| Spa Wellness Articles :: Program Descriptions & Career Overviews :: Spa Therapy Studies - Spa Therapy School Programs |
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| Spa Therapy Studies - Spa Therapy School Programs |
| by Robyn Tellefsen |
 spa therapy (a.k.a. balneology or balneotherapy) involves the therapeutic use of baths. Many spa waters are rich in minerals such as radium, selenium, silica, and sulfur, which can be absorbed through the skin. According to the National Library of Medicine, balneology refers to bathing in, or even drinking, mineral waters. It may involve hot or cold water, massage through moving water, relaxation, or stimulation. Spa therapy may be recommended for a wide range of illnesses, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, and skin conditions.
What You'll Learn
In spa therapy programs, you'll discover the therapeutic benefits of naturally occurring mineral waters. You'll study specific minerals, such as bicarbonates, boron, calcium, carbonates, chlorides, fluoride, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and sulfates. You'll also learn how to classify mineral springs by temperature, content, and pH level.
Degree Types
Spa therapy programs are not widely available in the U.S. but may be found via complementary and Alternative Medicine practitioners.
Career Paths
While spa therapy is well-known and highly regarded throughout Europe and Asia, it is not as commonly practiced in the U.S. With spa therapy training, doctors, massage therapists, nutritionists, and other wellness professionals may utilize mineral waters as preventative and therapeutic medicine in their care plans.
Job Outlook
In the next 20 years, the need for spa therapy will increase dramatically worldwide, predicts Eytons' Earth, a Las Vegas, NV-based non-commercial, public awareness organization dedicated to researching the values of healing clays. In fact, in modern Europe and Japan, the medical science of balneology is already an integrated part of allopathic medical practice and preventative medicine. In Poland, for example, spa therapy is an integral part of the health care system; patients are often directed to the spa by their family physician.
Licensing and Accreditation Information
There are no official licensing or accreditation standards for spa therapy in the U.S. To learn about the latest scientific research in the field, contact the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
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