History of spa treatment Karlovy Vary
History of spa treatment Karlovy Vary – people apparently attributed healing power to Karlovy Vary hot springs long before founding of the city. First ever recorded treatment was carried out in late 14th century, when the ruler Charles IV. bathed his ill legs in one of the mineral springs. From then until the 16th century, the doctors stuck exclusively to this type of spa treatment. The baths lasted 5-12 hours a day.
The impulse to take advantage of spring water also for internal use gave doctor Václav Payer in 1521. This method perfected doctor David Becher in the late 18th century. He contributed to balancing the spa drinking cures. Dr. David Becher conducted first scientific analysis of Karlovy Vary mineral water. He was concerned with individual treatment according to the patient’s diagnosis. By drinking cures, he reduced the disproportionately high amounts of mineral water from 40-60 cups a day to 12-15 cups a day. He recommended drinking the water at the springs where the water saturated with CO2 has far greater effect. Since 19th century, spa treatments have been completed with diet system, fenny baths, fenny wraps and showers.
The spa town experienced its ups and downs. The attendance was affected both by natural disasters and armed conflicts. Since 18th century, Karlovy Vary began to develop rapidly and its position among other European spas increased considerably. First public spa buildings and facilities were founded. The city prospered not only thanks to wealthy spa patients but also due to revenues from sale of mineral water and spring salt. Popularity of Karlovy Vary continued to grow and the number of visitors kept rising every year until the beginning of the first world war. Afterwards, the global economic crisis, second world war and eventually nationalization came. After the Velvet Revolution (in 1989), dilapidated buildings were slowly reconstructed and spa facilities refurbished. Since then, the spa is ready to compete with other European spa towns again.