Miracle properties of natural spa water
There are many proven benefits of spa water for health, and although the folklore that has been built around the reviving properties of certain springs is largely down to personal belief and interpretation, there is also clear scientific support for spa water being beneficial for health and wellbeing.
Depending on the location of the naturally occurring spa, the water may be infused with a range of minerals that can improve a person's health, both through drinking and hydrotherapy treatments. Minerals such as boron, calcium, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, potassium and zinc are all naturally occurring and can be found dissolved in the spas of the United Kingdom, Europe and other destinations worldwide.
But do mineral therapies really work, or is it all in the mind? For centuries, spa treatments have produced documented effects on those undergoing therapy in spa water, from the rising of body temperatures to fight germs and infections to the increase of blood flow to boost metabolism. Mineral absorption can also be extremely beneficial for the skin, and people with conditions such as arthritis are routinely encouraged to undergo spa treatments or even install a home spa to help them perform exercises underwater and strengthen their muscles in the mineral-rich liquid.
Spa tourism has been a booming industry in Britain for more than a century, since the Victorians first popularised this therapeutic cleansing activity. The city of Bath has been synonymous with its hot springs for much longer however, with evidence suggesting human habitation in the area since at least 8,000 BC.
The Romans were evidently so taken with the medicinal properties of the spa that they founded their development of Aquae Sulis in the area as a sanctuary for rest and relaxation, rather than a typical garrison town. Even today, MacDonald Hotels regularly receive visitors who are heading to the historic city to sample its famous 'miracle' waters, particularly since the restoration of the original Roman Thermae Bath Spa in the last few years.
If you're heading further afield in search of spa therapy, mountainous countries are often home to numerous naturally occurring spas, many of which form the basis of spa resorts. From the North American Rockies to South Korea and Taiwan in the Far East, spa therapy is popular with people of diverse ages and cultural backgrounds, and whether or not you believe in the purported 'miracle' effects of spas to heal illnesses, their medical benefits have been conclusively demonstrated time and again.
Depending on the location of the naturally occurring spa, the water may be infused with a range of minerals that can improve a person's health, both through drinking and hydrotherapy treatments. Minerals such as boron, calcium, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, potassium and zinc are all naturally occurring and can be found dissolved in the spas of the United Kingdom, Europe and other destinations worldwide.
But do mineral therapies really work, or is it all in the mind? For centuries, spa treatments have produced documented effects on those undergoing therapy in spa water, from the rising of body temperatures to fight germs and infections to the increase of blood flow to boost metabolism. Mineral absorption can also be extremely beneficial for the skin, and people with conditions such as arthritis are routinely encouraged to undergo spa treatments or even install a home spa to help them perform exercises underwater and strengthen their muscles in the mineral-rich liquid.
Spa tourism has been a booming industry in Britain for more than a century, since the Victorians first popularised this therapeutic cleansing activity. The city of Bath has been synonymous with its hot springs for much longer however, with evidence suggesting human habitation in the area since at least 8,000 BC.
The Romans were evidently so taken with the medicinal properties of the spa that they founded their development of Aquae Sulis in the area as a sanctuary for rest and relaxation, rather than a typical garrison town. Even today, MacDonald Hotels regularly receive visitors who are heading to the historic city to sample its famous 'miracle' waters, particularly since the restoration of the original Roman Thermae Bath Spa in the last few years.
If you're heading further afield in search of spa therapy, mountainous countries are often home to numerous naturally occurring spas, many of which form the basis of spa resorts. From the North American Rockies to South Korea and Taiwan in the Far East, spa therapy is popular with people of diverse ages and cultural backgrounds, and whether or not you believe in the purported 'miracle' effects of spas to heal illnesses, their medical benefits have been conclusively demonstrated time and again.