“I loved going to the bathhouse with my father... They washed and steamed there for hours; to the point of fatigue, to exhaustion. And then, when I left home, I remember: no matter what city I came to, the first thing I did, if I had at least one heel in my pocket, was to go to the bathhouse and there endlessly washed myself, lathered myself, doused myself, steamed, scalded - and all over again." Pavel Ivanovich Shalyapin.
I wonder if there is a person in Russia who would not like a bathhouse? I think no. Well, at least it seems so to me. Maybe I’m wrong, of course, but I haven’t met such people.
It has long been believed that if you want to cleanse your body and soul, a bath will help. It is not known exactly when the bathhouse appeared in Rus'. Many historians believe that this happened in the 5th – 6th centuries. In those days, the bathhouse was considered a sacred place where four elements simultaneously dominated: water, fire, earth and air.
Today, the view of the bathhouse has changed, but it is still visited and loved. It is believed that a sweaty body seems to receive a second life. This is exactly what we will talk about today, about the miraculous power of the bathhouse.
A little bit of history.
From time immemorial, people considered water to be a clean element that washes away not only physical dirt, but also mental dirt. It was believed that bathing could protect against various diseases and all evil spirits. In this regard, many peoples carried out a wide variety of ritual ablutions.
For example, the Persians, leaving the house, doused themselves with water. It was believed that in this way they protect themselves from evil spirits. And in Ancient India, water was associated with a magical elixir that bestows life and health.
Hippocrates, the founder of medicine, said: “Baths help with many diseases when everything else has ceased to help.” When treating patients, he often replaced the usual traditional treatment with a good steam bath. Hippocrates believed that all poisons accumulated in the body during illness are eliminated through sweat in a hot bath.
Hippocrates' theory was also supported by his followers. They also believed that with sweat everything bad and unhealthy leaves the human body. That is why treatment with baths was considered a full-fledged medical procedure.
In Russia, monks, thanks to the fact that they could read the works of ancient Greek physicians, paid attention to the benefits of baths. In an effort to test this knowledge, they began to build baths in Rus'. This is how the bathhouse appeared in Russia.
Throughout its existence, the Russian bathhouse has aroused the surprise and admiration of foreigners. Just imagine: a hot bathhouse, steamed, fragrant brooms, cool water... This is probably why in the 10th century most Russian bathhouses in villages were located on the banks of rivers, lakes and ponds. I steamed into the lake, into the cool water. And after the bath you can relax in the dressing room, drinking rich and invigorating kvass.
You can write entire memoirs about the sensations that arise after visiting the bathhouse. But today we’ll talk: what are the benefits of a bathhouse for human health?
The benefits of a bath. The miraculous power of a broom.
The broom is rightfully considered the master of the bathhouse. Without it, a bathhouse is no longer a bathhouse! He is the one who works wonders in the steam room:
- Thanks to the broom, a good massage of the whole body is achieved.
- Blood circulation increases.
- Stagnation is eliminated.
- Metabolism improves.
- With its help, the pores open, and toxins leave the body along with sweat.
- Phytoncides contained in broom leaves kill all pathogenic microbes.
- Essential oils have a beneficial effect on the upper respiratory tract, and when they get on the skin, they rejuvenate it.
Birch broom.
In Russia, a broom is a symbol of a Russian bath. The most popular and frequently used is the birch broom. And this is no coincidence! Its leaves contain essential oils, tannins, vitamin C and provitamin A.
They stimulate biochemical processes in the skin, promote the healing of wounds and abrasions and, most importantly, cause active sweating. And sweating, as we already know, enhances the process of removing toxins from the body.
Essential oils contained in birch broom have a calming effect and improve mood, and have a beneficial effect on the upper respiratory tract. That's why it's so easy to breathe after taking a birch broom.
A birch broom is a godsend for those who suffer from rheumatism. It helps relieve pain in muscles and joints after grueling physical activity. Especially indispensable during the summer season. Birch broom has a unique scent, is flexible, durable and easy to use.
