In their early history, the primary use of curative baths was to heal the wounds of Roman soldiers during the reign of Augustus from 27 B.C. ![]() Its influence can be seen today in everything from mineral-infused treatments or jumping in the hot tub after a swim to thalassotherapy - swimming in seawater to heal the skin. This process, using bathing as a treatment of disease, is known as balneotherapy and is considered the founding principle of spa-going. Hippocrates proposed that the cause of all ailments was an imbalance of bodily fluids, and advocated that “the way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day.” One of the first written accounts of bathing being used as a curative process rather than a simple hygiene ritual was by ancient Greek philosopher Hippocrates, who was alive over 2000 years ago between 460 and 370 B.C. Paul Joseph, co-founder of Health and Fitness Travel explains: “Spas, healing waters, thalassotherapy, hydrotherapy and hot springs date back thousands of years - an ancient practice conducted long before the Greeks and Romans!” Whilst many people associate traditional spas with Roman baths, there is evidence of spa-type therapies dating back thousands of years when there was a belief in the curative powers of mineral waters. ![]() ![]() ‘Spa’ is named after the Belgian village, Spa, where hot mineral springs were used by Roman soldiers to treat aching muscles and wounds from a battle. 'Spa’ is an acronym of the Latin phrase ‘Salus per Aquam’, meaning ‘health from water’. The origins of spa Where does the word spa come from?Īlthough there is no clear answer as to where the word spa began to be associated with healing practices, but there are two main theories about the term’s etymology:
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