Balancing Act: Tapping Into the Power of Thermal Water

Balancing Act Tapping Into the Power of Thermal Water

 

Throughout history, human beings have been aware of the healing properties of heated water. Medical luminaries from Hippocrates to Dr. Oz have touted the therapeutic advantages of hydrotherapy, but it doesn’t take a medical degree to know that thermal water has restorative properties. Learning this lesson can be as easy as soaking in a tub of warmed water.

The secret? It’s all about balance. The adult human body is 50 to 65 percent water, so  even just immersing your body in a tub of soothing thermal water can help to rehydrate, renew, and restore balance.

Historical Hydrotherapy: Ancient Greece and Egypt

As far back as 1700 B.C., ancient Greeks have enjoyed the benefits of a hot soak. The remains of bathing rooms were found in the ancient palace of Knossos. Even the historic physician Hippocrates heralded the value of immersion in saline baths for pain relief in the world’s first known medical essay, the Corpus Hippocraticum. Balneotherapy–the study of water’s health benefits–became a popular prescription for skin conditions, and legend has it that Cleopatra had asked Mark Antony to conquer the area around the Dead Sea so she could have access to its rejuvenating waters.

Japanese Hot Springs

But the Greeks and the Egyptians weren’t the only ones who recognized the power of thermal water. The Japanese had their onsens (Japanese hot springs) and built bathing facilities and lodgings around them to encourage visitors to come and enjoy the waters, which they kept at near boiling. The Roman thermae—the ancient equivalent to modern-day fitness centers–included gyms, theaters, and swimming pools designed with a focus on a balance of physical and mental well-being. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, so did the research of water, giving rise to hydrotherapy, balneotherapy, and other medical insights.

Hydrotherapy: The Healing Properties of Water

In the last century, discoveries in the engineering field have fueled the use of heated water – literally. The JacuzziAqualibrium® is designed to take hydrotherapy to the next level, using the perfect mix of air and water to deliver a soothing massage for relaxation through targeted jets to assist in fitness recovery, stress reduction or pain relief. The wisdom of the Ancients still holds true, but the therapeutic benefits enjoyed then are now enhanced by modern-day innovation that allows for focused movement of the healing thermal water.

Today, people need travel only as far as their own backyards to enjoy the soothing effects of thermal water. As our society’s focus on mental and physical health increases, many of us will be heading back into the water to achieve both relaxation and rejuvenation. As the Ancient motto says, “Mens sana in corpore sano” – a healthy mind in a healthy body. And water, inside and out, is the key to this healthy balance.

Ready to tap into the healing powers of warm water for yourself? Read all about choosing the perfect spa for your backyard, or contact a Jacuzzi® dealer to develop your own personal outdoor space of relaxation and restoration.