Health Studies

Recent studies have proven that the regular use of hot tubs can aid
in the reduction of weight, as well as diminish the appearance of cellulite.
This stems from the fact that soaking in a hot tub simulates exercise.
The hydrotherapy dilates the blood vessels, promoting better circulation
as it relaxes the skin and muscles. It also raises the heart rate, while
lowering blood pressure. This seems to indicate that soaking in a hot
tub may be healthier for your heart than the traditional methods of
exercise.

An article that appeared in the September 16, 1999 issue of the New
England Journal of Medicine followed a group of subjects that were
required to soak in a hot tub for thirty minutes a day, six days a
week, for three weeks. Though this study was for diabetes research,
the results were wide reaching. The patients' weight was reduced by an
average of 3.75 pounds each! The subjects lost over one pound per
week, just by soaking in a spa.

Regular use of hot tubs can also help to diminish the appearance of
cellulite. According to a variety of medical sources available on the
internet, the hydrotherapy a hot tub provides stimulates the blood
vessels, increasing circulation. It also tones the body tissue,
reduces fluid retention, and relieves swelling. All of these benefits
combined can result in the diminishment of the appearance of
cellulite.

Hydrotherapy

What is Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy, or "water therapy," is the treatment of disease through
the use of water. Hydrothermal therapy is the use of water
temperature, such as in hot tubs or spas. The focus of hydrotherapy is
to rid the body of toxins that may be causing joint pain and
inflammation. Hydro- therapy treatments are also helpful in managing
chronic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Brief History of Hydrotherapy
The benefits of hydrotherapy have been recognized for thousands of
years. Hydrotherapy is especially popular in Europe, where there are
numerous health spas and health facilities for all types of "water
cures".

Many European spas in the 18th and 19th centuries were built in
majestic surroundings with panoramic views of lakes and mountains.
These retreats were staffed by medical practitioners who prescribed
and monitored the treatments. European techniques and spa treatments
have evolved over centuries achieving a high level of sophistication.

For treating many common ailments, water healing is one of the
oldest, safest and cheapest methods. From personal experience, we know
water makes us feel better and is not just for cleansing. After a
strenuous day, you know you'll feel much better after soaking in a hot
tub of water. The hot water relieves fatigue and prevents stiffness.

How Does Hydrotherapy Work?
The healing and recuperative properties of hydrotherapy are due to its
thermal and mechanical effects. It employs the body's reaction to hot
and cold stimuli. From the skin, the nerves carry impulses deeper into
the body. This is instrumental in lessening pain sensitivity,
invigorating blood flow and circulation, increasing the production of
stress hormones and stimulating the immune system.

Hydrotherapy's more conventional uses are the treatment of muscle
weakness, balance disorders, diabetes and other diseases that impair
circulation, cramps, premenstrual syndrome, arthritis, back pain,
musculo-skeletal injuries and soft tissue injuries.

In a two week pilot study, 14 patients with ankylosing spondylitus
(AS) were treated using hot water mineral baths. A significant
improvement in finger to floor distance, morning stiffness and overall
well-being was noted in the patients by physicians. A significant
reduction in the use of analgesics was also noted. These improvements
began after one week of treatment and were still present after three
months.

Heat has the tendency to quiet and soothe the body while slowing down
the activity of internal organs. Soaking in a hot tub will help when
experiencing tense muscles and anxiety from stress. One experiences
weightlessness when being submerged in water. The body is given a
break from the constant pull of gravity. Water in motion stimulates
touch receptors on the skin releasing tight muscles and boosting blood
circulation. The water kneads the body, providing a massage- like
feeling.

Using Hydrotherapy for the Lower Back
Lower back pain is the number two reason in the U.S. that people visit
the doctor, behind colds and the flu. Millions of people suffer
needlessly from lower back pain.

A study published in the British Journal of Rheumatology in 1995,
provided evidence that hot tub therapy has short and long term
benefits for people with lower back pain.

In a 40 person study at the University of Minnesota, 85% of the
participants chose a whirlpool bath over a still bath. Both were
effective in reducing anxiety, but only the whirlpool bath was
effective at reducing the participant's reactivity to stress.

Researchers in France later published a study in the Journal of
Rheumatology to confirm these results. Examinations showed greater
improvement in health status (measured in back flexibility and pain
duration and intensity) of the spa treatment group than in the
medication-only group after three weeks of consistent spa therapy. The
use of anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics also decreased in the
spa treatment group. This research information was published in the
March-April 1996 issue of Arthritis Today.

