European Spas

European spas are different from typical North American fat farms and de-stress places as usually their primary focus is medical care for people suffering from certain medical conditions.

The word spa originates from the name of a small town in French-speaking Belgium. The town of spa was very famous in previous centuries peaking in popularity in the 17 and 18 hundreds. At the time European spas were so fashionable that they were frequented by almost anyone who could afford treatments for ailments, especially the social elite.

The town of Spa was particularly famous as it was frequently visited by Royalty and celebrities whose former vacationing in the town is commemorated by plaques still visible at the middle of the town. It had and still has several mineral springs that have been used mostly for drinking cures to treat internal problems. One of the springs still in use is named after Peter the Great, the Russian Czar, who was one of the royalties looking for health improvement. Since then the town of Spa has faded into almost obscurity by the 20^th century. Its excellent drinking waters have almost dried up, the remaining water supply is not sufficient enough to sustain a spa culture. The excellent spa spring waters nowadays are sold all over Belgium as bottled drinking water.

The name of the town however has become generic and it is used everywhere where thermal waters abound and are used for health treatments.

Most European spas are located in countries richest in Thermal spring waters, primarily in Central Europe and other places like Italy, where the earth core is thin and hot springs gush up easily. For details of these spas www.spaseurope.net gives you plenty of information. Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia in the center of Europe are considered the primary spa centers, as well as Italy. Almost every country in Europe has hot springs but the richest ones in thermal water are centered around Central Europe.

Hot spring resorts are located outside of major cities, with the exception of Budapest. Thermal water resorts are usually found in serene surroundings. In addition to the general de-stressing benefits of the environment, there are major health benefits of soaking in thermal water. During thermal bathing in chlorine-free natural pools you detoxify through your dilated skin pores. In addition to detox through the skin, beneficial trace and other important elements are absorbed in the body. The minimum recommended stay in a spa is 3 weeks but even after a few days people feel much different as if they became younger. The aching joints and muscles ease, movement is easier and you have the feeling that your body is getting more flexible, lighter and easier to move.

There are sophisticated spa medical centers built around these spas with multilingual Rheumatologists and internal specialists who prescribe the different type of medical treatments based on individual needs of each patient in addition to thermal water bathing.  

Of course, in addition to the water-related (balneo) treatments European spas offer drinking-detox cures, treatments for respiratory problems, curative mud treatments as well as electrotherapy where the latest developments of European physiotherapy are also applied.

To see all inclusive combined packages with accommodation, meals and treatments included go to www.spaseurope.net and click on the country of your choice