How to steam and wash in a sauna for health - rules and procedures, the benefits of steaming

The bathhouse is a good place for quality rest and healing of the body. It helps relieve fatigue and stress, cleanse the skin, relax muscles, improve blood circulation and eliminate toxins.

Even two centuries ago, the art of healing in a Russian bath was absorbed by Russian people, as they say, with mother’s milk, because it was part of everyday life. Many people saw visiting the steam room as a kind of ritual filled with sacred meaning.

Nowadays people come to the bathhouse to spend time supposedly with health benefits, without knowing the basic rules of visiting the steam room and bathhouse etiquette. For example, few people know how to heat a sauna, steam a broom, take a steam bath, and what to do in a steam room.

The steam room has a powerful therapeutic effect on the cardiac and respiratory systems, the musculoskeletal system, and provides an energy boost for the whole day.

Let's look at how to properly take a steam bath with maximum benefits for physical and mental health.

The benefits of steaming in a sauna for the body

For people in good health, a Russian bathhouse with a broom is recommended without fail. It helps strengthen blood vessels, joints and ligaments, improve immunity and relieve fatigue.

By following the rules and recommendations for visiting a steam room, people are less likely to suffer from colds and viral diseases, recover faster from injuries and tolerate stressful situations more easily.

A broom is the main attribute for carrying out procedures. It has a healing aroma, effectively affects the skin, improves blood circulation and cleanses pores of impurities.

The health benefits of bath procedures are as follows:

Maintaining optimal temperature conditions up to 75 degrees with humidity from 40 to 60%. This promotes rapid relaxation and general detoxification of the body, strengthening bone tissue, improving blood circulation and lymph flow.
Regular beneficial effects of steam can replace full-fledged fitness classes. So, 60 minutes of staying in a Russian bath is equal to 2 hours of exercise on exercise bikes.
The bath helps stabilize blood pressure, improve the movement of blood and lymph, and normalize the functioning of the excretory system. In addition, the steam room allows you to get rid of constant headaches, improve the functioning of the respiratory system, strengthen joints and relieve pain syndromes in muscle tissue.

Useful tips

Experts give the following recommendations on how to steam with a broom in a bathhouse:

After leaving the steam room, it is not advisable to lie down or take a sitting position. It is recommended to walk slowly and give your body time to recover. You cannot make sudden movements. A calm five-minute walk will allow the body to adapt to other temperature conditions. Only after this can you sit down, relax and drink tea.
Before visiting the steam room, you should not apply cosmetics to your skin. They clog pores, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of the procedure, and prevent the penetration of beneficial substances contained in broom leaves into the deeper layers of the skin.
If weakness or deterioration in health occurs, you should immediately stop the procedure and leave the steam room. In the waiting room the body will cool down and the condition will stabilize. On this day, it is necessary to exclude further visits to the steam room. If the same situation repeats in the future, it means that the use of a bath is contraindicated for a person.

If you have any health problems, then taking a steam bath yourself with or without a broom is extremely undesirable. In this case, the presence of other people is important.