Phytoncides and essential oils have a beneficial effect on the skin, perfectly cleanse it and have an anti-inflammatory effect on pustules and acne. And with the fragrant infusion remaining after steaming the broom, you can rinse your entire body, dousing yourself from head to toe. You can wash your hair with birch broom infusion to strengthen your hair and get rid of dandruff.
Oak broom.
An oak broom is more suitable for people with oily skin. When using this broom, the pores are opened and cleared of sebaceous plugs, as a result, oily shine disappears and the skin becomes elastic. Oak leaves contain many tannins, which have a detrimental effect on pathogenic bacteria. The decoction remaining after steaming the broom can be used for excessive sweating of the feet. All you need to do is keep your feet in this broth for 5-7 minutes.
Linden broom.
A linden broom is indispensable for colds. It has a beneficial effect on the upper respiratory tract and, better than all other brooms, removes toxins accumulated during illness. The fact is that essential oils released into the air stimulate the sweat glands and cause profuse sweating, and with it the elimination of toxins. This broom helps relieve bronchospasm, soothe cough, and relieve headaches. In addition, birch broom or its decoction promotes the healing of wounds, abrasions, eliminates acne, the skin becomes soft, velvety and smooth.
Coniferous broom.
Coniferous broom is prepared from pine, spruce, and fir. This broom is good to use for diseases of the musculoskeletal system (osteochondrosis, radiculitis, neuralgia, pain in the spine and joints). It improves blood circulation in the muscles, thereby relieving pain. It contains tannins, essential oils, and vitamin C.
Needles perfectly disinfect the air, having a beneficial effect on colds, including diseases of the upper respiratory tract, acute rhinitis and sinusitis. It has a tonic and strengthening effect, has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, relieving fatigue and stress.
Coniferous brooms are very hard, so it is better to harvest them from young, light green branches, at the tips of which small buds are visible. This broom is steamed in a special way. First you need to brew it in boiling water and leave for 30 minutes. Then wrap it in a sheet and place it on the top shelf to steam. Remember, a pine broom is very hard and prickly, so it should only be used by trained people with good skin.
Rules for conducting health procedures
To make spending time in the sauna pleasant and useful, you need to pay attention to the recommendations of “gourmets” of bath procedures.
- visit a doctor (as mentioned above);
- exclude heavy physical activity;
- drink water (2–3 l) or tea;
- give up alcohol, tobacco products and coffee;
- cleanse the skin of makeup;
- remove jewelry;
- eat in advance (1-1.5 hours before the bath), preference should be given to fruits, vegetables, cereals and boiled meat.
- brooms;
- cap;
- mittens;
- sheet;
- terry towels;
- waffle robe;
- change of underwear;
- flip-flops;
- washcloth;
- cosmetics (you can prepare it yourself or buy it);
- healthy oils – essential and plant (base) for massage and aromatherapy;
- teas and herbal decoctions, a jar of sweet delicacies, since honey in the bath works wonders.
- put on a hat, slippers, wrap yourself in a towel;
- take a shower and dry yourself;
- go into the steam room, sit comfortably on the bottom shelf, after 10 minutes slowly rise so as not to lose your balance, go out and drink herbal tea;
- go into the steam room, splash 100–200 ml of water or herbal decoction on the stones, sit comfortably on a shelf, work well with a broom in the direction from your feet to your neck, stand up, sit for 1–3 minutes, go out;
- soak up the warm shower;
- cool off in the pool;
- drink tea;
- leave the steam room;
- pat the body dry with a towel;
- give a light massage;
- apply the scrub, wait 3–5 minutes, gently rub the mixture, rinse;
- cover the body with a mask, wait 20–30 minutes, rinse;
- pamper your skin with nourishing cream.
So, how to take a steam bath with health benefits? Easily! The main thing is to observe moderation and listen to your body.
I will end on this note. Have an easy day, Siberian health and don’t forget to subscribe to blog updates. It will be more interesting later. Bye!
Wisdom Quote: It is impossible to help someone who does not want to change their life (Hippocrates).
To get the maximum benefit from thermal procedures, people are required to follow simple rules for staying in the steam room.