Hydrotherapy use on the back is useful for diseases of the lungs,
bronchial asthma, multiple sclerosis, spinal disease, back pain and
weakened back muscles. It should not be used on debilitated patients
or those with neurasthenia.

Treating Arthritis with Hydrotherapy
The joints have the tendency to swell and stiffen with heavy to
moderate exertion as we get older. One in six Americans have some form
of arthritis.

The use of heat is recommended for many people suffering from
arthritis and hydrotherapy is a great way to distribute and deliver
heat to many parts of the body. The buoyancy of water reduces body
weight by approximately 85-90% and is what provides the relaxing
feeling of weightlessness. Many doctors advise people with sore joints
to soak in warm water in the morning before starting their daily
activities.

Osteoarthritis patients usually get better results with moist, warm
treatments as opposed to dry applications, like electric heating pads.
Exercising, wading or swimming in a pool heated to 85 degrees
Fahrenheit is also very effective when the affected part of the body
is immersed in the water.

Alternating cold and hot baths are good for treating hands and feet.
The alternating hot and cold stimulates circulation by causing blood
vessels to dilate, which is beneficial for arthritic joints and aching
feet. The application of heat eases muscle tension, is soothing and
relieves pain.

Hydrotherapy Treatment for Insomnia
According to the National Sleep Foundation, 132 million Americans
suffer from mild to chronic insomnia and other sleep disorders. It has
been shown that the results of sleep deprivation can cause depression,
mood swings, memory lapses, severe tension, and also compromise your
level of attention during waking hours.

In July of 1998, Pool and Spa Magazine reported hot water bathing
helped to induce sleep in 1,000 adults surveyed in a recent Gallup
poll. A Consumer Reports survey found that people with mild sleep
disorders listed a warm bath as one of the most popular remedies.

Anything that helps to drive blood back to external areas and away
from the head will help with sleeplessness. Insomnia is often caused
by too much blood in the brain. Hot foot baths draw blood away from
the head, making sleep easier.

According to a study in the scientific journal Sleep, "Soaking in a
hot tub prior to bedtime will not only help you to fall asleep, but
will also provide a deeper, more relaxing sleep.

Furthermore, an article published in the September 16, 1999 issue of
the New England Journal of Medicine stated "hot tub therapy" helps to
"improve sleep patterns." The benefits are explained further in a
pamphlet published by the National Arthritis Foundation titled "Pools,
Spas, and Arthritis", which stated that soaking in a hot tub will help
"in the evening before bedtime to bring on a more restful sleep."

A drop in body temperature can help ease your body into a deeper
sleep, according to a recent study. Soaking in a hot tub at 104
degrees Fahrenheit an hour or two before bedtime will cause the body's
internal thermostat to pull the body temperature down, enabling deeper
sleep. Soaking too close to bedtime can make it harder to fall asleep
because of elevated body temperature, which is why it is suggested to
soak an hour or two before sleep time.

Rosalind Cartright, the director of Sleep Disorders Service and
Research Center, suggested soaking in a hot tub could reset the body
thermostat, so people would wake up more rested.

Soaking in a hot tub is a great way to repair ravaged nerves, while
giving one a better night of sleep. A leisurely soak in a hot tub
holds much promise for a good night's sleep and is a good substitute
on days when you can't exercise.

Hydrotherapy Benefits for Diabetes
The New England Journal of Medicine, September 16, 1999 issue,
suggested the benefits of exercise and the use of hydrotherapy from
the utilization of spas had positive affects on diabetes.

Patients with Type 2 Diabetes soaked in a spa or hot tub for 30
minutes a day for six days a week in the study. Positive results were
shown in patients who lost weight, showed distinct decreases in plasma
glucose levels and required reduced doses of insulin.

Further benefits were reported for patients who were unable to
exercise in the study. The patients benefited from increased blood
flow to skeletal muscles.

According to the American Diabetes Association, over 15.7 million
Americans are diabetic. Tight control of blood glucose (sugar) levels
is the only defense against the many problems and side effects that
come from diabetes.

Recent studies published in the September 16, 1999 issue of the New
England Journal of Medicine give new hope to the millions who suffer
from diabetes. It stated that "hot tub therapy" helped a group of Type
2 diabetics reduce their blood sugar levels and improve sleep
patterns. An independent study led by Dr. Philip L. Hooper at the
McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colorado studied a group of Type 2
diabetes patients for three weeks. The patients were required to soak
in a hot tub for thirty minutes a day, six days a week, for the
duration of the study. The results were astounding! The patients'
average blood sugar levels were reduced by an average of 13 percent.
Hooper also explained that one of the subjects was able to reduce his
daily dose of insulin by 18 percent after only ten days of the study.