Where to go to steam and wash: types of baths

Russian bath. As major experts in this field say, the Russian bath is considered the most beneficial for the body due to the average temperature and high humidity in the steam room. A typical Russian bathhouse is built entirely of wood and consists of two rooms: a steam room with a stove and a dressing room. Various infusions brewed from medicinal herbs are poured onto the hot stones. To enhance the healing effect of the Russian bath, brooms made from certain types of wood and various forms of massage are used.
The Roman bath is the place most suitable for pleasure and communication. No wonder it consists of three main rooms, where each has its own purpose and temperature. In our understanding, you won’t be able to take a steam bath in such a bathhouse.
According to the Turks themselves, you can take a proper steam bath in a Turkish bath called “hamam”. A standard Turkish bath has several rooms, the temperature in which increases by an average of 5 °C in each room. This sauna is distinguished by its low temperature, starting from 35 °C.
The Irish bathhouse is a kind of hybrid of Russian and Roman bathhouses. From the Russian bath she got steam and humidity, and from the Roman bath she got the fact that steam enters the steam room from cracks in the floor. It is not difficult to steam in such a bath, since the main difference between the Irish bath and its prototypes is the very low temperature, about 55 °C.
A Japanese bathhouse cannot even be called a bathhouse, or it can be, but with great stretch. In a typical Japanese bath there are no steam rooms, dressing rooms or pools with cool water, but there is a barrel of salt water (almost boiling water), in which the Japanese warm themselves and massage themselves with brushes. There is also a group version of this procedure, where several people warm up at once. Warm up - please, but it is simply impossible to steam in such a bathhouse.
Sauna - more precisely, a Finnish bath. Thanks to the love of many for extreme temperatures, it has taken root in our country. Most sauna adherents say that you can only steam properly in it, bringing a broom into the procedure and watering the stove with herbal infusions. Although the main difference between a sauna and a Russian bath is the lack of humidity in the steam room. A traditional sauna consists of three rooms: a steam room, a room with a pool and a relaxation room.

Cover your head from the heat

Experienced bathhouse attendants know the dangers of visiting a steam room with your head uncovered, as you can get a thermal stroke, leading to the most dire consequences. Our head is designed in such a way that the brain is protected by practically nothing except the bones of the skull from intense heat, which can be destructive. Therefore, under no circumstances neglect additional protection - buy a felt cap and put it on your head before entering a heated steam room.

Felt is an excellent thermal insulation material with a low heat transfer coefficient due to its fibrous structure and creates a comfortable microclimate, protecting against heat. Hence one more rule - do not enter the steam room without a hat!

Preparing for a visit to the bathhouse

Bath procedures are an art that requires careful preparation. To go to the steam room you should prepare:

Terry towel or sheet.
A hat or other headdress.
Flip-flops or flip-flops with an anti-slip base.
Changeable underwear.
A woolen mitten or mitten.
Personal hygiene products – soap, washcloth, shampoo, gel, pumice stone.
Comb and brush for massage.

You should also choose bath brooms - for example, from birch or oak branches.

It is recommended to steam them 24 hours before visiting the bath in cold water, then wrap them in a damp cloth. This will preserve the unique aroma and elasticity of the ligaments. After entering the steam room, the brooms are thoroughly steamed on a heater. This will make them softer and more flavorful.

Equally important is preparing the body for the procedures. The last meal should be 60 minutes before visiting the bathhouse. You cannot be in the steam room on an empty stomach, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or after surgery on internal organs.

How to properly prepare branches

Steaming with brooms in a bathhouse will give the best effect if the dry branches are pre-steamed. This procedure will prevent the leaves from falling off when swung. A dry accessory can be prepared in several ways.

Place the plant in cold water for half an hour, then shake off the moisture and place it in the water for a couple of minutes. The water will rise smoothly along the cuttings, making the twigs softer.
The next method is suitable for those who are short on time. Take dry branches and dip them in cold water for a couple of minutes, and then transfer them to a container with warm water. In the third stage, place the broom in a container of hot water for 2-3 minutes.
Place the branches in boiling water and cover the container with a lid. After two minutes the product will be ready for use.

These methods are suitable for deciduous plants. Herbal options just need to be dipped three times in a container of hot water. Coniferous branches must be kept in hot water for about 20 minutes, while the container must be covered with a lid.

Effects of steam on the body

The high air temperature in the sauna and steam bath increases sweating and opening of pores, ensuring the active removal of accumulated toxins and increasing immunity.

The main thing that a Russian steam room has that a Finnish sauna lacks is light and clean steam, which has a beneficial effect on the organs of the respiratory system. Steam penetrates deeply into tissues, nourishes and cleanses cells.

