| Art Riley lives in San Francisco. Art is a retired | | | | This was seen in Japan, Switzerland, and ancient |
| computer analyst and needs a root canal, but he | | | | Rome. The only notable exception was in India where |
| cannot afford the high cost of the procedure on his | | | | Ayurvedic medicine and Yoga drew ailing travelers |
| retirement and medicare. So what does Art do? In this | | | | from the ancient world in search of relief. |
| case, Art and his wife pack their bags and board a | | | | Middle Ages |
| plane for San Miguel de Allende in the state of | | | | Advances in medicine emerged to such a degree that |
| Guanajuato in Mexico. The Rileys stay at four star | | | | in the 9th century, the vizier of Baghdad, founded the |
| hotel and enjoy top notch services. Art and his wife | | | | first hospitals. These institutions were later eclipsed in |
| dine at fine restaurants and during the day visit the | | | | the 12th century in the city of Cairo, Egypt. The Nasiri |
| museums or take in all the sights of this 16th century | | | | and the much larger Mansuri Hospitals were the most |
| city. In all, Art spends less than half on his vacation and | | | | modern facilities of their kind. The centers provided |
| root canal combined when compared to what he'd | | | | care for any person who traveled in need of medicine. |
| spend on his root canal back in San Francisco. | | | | Renaissance and Post Renaissance Periods |
| There was a time when wealthy people traveled to | | | | While hospitals focused on elevating the medical |
| more developed countries in search of superior | | | | practice, healing centers based around hot springs |
| medical care. Such was the case in America. Up until | | | | continued to thrive. In the 1500's, several ancient |
| the late 1980s, foreigners came to the United States to | | | | Roman baths were rehabilitated in England, France, |
| visit the big cities and have a medical procedure with | | | | and Switzerland. One of the most notable was in Bath, |
| superior doctors in modern facilities. Americans also | | | | England and the center attract travelers from all over |
| enjoyed traveling domestically to save money on | | | | Europe. |
| medical work while staying in beautiful cities where the | | | | Post Revolution America |
| cost of care was far less than where they lived. Yet | | | | Health centers spawned over time throughout the |
| this phenomenon can be traced far back into history. | | | | countryside in America. Some of these were based in |
| Combining a medical treatment with a vacation is not a | | | | Catskill Mountains of New York, where visitors could |
| new phenomenon. For thousands of years people with | | | | stay in a luxurious hotel while enjoying the health |
| the need for inexpensive medical care have sought to | | | | benefits of clean air and alternative medicines. |
| save money and travel at the same time. | | | | The 20th and 21st Centuries |
| Ancient Times | | | | Seeking medical care while traveling continues to draw |
| As early as 4000 BC, travelers came from far away | | | | visitors to far away places. These days the practice is |
| countries to the temples of Gula in Mesopotamia. In the | | | | drawing medical tourists to Asian, Central and South |
| temples they obtained diagnoses for their diseases. | | | | American countries. Thailand is known for its low costs |
| These travelers then fared further to the Sumerian | | | | of care and extremely inexpensive living prices. Spas |
| region of the country to health centers built around hot | | | | and hot springs are no longer considered medical |
| springs where they obtained treatments. The cities | | | | treatments, but most health care travelers might seek |
| housing these temples were said to be the cradles of | | | | the relaxing benefits obtainable at a spa in order to |
| Mesopotamian culture. | | | | complement their medical treatment. |
| Over time the Greek civilization took on the same | | | | History shows that medical tourism has existed as long |
| tradition with their Asclepiad temples. Asclepius was a | | | | as inexpensive care was located in or around cities |
| gifted healer who over time was elevated to the God | | | | with cultural attractions or exotic panoramas. As long |
| of Medicine. Greeks traveled to these and other | | | | as medical care is expensive in developed countries |
| temples like the one at Delphi to find healing and | | | | developing nations will have a steady stream of |
| comfort. The medical tourists of the time usually found | | | | tourists seeking care. Like Art Riley, travelers can get |
| care in the form of hot baths, healthy food, and red | | | | the benefits of good medical care at low prices while |
| wine. Basing health centers around hot springs was the | | | | enjoying themselves abroad at the same time. |
| trend throughout ancient history until the middle ages. | | | | |