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Adestination spa orhealth resort is aresort centered on aspa, such as amineral spa. Historically, many such spas were developed at the location of naturalhot springs ormineral springs. In the era before modernbiochemistry andpharmacotherapy, "taking the waters" was often believed to have great medicinal powers. Even without such mystic powers, thestress relief andhealth education of spas also often has some degree of positive effect onhealth. Destination spas offerday spa facilities, but what sets them apart is that they also offer hotel facilities so that people can stay multiple nights.
Typically, over a seven-day stay, they provide a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthy cuisine, and special interest programming.
A special subgroup are the medical spas who offer treatments that are paid back by the national health insurance program.
Some destination spas offer an all-inclusive program that includes facilitated fitness classes, healthy cuisine, educational classes and seminars, as well as similar to abeauty salon or aday spa. Guests reside and participate in the program at a destination spa instead of just visiting for a treatment or pure vacation. Some destination spas are in tropical locations or inspa towns.
Destination spas have been in use for a considerable time, and some are no longer used but are rather preserved as elements of earlier history; for example,Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs inCalifornia is such a historically used spa whose peak patronage occurred in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Resort spas are generally located inresorts, and offer similar services via rooms with services, meals, body treatments, and fitness a la carte.
Typical medical services offered at destination spas include:
Medical spas provide treatments and revalidation therapies paid back by the national health insurance, have to comply to the ISO 21426:2018 standard on tourism and related service requirements for medical spas[1] and have a medical doctor on site who supervises all the treatments.
The European Spas Association represents medical spas, health resorts, and regional spa associations in 19 European countries.[2]
It is common for elderly people to take every year a one-week treatment in medical public spas, which offer treatments for patients with syndrome diseases such asfibromyalgia,multiple sclerosis,rheumatism, andarthritis.
Treatment is also offered inMinistry of Ayush hospital revalidation centers, in the Middle Eastern Hammam steam bath facilities, as well as Asian or "Traditional Chinese Hot Spring" centers, and Japaneseshinrin-yoku centres.
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