To prevent possible overheating of the body, increased sweating is accompanied by accelerated blood circulation and redness of the skin. Blood actively saturates cells with oxygen and nutrients, improving the condition of the epidermis and internal organs. At the same time, excess fluid is removed from the body through the sweat glands, which experience extreme stress.

For this reason, it is important to maintain a drinking regime during bath procedures. The main rule is to drink large amounts of healthy liquid in small sips.

Contrast baths are no less useful than thermal procedures, as they provide rapid closing of pores. Simultaneous heating of the body and short-term cooling promotes effective cleansing of the superficial and deep layers of the epidermis.

What exactly will a Russian bathhouse save you from?

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system

Over time, joints and muscles lose their elasticity, and an elderly person develops pain that is difficult to respond to conservative treatment. The unique climate of the Russian bath returns them to their former strength, tones and trains them under stress. As a result, more than a dozen years are taken off your shoulders.

Another useful quality of the steam room is rapid healing after injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Professional athletes often visit the sauna after particularly tough workouts. The steam penetrates deeply into the body, warms it up and relieves muscle fatigue. They receive a double “portion” of fresh blood, rich in oxygen and other benefits. The steam room helps to quickly get rid of swelling around the injured joint (bone), relieves it of waste accumulated here (decomposition products), and disperses stagnant lymph.

And, of course, one cannot help but recall the positive effect of bath procedures for people suffering from rheumatism and radiculitis. Deep steaming helps relieve pain and accelerate the removal of excess salts from the body, which are the main culprits of stiffening of joints and bones.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system

All hypertensive patients do not tolerate heat well and instinctively avoid baths. But in vain! A “beginner” core specialist can effectively pump up his heart in a steam room, because only there it undergoes a kind of health training. Under the influence of heat and steam, the main “pump” of the human body significantly accelerates its rhythm of work, as it is forced to cope with the increased volume of blood released into the system. Blood vessels are actively “washed”, and even the smallest capillaries are used.

Wise dosing of loads leads to strengthening of the heart muscle, which has a beneficial effect on the health of our main hard-working organ. A bathhouse will also help people with hypertension, but only if the disease is not very advanced. But eternally sleepy and exhausted hypotensive patients will get rid of obsessive headaches.

Nervous system diseases

Stress and constant tension are faithful companions of modern man. The bathhouse will easily drive the first and second things out of you, thanks to the special “gift” of relaxation. Within a few minutes after visiting the steam room, you will relax, problems and anxieties will leave your head, allowing your brain center to fully rest.

A state of relaxation occurs due to increased blood outflow from the cerebral cortex. Stroking with a broom stimulates the peripheral nervous system, relieving us of many neuralgic diseases. The “bump” of nerves gradually dissolves, and you tune into a good-natured, calm mood.

Diseases of the urinary system

The kidneys in our body are responsible for the timely removal of excess fluid. But the “dirt” that has accumulated in us disrupts the functioning of the “filters,” clogging them with sand and stones. The bath will help to gently and effectively clean them of unnecessary burden.

During a visit to the steam room, a person sweats intensely. Water is removed through the skin, and the kidneys rest and are washed with fresh, oxygenated blood. The body launches a “renewal” program, helping to fight emerging foci of inflammation, which makes it possible to get rid of such unpleasant diseases as urolithiasis and cystitis.

Disturbances in the endocrine system

Hormonal imbalances cause many serious diseases; some people have to fill the gaps in the functioning of the glands with the help of chemicals for the rest of their lives. The bathhouse climate causes a surge in the endocrine system, which increases the rate of production of all hormones, which are quickly picked up by the accelerated blood flow and delivered to the right place.

Such training bursts are very useful for the glands, as they “teach” them to respond more sensitively to the needs of the body. The steam room is especially valuable for the thyroid gland, diseases of which affect women 12 times more often.

Respiratory system diseases

Spring and autumn are traditional seasons for coughs and runny noses. The bath allows you to train the immune system to react more sensitively to a virus that has entered the body.

