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Hippocrates Says, Use Your Spa!
For the western world the earliest proponent of the spa for
therapeutic purposes was Hippocrates (460-370 BC). Before that time
bathing was used mainly for cleansing and hygienic reasons. However
Hippocrates put forth the idea that the cause of all diseases centered
around an imbalance of bodily fluids.
Considered the “Father of Medicine,” suggested perspiration, walking,
massage and bathing important to maintain balance in ones physical
body. Consequently, baths were often combined with sports and
education. If he were alive today the doctors of the world would be
hogging all his time but in fact he more likely would be at home as a
fitness guru selling health club memberships.
It was this influence of the Greeks that caused the Romans to build
thermal baths at mineral and natural hot springs. These spas were used
for the recuperation of injured soldiers as well as recreation centers.
Differing from their Greek predecessors the Romans felt that the baths
themselves were more important than the gymnasiums. Whereas the Greeks
liked to partake of the spa after a vigorous workout, the Romans
focused on the relaxation, socializing and medical treatments. I like
to think that the reason the Romans lasted as long as they did was
because of they placed such importance on the spa.
More than just coming clean, the Romans made the spa experience a
part of their society for medical treatment, worship and social
gathering. Asclepiades, a Greek physician who worked in Rome,
prescribed hydrotherapy for both therapeutic and preventative purposes.
There were others that attributed healing and health to taking the
waters such as Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) and Galen (131-201 AD). Galen
preferred cold water in his treatment of diseases so as Americans we
would consider his therapy sessions, “fun impaired.”
From Rome we have three separate types of bath. Baths at home
(balnea), Private Baths (balnea privata), and state funded public baths
(balnea publica). The aqueducts provided enough water so that every
person in Rome could use 1400 liters per day. At the height of the
Roman bathing culture these public bathing facilities grew into huge
complexes with the capacity for thousands of people.
This focus of the bath was such an important part of the Roman
society that everywhere the legions went they built their own in every
land they conquered. We can find examples all over Europe as a
testament to value they gave water therapy.
Eventually the Romans became more focused on the bath for relaxation
and pleasure. Not that pleasure is a bad thing but if you don’t get out
of the spa once and a while to take care of business we know from
history that it could lead to the collapse of your empire.
