Thermal baths are used for medical and recreational purposes, with hot springs being a popular source of mineral-rich waters. Balneotherapy, the use of baths for therapeutic purposes, is a form of balneology. Hot baths are believed to improve blood flow and relieve pain from joint diseases, anxiety, and muscle tension. The use of hot springs for healing dates back to ancient times and has seen a recent revival.
A thermal bath is a hot or warm bath used to treat chronic and acute illnesses and to provide relaxation and stress relief. Europe, Japan, and other areas have a long history of medical use of hot springs, while in North America, they are used primarily for recreational or restorative purposes. Relieving pain from inflammatory joint diseases, such as arthritis, is one of the main medical uses for a thermal bath. Relieving nervous anxiety and muscle tension are other common uses. Studies are underway on the therapeutic use of hot baths for a variety of illnesses.
Many believe that a thermal bath improves the flow of blood and lymph fluid. This increases the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the cells, while helping to speed up the removal of toxins from the body. The healthy properties of a thermal bath are used to treat lung disorders, digestive problems and skin conditions. A series of treatments is usually needed, rather than a single use. Many believe that a week-long spa retreat with multiple therapeutic baths and other treatments can help with smoking cessation, weight loss, and improved skin tone.
The curative use of a thermal bath dates back to ancient times. Evidence for appreciation of the restorative properties of hot mineral springs dates back to the Bronze Age in Asia and more than 10,000 years ago in the Americas. The first thermal baths used the mineral-rich waters of natural hot springs to rejuvenate and heal. Many modern spas continue to use hot springs as the source of their waters. The minerals found in many of the waters, such as magnesium, calcium, iron and others, are absorbed through the skin and are believed to be beneficial to health.
In the Americas, hot springs were considered sacred places that native people would visit to rehabilitate themselves after injury or illness. Accustomed to the concept of thermal bath spas, early European settlers built spa facilities on the hot spring sites. They were popular for their healing waters and as places to rejuvenate and relax. With the development of modern medical techniques that relied on the therapeutic use of drugs, many of the spas saw fewer visitors. More recently, there has been a revival of spas and thermal baths for recreational and therapeutic use.
The science of the medical use of baths, especially hot baths in mineral-rich water, is called balneology. When thermal or cold water baths are used therapeutically in spas and elsewhere, this is called balneotherapy. Along with the therapeutic bath, the mineral-rich waters can also be taken internally. The use of clay and hot sand is also practiced as part of balneotherapy. Hydrotherapy has a similar meaning and is generally used to denote the use of water to relieve pain and treat disease.
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