolis, 952-925-4277, thomascharlessalon.com.

RAINDROP THERAPY

Inspired by a Lakota American Indian healing practice of sweeping a feather upwards along the spine, Rain drop Therapy combines massage, aromatherapy and reflexology to renew and energize the body. During this sensory experience, nine therapeutic essential oils selected for their ability to flush out toxins, destroy bacteria and promote healing are dropped along the feet and spine. Each essential oil is then gently massaged into the skin using a practically hypnotic feathering technique. Raindrop Therapy recipients often report an out-of-body experience or natural high from the treatment, followed by relief from sore muscles, fatigue and cold and flu symptoms. rain drop therapy

Suzanne Somers Calls ONDAMED® "Truly Miraculous!"

In her best-selling book, BREAKTHROUGH, Eight Steps To Wellness, author, actress and crusader for anti-aging and alternative medicine Suzanne Somers states that ONDAMED is "truly miraculous!"

Suzanne Somers suffered from painful lymphedema and ONDAMED treatment, after only one treatment, relieved the swelling and pain, and helped improve Suzanne Somers' general health.

"There is always enthusiasm and energy around breakthroughs and new advances in natural

healing," writes Suzanne Somers. "I came across a marvelous invention called the ONDAMED machine. This is a very sophisticated new piece of equipment you need to urge your doctor to purchase. I now use the ONDAMED machine and the results have been truly miraculous. In just a short period of time I am no longer experiencing pain, swelling, or tenderness in the breast."

When the lymph system is functioning properly it effectively cleanses the tissues, aids in cellular repair, and eliminates toxins -- one of the most important keys to health. Illnesses as wide-ranging as allergies, fibrocystic disease, and cancer can be related to lymph congestion. A sure sign of lymph congestion is sore or swollen lymph glands.

In her book, Suzanne Somers further expounds: "ONDAMED is a cellular-electrical-biofeedback machine and purports to have miraculous effects for acute-pain management and lymphatic congestion, among other things. This machine uses low-level pulsing magnetic fields that induce the flow of micro-currents within the tissues of the patient. In other words, it's able to locate underlying dysfunction and provide a treatment of the patient. It can pinpoint the location of the pain, which doesn't necessarily mean where the pain manifests. Your pain could be in your knee but the ONDAMED machine can tell where the pain originates, which might be in your kidney. Safe and noninvasive, it promotes improved circulation, wound healing, bone regrowth, and pain relief, for conditions such as fibromyalgia. These conditions resolve quickly, as though the body simply needs a small signal to jump-start the healing process … I am using ONDAMED for my own personal health and wellness. Profound technology."

A4M, December 11-14 in Las Vegas, Occasion for Thousands to Experience

Anti-Aging Breakthrough that Works from the Inside-Out

At the 16th Annual World Congress On Anti-Aging Medicine & Regenerative Biomedical Technologies in Las Vegas, December 11-14, over 6,000 medical professionals from around the globe will get an opportunity to experience ONDAMED -- the anti-aging breakthrough that goes beyond other anti-aging solutions that merely skim the surface.

"The future of medicine."

And Suzanne Somers is not the only ONDAMED zealot. Dr. Stephen Sinatra, famed cardiologist and alternative medicine advocate, says "The vibrational frequencies that are determined by sophisticated equipment like ONDAMED is perhaps a search for real truth. This is the future of medicine."

On December 11 at A4M, Dr. Sinatra will join Ondamed Inc. founder Rolf Binder, along with renown biophysicist James L. Oschman, Ph.D., distinguished physicians Carolyn Matzinger ("Physician of the Year") and Wolf-Dieter Kessler, best-selling author Dawson Church, and Olympic performance trainer Jeffrey Spencer, for an all-day seminar entitled From Fundamentals To Breakthroughs. This CME accredited series of lectures is one of the major developments in energy medicine in relation to longevity.

"ONDAMED has transformed thousands of lives all over the globe," says Ondamed CEO Silvia Binder. "And we are humbled and thankful to witness these transformations to health and wellness."

And, upon experiencing ONDAMED for the first time, Yousef Al-Hajri, MD, one of Dubai's most highly-regarded physicians and a member of its Health Ministry, had this to say: "The inventor (Rolf Binder) should receive the Nobel Prize for this miraculous invention."

About: ONDAMED® is a battery-powered biofeedback device that a medical practitioner uses to determine which frequencies of sound, as well as the accompanying weak pulsed electromagnetic fields, cause a response in a patient's autonomic nervous system. Temporary stimulation by these frequencies, combined with the patient's cognitive and non-cognitive participation, promotes relaxation, muscle re-education, and rehabilitation that returns the body to its former state of wellness and allows one to detect and apply therapeutic frequencies to relieve stress, inflammation and pain. It also, among other things, helps cell repair and regeneration, promotes improved circulation, wound healing, bone re-growth and gives lymphatic relief and improves immune functions essential to everyone's health and wellness.

About: Suzanne Somers' best-selling book "Breakthrough" is an outstanding collection of interviews with top leading anti-aging doctors who share their beliefs regarding the many new treatments available to alleviate the degenerative process endured while growing old. Ms. Somers writes about what makes us age, what makes us sick, and how ONDAMED's breakthrough technology delivered "truly miraculous" results.

About: A4M is the largest and most influential international conference and expo in preventative medicine and bio-medical technologies.