HEALTH IS BECOMING AN EVER MORE POTENT ADDITION TO THE ATTRACTIONS ON OFFER IN TOURIST RESORTS. OVER RECENT YEARS, THE COSTA DEL SOL HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS SECTOR, PROVIDING VISITORS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM. AS WELL AS THE PROVINCE'S INLAND NATURAL SPA TOWNS, MANY LUXURY HOTEL COMPLEXES ALSO FEATURE THEIR OWN SPECIALIST CENTRES.

This phenomenon, a growing trend is western societies (prey to illnesses associated with industrialised societies, such as stress and anxiety), is based on recoverig physical well-being in pleasant surroundings.
Tradicional spa resorts, consigned to oblivion for many a long year, have experienced a rebirth thanks to the rise in so-called "health and beauty tourism". The famous spa resort of Carratraca is a good example of this. After years of inactivity, it is today trying to create its glory days of the 19th century, when its thermal waters made it one of Europe's most famous summer resort. Carratraca is particularly recommended for gynaecological and dermatological treatments because of the sulphur content of the waters which bubble up`from its spring, at a constant temperature of 18 degrees centigrade. The other historical spa resort of the province is in Tolox. Its has never closed down since first being opened in 1871. It did however recently go under wraps for major refurbishment work and the installation of new facilities. Its waters are particularly recomended for respiratory illnesses, perhaps the reason why it is the world's leading spa for treating children.
Periana has been home since the time of the Moors to the "Vilo Baths", a spring of sulphurous waters with medicinal properties, which had their heyday at the end of the 19th century. However, since the early 20th century business has been on hold. Now, after several failed attempts to restore the resort, its owners, the town council, are refurbishing it to create an Arab bath complex also offering accommodation and food. This new tourist attraction is expected to open next year.

The town council of Casares also plans to revive its Hedionda Baths. This legendary spring of sulphurous waters offers similar properties to those of the flesh its miraculous effects.
Together with the renaissance of traditional spa resort, the pioneers of this type of tourism, a huge range of health and beauty treatments have also established themselves as an almost essential addition to any hotel. Almost all the establishments spening on the Costa del Sol, and many others already in existence, have included among their facilities a special area for this type of service. The name by which they are known, "spa" comes from the Latin "salute per aqua". In Marbella, in fact, several five-star hotels have even signed an agreement with a luxury clinic specialising in biological, aesthetic and preventive medicine to offer their guests anti-stress therapy, an anti-ageing programme or just a medical check-up during their time on the Costa del Sol.
Another key feature is the changing profile of this type of tourist. Younger visitors, drawn by the combined attractions of Leisure and recreation, are also beginning to appreciate the the advantages of spa treatments for relaxation. Meanwhile, the key features are no longer simply medicinal, but also include the architectural, natural and cultural aspects of the surroundings.
The spas of the Costa del Sol offer, as can be seen below, a huge number of medical techniques, some of which date back thousands of years, while others are completely new. Below are just a few examples:

Acupuncture: Acupunsture as a therapeutic technique forms part of traditional Chinese medicine. It uses sterilised needles with which the practitioner alters energy flows. Specific points are pricked, and in principle the idea is always to work from the "Yang" to the "Yin", from top to bottom, from left to right, from front to back, inserting the needle more or less deeply depending on the condition.

Algotherapy: Seaweed included almost every type of vitamin (A, B, C, F and K), as well as a high percentage of iron and calcium, protein, and a large number of minerals. Applying seaweed through massages, baths and even food supplements therefore provides your body with hugely important substances. It also has antibiotic, anti-tumour, antioxidant and antiviral properties, and can prevent ageing of the skin. Algotherapy also includes the technique of "emplastotherapy", which involves treatment with seaweed for 40 minutes.

Hammam: A Turkish bath, or hammam, combines four elements: dry heat, humid heat, cold and massage. It stimulates the body and clears it toxins, as well as having a relaxing effect. The hammam is also particularly suitable for the treatment of respiratory illnesses.

Haemotherapy: This is defined as the administration of blood or any of its derivatives for therapeutic or preventive ends. It has many applications.

Hydrotherapy: This is treatment with water at various temperatures. It can help cure a wide range of illnesses through the pressure exerted on the body, bathing itself, or through the addition of certain products. This allows the water to act on the metabolism and the nervous and circulatory systems.

Homeopathy: The term homeopathy was coined by Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), a German doctor who established the foundations of a new mecidinal philosophy based on the principle of analogy. According to Hahnemann, illnesses are cured by remedies which produce the same symptoms, but administered in infinitesimally small doses.

Neurotherapy: Also known as neural therapy, this is particularly useful for individuals suffering pain or inflammation, functional illnesses, chronic illnesses, hormonal imbalances or for those requiring rehabilitation after major injury or an operation. Neurotherapy uses the anaesthetics procaine and lidocaine, diluted at low dosages, to act as regulating agents.

Oxygen therapy: This technique involves increasing the relative pressure of the oxygen in the blood by raising the concentration or pressure of the oxygen in the air you breathe. It is recommended for individuals with respiratory defects. Thanks to oxygen therapy, the quantity of oxygen reaches the level needed by your body.

Ozone therapy: The gas ozone is produced from oxygen. It is used to improve the oxygenation of tissues, to have an antioxidant effect and eliminate free radicals (in other words, to protect the body's cells and arrest ageing), and also has a lipolytic effect (that is, it dissolves accumulated fats), stimulates the defences and alters chronic and acute inflammatory processes such as those caused by arthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis, and is useful in the treatment of slipped discs, making sugery unnecessary in over 85% of cases, while also acting against bacteria, viruses and fungal infections.

Reflexology: The aim of this centuries-old technique is, among others, to alleviate stress. It works chiefly on the feet, alternatively the hands, with the aim of stimulating reflexes in the organs and glands.

Thalassotherapy: This technique uses seawater for therapeutic ends. The water allows the body to assimilate mineral elements such as iodine, sulphur, calcium and magnesium, which are taken in through the skin if it is at the same temperature as the body.
Thermolipolysys: This involves applying heat for therapeutic ends. It is normally used to treat cellulite localised adipose tissue and cases of general obesity.

Chocotherapy: The use of cocoa for aesthetic and therapeutic ends is achieved by applying this delicious substance to the surface of the skin. Cocoa is a vitalising foodstuff with stimulatory properties, awakening and soothing the body. It is an excellent therapy for raising the spirits and combating fatigue. The sweetness of the cocoa also raises the level of serotonin, a central neural transmitter which plays a vital role sexual behaviour, and also serves to regulate the hormonal secretions of the hypothalamus.
As if that were not enough, it also regulates neuroendocrine functions, body temperature, motor activity and cognitive functions. Another exotic variant of this technique is massage with fresh fuit.