Spas in Antiquity   by Richard Rspad

Nothing beats taking a relaxing day or two off at spa to rejuvenate yourself and take some time off. While heading off to a spa may seem a modern activity, it has actually been a tradition for a very long time.

One of the most popular types of vacations today is a spa vacation. The idea of going to a site where you can be pampered, and have intense rest and relaxation is appealing on many levels. Both men and women enjoy spas, because relaxing, along with the healthy food and other activities, is a great way to spend your time off. Some might think that spas are a relatively recent phenomenon - but this is not so.

Back in ancient Rome and Greece, people would travel for days by carriage and on horseback, all to take the healing waters of specific areas. Taking "the waters" was prescribed by many different doctors, because of the belief that going to areas where natural mineral springs were located would cure different ailments. The waters were also places where ancient Romans and Greeks went to rest and rejuvenate themselves, beauty-wise. Today, people still go to natural spring areas because of the reported health properties.

In the 1500's, people throughout Europe began to go to springs and other mineral water areas, as more and more medical professionals felt that these areas would cure ailments such as tuberculosis and even the plague. In 1522, the Czech Karlovy Vary treatment was developed and books were written on the subject. This treatment involved drinking the waters and bathing in certain springs, in order to cure different illnesses and promote health.

Spas began to change in the 1800's, when additional treatments such as massages and herbal remedies were added to the traditional taking of the waters. People began to attend sanitariums and other places that were aimed at improving health among the general public, and most of these places also included spots for mineral baths and other spa treatments. In the 1890's, Father Sebastian Kneipp from Germany developed the idea of adding different herbal concoctions to spa treatments, in order to help patients holistically through their use.

Today, spas have evolved into a much different experience. Along with baths, mineral springs and herbs, there are also many other techniques used - from massage to acupuncture, whirlpools, hot rock therapy and more. Different spas offer different techniques and claim a wide range of health benefits, so a spa can be a great place for any sort of vacation.