Ayurveda
What? Ancient Indian art of healing and prolonging life. In Sanskrit ayur means life and veda knowledge. One of the best known treatments is sirodhara, where a stream of warm oil is poured over the so-called 'third eye' in the centre of the forehead, to relieve tension and improve relaxation.
Where? The Mandarin Oriental, which also has one of the best priced gourmet lunches in London - £21 for three courses.
Signature treatments: The Ritual costs £280 for 5hrs, including sirodhara. Oriental head massage, £40 for 25mins.
Where to book: Wentworth Travel (01344 844622, wentworthtravel.com) or mandarinoriental.com. From £530pp for three nights' B&B, including two spa treatments.
Cell therapy
What? An unpleasant-sounding treatment in which foetal sheep cells are injected into the buttocks in order to accelerate cell activity. Injections are said to slow down the ageing process and revitalise the immune system. Sleep disorders, lack of energy and migraine are some of the conditions for which the CLP extract is thought to be effective.
Where? The Clinique La Prairie, outside Clarens-Montreux in Switzerland, has pioneered the treatment since 1931 and followers are said to have included Sir Winston Churchill and Lady Thatcher.
Signature treatments: Acupuncture and liposuction. Prices are available on application, as treatment times and contents vary considerably.
Where to book: Clinique La Prairie (0041 21 989 3311, laprairie.ch). £8,679pp for six nights' full board, including a medical check-up and CLP treatments.
Fangotherapy
What? Fango means mud in Italian and it is this, enriched with mineral salts and algae from thermal springs, which is applied to the skin as a detoxicant and exfoliator. It is also reputed to relieve stiff joints, pain and swelling.
Where? Abano Terme, in the Euganean Hills, an hour's drive from Venice. For centuries, the town has been renowned for its healing mud and hot thermal waters, and more than 100 hotels in the area offer fango treatments. Byron was once a visitor here.
Signature treatments: Fangotherapy, including mud wrap, ozone bath and massage, £45 for 1hr.
Where to book? Erna Low (020-7594 0290, bodyandsoulholidays.com). From £670pp for four nights' full-board at Hotel Terme Metro pole, including flights, transfers, and three days of spa treatments.
Geothermal treatment
What? Warm water and naturally active ingredients such as mineral salts, white silica mud and blue-green algae are thought to aid relaxation while nourishing and softening the skin.
Where? The Blue Lagoon, in Iceland, is a powder-blue lake where you can swim all year round in 35-40C sulphurous water. The spa is entered through a black lava walkway created by dormant volcanoes. Facilities include a geothermal indoor swimming pool and steam bath.
Signature treatment? Shoulder massage, £9 for 10mins.
Where to book? Arctic Experience (01737 214214, arctic-discover.co.uk; or bluelagoon.is). From £378pp for three nights' B&B at Hotel Gardur in Reykjavik. Entry to Blue Lagoon, £7.50 per adult, £4 per child (12-15 years), under-12s free.
Hydrotherapy
What? The treatment of specific ailments with the external use of water from natural healing springs. Exercising in water can help to mobilise stiff joints and aching muscles.
Where? King Edward VII was a frequent visitor to Marianske Lazne in what is now the Czech Republic. Hotel Nove Lazne is the most beautiful building in town, built in 1899 but renovated four years ago. Special attention is given to weight loss, rheumatism, kidney and respiratory problems.
Signature treatments: Peat bog bath (£10 for 15mins) and full body underwater massage (£10 for 10-30mins), both included in the overall price.
Where to book? Thermalia Travel (020-7483 1898, thermalia.co.uk) or marienbad.cz. From £589pp for one week full-board, including flights, transfers, and a full medical programme.
Li' Tya
What? Aboriginal Li'Tya is a range of natural spa treatments that integrate the best qualities of the Australian earth. Aboriginal medicines, spirituality and healing techniques are designed to help patients to generate their own health and balance.
Where? The Observatory Day Spa, at the heart of Sydney's exclusive Rocks area.
Signature treatments: The Dreaming (£125 for 3hrs) includes the head, face, body, hands and feet. Lowana (£56 for 1hr) is a rejuvenating treatment for the extremities.
Where to book? Austravel (0870 1662070, austravel.com) or orient-express.com. From £1,315pp for seven nights' room-only, including Qantas flights and transfers.
Lulur
What? A Javanese preparation traditionally used for pampering royalty. It begins with a Balinese deep-tissue massage using exotic oils, followed by a skin scrub of rice powder, turmeric and jasmine, and, finally, a flower-petal bath.
