SPA

The term 'spa' is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy, spa towns or resorts offering such treatment, or the medication or equipment for such treatment. The term thus has various related meanings.

Contents

Origins of the term

Spa meaning a resort or place of treatment

Spa medication or equipment

According to the International Spa Association:

Notes

Origins of the term

The term is derived from the name of the town of Spa, Belgium, where since medieval times illnesses caused by iron deficiency were treated by drinking chalybeate (iron bearing) spring water.^[1] In 16th century England the old Roman ideas of medicinal bathing were revived at towns like Bath, and in 1571 William Slingsby who had been to the Belgian town (which he called ''Spaw'') discovered a chalybeate spring in Yorkshire. He built an enclosed well at what became known as Harrogate, the first resort in England for drinking medicinal waters, then in 1596 Dr Timothy Bright called the resort ''The English Spaw'', beginning the use of the word ''Spa'' as a generic description rather than as the place name of the Belgian town. At first this term referred specifically to resorts for water drinking rather than bathing, but this distinction was gradually lost and many ''spas'' offer external remedies.Discover the Spa Research Fellowship
There are various stories about the origin of the name. A Belgian spring of iron bearing water was called ''Espa'' from the Walloon language term for "fountain", and was used in 1326 as a cure by an iron master with such success that he founded a health resort which developed into the town.Taking the Waters, Introduction to Balneology (available as pdf) It is also suggested that the term ''Espa'' may be derived from the name of the resort, and that its source could be the Latin word "spagere" meaning to scatter, sprinkle or moisten.^[2]
It is often suggested, with little evidence, that the word is an acronym of various Latin phrases such as "Salus Per Aquam” or "Sanitas Per Aquam" meaning "health through water", all of which seem to have modern sources. Although such expansions are widely used, they are almost certainly backronyms – words formed from acronyms are very much a twentieth-century phenomenon. ^[3]

Spa meaning a resort or place of treatment

★ A spa town, a town visited for the supposed healing properties of the water.

★ A destination spa, a resort for personal care treatments.

★ A day spa, a form of beauty salon.

★ A health spa; see balneotherapy.

★ Spa, County Down, a small village in Northern Ireland.

★ Spa, County Kerry, a village in the Republic of Ireland.

Spa medication or equipment

★ Spa (mineral water), from the sources in Spa.

★ TrimSpa weight loss pills

★ A soda fountain, in United States usage.

★ A hot tub, in United States usage.

According to the International Spa Association:

'Spa' - an entity devoted to enhancing overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit.
TYPES OF SPAS:
'Club spa' - A facility whose primary purpose is fitness and which offers a variety of professionally administered spa services on a day-use basis.
'Cruise ship spa' – A spa aboard a cruise ship providing professionally administered spa services, fitness and wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices.
Day spa – A spa offering a variety of professionally administered spa services to clients on a day-use basis.
Destination spa - A destination spa is a facility with the primary purpose of guiding individual spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically a seven-day stay, this lifestyle transformation can be accomplished by providing a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthful cuisine and special interest programming.
Medical spa - A facility that operates under the full-time, on-site supervision of a licensed health care professional whose primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment that integrates spa services, as well as traditional, complimentary and/or alternative therapies and treatments. The facility operates within the scope of practice of its staff, which can include both Aesthetic/Cosmetic and Prevention/Wellness procedures and services.
'Mineral springs spa' - A spa offering an on-site source of natural mineral, thermal or seawater used in hydrotherapy treatments.
'Resort/hotel spa' - A spa owned by and located within a resort or hotel providing professionally administered spa services, fitness and wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices. In addition to the leisure guest, this is a great place for business travelers who wish to take advantage of the spa experience while away from home.

Notes

1. Historical Review (available as pdf)
2. A brief history of spa therapy, A van Tubergen and S van der Linden
3. World Wide Words