Spa Spa A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneotherapy. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are especially widespread in Europe and Japan. Day spas are also quite popular, and offer various personal care treatments. The term is derived from the name of the town of Spa, Belgium, whose name is known back from Roman times,
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Aphanizomenon flos-aquae is a brackish and freshwater species of cyanobacteria found around the world, including the Baltic Sea and the Great Lakes. "Aphanizomenon flos-aquae" can form dense surface aggregations in freshwater (known as "cyanobacterial blooms"). These blooms occur in areas of high nutrient loading, historical or current. "Aphanizomenon flos-aquae" has both toxic and nontoxic forms. Most sources worldwide are toxic, containing both hepatic and neuroendotoxins. Most cyanobacteria (including "Aphanizomenon") produce BMAA, a neurotoxin amino acid implicated in ALS/Parkinsonism. Toxicity of "A. flos-aquae" has been reported in Canada, Germany and China. "Aphanizomenon flos-aquae" is known to produce endotoxins, the