Where? Spa Botanica opened in November last year at the Beaufort Hotel on Sentosa Island, which is connected to Singapore by cable car. The spa is set in beautiful tropical gardens, with many of the treatments taking place outside. The spa's own natural products are used, and the cuisine at the spa cafe contains all natural ingredients.
Signature treatments: Javanese Lulur royal wedding treatment (2hrs), £70, acupressure foot massage (55mins), £53.
Where to book? Beaufort Hotel (0065 6275 0331), Spa Botanica (0065 6371 1318, spabotanica.com). From £87 per night.
Primal fitness
What? Not quite a boot camp, but the goal is to achieve animal-like fitness - agility, power, endurance and all-round health - using the surrounding sea, beaches, sand dunes, and forest. All of this is fuelled by natural foods, massage, yoga and meditation. Add daily exercises such as assault courses, boxing techniques, rope climbing and wobble-board sessions, and you will return a changed person.
Where? Wild Fitness is in Kenya, based in Baraka House on Watamu Beach and encompassing the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve and the Watamu Marine National Park.
Signature treatment: 3.5km swim across Mida Creek - everyone who has attempted it has managed to complete it.
Where to book? Erna Low (020-7594 0290, bodyandsoulholidays.com) or wild fitness.com. From £2,430pp for eight nights' full-board, including flights and transfers, all drinks, health assessments, massage, yoga, training sessions and workshops.
Rasul
What? A traditional Arabian cleansing ritual using mud, steam and lots of water. Coloured chakra muds are applied to the body while a herbal infusion is inhaled. A dry heat bakes the mud on, then a shower washes it all away.
Where? The Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall, County Durham, which has 18 suites, all different. The spa is reached by tunnel from the hotel.
Signature treatment: Sea of Serenity Rasul treatment (£40 for 45 minutes).
Where to book? Seaham Hall (0191-516 1400), Serenity Spa (0191-516 1550, seaham-serenityspa.com). From £145pp per night, half-board.
Reiki
What? A traditional Japanese hands-on healing treatment which claims to balance the whole system - spiritual, emotional and physical. The therapist's hands are placed on or above specific points of the body in order to channel energy.
Where? Cap Juluca, on a white sandy beach on the Caribbean island of Anguilla. The hotel, with its Moorish-style villas, was entirely refurbished three years ago.
Signature treatment: Reiki, £57 for 1hr.
Where to book? Carolyn Lodge Travel (01483 272379, lajoiedevivre.co.uk) or capjuluca.com. From £2,695pp for seven nights' room only, including flights and transfers.
Stone therapy
What? Ancient native American art of healing using the elements of fire, water and earth. It is designed to bring relief to tense muscles, sore joints, stress and tiredness. A massage with the heated, smooth basalt stones apparently works the muscles deeply and balances energy.
Where? Wyndham Peaks Resort & Spa, above the colourful Victorian town of Telluride in Colorado, where you can ski in winter, fish, mountain bike and play golf in summer.
Signature treatment: La Stone Therapy, £102 for 65mins.
Where to book? American Independence (0870 2414217) or thepeaksresort.com. From £1,099pp for one week, room only, including flights and car hire.
Thai healing
What? A mixture of pressure-point massage and stretching yoga techniques designed to release tension, increase vitality and create a wholeness of mind and body.
Where? The spa hotel on Mahé Island in the Seychelles opened in December 2001, and similar properties are available in Bangkok, Phuket, the Maldives, Shanghai, and, presently, in Marrakech. Accommodation is in villas, each with its own private plunge pool. Exotic spa facilities in open-air pavilions make this one of the most bliss ful wellness centres around.
Signature treatments: Thai Healer (£102 for 3hrs) includes a ginger rub, herbal heat treatment, Thai herbal wrap, yoga massage, and ginger bath. Thai honey facial, £35 for 1hrs.
Where to book? ITC Classics (01244 355527, itcclassics.co.uk) or banyantree.com. From £2,384pp for seven nights, room-only, including flights and transfers.
Thalassotherapy
What? The term comes from the Greek word thalassa, meaning sea (sea water and marine extracts form the basis of the therapy treatments). Seaweed wraps, seawater jets and underwater massage are all used, and are thought to improve circulation.
Where? Polly Mar Spa at the Kaminski Resort Hotel in Estepona, Spain, sits in subtropical gardens, surrounded by palm trees and waterfalls.
Signature treatments: Neptune Shower Paradise (£97 for 45mins) is a four-handed massage under sprinkling warm water. Hydro Aroma Oil Massage, £56 for 45mins.
Where to book? Seasons in Style (0151-342 0505, seasonsinstyle.co.uk) or kempinski-spain.com. From £965 for seven nights' B&B, including flights and transfers.