In reference to these findings, Dr. Hooper states that hot tubs are
especially helpful for patients who are unable to exercise, and
recommends that hot tub treatments should be included as regular
therapy for patients with diabetes.


*It is highly recommended for those with diabetes to consult with
their physician prior to beginning hot tub treatments.*

Treating the Rest of the Body with Hydrotherapy
Using hydrotherapy for the face is useful for relieving trigeminal
neuralgia, toothaches, headaches, migraines and relaxing tired eyes.

Treating the neck is useful for vertigo, arthrosis of finger and hand
joints, tinnitus, mild depression, hypersensitivity to weather
changes, tenseness in the shoulders and neck, headaches and migraines.
This treatment should not be used by those suffering from raised
intra-ocular pressure, enlargement of the thyroid or high blood
pressure.

Hydrotherapy for the chest is useful for angina pectoris, bronchial
asthma and bronchitis. Water temperature should be moderated if there
is angiospasm risk. Water therapy for the upper trunk (upper torso and
arms) is useful for improving blood flow to the heart, lungs and
pleura. It is useful for stimulating respiratory and cardiac activity,
toning up, varicose veins, nervous excitability, headaches, disease of
larynx and vocal cords, bronchial asthma and bronchitis. This method
of hydrotherapy should not be used if there is blood stasis in the
pulmonary circulation.

Using hydrotherapy on the arms is useful for cold hands, catarrh in
the nose and throat, headaches, vertigo, heart problems, rheumatism of
the arms, neuralgia, paralysis and nervous disorders.

Treating the hips with hydrotherapy is effective on ailments
affecting the abdomen, reproductive system, inflammations, pelvic
congestion, cramps, hemorrhoids, kidney pain and intestinal pain. It
is also useful for enlargement of the gall bladder and stone
formation, enlargement of the liver, meteorism and diabetes mellitus.
It should not be used for sciatia, irritable bladder, urinary tract
infections or during menstruation.

Hydrotherapy for the thighs can help improve poor circulation and
stimulate blood flow. It is useful in the treatment of coxarthritis,
crural paralysis, muscular rheumatism and varicose veins. Water
therapy for the thighs should also not be used for sciatia, irritable
bladder, urinary tract infections or during menstruation.

Treating the feet and legs with hydrotherapy is useful for headaches
and migraines, varicose veins, contusions, sleeplessness and low blood
pressure. This type of water therapy can help ward off vascular damage
and influence the digestive and reproductive organs. Like the hips and
thighs, hydrotherapy for the feet and legs should not be used for
sciatia, irritable bladder, urinary tract infections or during
menstruation.

Hydrotherapy Risks
People with impaired temperature sensation run the risk of scalding or
frostbite at temperature extremes.

Elderly people and young children may be prone to exhaustion by too
much heat and should avoid long, full body hot treatments.

Consult a physician to determine whether a physical therapy is
suitable for your case when a condition is persistent or recurrent.
Also consult your doctor if you are pregnant or have a heart disease.

Cardiovascular Benefits
A study at the Mayo Clinic found that since bathing in your hot tub
simulates exercise, soaking in one gives you the same health benefits
of exercise with less stress to the heart! A hot tub increases the
heart rate while lowering blood pressure, instead of raising it as
other forms of exercise can do.

A recent medical article titled "Mayo Clinic OK's Spas for Heart
Patients" indicates hot tubs and spas may not present as much of a
risk to heart patients as previously thought. The report stated that
relaxing in a spa might actually be less stressful to your heart than
working out on an exercise bicycle.

The research, led by Dr. Thomas G. Allison of the world-renowned
medical center, examined the body temperature and cardiovascular
stress experienced by 15 patients at risk for heart disease, both in
hot water and on bicycles. The studies showed that:

Exercise caused blood pressure to rise from an average of 121/73 to
170/84. By contrast, sitting in a spa made the blood pressure drop
from an average of 117/77 to 106/61. The article also states that hot
tub use will raise heart rates 25.7 beats per minute. "When you get in
a hot tub, your heart naturally beats faster," Dr. Allison explained,
"and many heart disease patients want to know if the stress placed on
the heart is too great." The answer, apparently, is no. "If you're a heart
disease patient and your physician has recommended exercise," he
concluded, "we feel you can get in the hot tub and likely not have any
problems."

