Using natural medicinal sources, baths, drinking water and treatment in a spa has played a significant role in medicine as one of the oldest way of therapy to have ever been used. Gradually spas were built near sources, mainly around the springs of mineral and thermal water. The deposits of peat and mud were also valuable materials for the warm treatment and packs, favoured by the people with rheumatism. Favourable climate has given rise to a lot of spas. However, spas have not always been built only near natural sources. Sometimes, a reformatory healer with a strong personality enforced new methods. For example, using regular cold water in various application forms for treatment, thus contributing to the establishment of a lot of spas.

Spas are not located all over the world equally. Although the sources have been here for a long time, balneology has especially remained typical for Europe. A few spas have also been built in Asia. The oldest tradition in Europe is in Italy, followed by our country, Germany, France, Spain, Poland and Russia. In Anglo-Saxon countries and in America this industry has not been very developed in the past, and the attitude towards it has been a bit reserved. Thus, it is not very used these days.

The tradition of our balneology is younger than that of South Europe and in the Mediterranean lands with old patterns. However, our spas have received extraordinary repute and esteem in the past in Europe and have finally become an important part of medicine and balneology. Mainly West Bohemian spas have become famous in the last century. Therefore, it is no wonder that both balneology and hydrotherapy were for the first time lectured at the European University in Prague.