Greece has crossed the threshold into a new age of healing. Those involved in the healing arts feel that it is not at all surprising that a nation with a past of therapeutic traditions and a holistic existence should reintroduce such an approach in modern day.

Since ancient times, Greece has been widely associated with energy healing using crystals, herbs, dream oracles as well as with cures making the best out of nature and abiding by Hippocratic principles. Dr Alexia Petsalis Diomidis, a Greek-British Lecturer at the University of Nottingham in England, was recently awarded a Fellowship by the Leverhulme Trust for her research in ancient Greek healing methods.

Working health out
Worldwide, alternative healing methods have become a popular and often lucrative concept; and Greece, bestowed with a plethora of natural resources, was eager to join the trend. Last year, for the first time ever, the 15-day-long ‘Evexia’ (or well-being) exhibition took place in Athens, featuring nearly 100 participants (alternative health schools, centers, practitioners, organic farmers, and natural cosmetics manufacturers). “People are tired of leading humdrum, toxic lives,” said Kelaidia Mitropanou, who was selling her homemade organic olive oil and sesame snacks.

For her par, aromatherapist and creative healing practitioner and teacher Katerina Papakonstandinou decided to start her own business in distilling oils from the country’s enormous variety of flora (over 6,000 recorded plant species). Hers is a project that has turned into not only the production of a broad range of pure, therapeutic grade essential ‘Greek Concept’ oils and hydrosols, created at her distillery in the Peloponese, but also into an entire line of cosmetic and health products named Antheia. “It’s not very commercial,” says Papakonstandinou, “but it’s what I love and believe in”.

Mark Kerassiotis, founder of Body Fuel food stores, takes a pragmatic stance: “Greeks have rejected their traditional diet simply because ‘fast and easy’ now plays a major role. Our whole concept has to do with food power for well-being.” Also offering healthy options to urban folk is Lefteris Liaskos, at whose health bar Juice Boost one can have a tailor-made fruit or vegetable drink created depending on their ailment or state. Liaskos has a folder filled with juice recipes to help alleviate everything from a bloated stomach to headaches and colds, as well as the invigorating wheat grass shot. “It’s hard to get a frappe-oriented society to try something new,” says Liaskos. “But in four-five years there’ll be a lot of shops like these in Greece.”

City treatments
Athens hosts numerous health centers and as well as day spas where alternative therapies are performed. Locals are by now familiar with treatments such as reflexology, acupuncture, shiatsu, iridology, homeopathy and reiki among many others.

Cocoon Urban Spa, owned and run by two Greek-American sisters, Lily and Maria Poulada, is an example of how New Age treatments attract city dwellers. “People come here for a conventional beauty treatment, like a facial or a manicure,” says Maria Poulada, “and decide to try something different. Usually they keep coming back for more. It’s all relatively new but I think Greeks are very open to trying new ways to be healthy”.

Cocoon, which has just opened a spa at the Vedema Resort in Santorini’s Megalohori, also offers classes in Pilates, yoga and African Dance and provides lifestyle and nutrition consultancies.

For its part, DNA Spa, with chains around Athens and an aggressive direct marketing attitude, is more of a people’s spa, introducing alternative therapies together with popular slimming and beauty treatments to people who normally wouldn’t go near anything of the kind.

Spiritual approach
The alternative health magazine Armonia, subtitled «Nature, Body, Soul», covers all New Age events and topics, including seminars and workshops with headings ranging from ‘Learn Basic Reflexology/ Shiatsu/ Thai Massage’ to ‘How to Communicate with Angels’, ‘Heal with Crystals’ or ‘Find your Higher Self’, and much more.

Irini Sanikou’s Irini Centre holds intensive seminars and courses for meditation, shamanism, ‘Delphic motion’, Karuna reiki and tai chi, as well as offering individual treatment sessions. While Manolis Brillakis’ Brillakis Centre, specializes in seminars about biotherapy, Kirlian photography, colour, crystal, flower, plant, and music therapy.

“It’s challenging to work in a country where suspicion about things non-traditional is somewhat rife,” says Rena Komninou, a Whole-Self psychologist, who claims to help people find what they felt whilst in their mother’s womb and resolve traumas created in the first years of life. Her husband, Aris Tsilibaris, owns the shop Herokamoto Horos , where one can buy essential oils, feng shui decorations, incense, hand-made articles from around the world. Aris throws in a reiki session or energy massage for anyone who asks.

Alternative university
Finally, there are numerous options for those keen to learn to practice some of these alternative therapies, but Natural Health Science, founded in 1992, is the first and only ‘university’ for alternative therapists. It mainly draws professionals wanting to expand or refresh their knowledge but its 400 or so students are also comprised of those wishing to dedicate their lives – or free time – to healing.