The extreme heat in the steam room increases the temperature of each organ by an average of +2°C, which forces us to go into “fever” mode. This condition causes rapid activity of the body’s defenses, which rush to search for the “enemy.” False calls train cells to react to the virus, increase their vigilance, and are therefore extremely useful for humans.

Despite the intense heat and humidity in the steam room, it is always especially easy to breathe here. Clogged small bronchi “thaw”, the volume of the lungs increases by an average of 15-20%, and the blood rushing to the organs quickly carries increased doses of oxygen throughout the body. The nasopharynx gets rid of excess mucus, which helps prevent runny nose and other colds.

Diseases of the liver and biliary system

Liver diseases cause intoxication of the body, which leads to rapid death of a person. To give the organ a break from its daily work with “poisons”, go to the bathhouse. Under the influence of heat and steam, all blood-containing “storages” of our body throw out their reserves, including the liver. This relieves it, gives a serious break, and due to the increased content of oxygen and nutrients in the blood, it nourishes and heals our “filter”.

Before going to the bathhouse, visit your doctor and find out if this healing method is right for you. Remember that during periods of exacerbation of illnesses, going to the steam room is extremely undesirable.

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A bath broom is a faithful assistant in the fight for health

Broom massage perfectly replaces many unpleasant medical procedures, and its therapeutic effect is much more expressive than that of taking preventive medications. The main thing is to regularly take the procedures and choose and use your herbal “helper” correctly.

Nature generously gifts us with natural medicines, but man, having become cultivated, has lost the ability to distinguish between her gifts. Fortunately, our ancestors left us a rich medical heritage, and modern biologists are constantly testing the effect of various extracts from plants and herbs on the human body.

A special method of preparing a bath broom allows you not to lose the precious healing elixir, but to maintain its maximum concentration in the foliage. Whipping each other in the steam room, we deliver it along the shortest route to the desired recipient.

There's a difference between broom and broom. Everyone chooses an individual recipe for health. We bring to your attention a list of traditional “fans” from which you will choose the best assistant for your needs.

BIRCH BROOM The popularity of this “healer” is connected not only with its original Russian origin.
A huge set of useful components is hidden in birch foliage: vitamins A, C, flavonoids, tannins, essential oils, etc. Translated into human language, a birch broom will help cope with the following ailments:
Chronic bronchitis, smoker's cough

Pain in muscles and joints

Skin inflammation
Kidney diseases

Porous leaves perfectly draw out all the nastiness from the body, cleansing us of toxins. Thanks to increased sweating, the kidneys are unloaded and direct all their protective power against the resulting sand and stones.

Birch also has an anti-inflammatory effect, so under the influence of a broom massage, pustules and pimples disappear from the body, the skin is saturated with a fresh aroma and simply radiates health. Regular visits to the bathhouse will transform and rejuvenate you and help you stay in great shape.

One of the most valuable qualities of birch is its beneficial effect on the respiratory system. The plant enzymes entering the body dissolve mucus in the small bronchi and relieve spasms, so it is especially useful for people suffering from chronic lung diseases to pamper themselves with a birch broom.

Athletes use birch therapy to relieve pain in strained muscles, and older people restore their former mobility to their joints.

OAK BROOM With the help of such an assistant you will get rid of depression, since oak foliage contains special substances that calm the nerves and restore mental balance.
An oak bath broom also has a positive effect on hypertensive patients and can really reduce blood pressure. Regular visits to the bathhouse with it are an excellent preventative and therapeutic remedy for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Those with oily skin should definitely caress their body with an oak broom. This will allow them to significantly improve its appearance and paint the cover with a soft matte color. Pimples, blackheads and other inflammations will gradually disappear from the surface of the skin. This broom builds up heat very well, thanks to the large width of the leaf - this promotes strong sweating and global cleansing of the body.

