10 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT HOT TUBS

1. HOT TUB “JETS” CAME FROM EARLY AIRCRAFT MACHINISTS

Jacuzzi isn’t a name conceived by some genius advertising company; it’s the last name of seven brothers that immigrated to the United States from Italy at the turn of the 20^th century. Transplanted on the West Coast in Berkeley, California, the Jacuzzi brothers forged their way into the aircraft manufacturing business, machining pumps and propellers as well as the first ever enclosed monoplane that was utilized by the U.S. Postal Service.

Transitioning their expertise with hydraulic aircraft pumps to agricultural use, the brothers were laying the groundwork that would eventually support a much more personal matter. In 1948, one brother devised a bathtub pump for his son who was ailing from chronic pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. The pump was installed in the tub at home to provide daily whirlpool treatments to treat the young boy.

Over the next 25 years, the development of the Jacuzzi name we are all familiar with made its way to the public eye. By the 1970s, the spa industry was taking off with the Jacuzzi brothers leading the way.

2. LIKE HOT TUBS? THANK TECTONIC PLATES!

Bathing saw resurgence in Western Europe during the Renaissance period, following the Crusaders from the Middle East, but Japan offers a glimpse at some the oldest uses of soaking baths. Dating back to A.D. 552, public bathing was an important part of the Buddhist culture. Located between to volcanic belts, Japan offers numerous natural hot springs that were used as a way to purify the body of sin and to bring good luck.

3. GO FURTHER BACK IN HISTORY TO DISCOVER THE ORIGIN OF HOT TUB FILTERS

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) spa filters consist of a filter element that is millions of years old. The material comes from fossilized Diatoms that are found in oceans, fresh water, soils, and on damp surfaces. The hard-shelled algae are crushed to form a fine white powdery substance that is effective at trapping particles in water.

4. HOT TUBS? MORE LIKE HOT STONES!

Some of the earliest hot tubs were quite simple in nature. Whether it was a caldera full of water or a marble bathtub, ancient man found a way to heat the water by emerging hot stones to bring the water to a nice sizzling temperature.

5. NOT JUST A LUXURY IN ANCIENT TIMES

In Roman times, bathing wasn’t just for the Patricians. Public bath houses offered a relatively inexpensive option for all walks of life to enjoy. Offering heated rooms and lounging areas with the necessities of life (food and wine), all Romans were afforded the luxury of cleansing their bodies in high-class.

6. HUMANS AREN’T THE ONLY SPECIES WHO ENJOYS A SOAK!

Let’s allow the photo to explain this one:

7. HOT TUBS LOST THEIR SHINE IN DARK AGES, AS POPES TOOK A STRONG STANCE AGAINST BATHING AND HOT SPRINGS

Although nowadays our leaders have slightly more important things to worry about, “dark age” Popes made clear their distaste for frequent bathing and the social practices accompanying it. We can thank the Moors for influencing a change in this belief.

8. EARLY HEALTH TOURISM

Although we might think of health tourism as traveling abroad for an operation, by the 17th century English families traveled from far and wide to soak at Bath, England. Bath’s hot springs were first discovered by the Romans around A.D. 50, with a temple dedicating the area to the god and goddess of healing. Throughout the Middle Ages, people traveled to Bath for the soothing springs in hopes of curing their ailments. Growing popular in the 17^th century, this trend continues in present day.

9. POSITIVE EFFECT ON TYPE 2 DIABETES

Via a study by the New England Journal of Medicine, the benefits of hot tub therapy proved to benefit persons with Type 2 Diabetes. After a 10-day routine of 30 minutes a day soaking in a hot tub, patients experienced distinct changes in their bodies like “reduced doses of insulin, lost weight…and an increased general sense of well-being.”

10. WORLD’S MOST INTERNATIONAL HOT TUB TITLE AWARDED IN 2012

Finally, may I present the United Nations of Relaxation? In November of 2012, 26 people from 26 different countries piled into a Jacuzzi to set a new Guinness World Record for the most nations represented in a hot tub. Unfortunately, some nations were turned away as the tub reached its capacity.