*IMPORTANT NOTE*

We strongly urge people who are at risk for heart disease to consult
with your physician before entering a spa.


Mind & Spirit

Hot tub owners say that renewing mind and spirit, as well as
relationships, are as important to them as the more quantitative
physical benefits associated with soaking in a hot tub. While this
type of renewal is subjective, there are physiological effects
associated with hydro-massage that open the door for renewal of the
mind and spirit, as well as the body.

Of course, the physical renewal is easy to prove.

When you exercise, lactic acid builds up in the thousands of
microscopic tears you develop in your muscles. Warm water dilates
blood vessels, increasing blood flow to sore or damaged tissues,
allowing oxygen and nutrients to help them recover faster and carry
away the lactic acid. It's little wonder the Arthritis Foundation and
countless physicians and physical therapists recommend hot tubs for
serious rehabilitative therapy. That being the case, just imagine what
the hydro-massage of a backyard hot tub can do for you after a
strenuous workout or a tough day at the office.

Hot tubs also provide an excellent environment for renewing
flexibility and relieving stiffness. Relaxed muscles give a fuller
range of motion. Research has shown that focused stretching and the
increased flexibility it provides, can help prevent exercise-related
injuries and speed the healing process if they occur. Researchers also
have shown that stretching might delay the loss of flexibility that
naturally occurs with age, by stimulating the production or retention
of lubricants between connective tissue fibers.

Less scientific, but no less important, is the restorative effect of
hydrotherapy on the mind and spirit. Floating in warm water slows down
your pulse, and massage jets stimulate circulation to boost energy.
Just thinking about it sounds nice, doesn't it? Imagine how it
actually can make you feel. Many owners look to their hot tubs to
create the perfect, soothing environment for introspection and
meditation, which helps them maintain balance in their lives.

Way Back:
The oldest known spa (mineral bath) still in existence is in Merano,
Italy, where there is evidence of organized use of the spring dating
back 5,000 years ago. It's quite possible wandering humanoids soaked
their tired feet in the steaming pools of ancient geysers, even
earlier than 5,000 years ago.

It is thought that the Egyptians used baths for therapeutic purposes
as early as 2000 B.C. (not to be confused with "Before Chlorine").
Evidence of actual spa construction also exists from Phraortes, King
of Media, in 600 B.C. The earliest forms of hot tubs were simply a
caldera in which sizzling stones had been placed to heat the water.

From a very early time, our ancestors enjoyed the benefits of natural
hot water springs, and hydrotherapy was born.

The Greeks:
Mineral and thermal baths showed up later in history, around 500 B.C.,
in Greece. The early Greek baths were built near natural hot springs
or volcanoes. Greek celebrities and the elite would meet at these
natural hot springs to exchange philosophical views and treat physical
ailments. Plato considered anyone who did not know how to swim as
uneducated. Hippocrates (460-375 BC) believed to be the founder of
medicine, recommended hydrotherapy for the treatment of disorders such
as jaundice and rheumatism.

The Romans:
The Romans also enjoyed the mineral waters, but the ancient Roman
baths were more recreational areas used by hundreds of citizens at a
time, as opposed personal hygiene and aquatic therapy. Stone bath tubs
were serviced by elaborate aqueduct systems carrying mineral waters
throughout complex private rooms, steam rooms and public baths. The
largest of all Roman baths was the Diocletian. It was completed in
A.D. 305 and covered an area of 130,000 sq. yards.

Romans would first go to the unctuarium where they had oil rubbed
onto their skin. Next they would move to the tepidarium, or warm room,
where they would lie around chatting. From there, it was on to the hot
and steamy caldarium, similar to a Turkish bath. Here they sat and
perspired, scraping their skin with a curved metal tool known as a
strigil. After a dip in the calidarium (hot bath), they would take a
quick dip in the frigidarium (cold bath).

During the fall of the Roman Empire, many of the bath resorts were
destroyed. Many of the baths were revived during the Middle Ages, but
declined in use due to poor hygienic conditions and the spread of
infectious diseases.

The Spa:
Once part of the Roman Empire (now east of Belgium), the town of Spa
is where the word "spa" was derived. To this day, the town is still a
well-known resort for baths and mineral springs. The word "spa"
(originally Hungarian) became a generic expression referring to
natural mineral springs and surrounding areas where people came to
relax and take "The Cure".

