The Uses of a Sauna Bath

There are many things, particularly health-related, that sauna baths can be used for. Saunas have existed for centuries, starting with tribes who sat around a fire pit that was a hole in the ground. Over 2,000 years ago, the sauna became more developed, principally in Finland. A sauna is a small, wood-lined room which benches for siting or lying down. The room contains uniform heat and steam, which is produced by hot rocks. They can be used for a multitude of purposes, from sweating to social gatherings.

To Create Sweat

• Heated rocks generate the steam.

  The heat in a sauna bath opens the skin pores and produces sweat which has numerous benefits. As a skin treatment, sweat rids the body of toxins; washes out dead cells and other skin contaminants; and produces new cells. Circulation of capillaries, --- the smallest network of blood vessels which form a network throughout the body --- is also improved and rinses bacteria from the sweat ducts. Sweating also causes the heart to beat harder --- inducing blood pressure to drop, usually, to medically recommended levels.

To Boost the Immune System

• A sauna may also be used to boost the immune system. The heat in a sauna creates a brief fever which promotes more regular functioning of the immune system, the body's method of resisting disease and infection. Through sweating, germs which damage the immune system and contribute to illness, are purged.

To Improve Ailments

• Saunas and its heat can be used to help heal respiratory ailments, such as laryngitis, bronchitis, and sinusitis. It may help clear a stuffy nose. It can also be used to reduce muscle aches. In addition, if a sauna is used immediately after a workout, muscles immediately begin to recuperate, a process that, without a sauna, normally takes over 24 hours.

To Relax

• The sauna is often used for relaxation---even with family or friends. The body relaxes, lowering stress and anxiety. It can promote good sleeping, particularly if taken before bedtime. It can be socially helpful, providing a relaxed, intimate and quiet setting for family members or friends to gather and talk easily.

Cautions

• A sauna should not be used for more than 20 minutes. If you overstay, it could result in fainting. Since the sauna removes fluid from your body, plenty of liquid should be drunk before, during and after a sauna bath. Pregnant woman should not use the sauna because it could cause brain or spinal cord defects in the embryo. People with cardiovascular disease should check with their doctor before they use it.