ROWAN BROOM Do you want to get a morning boost of energy? Then at dawn go to the bathhouse with a rowan broom, with which you:
Significantly increase sweating

Tone your skin

Normalize blood pressure
Clean your kidneys

Upon completion of the procedures, there will be no treacherous drowsiness; on the contrary, you will be charged with positive energy, your head will clear, since rowan is a natural stimulant of mental activity.

The soft foliage and flexible branches of the plant somewhat soften the effect of the broom on the skin, compared to other “brushes”, but thanks to the excellent set of useful components, the healing effect of this “disadvantage” will not decrease at all.

LINDEN VENIKLIPA is a natural disinfectant that hides in its depths a loading dose of ascorbic acid, carotene and phytoncides.
During a broom linden massage, the atmosphere in the bathhouse is sterile and reminiscent of an operating room; the skin absorbs enzymes and strengthens our “immune shield” against viruses and infections. Stagnant mucus in the bronchi is easily removed, the lungs and nasopharynx are cleared, so steaming with a linden broom is especially useful for those who suffer from chronic forms of bronchitis. This doctor is especially needed for people who suffer from periodic headaches and migraines. The plant has a pronounced calming effect, which has a positive effect on people with frayed nerves. A person tunes into a positive mood, anxiety and aggression disappear, which allows him to clearly and sensibly assess the situation.

There are a huge number of other types of brooms, the benefits of which you can read on our website. You can easily combine several types of greenery, thereby making the bouquet an effective weapon against several diseases at the same time.

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Step-by-step process of steaming in a sauna

In order for steaming in a bathhouse to give a noticeable effect, proper preparation for the first session is required. An important step is a relaxing shower to prepare the body for subsequent thermal procedures.

First you need to rinse your body (your head remains dry) with warm water, gradually increasing the temperature to 50 degrees.

Important! When taking a shower, it is not recommended to rub your body with a washcloth or massage brush, or use gel or soap, which can lead to skin irritation.

Before visiting the steam room, just dip the hat in cool water, wring it out and put it on your head. This will provide reliable protection against overheating throughout the entire session.

First visit to the steam room

At this stage, the body is gradually prepared for thermal stress. Warming up the body at a low temperature leads to dilation of blood vessels, opening of pores and increased sweating.

It is recommended to start steaming in the sauna on the lower tier of the shelf in a sitting or lying position. Breathing is smooth and deep without tension, accompanied by gradual redness of the skin and rapid heartbeat.

Then you can move to the shelves higher, relax and breathe with your diaphragm.

The duration of the first approach should not exceed 8–10 minutes.

1.5 minutes before leaving the steam room, you need to sit down to prepare your cardiovascular system for a standing position. After the first visit, it is recommended to take a cool shower, drink warm tea or herbal decoction.

Second and subsequent visits

Next, you can actively use brooms after pre-heating on hot bath stones. The second visit is best done with a partner who will help you perform an effective warming massage with a broom.

One steamer in the bath takes a lying position, the second performs patting and rubbing with a broom from the feet to the neck and shoulder girdle, and then in the opposite direction. After spot warming up, light blows follow, which should not cause discomfort or pain. The massage ends with a warm compress: the ligament is heated with steam and applied alternately to individual parts of the body for 3–5 seconds.

After completing the procedure, you need to slowly rise and stay for 2-3 minutes to stabilize blood pressure and heart rate, after which you can slowly leave the steam room.

Each steamer decides for himself how long to steam in the steam room, but the recommended duration of the session should be from 8 to 20 minutes, the number of visits - from 3 to 6. Before each visit, you need to take a break for a quarter of an hour.

What to do during breaks

Rest between visits to the steam room is no less important than bath procedures. Experienced steamers use it for contrast and cosmetic procedures.

After leaving the steam room, you can swim in a font or pool, wipe yourself with snow or douse yourself with cold water from a tub.

Beginners should be careful with contrasting procedures for hardening; the best option for them is a cool shower and dry rubbing.

After completing water procedures, it is recommended to replenish the water balance in the body with a cup of tea, herbal decoction, berry juice or still water.