The British:
The waters of Bath, England were used for healing purposes from about
800 B.C. and the British royalty continued to use the waters well into
the 20th century. Around 1589 according to historians, Queen Elizabeth
I insisted on bathing at least once a month, "whether she needed it or
not". Five baths were established within the town, including the
King's Bath and Cross Bath which became a popular spa with lepers and
rheumatics.

The waters of Bath are 120 degrees Fahrenheit, generate over one
million gallons of mineral water per day and contain over thirty
elements including calcium, sulfur, potassium and magnesium. One
interesting fact is that the water has a slight radioactive background
reading.

The Japanese:
A family custom for centuries in Japan is the "ofuro" or hot water
bathing in freestanding wooden tubs. Occupational forces brought the
knowledge of this custom back home with them after World War II.

The United States:
Native Americans enjoyed the health benefits of natural springs even
before European settlers arrived in the New World. In many instances,
these natural springs were used for magical and religious purposes, as
well as hygienic. One of the oldest spas in North American colonies is
believed to have been in Berkeley Springs (later known as Warm
Springs) of West Virginia.

One of the most popular of the early colonial springs for
hydrotherapy was Saratoga Springs in New York. It was carefully
guarded by settlers until 1767, when, according to legend, Iroquois
people helped Sir William Johnson recover from illness by recommending
the "medicine spring of the Great Spirit". Johnson attracted more
visitors seeking remedies from illness with his tales of recovery,
including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and General Philip
Schuyler.

The post-revolutionary "floating swimming bath" or "swimming cribs"
was introduced in 1791 in Philadelphia, PA. These water therapy
inventions of canvas and wood were staked into a river or lake bottom
and sometimes tethered to a shore.

In 1915, the general public became aware of pools and spas as a way
of life when Francis X. Bushman installed the first in Hollywood. By
1925, swimming pool construction began to emerge as an industry with
Pascal Paddock known as the "father of the industry."

As a footnote to the history of the hot tub and water therapy,
Franklin D. Roosevelt received therapeutic baths and muscle treatments
for his debilitating pain of polio during his administration from
1933-1945. He made Warm Spring, Co., his "little White House" and
dedicated the treatment facility to others with disabilities.

The Emergence of the Hot Tub:
The first wooden hot tubs began to appear in the 1960's in California.
Inspired by the Japanese ofuru, these early prototypes were still made
from used oak barrels, wine tanks and olive vats from nearby wineries.
Redwood hot tubs then began to appear, but often leaked and were
difficult to keep clean. These tubs lacked effervescence and bubbles.

Since pool contractors had been making in-ground concrete spas for
years, the demand for an alternative led to the invention of the
lightweight formed shell, which is the basis for acrylic spas we know
today.

The Jacuzzi:
In 1954, an Italian family of seven brothers, lead by Joseph Jacuzzi,
developed and patented a portable whirlpool pump out of necessity for
an ailing relative suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The pump was
later refined and coupled with jets using an air injection system that
produced a froth of bubbles. This air-water mixture proved to be
highly therapeutic and this invention spawned an industry that made
Jacuzzi a household name.

Soothing Arthritis Pain

Approximately 43 million people in North America suffer from some
form of arthritis pain. The good news for these victims is that there
are safe and effective ways to both minimize the discomfort and
prevent further damage.

According to a publication from The Arthritis Foundation, "Spas,
Pools, and Arthritis", "Regular sessions in your hot tub help keep
joints moving. It restores and preserves strength and flexibility, and
also protects your joints from further damage. Exercise can also
improve a person's coordination, endurance, and the ability to perform
daily tasks, and can lead to an enhanced sense of self-esteem and
accomplishment."

"A hot tub fulfills the need perfectly... providing the warmth,
massage, and buoyancy that is so necessary to the well-being of
arthritis sufferers. The buoyancy of the water supports and lessens
stress on the joints and encourages freer movement. Water exercises
may even act as a resistance to help build muscle strength."

According to a pamphlet printed by The Arthritis Foundation,
"Exercise and Your Arthritis", "Doctors and therapists know that
people with Arthritis can improve their health and fitness through
exercise without hurting their joints." The Arthritis Foundation
further states "Doctors frequently prescribe soaking in a hot tub
first thing in the morning, before beginning daily activities. Many
arthritis sufferers find this time of day to be most painful and
stiffness is at its worst." A quick dip in your hot tub will help you
to move through the rest of your day with comfort and ease.

