Sauna And Health: Getting The Best Out Of A Steam Bath

Sauna and health have been closely related because of what hot steam can do to the well being of the human body. This kind of therapy has been used for centuries as a form of relaxation and healing by many civilizations.

As early as 568 BC, exposure to steam has been considered to be one of the most important ways for people to stay healthy. This kind of information was garnered from the well-known Ayurveda which served as a Sanskrit medical document during times past.

Not only has this been a popular practice in the East, sauna and health have been related even in the early practices of European and Western doctors and medical practitioners. In the United States the Indians used to use sweat lodges to cure the sick, in Russia a similar practice was done with the 'banai', and in Finland the steam treatment was a popular way to get relief from illness.

Sauna and health have been closely related because of the benefits that hot steam can give to the body, such as providing the skin with the cleansing and pliancy that it needs to feel renewed. Toxins are released when the skin is exposed to hot steam and wastes from the system are removed along with the moisture that a person sweats.

It has been studied that a steaming session that lasts for a quarter of an hour can increase a person's heart rate to up to 75 percent of its normal rate. This is a good sign when considering metabolic rate. If a person were to take a walk for exercise in the morning, they would experience the same effects as this steam bath session.

Not only this, the increase in heart rate and metabolism will also enhance the flow of blood to the extremities of your body, such as through to the fingers and toes. This helps in circulating nutrients throughout the body to supply bodily tissues in those areas.

When a person sweats in a steam room, their skin is detoxified and their skin pores open up to release bodily toxins that cause clogging and infection. It has been proven that as much as 30 percent of toxins and wastes can be released through the skin when it is exposed to hot steam.

For people who are overweight, steam baths can be used to help them increase their metabolism and get rid of excess fat. With the combination of a steaming session and a massage to help soften fatty tissue, the effects are therapeutic and effective in weight loss.

People who suffer arthritis have often remarked that having a steam session relieved their arthritic pains. This is also true for hardworking athletes who just want to relax after a tiring week of just working out.

Overall, sauna and health cannot be set apart because of the wondrous healing that hot steam can have on the body. With its benefits effectively benefiting the respiratory, muscular, and circulatory system, one cannot avoid the fact that they should try a steam bath session soon!

Looking for the perfect sauna for the perfect escape? Whether you are looking for infrared saunas or even outdoor saunas, the options are limitless.

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Five Benefits of Using a Steam Room

Although sometimes pooh-poohed as 'new age nonsense' or a modern 'fad' that will soon be replaced by something more fashionable, steam baths have in fact been popular for at least a couple of thousand years. Both the ancient Greeks and the Romans were very fond of taking steam baths, which in those days were fed by natural hot springs; and more recently - though still hundreds of years ago - Turkish and Russian baths started to become popular.

But why use a steam room? Are there really any benefits? Actually, yes - there are many; here are just five of them.

Stress-busting

Using a steam room is a wonderful way to unwind. It's even been described as 'exhilarating', bordering on 'spiritual'. Steam baths release stress, ease tension, and aid sleep. How does it work? The heat experienced in a steam room helps to dilate the blood vessels, which relaxes the muscles. It eases joint pain too; with pain being the cause of many sleepless nights for some sufferers, the pain relief experienced after a steam bath is often enough to help them enjoy a good night's sleep with little or no pain.

Breathe easy

Regular use of a steam room can ease breathing complaints, such as bronchitis, asthma and sinusitis, as well as a variety of allergies (though, note the word 'ease' - these conditions will not be fully cured with steam treatment). Steam improves blood flow and opens the airways in the lungs, helping to dislodge phlegm from the respiratory system, as well as easing inflammation of mucous membranes. Aromatherapy can also be used in the steam room to help clear breathing problems and aid relaxation.

Aid weight loss

Many people swear by steam rooms as a means of aiding their weight loss routine. As many as 600 calories can be sweated off during a half-hour steam bath session, though it's worth noting that most of the weight lost will be water rather than fat. Some people even say that a steam bath session can cause the body to sweat as much as it would during a 10km run

Baby-soft skin

Most of us at some time in our lives have held our faces over a bowl of hot water, with a towel over the head to stop steam escaping, in a bid to cleanse the skin and eliminate blackheads. It's a nifty trick that women all over the world use as a cheap, effective way to improve the skin. Now imagine doing that for your whole body - that's what a steam bath is like! Steam opens the pores, flushes out dirt and impurities, and leaves the skin feeling healthy and moisturised. As an added benefit, sufferers of skin conditions like acne and eczema report that regular use of a steam room has helped ease the problem.

Detox treatment

Used in conjunction with a healthy diet, exercise and plenty of water, a steam room can be a great way to eliminate toxins from the body. The steam's heat stimulates the body's sweat glands, and as the pores open perspiration escapes through the skin, taking toxins with it. Sweating is a very important bodily function, and since steam makes the body perspire, it's a great way to encourage the body to heal itself by flushing out the materials it doesn't need.

David Shimeld is the owner of Marigot Beach Club Spa and Wellness Retreat, St Lucia's newest and most affordable health retreat. With accommodation starting at US$63 per room, per night, and a wide range of spa treatments to choose from, Marigot Beach Club is the must-visit destination for sun-seeking natural health enthusiasts.

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