The Advantages of Saunas and Steam Bathing

There are many myths surrounding the health benefits of saunas and steam baths. However, the heat and steam of both of these bathing methods is very useful for a variety of bodily ailments.

By themselves, they are not an effective weight loss programs and they won't magically banish all diseases known to man. However, they will do many other wonderful things for your body.

Detoxification is an advantage that can be found in both saunas and steam baths. Raising the temperature of your body helps it to kill nasty organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Saunas and steam showers can also reach the smaller nooks and crannies of your body, such as your teeth, bones, and sinuses.

An infrared sauna is even more effective than a regular sauna or steam bath, for the infrared heat delves deeper into the skin to detoxify the body.

In addition, infrared saunas are not as intensely hot as ordinary saunas. Children, elderly, and those who cannot go into an ordinary sauna because they are sensitive to the heat will have a much grater chance of being able to tolerate an infrared sauna.

The heat from saunas and steam baths also help improve the immune system. The body reacts to the sudden increased temperature as it would to a fever. The immune system produces more white blood cells.

Saunas are also beneficial towards blood circulation. Blood circulation is very important in transporting nutrients throughout the body and improving the effectiveness of the heart, liver, and kidney. It helps eliminate toxins as well. This is because as the temperature of your body increases from the sauna, the sweat production must also increase. The heart needs to work harder in order for the body to have enough energy to create the sweat, so it pumps blood faster and in greater quantities. When good blood circulation is maintained for a long amount of time, more nutrients and oxygen is delivered to the surface of the skin, causing it to be brighter and healthier.

Sweating is also very healthy for the skin and body. When the body sweats, it rids itself of unwanted contaminants. It opens its pores, allowing deeply delved grit, grime, and dead cells to be washed out by the sweat. The steam from steam baths is especially effective in this; the higher moisture content in the air helps rinse out dirty pores.

This gives the skin a thorough cleaning and helps treat acne. The higher concentration of steam in a steam bath is much more effective for cleansing the skin than simply sitting in a hot tub. Steam bathing is also extremely effective for stiffness and pain in the muscles and the joints. The steam causes the red blood cells to expand so that more oxygen and nutrients have access to the damaged part of the body. The heat also helps relieve stress by causing the muscles to relax.

The high amount of moisture in steam rooms is also extremely good for respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and allergies because it helps to flush allergens and mucus from the lungs.

Allison Ryan is a freelance marketing writer from San Diego, CA. She specializes in do-it-yourself improvements to the home and bathroom, such as installing an infrared sauna or steam shower. For the perfect hot tub or sauna, check out http://www.mybath.biz/.

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Sauna Steam Bath Comparison

Often people wonder which is better for them, the sauna or steam bath? In this article we are going to examine both and compare them. Firstly they both use heat. Heat raises your heart rate dilating the blood vessels hence improving your blood circulation. Both make you sweat and as a result open your pores and clean your skin. However the degrees of heat vary from a steam bath to a sauna. This is where they begin to differ.

In a steam bath you have a moist heat resulting in more water in the air; the steam can be relaxing and stress relieving, even releasing toxins and free radicals that may allow for better overall health. Both saunas and steam baths relieve tension and relax the muscles.

If in the event you have respiratory problems the steam bath would be a better option for you. The moist heat helps to clear clogged sinuses and a stuffy nose. This can also benefit those with allergies. Because the steam bath does not get as hot, you may find it easier to breathe in.

The sauna on the other hand is in general a dry heat. This environment can get very hot. The sauna room has been known to reach temperatures of 175 degrees. This can be too hot for some and as a result make it difficult to breath.

In a sauna you will perspire heavily. A sauna provides a cardiovascular workout, it increases the metabolic rate and it also promotes healing by releasing natural pain killers, both provide you with health benefits, the difference between the two is the kind of heat and the level of heat. Your choice will depend on your own personal health and fitness goals and your level of comfort with either one.

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A Wet VS A Dry Sauna - Benefits and How They Work

If you are considering building a sauna in your home, there are factors you will want to consider before beginning the project. The first is deciding which type of sauna you will need. There are two general types: a wet sauna, and a dry sauna. Both work differently and have varying benefits, so knowing them may be an important part of your decision.

A sauna that uses a wood burning stove, or a more modern electric stove can be used as a wet or dry sauna. The difference will depend on the temperature and humidity inside. Wet home saunas are often called steam saunas. Most saunas today use a heater and some type of volcanic rocks. In both cases, the rocks are heated to a high temperature. The main difference between a wet and dry sauna is the water that is splashed over the rocks in a sauna that is wet. Because the rocks are heated to such an extreme temperature, the water vaporizes very quickly causing steam to form. In a dry sauna, there is no water, just heated rocks.

When you sit in a wet sauna, you sweat, which causes unwanted toxins to leave your body. It is also believed that using a wet sauna on a regular basis can decrease one's chances of certain illnesses because many viruses cannot live in such high temperatures.

Dry saunas are believed to relieve tension and stress, stimulate blood circulation, and help rejuvenate the skin through perspiration. As with a wet sauna, using a dry sauna will cause sweating to occur, thus invoking some of the same benefits of a wet sauna. In a dry sauna, the heat is much more tolerable, but the actual effect on the body is better because the heat is reaching it directly, thus producing results more quickly. Because the body still produces sweat, humidity is present, so the body is still cooled and toxins leave in much the same way as with a wet sauna. It is believed, however, the process takes place more quickly with dry heat, and that it is possible to spend more time in the sauna and reap the benefits for longer because of its tolerability.

Whether you choose to install a wet or dry sauna, make sure you are aware of all risks and benefits that may be associated with owning it. It is important to follow all directions and use it correctly. By dong so, you will receive more enjoyment and may remain healthier in the process.

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