Ancient cultures around the world have known the healing power of soaking in natural hot springs or man-made hydro spas, hot tubs or hydro pools. From Rome to Japan, Egypt to Greece, and from ancient times to today, hydrotherapy has been used to treat arthritis, stress, muscle and joint pain, musculoskeletal disorders as well as insomnia. Hydrotherapy is one of the oldest forms of medical treatments. Mankind’s connection to water is undeniable and his search for “good health” is as well. Historical records show the treatment of ailments, diseases, and pain with hot water has been effective for centuries.
2000 B.C. Egypt: The Egyptians use baths for therapeutic purposes. The earliest forms of hot tubs were simply a caldera in which sizzling stones are placed to heat the water.
460 B.C. Greece: Hippocrates proposes a health regimen which includes bathing, perspiration, walking, and massages. The baths are often combined with gymnastics and education, the precursors of the gymnasium.
476 A.D. Europe: Cleanliness goes to the wayside. The church views the practice of bathing as a prelude to forbidden behavior and sin.
737 A.D. Japan: The first “onsen” opens near Izumo. An onset is a public bathing house which uses water from a hot spring.
1571 Italy: The idea of baths as sources of disease start to give way to the idea of bathing for medicinal purposes. The ‘culture of bathing’ starts to spread across Europe.
1800 Germany: Doctors were convinced that for each disease there is an appropriate medicinal spring, which could be discovered through chemical analysis of the water.
1940 USA: The first home hot tubs begin to appear, mostly in California, they were made from used oak barrels, wine tanks and olive vats.
1950 USA: The jacuzzi brothers invent and begin to sell the J-300, a therapy hydrotherapy pump, and a small niche business is born.
1968 USA: Roy Jacuzzi invents and markets the first self-contained, fully integrated whirlpool bath. By incorporating jets into the sides of the tub, it becomes the bath that single-handedly creates an industry.
1970s USA: Fiberglass shell hot tubs appear, then cast acrylic shells. For the first time, it is finally easy to meet water cleanliness. Manufacturers install pumps, filters, control systems and, of course jets. The modern era of hot tubs has arrived.
1996 onward USA: Hot tubs go “Star Wars.” Interchangeable jets, super efficiency and design your own spa options from Bullfrog Spas. Bullfrog International designs and manufactures the world’s only luxury hot tubs with the patented JetPak Therapy System™. JetPaks® are modular jetted spa seats that allow the user to customize, interchange and upgrade their hot tub’s jetted massages at anytime. Bullfrog Spas provide powerful hydrotherapy, unparralleled reliability, and are extremely energy-efficiency.
The evolution of hot tubs is remarkable, greatly due to modern technology. The possibilities of personalizing the hot tubs with ease at the same time be affordable, makes the 21st century the ”golden age of hydrotherapy.” These hi-tech, at-home spas can help prevent illness, relieve harmful stress, and encourage you to live in a more healthy and natural way. Enjoy the moment!
