The Japanese and Native Americans used hot baths outside in natural pools heated by the earth. These pools had no jets, and it was the temperature of the water that was healing and relaxing as well as the mineral content.

Developing indoor hot baths made them accessible to almost anyone. No one had to travel to the pools as the pools were now available in the home. The warmth of the bath causes the body to relax which helps in the reduction of stress and provides other health maintaining benefits.

Bathing needs to be more than just getting clean. Americans need to begin thinking of bathing as ritual, recreation and restoration for mind, body, and spirit. The many health benefits of a hot soak mean that our hot water can keep us healthy.

Health Benefits
One user of our earliest Furo hot tub said, "Americans should learn to soak every day, and to take the time to relax and let the tensions of the day slip away. Ease yourself in . . . even your pores experience the change. Breathing becomes slow and deep, as heat penetrates your body . . . deeper and deeper, the more relaxed you become. Time, heat and hot water ease you to the level of relaxation where thoughts evaporate like steam before your eyes."

The original hot tubs used "still" hot water as they did before there was electricity to move the water. Human skin likes water slightly hotter when it is still, as there is no friction from movement. The heat stimulates the body in less than 10 minutes. The results of this stimulation include:

• Deep muscular relaxation
• Soothing of tired, achy muscles and joints
• Elevated body temperature which may inhibit colds and flu
• Stimulation of sweat glands which helps detoxify your body
• Restorative function (changing from work to rest/relax mode.) Possible healing or therapeutic responses include:
  • Elimination of headaches
  • Increased ability to sleep
  • Therapy for arthritis and similar conditions
  • Increased metabolic rate for conditioning without exercise
  • Skin deeply cleansed