Relaxation is the best time for cosmetic procedures. After the steam room, it is recommended to use cleansers based on salt, honey and coffee grounds.

No less popular are anti-cellulite wraps with creams and lotions to increase blood circulation in tissues and break down fat deposits. A good effect is achieved through the use of anti-aging masks prepared with your own hands from natural ingredients.

The duration of rest should be equal to the time spent in the steam room.

Completion

The number of visits is determined by the health and physical well-being of the steamer. If you experience unpleasant and painful sensations - dizziness, nausea, lethargy and drowsiness - you must immediately leave the steam room. In this case, the bath procedures are considered completed.

After the final session, it is recommended to cool down by sitting for a few minutes in a cool waiting room or relaxation room to normalize body temperature and heart rate. For seasoned bathhouse attendants, completion of the procedures is accompanied by a warm shower, rubbing, and a cup of tea or juice.

Does a sauna help you lose weight?

Experts are confident that thanks to frequent visits to the bathhouse, you can burn the calories that a person has. Playing sports helps a person improve his mood and remove extra pounds from his hips. But you can do this not only thanks to the gym and jogging in the morning, but also to a regular bath. Many people consider visiting a sauna an exotic way to wash their body.

Some people have a negative attitude towards the bath. But there are also those for whom visiting her is like a real ritual. Thanks to visiting the sauna, a person gets rid of dirt and bad mood. You can remove waste and toxins from the body and relieve tension. Many people wonder whether a bathhouse can rid a person of extra pounds. Experts always answer that due to the high temperature and humidity of the human body, visiting a steam room can remove a huge amount of toxins, harmful substances and accumulation of salts.

Human weight loss occurs due to the destruction of fat deposits. In one session you can get rid of one to three kilograms. But for the effect to last, you should follow proper nutrition and exercise periodically. When visiting a sauna, I not only burn calories, but also improve my mood. Due to the high temperature, the body wants to cool down, blood circulation accelerates, a strong influx begins to increase the supply of oxygen to the body, due to this, the functioning of organs and the condition of the skin can improve, so you can notice how cellulite is gradually destroyed and a person loses weight.

While visiting the bathhouse, a person receives a strong load on the body, energy is burned, and he can lose up to 400 calories. This is equivalent to one day of training in the gym. During heating, metabolism in the human body accelerates. This has a very good effect on the absorption of food and reduces fat deposition several times.

Compliance with safety regulations

In order to take a steam bath without harm to your own health, you must follow the important rules of steaming:

It is better to visit the bathhouse in a good mood and well-being. You cannot overeat or be hungry, drink alcohol or take drugs.
The first entry into the steam room requires preliminary preparation of the body for thermal procedures.
Your stay in the steam room should not be long - from 2 to 6 visits, 10 minutes each. Overheating the body can lead to heatstroke.
You can only be in the steam room with dry hair. It is better to protect your head with a bath cap or towel.
Drinking plenty of water in the bathhouse is a necessity. The best choice is green tea, herbal infusion, natural juices, mineral water and fruit drinks.
You cannot wear jewelry, accessories, or decorative cosmetics on your face in the steam room.
After completing the bath procedures, proper cooling of the body is ensured - a warm shower, dry rubbing or dousing. If the steamer feels unwell, you should limit yourself to a short rest and a change of clothes.

Necessary accessories for the procedure

In addition to a broom, to visit the bathhouse you will need:

bathrobe;
large towel;
rubber slates;
sheet;
felt or wool hat;
clean linen;
hard mitten;
washcloth;
shampoo;
soap or shower gel;
drinks: tea, juice, decoction based on medicinal herbs, pure water without gas.

Representatives of the fair sex are recommended to take with them anti-cellulite products (if they have the problem of “orange peel”) and creams for the face and body.

It is not recommended to take alcoholic drinks with you to the bathhouse, as they create an increased load on the heart, which can cause a heart attack and other pathologies.