Owning a hot tub could mean 365 days of relief for those who suffer
from arthritis... it's like having your own personal masseuse!

Athletic Performance

Whether it's to unwind from the complexities of everyday life or to
rejuvenate sore muscles and joints caused by sports or everyday
activity, hydrotherapy can help you feel better, naturally. You can
actually improve your athletic performance by doing two things: using
your hot tub BEFORE and AFTER you exercise.

Before You Exercise:  Soaking in a hot tub before exercising relaxes
your body and loosens muscles, making exercise easier and reducing the
risk of injury. A pre-exercise soak will also help to improve
performance. In fact, some golfers swear it has actually taken a
couple strokes off their game.

After You Exercise:   Soaking in a hot tub after exercising is a
great way to wind down and relax your muscles. The hot, swirling water
embraces you... massaging your neck, shoulders, arms, back, thighs,
calves, and feet. But most importantly, hot tub use after you exercise
will greatly reduce or even eliminate the stiffness typically felt the
next day.


Muscle & Joint Pain

Both professional and "weekend" athletes can use their hot tubs to
aid in repairing sore muscles and injuries. Neck and back pain, sports
injuries, muscle pulls, spasms and soreness are often eased by a quick
dip in your hot tub.

Your hot tub can also be used as preventative medicine. Water's
therapeutic powers lie in its ability to alter the body's blood flow.
According to an article in Tennis magazine, When you immerse yourself
in the hot water of a whirlpool, the temperature of your skin and
muscles rise, causing blood vessels to dilate and thus increases blood
flow to the skin and muscles. Turn on the whirlpool jets and the
pulsating water massages the skin, increasing blood flow even more.
The results? Your skin and muscles loosen and relax from the increased
blood circulation."


*IMPORTANT NOTE*
If an injury occurs, it is essential to apply ice to the swollen area
first. Never get into a hot tub when you have swelling! Allow ample
time for the swelling to reduce before soaking in your hot tub. The
warm, circulating water will speed healing to any damaged tissue as
well as bring much-needed nutrients to the problem area.

Aromatherapy

Our sense of smell is an incredibly powerful tool that has the power
to mentally transport, invigorate and possibly even heal us. This
sense can impact our physical and mental state as it brings to mind,
feelings as varied and pleasurable as relaxing on a beach, floating in
space or strolling on a summer evening with the sweet smell of
night-blooming jasmine in the air.

In the 1920s, the French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé coined the
phrase "aromatherapy" to define a practice that can be dated back to
3000 B.C. when the burning and distilling of aromatic plants was used
for medicinal purposes. Since then, civilizations in Egypt, China,
India, Greece and Rome are known to have used scented oils to aid in
the healing of various ailments.

 Loosely defined, aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of pure,
fragrant oils drawn from plant parts such as flowers, leaves, bark,
stems or seeds. This oil is then used to aid in a wide array of both
physical and emotional issues from simple relaxation and stress
relief, to skin care and ache and pain relief. Aromatherapy uses our
acute sense of smell to help bring balance to one's physical and
mental self.

Today, aromatic oils are used in a myriad of ways, from the use of
scented massage oils, to the burning of scented candles, or the use of
heated, water-based infusers, which send a fragrance, such as fresh
lemons or tuberose flowers, into the air. What was once a popular
Roman practice of adding scented, therapeutic oils to a steaming bath,
is again rising in popularity.

Water can be restorative to the mind, body and spirit. There is
something comforting about melting into warm, swirling, fragrant
waters at the end of a long day. The use of the home spa as a tool for
relaxation is being paired more and more with the healing benefits of
aromatherapy. Melding these two age-old practices for improving health
and an overall sense of well-being is exciting and worth exploring.

It is hard to deny the effect of aromatic oils when their healing
properties have been relied on again and again over time. Probably the
most popular and time-tested oil would be that of the lavender flower,
known to aid in soothing headaches and nervous tension. Lavender is
also an effective astringent and is often used in skin care. Marjoram
oil is known to be a pain reliever and helps with muscular aches and
strains. The citrus and flower-tinged aroma of neroli oil can cause
feelings of exhilaration and joy.

To achieve an atmosphere of aromatic healing, spa bathers have many
options. First, there are products that are added directly to the
water. When using these types of products, always make sure that they
are formulated for use in a home spa and therefore will not adversely
affect the water balance or spa equipment. There are many spa-safe
choices available.