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Spas were originated in Belgium during the 16^th century. The term spa is usually related with a type of water treatment and is also known as “balneotheraphy”. Such treatment is offered by Spa resorts or Spa towns. Some also provide the equipment or medication for such treatment. Thus, the term has different related meanings.

The word Spa originated from a small town in Belgium, where, during the medieval times illnesses that was caused by deficiency of iron were only cured by drinking iron bearing or chalybeate found in spring water. During 16^th century, an old Roman had an idea regarding having baths from medicinal plants and drinking it for treating diseases.

Hence, it was in the year 1571 when William Slingsby revealed that medicinal effects of the Chalybeate spring in Yorkshire. He then made an enclosed room with the help of this chalybeate spring, which he called “Harrogate”. Thus, this is regarded as the first Spa resort in England that was making use of medicinal waters.

During the 18^th-19^th century, bathing turned out to be a more common and suggested practice by the physicians because of the benefits that cleanliness can provide. By the mid 19^th century, European Spa’s started the concept of bathing aside from drinking these medicinal waters.

At the beginning of the 20^th century, European spas had a mixture of an exercise and strict diet as their regimen. This was set as bathing procedure which will offer numerous benefits to the patients.

Thus, the need to clean the body and beautify it is the main reason for the practice of spa. Spa also helps to manage stress and provide relaxation to the body of the people having very pressured and hectic lifestyles. The medical science says that this type of bathing not only helps to provide relaxation or cleans the body but it also helps to manage the blood pressure related issues.

Due to its increasing popularity, the benefits derived from spas reached the US, where some medical practitioners revealed that the thermal waters or resorts like the Saratoga Springs, in New York and Hot Springs in Virginia, were not as advantageous to the health as using ordinary heated water. Thus rose the need to open spa treatment centers not just for relaxation but also as a treatment for the body.