For more than a century, people have escaped to Asheville believing the area to have rejuvenating healing powers. The crisp mountain air, majestic scenery, abundant health spas and natural hot-spring mineral waters have made Asheville a popular destination for health-seekers looking for holistic treatments.

Top-Notch Hospitals

Asheville is fortunate to have a Memorial hospital campus and a St. Joseph hospital campus, both of which are part of the award-winning Mission Hospitals health system. Mission Hospitals have been recognized for excellent cardiac care and women’s services, among other accolades. Mission was the first hospital in North Carolina to achieve the “Baby Friendly” hospital designation, and one of only 89 in the nation to do so. The "Baby Friendly" certification is given to hospitals and birth centers by UNICEF and the World Health Organization for consistently educating, supporting and encouraging new mothers to breastfeed.

Mission has also been named more than six times to the prestigious Solucient Top 100 Heart Hospitals in the country list. Solucient is a health-care industry marketer that analyzes patient care, cost effectiveness and growth in the medical industry. In the 1980s, Asheville cardiologists and surgeons developed a state-of-the-art program for mitral valve surgical repair that today is nationally and internationally recognized and attracts patients from as far away as California.

But cardiac care excellence isn’t the only thing that has put Mission in the national spotlight. In 2006, it was also named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Top 50 hospitals for orthopedics. Then in 2007, U.S. News & World Report selected Mission as one of the country’s Top 50 hospitals for endocrinology, which relates to diabetes treatment and research. The hospital even has its own endocrinologist for children.

Massage, Anyone?

With more than a dozen world-class spas and wellness centers, it’s no wonder Asheville is a haven for people in search of a little R&R. A wide range of holistic treatments can be found at local day spas, ranging from a river rock massage to lip-blooming treatments and herbal body wraps.