What is a phyto-barrel? Indications and contraindications for use

Hello, dear friends!
Tired? Has your health deteriorated? Not in the mood? Don't enjoy life? Doesn't your reflection in the mirror excite you? So, we need to do something about it. Shouldn't you go to a spa salon where a heavenly atmosphere reigns, pampering you with blissful notes of peace, serenity and tranquility?

What? Not enough time and money? Believe me, there is an amazing procedure, distinguished by a reasonable price, speed and divine results, which will bring great benefits and true pleasure.

Its name is “Barrel Bath” (please do not confuse it with this one). In other words, this is a “Cedar phyto sauna”. A small device made of cedar, most often a cylindrical structure designed for one person. It is equipped with a small but comfortable bench for sitting, a door for entry, a lid with a hole for the head, a steam generator powered by electricity, into which a fragrant decoction of herbs is poured before the procedure, and fragrant essential oils are added.

It would seem like another useless thing. Just think, you climbed into it, took a steam bath, so what? The fact is that cedar wood, herbs, essential oils, steam, when combined, have an incredibly powerful effect on all systems of the body.

The phyto-barrel will reward you with eternal youth, wondrous beauty and priceless health. Indications and contraindications, recommendations for use, the device, as well as the DIY manufacturing process will be discussed in this article. Go…

What is a cedar barrel

A phytobarrel is a cabin made from Altai or Siberian cedar and designed for steam treatments. The effect is more reminiscent of a mini-sauna. The cabins have a hole for the head, inside there is a bench and a ladder. That is, during the procedure the body is in the barrel, and the head is outside.

The booths come in oval, square and round shapes. There are also booths where you can sit or lie. They are equipped with a steam generator that supplies hot steam, a fitting for draining moisture and heat-resistant steam outlets.

When making phytobarrels, trees that are more than 100 years old are used. Their wood contains essential oils and phytoncides that are beneficial to health.

The temperature in a cedar barrel is 40-60°C, it can be adjusted and the optimal value for a person can be set. Humidity – 100%. Many claim that the procedure is reminiscent of taking a hot bath in a Russian bathhouse.

To enhance the therapeutic effect, herbal infusions and essential oils are often added to the steam.

Is the bath useful or harmful?

The physiological effect of a bath is directly related to air humidity. A steam bath always leads to more significant functional changes and faster overheating than a dry air bath. Due to the inhalation of hot steam, gas exchange and evaporation of sweat are hampered, and a significant load is placed on the pulmonary circulatory system.

The greatest danger posed by the effect of elevated temperatures on the body is the activation of the degeneration of cells into malignant ones in the presence of precancerous diseases, which one may not even be aware of, as well as in the case of a hereditary risk of oncology. Since after 40 years the risk of neoplasms increases significantly, this category of people should definitely not turn the bathhouse into a lifelong hobby.

Cedar barrel: benefits and harm

Like any other procedure, phytobarrel has pros and cons. Why it’s useful:

• normalizes blood pressure;
• improves blood circulation and eliminates venous stagnation;
• helps to get rid of excess weight;
• speeds up metabolism;
• strengthens the immune system;
• has a beneficial effect on male and female genital organs, stimulating blood circulation in the pelvis;
• normalizes hormonal levels, etc.

Benefit and harm always go hand in hand. In some cases, it is strictly forbidden to attend steam sessions. Contraindications to a cedar barrel are as follows:

• infectious diseases at the acute stage;
• chronic diseases in the acute stage;
• inflammatory processes occurring in the body;
• bleeding, including menstrual bleeding;
• surgical interventions, heart attack and stroke that occurred less than six months ago;
• elevated temperature;
• malignant tumors;
• asthma;
• open tuberculosis;
• thrombophlebitis;
• atherosclerosis;
• stage 3 hypertension;
• heart failure;
• renal failure;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• weeping eczema;
• fungal skin diseases;
• Parkinson's disease;
• epilepsy;
• cerebrovascular accidents;
• children under 3 years of age;
• 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy;
• lactation period.

The list of contraindications for visiting a phyto-barrel is extensive. You should not ignore them, otherwise you may harm your health.