Features of bath procedures for women

Healthy women are recommended to take a bath, but it is important to take into account some restrictions:

Pregnancy.
Menstruation.
Lactation.

Wellness procedures help to establish the cycle and eliminate inflammatory processes in the organs of the genitourinary venous system. This is a wonderful prevention of specific female diseases, as well as diseases of the heart, lungs, musculoskeletal system and varicose veins.

In addition, each woman can choose the types of steaming that suit her, taking into account her own health and the ultimate goals of bathing leisure.

Steam action

When the body enters an environment with a temperature exceeding 36.6 degrees, it begins to actively secrete sweat, trying to avoid overheating. This feature is also used in the bathhouse. How is this useful? It's simple, a lot of completely unnecessary substances accumulate in the fat under the skin, and with profuse sweating they all come out.

Sweat in the bath

Steam helps open pores and increase blood circulation, which manifests itself through redness of the skin. At the same time, “active processes” occur not only on the outside, but also in the internal organs, as the blood begins to deliver the required volumes of nutrients.

How steam works

Taking all this into account, it can be explained why it is recommended to drink as much liquid as possible during bath procedures. But, not in one gulp, and not chilled sodas, but exclusively fruit drinks, compotes or herbal teas. Such liquid is not removed from the body, but spreads evenly throughout the body and restores lost reserves.

Bath tea party

Here we need to mention the quite popular diving into cold water (wiping with snow, dousing with ice water). This ritual helps to quickly close the pores and the following happens: hot blood from the skin “goes” into the deeper layers of the body, thereby warming them up. The next visit to the steam room activates the body’s work not only on the skin, but also in the internal organs.

Diving into the snow

Swimming in an ice hole

Steam is cold, a combination that cannot be avoided without interruptions. They are needed to restore strength (the load on the heart in the baths is quite large), and to replenish fluid reserves in the body.

Indications and contraindications for baths

Regular visits to a Russian bathhouse allow you to combat:

Osteochondrosis and osteoporosis.
Headache and migraine.
Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Hypertension and hypotension.
ARVI.
Skin diseases.
Diseases of the heart, respiratory and nervous systems.

There are diseases that are at risk when health procedures are prohibited:

Oncology.
Epilepsy.
Heart and kidney failure.
Acute respiratory diseases.
Internal bleeding.

Pregnant women, elderly people and small children under 3 years of age are also prohibited from visiting the steam room.

To get a powerful rejuvenating and therapeutic effect, you need to know how to properly steam in a bathhouse. To do this, it is recommended to follow the basic rules of bath procedures and take into account the physical condition of the body.

Types of bath brooms

This accessory is intended not only for active massage, but also for creating a unique aromatherapy that arises from the leaves of the plant used. During bath procedures, beneficial inhalation also occurs, which helps in the treatment of many diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Let's talk in more detail about which broom is best for steaming in a bathhouse and what effect it has on the body.

Birch branches

In Russia, this option can be found almost everywhere. It is considered one of the best for use in a steam room. This is due to the fact that birch branches have a gentle effect on the skin and cleanse internal organs, increasing blood circulation. The branches of the described plant are very flexible and are capable of maintaining elasticity for a long time after drying. During the procedure, the adhered leaves absorb sweat and toxins, thus cleansing the skin. After whipping, the pores are cleaned, which allows the skin to breathe and better absorb various beneficial substances.

Oak branches

Oak leaves are especially useful for caring for oily skin. Thanks to the essential oils, tannins, quercetin, quercitrin and pentosans included in the composition, an oak broom cleanses the skin and makes it more elastic. The steaming procedure using this accessory will have an anti-inflammatory effect and speed up the skin regeneration process.

Eucalyptus branches

Used in the bath for the treatment of colds, as well as for their prevention. The shoots have a strong, specific smell that not everyone can withstand. For this reason, most often several eucalyptus branches are added to an oak or birch “bouquet”.

