How to Use a Sauna for a Cold

Many people use saunas for a wide variety of supposed health benefits. Some sauna manufacturers would like to have you believe, however unfounded the claim, that they are a cure-all for just about any ailment. However, there are some conditions that saunas are actually very effective at treating, and the common cold is one of them.

Instructions

• 1

  Use the sauna before the cold even starts. If you have regular access to a sauna in your gym or home, try to use it a few times a week. According to the New York Times, Austrian researchers recently discovered that regular use of a sauna can decrease the occurrence of colds. In fact, the study found that the incidence of colds was cut almost in half over a six-month period. So don't shy away from the sauna, even if you're not sick yet.

• 2

  Increase sauna usage when you begin to notice cold symptoms.Some scientists speculate that saunas can work much the way a fever does; the high temperature will help the body rid itself of germs and infection. A rise in body temperature can even result in greater production of white blood cells and antibodies, which can in turn fight off a cold. Saunas can also help treat a cold's most annoying symptoms. The high heat can help fight congestion that occurs in the chest and sinus system.

• 3

  Drink plenty of fluids. Much like with a fever, saunas can cause you to become dehydrated. Dehydration can make your cold symptoms even worse. Be sure to drink an 8-ounce glass of water before you enter the sauna and another one when you leave.

• 4

  Follow all regular sauna procedures if you're using it to rid yourself of a cold. Don't stay in longer than 15 minutes, because the high temperatures can make you weak or ill with prolonged exposure. Take a cool shower afterward to bring your body temperature back to normal. If it's a public sauna, remember to bring a towel to sit on because there may be some germs lurking there.