Difference from a regular sauna

A cedar barrel, the indications and contraindications for its use compared to procedures in baths and saunas, has a number of advantages, namely:

• comfort and safety of the procedure due to the absence of oxygen deficiency, negative effects of heat and steam on the vascular system of the brain/upper respiratory tract;
• providing the ability to regulate the desired level of temperature and steam in the container;
• convenient dimensions for safe placement of the device in small areas (1 m²) without the threat of damage to the walls of the room;
• low energy consumption of the steam generator;
• minimal time spent preparing for the use of the herbal barrel (up to 10 minutes) and taking health procedures (up to 30-40 minutes) by family members at a convenient time;
• more economical use of electricity in a phyto-barrel compared to the needs of a home sauna;
• the design of the device eliminates the thermal effect on the blood vessels of the brain and respiratory organs, in contrast to baths and mobile steam rooms;
• Possibility of use without connection to water supply and sewerage.

Indications

It is worth remembering that steam procedures cannot replace drug treatment, but are an addition to it. Before use, you should consult your doctor.

Sessions in a phyto-barrel not only help you get rid of illnesses, but also allow you to relax. Let us examine in detail what the indications for use are. For ease of perception, we have divided them into groups.

Respiratory system

The phyto-barrel has an inhalation effect - it relieves spasms, relaxes muscles and makes breathing easier. Helps get rid of the following ailments:

• bronchial asthma in the initial stages;
• allergic pathologies that are associated with breathing;
• pneumoconiosis and pneumofibrosis;
• closed form tuberculosis;
• bronchitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, which occur in a chronic form beyond the acute stage;
• recovery from illnesses of the respiratory system.

Licorice, hyssop, anise, thyme, eucalyptus and mint are good for breathing. The herbal collection is selected individually.

Cardiovascular and lymphatic systems

For cardiovascular diseases, a cedar barrel will come in handy. People suffering from these problems cannot visit the bathhouse and take a steam bath - in this case, cabins will be a good alternative. Recommended for:

• diseases of the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems that occur without inflammation;
• myocarditis;
• initial stages of hypertension and hypotension;
• ischemic disease (if there are no signs indicating angina pectoris);
• rehabilitation after a heart attack (you need to wait at least 6 months after the illness);
• vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Nervous system

Sessions will help get rid of the following pathologies:

• childhood enuresis;
• insomnia, sleep disorders;
• cardiopsychoneurosis;
• myopathy, myotonia;
• neuropathy of various origins;
• neurosis, stress;
• depressive states;
• overwork.

A phyto-barrel is a great way to maintain vitality. It combines the healing power of cedar and the healing properties of herbs.

Leather

Due to the incoming high temperature steam, pores throughout the body open, due to which the skin is cleansed, and accumulated waste and toxins are removed from the body. Even after one course, the condition of the skin changes: it becomes more toned and soft.

Try a couple of healing sessions for:

• acne on the face, back and chest;
• chronic dermatosis;
• dry or oily skin;
• severe cellulite.

Musculoskeletal system

For the prevention and rehabilitation of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the phyto-barrel is an indispensable tool. It will be useful after operations or injuries.

Fitness centers also actively use steam barrels. This is because steaming removes lactic acid from the muscles. And, if you use the cabin after training, your muscles won’t hurt the next day.

What do procedures in a barrel help with:

• rheumatoid arthrosis, which is in remission;
• poor posture caused by muscle tone;
• extra-articular rheumatism;
• deforming arthrosis;
• increased muscle tone and hypertonicity;
• for back pain caused by rheumatism, radiculitis and intervertebral hernia.

Excretory, reproductive and digestive systems

Indications for cedar barrel:

• chronic cystitis;
• constipation;
• hormonal disorders;
• menopause;
• uterine fibroids;
• chronic inflammation of the prostate gland and testicles;
• gastric and duodenal ulcers without exacerbation;
• swelling.

Making a phyto-barrel with your own hands

The market for bath accessories and equipment offers a large number of models of miniature baths and home steam rooms at a cost of 15,000 to 40,000 rubles per product. Naturally, you can purchase a ready-made miniature sauna, but it would be better to make a cedar barrel with your own hands. There are only two arguments in favor of such a decision:

• There is an opportunity to save a large amount from the family budget, and even more so if the phyto-barrel is structurally not difficult, even for amateur carpenters with basic qualifications.
• There is a real opportunity to make a phyto-barrel to suit your own height or take the average value if everyone in the household will use the steam room.

Another argument in favor of building it yourself will be the opportunity to make with your own hands a small steam room of the required level of quality, which will not have splinters in it, and which will not fall apart after a couple of months of use.

