| For centuries, hot springs have offered numerous | | | | the area. The region's climate and unique conditions |
| health benefits for everything from arthritis to | | | | created by its low elevation has made the Dead Sea |
| indigestion. Sulfur, for instance, is credited with relieving | | | | a popular destination for a variety of health and beauty |
| nasal congestion, while sodium bicarbonate and calcium | | | | treatments. Multiple studies have shown the mineral |
| are said to enhance circulation. A number of studies | | | | essentials of the sea are effective for psoriasis, acne, |
| have also indicated that soaking in hot mineral spring | | | | and rheumatism. The Ein Gedi Spa, a well-established |
| waters lessens the pain of arthritis. For instance, a | | | | site on the shores of the Dead Sea, offers indoor |
| study published in the August 1995 issue of the Israeli | | | | thermo-mineral pools, resting areas, and a large |
| medical journal Harefuah reported patients bathing in | | | | outdoor bath containing rich, heavy black mud, which is |
| the Dead Sea salt experienced improvement in knee | | | | ideal for ridding the body of poisons. |
| pain. Other Israeli study results published in the April | | | | The healing properties of hot springs were espoused |
| 2001 issue of the Rheumatology International indicated | | | | by the Native Americans, as well. When Spanish |
| that hot sulfur baths helped relieve the pain and lessen | | | | explorer Hernando De Soto reached the Valley of the |
| the fatigue of fibromyalgia. | | | | Vapors in 1541, he was the first European to see the |
| The benefits of hot springs, or mineral baths, were first | | | | curative nature of what is now known as Hot Springs, |
| endorsed by the Romans. They were so much a part | | | | Arkansas. For many years, tribes had been enjoying |
| of life that nearly every Roman city had at least one | | | | the springs - agreeing to put aside their weapons to |
| bath, which served as centers of public bathing and | | | | partake of the healing waters in peace while in the |
| socializing. Throughout the Empire, baths sprung up | | | | valley. By 1832, the Hot Springs National Park was |
| wherever natural hot springs existed, including the | | | | formed, which granted protection of the thermal |
| United Kingdom, Germany, Algeria, and The | | | | waters, giving Hot Springs the distinction of being the |
| Netherlands. Here, Romans bathed, exercised, and | | | | first national park to be designated for government |
| socialized with one another. They were used by the | | | | protection. |
| rich, poor, free or slave. | | | | The thermal springs, situated in the Ouachita Mountains |
| The hot springs in Baden-Baden, Germany, were well | | | | of Central Arkansas, emerge in a gap between Hot |
| known to the Romans. In 1847, well preserved remains | | | | Springs Mountain and West Mountain. Nicknamed "The |
| of Roman vapour baths were discovered below the | | | | American Spa," visitors from around the world flocked |
| castle. In fact, the direct translation of Baden-Baden is | | | | to the natural hot springs. Today, this rich history is |
| Baths-Baths. The name actually refers to both the city | | | | preserved in the faithfully-restored Fordyce Bathhouse, |
| and the Baden region of Germany and the city lies | | | | a museum and visitors center on Bathhouse Row. A |
| along the Oos River in the Black Forest. One of the | | | | variety of bathing facilities are open as well to visitors |
| world's great spas, Baden-Baden has been popular | | | | on Bathhouse Row and in hotels and spas downtown. |
| with patrons of its natural mineral springs for centuries. | | | | More than 100 years ago, the rich and famous traveled |
| In fact, Britain's Queen Victoria was an annual visitor | | | | by private rail car to Mount Clemens, Michigan, to |
| who made the health benefits of Baden-Baden well | | | | experience its magical mineral waters pumped from |
| known during her reign. | | | | 1,400 feet under the city. Following the opening of the |
| Today, the bathing houses in Baden-Baden are | | | | first bath house, "America's Bath City" reached its |
| considered some of the most elegant in Europe. | | | | height of popularity with luxury resort hotels offering |
| However, the baths cater to people of all means. | | | | heated baths, which were widely known to relieve the |
| There are a total of 29 hot springs, which is conveyed | | | | pain of arthritis and rheumatism, as well as skin |
| through the town in pipes to the various baths. The | | | | problems such as eczema. Henry Ford, William |
| waters at Baden-Baden are known to bring relief for | | | | Randolph Hearst, Mae West, Babe Ruth, and |
| cases of rheumatism, gout, paralysis, neuralgia, and skin | | | | European royalty made visits to Mount Clemens to |
| diseases. | | | | partake of its mineral essentials. |
| One of the world's first health resorts, the Dead Sea is | | | | In the 1900s, the mineral water from Mount Clemens |
| one of the world's saltiest bodies of water. Herod the | | | | drew thousands of polio patients. Legend had it that |
| Great, the Roman king of Judaea from 73 BC to 4 | | | | people came to the city in wheelchairs and left walking |
| BC, enjoyed the healthful benefits of the Dead Sea, as | | | | under their own power. Ultimately, eleven major bath |
| well as Queen Cleopatra, who obtained exclusive | | | | houses operated in the city, supported by dozens of |
| rights to build cosmetic and pharmaceutical factories in | | | | resort hotels, resulting in a thriving therapeutic industry. |