Juniper branches

They contain a huge amount of essential oils, vitamins and beneficial amino acids that have a bactericidal effect. The bush does not have sharp needles, but the legs themselves are prickly. This option is quite tough and is more suitable for experienced bath attendants. Before using it, you need to learn how to steam with a juniper broom. The steamer should lower it onto the skin not tangentially, but directly. Some people first wrap their prickly paws in a light cloth and lie on them. Juniper is useful for liver and kidney diseases. This plant can also eliminate the symptoms of some skin diseases.

Alder branches

The leaves have an adhesive property; they stick to steamed skin and draw out toxins from it. Using this option prevents joint diseases.

Fir branches

They have a general strengthening, anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effect. It is the fir, unlike its other prickly counterparts, that is more suitable for soaring. Its soft needles have a gentle effect on the skin. The use of the plant is indicated for respiratory diseases.

The aroma has a positive effect on the nervous system, has a calming and relaxing effect. When steamed, essential oils penetrate the skin and have a softening and rejuvenating effect. Before use, it is important to learn how to properly steam with a fir broom. You need to start stroking from the neck area and ending with your toes. Next, the sides are processed: first on one side, and then on the other. The use of fir is contraindicated for skin diseases.

Artemisia branches

Because of its bitter aroma, it is most often used as an additional component of a birch or oak “bouquet”. Wormwood is indicated for diseases of the respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract. During the massage, herbs have a relaxing and calming effect.

Bamboo

It is not traditional for a Russian bath; it is brought to us ready-made from Asia.

The plant contains silicic acid, which improves the condition of skin and hair. Vaping bamboo is also used to relieve symptoms of depression. Below is a useful video on how to steam with a bamboo broom.

Linden branches

They have a positive effect on the kidneys and promote the healing of small wounds. Massage with linden branches can eliminate headaches and normalize sleep.

Thus, all plant products can be divided into three categories:

deciduous;
conifers;
prefabricated

Having learned about the beneficial properties of a “bouquet” of various plants, it’s time to talk about how to use this accessory in a steam room.

Top errors

Let's note what people do wrong most often:

Usually, after leaving the steam room, a person takes a lying position. It’s better to walk around a little first and then sit down. Fast and sudden movements are contraindicated, since high temperature already strains the heart and blood vessels.
Applying decorative cosmetics before going to the bathhouse. Not only does it clog pores, but it can also cause unwanted reactions when exposed to high temperatures. All care products are applied after the final entry into the steam room.
You should not drink alcohol in a bathhouse; the outcome can be disastrous.
Taking a steam bath is a lot of effort. This won't lead to anything good. It is important to listen to your body here. If even after a couple of minutes in the steam room it becomes difficult to breathe or you feel dizzy, you should immediately leave the room.
Most people do not wear a hat to the steam room. It must be remembered that steam can cause heat stroke. As a last resort, if there is no special cap, you should tie a towel on your head.
People are in a hurry after the bath to go about their business. However, it is advisable to leave the steam room after blood pressure and body temperature have normalized. Haste may not have the best effect on the result of the procedure.

If you follow the recommendations of experts and listen to your own feelings, going to the bathhouse will not only improve your health, but also rejuvenate you.

How to enhance the effect

To enhance the beneficial effect of the procedure, after the steam room it is recommended to drink a medicinal decoction of linden or chamomile, or green tea with honey. But what you should not do is jump into a pool of cold water or snow.

It is effective to add a few drops of essential oils of eucalyptus, juniper, pine or geranium to the water with which the hot stones are sprinkled in the steam room. They have a lot of healing properties and turn a visit to the bathhouse into an aromatherapy session.

To increase sweating and, accordingly, remove harmful substances from the body, you can use special rubbing mixtures, which are freely available in pharmacies and cosmetic stores. You can also prepare them at home. To do this, mix honey and salt in equal proportions. Then this mixture is gently rubbed in a circular motion into the steamed skin. This product removes dead skin particles and increases sweating; however, it should not be used if there are wounds or scratches.