While different wellness trends target each age group, millennials are the driving force of the industry. According to the Harris Group, 72% of millennials would rather spend money on experiences than on material goods. We're not just going to the nearest shopping center to take a load off in the food court. We've graduated to IV therapy for fatigue after lunch.
Top 5 Luxury Healthcare Trends
Whether you're a "newbie" in wellness trends or a full-blown veteran, here are 5 new luxury healthcare trends you need to try ...like yesterday:
Lymphatic Draining Massage
(If you've heard of a jade roller, then you've heard of this.)
The job of the lymphatic system is to get rid of all the toxins in your body. When it's not working correctly, you'll probably feel tired, sluggish, and be more susceptible to illness. More severe symptoms include lymphedema, blockage, infections, and cancer.
A lymphatic draining massage "uses very light pressure and long, rhythmic strokes that get the lymph fluid moving and directs the toxins into the organs that can properly remove them." The stagnant fluid will move back through the body naturally and stimulate the detoxing contractions of the system.
Lymphatic drainage massage allows you to:
- Fight off infection
- Speed up healing and recovery from the cold and flu
- Reduce water retention
- Boost weight loss
- Improve cellulite, skin swelling, scar tissue, acne, and stretch marks
- Reduce stress and fatigue
- Help with post-exercise recovery
Where can I get one? Heyday sells a facial massage tool that helps you detox your skin at home. IMD Beauty Spa is a health & wellness center that specializes in lymphatic drainage on both the east and west coast.
2. IV Therapy (Have you heard of a "drip bar"? Yeah, they weren't referring to espresso.)
Gone are the days you need to go to the hospital for some saline. IV therapy has been around for a while, but only recently has it become increasingly popular. The benefit of IV vitamin therapy over say "oral vitamins"': IV therapy allows vitamins to go straight to your bloodstream and bypass the gut. You get the full effects of nutrients immediately.
With the rise of concierge medicine and drip bars, you can customize your bag with whatever ingredients you desire and receive treatment in the comfort of your home. The vitamins used in the solutions vary but typically contain a blend of saline solution, electrolytes, and C and B vitamins.
Benefits:
- Improve immune health
- Boost energy levels
- Decrease symptoms of depression
- Relieve anxiety
- Increase mental clarity and cognitive function
- Reduce the symptoms of migraines
Where to go: The uber for IV drips: ivee. The coolest thing? ivee monitors your vitals and brings only the best nurses in your area to your front door with the click of a button. Chances are if you're ordering an IV, you don't have the time or energy to stress about the process of doing so.
3. Red Light Therapy
(Think sauna experience...but upgraded)
Red light therapy (RLT) is a therapeutic technique that treats skin issues, such as wrinkles, scars, and persistent wounds, among other conditions. RLT uses low-level red light wavelengths to produce biochemical effects that strengthen the mitochondria.
By increasing the function of the mitochondria, a cell can make more ATP, an energy-carrying molecule found in the cells of all living things. By increasing energy, our cells can function more efficiently, rejuvenate themselves, and quickly repair damage. Although some consider it controversial, red light is used as a noninvasive therapy to prevent sleep disorders as well.
Benefits:
- Decreases skin inflammation
- Smooths skin tone
- Repairs sun damage
- Fades scars and stretch marks
- Builds collagen in the skin
- Reduces wrinkles
- Can prevent recurring cold sores or herpes simplex
- Improves detoxification by increasing blood flow
- Stimulate hair growth
4. NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) Therapy
(What your favorite celebrity is taking for their glow)
NAD+ is naturally present in the body and plays a vital role in the repair of DNA. As we age, we lose about 50% of our NAD+ levels, making it harder for the body to repair and prevent health issues.
Many people consider NAD+ therapy the "anti-aging infusion." Along with keeping you looking youthful, NAD+ helps convert food into energy, repair damaged DNA, fortify cells' defense systems, and reset your body's internal clock.
Benefits:
Increased brain health
Aid in addiction recovery
Reduce pain and inflammation
Reduce symptoms of depression
Delay or prevent several cardiovascular and metabolic diseases
Where to go: Tru Niagen is the trusted NAD+ supplement that gets cellular production back on track. You can also get NAD+ as an add-on to IV therapy.
5. Experiential Mindfulness
(A fancier way to say “self care”)
Just as the lack of physical illness does not translate to optimum physical health, the absence of mental illness does not equate mental health. Of course, personal intention and routine emotional wellbeing practice are essential in strengthening mental health.
The Global Wellness Summit has stated, "The future is mental wellness," and we are certainly seeing that unfold now more than ever. Luxury wellness studios are creating experiences that enhance emotional and mental stability, such as sound baths, curated meditations, and sensory deprivation therapy. Through the thoughtful engagement of senses, these techniques help guide your thoughts from your typical preoccupations toward an appreciation of the present.
Benefits:
- Lowered anxiety
- Improved mood
- Clearer thinking
- An increased sense of calm and inner peace
- Enhanced self-esteem
- Reduced risk of depression
- Deepened relationships with self and others
Where to go: NAO Wellness, NYC's wellness oasis, provides curated workshops from sound meditation to curated reiki experiences. If you can’t make it to the studio, Headspace is an app that brings meditation guides to you - no matter where you are.
Beyond Luxury Healthcare
This year has almost forced us to truly focus on our health in every aspect of life. The world is changing. So, it makes sense that the way we take care of ourselves adapts, too. At-home or on-location, investing in wellness is more important now more than ever.
This article is written by Amber Theurer of Ivee.