Construction of a miniature steam room building

If you choose between a box-shaped structure and a barrel, then to create an apartment steam room yourself, ideally you should use the latter option.

A phyto-barrel in the form of a rectangular box is much faster and simpler; the material used is a tongue-and-groove board with a thickness of at least 2.5 cm. Initially, a frame is made from the phyto-barrel; ideally it should be made of oak or larch. After this, the future body of the steam room can be divided into 2 sections - a non-separable lower and upper section, where the door will open. First, you need to stuff the slats into the bottom of the barrel, and then immediately lay a hoop with a fitting to supply and distribute steam evenly in the steam room. Next you need to assemble the bench and footrest. And only then is it necessary to sew the strips onto the walls and top of the barrel.

Features of the assembly process and finishing

Regardless of what shape the steam room will be, round like a barrel, in the form of a rectangular box or with a wedge shape, in all cases the cut strips are fastened together only with tongues and always using a heat-resistant adhesive composition.

The inner surface needs to be sanded and polished to remove any remaining adhesive mass, and all existing splinters must be removed.

If you make a barrel according to the classical scheme, then you need to install at least three hoops on the body with screw adjustment of the degree of tension. They are also used as flexible clamps during the assembly process and gluing steam room elements.

Procedure: algorithm and subtleties

You should visit the herbal barrel according to the rules, otherwise you will have to forget about the benefits.

The algorithm looks like this:

1. Do not eat at least 2 hours before the session.
2. It is worth taking a shower to cleanse your body of impurities and have time to dry. The body must be dry. Do not use creams or ointments before steaming, otherwise they will clog the pores and the herbal extracts will not penetrate the skin.
3. Before locking yourself in a barrel, drink a glass of water or natural juice. This will prevent dehydration.
4. Since the head remains outside the booth, place a towel in the gap between the hole and the neck for comfort.
5. Once the session is over, do not rush to leave. Sit in a warm room to acclimatize. At the same time, do not forget that the clothes you put on should be made of breathable fabric.
6. Do not shower for half an hour, otherwise the healing extracts will be washed off from the skin. Use this time wisely - drink herbal tea or do cosmetic treatments (wraps, massages, etc.).
7. After the specified amount of time has passed, it will be ideal to take a bath with chamomile infusion added to the water.

Usage

Phytosaunas are distinguished not only by a large list of advantages. They are easy to use. With simple steps, anyone can prepare a barrel for procedures.

First you need to prepare a liquid from essential oils. The steam generator, responsible for the supply of vapors, is equipped with a special container.

Essential oils are mixed in it for later use. You can apply the oil to the body or the inner walls of the barrel, however, the greatest effect will be felt when aromatic vapors are released.

It is recommended to cover the seat and bottom with a towel or sheet. Heating the surface will make the procedure uncomfortable.

Everyone chooses the required temperature and residence time independently. At the initial stage, it is not recommended to stay in the phyto-barrel for more than 15 minutes.

After setting the time, the steam generator starts working. Within 10-20 minutes (depending on the model), the air is actively heated. The herbal bath is ready for medical procedures.

The hole for the head can be carefully wrapped with a towel. This will avoid minor neck burns and discomfort.

Frequency of use: how often can you take cedar barrel

It all depends on the individual characteristics of the body. The main rule of visiting a phyto-barrel is that the duration of the session should not exceed 15-20 minutes. Otherwise, the body will overheat and dehydration will occur.

If we are talking about older people and children, then you can start with 5-10 minutes and a minimum temperature. In the future, with each visit, gradually increase the time, as well as the temperature.

One procedure will not help get rid of the problem. Regularity is important to achieve a positive result.

The course consists of 7-10 sessions. This is enough to get noticeable improvements. To consolidate the result, you need to take a break for a week and repeat the course.

If the barrel is used for weight loss, then the courses must be taken every week.

These are general recommendations. A relatively healthy middle-aged person, in the absence of contraindications, can steam every other day.

Effect on skin

By opening the pores, high temperature helps fight skin problems such as acne, rosacea, and various infiltrative rashes. No matter how paradoxical it may be, the phyto-barrel is useful for sunburn. Its calming effect helps to cope with the unpleasant feeling of tightness and flaking. After the procedure, the skin becomes soft, velvety and tans better. When taking thermal baths, it is advisable to use natural aromatic oils. Under the influence of steam, beneficial substances penetrate deeper into the skin and have a more lasting healing effect. It is also important to mention the anti-cellulite effect, which is very important for women.