- Before your first visit, it is recommended to take a warm shower and wipe your body dry. Put a bath cap on your head or wrap it with a towel.
- The duration of the first session in the steam room is 5–7 minutes. After which you need to take a short break in the rest room. The second run can last up to 15 minutes.
- In between visits to the steam room, it is important to take a sufficient amount of liquid - non-carbonated water, warm tea, herbal decoction, fruit juice or kvass.
- Bath procedures are performed in a lying position. When the body is in a horizontal position, the heat is evenly distributed in the room and has a proper effect on the human body. The procedures should begin from the bottom bunk, slowly moving to the upper deck chairs.
- After completing the procedures in the steam room, it is recommended to cool the body in the font, pool or under a cool shower. After the final entry into the steam room, you can thoroughly wash your body from sweat using care products and a washcloth.
Beneficial effects of the bath.
The benefit of the bath lies in its health-improving, restorative and therapeutic effects. Research by scientists has shown that a well-structured bath procedure can even replace sports training. Therefore, people who are engaged in sedentary work should pay special attention to this. The fact is that the bath makes up for the lack of motor activity, improves coordination of movements, and increases endurance.
A sharp change in temperature is a kind of simulator for blood vessels, which become stronger and stronger each time. It is especially useful for people who have the initial stage of varicose veins. It will steam well, and finally, douse yourself with cold water, jump into a pool or pond.
A hot bath helps fight overwork, weakness, lethargy, and fatigue. This is explained by the fact that lactic acid is excreted from the body through sweat, which accumulates in the body and causes this condition. The heat of the bath, warming up the body, and the aroma of brooms evoke a feeling of pleasant relaxation and lightness.
The benefits of the bath also affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. After the bath, the acidity of gastric juice decreases and the digestion process intensifies, and a healthy appetite appears.
The hot air of the bath has a stimulating effect on the receptors. As a result, blood flow to the skin increases. The skin breathes and helps the lungs saturate the body with oxygen. The benefits of a bath are also enormous for the kidneys. It helps them remove unnecessary substances and water from the body, which come out along with sweat, and swelling disappears.
Do not forget about the beneficial effect of the bath on the skin. With regular visits to the bathhouse, dry skin becomes more elastic, while oily skin, on the contrary, dries out. After visiting a steam room, the skin becomes elastic, soft, velvety, the color is evened out, and wrinkles are smoothed out. The stratum corneum and fat plugs are removed, and the pore ducts open.
Dependence of the digestive system on bath procedures
When the body is exposed to high temperatures, there is a slight outflow of blood from the internal organs. For this reason, the volume of gastric juice decreases, but the concentration increases. In this regard, eating during bath procedures is not recommended. Protein foods are the worst digestible foods in saunas.
A dry sauna helps reduce body weight, usually due to the body's consumption of moisture and energy.
The number of kilograms lost is determined by the following factors:
- duration of stay in the steam room;
- temperature and humidity indicators;
- characteristics of the body, in particular, whether the person is healthy;
- body fitness.
Weight loss can be regulated; for this, you can drink different volumes of liquid while taking a sauna, or use a different approach to the procedures.
As a rule, based on a person’s body weight, one can draw a partial conclusion about his physical health. It is no secret that each person has his own normal mass limits, and, accordingly, dangerous limits that negatively affect the functioning of many internal organs will also be different. It is also a fact that people suffering from excessive body weight are more likely than others to suffer from cardiovascular diseases.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with What can be made from rubble
To understand the benefits and harms of a dry sauna, it is recommended, firstly, to take into account the state of your health, and, secondly, the fact that accelerating the process of losing excess weight can negatively affect your health (more details: “Benefits of a sauna for the human body – the whole truth”).
Experts advise losing no more than 2% of your body weight in a short period of time. In adolescents, such rapid weight loss can cause the development of abnormalities in a still growing body, disrupting metabolism and the functioning of the kidneys and heart.
The healing effect of the bath.
For a long time, the bathhouse has been called a folk healer. Quite a few books have been written about its healing power. But it is worth remembering that the preventive and healing effect of a bath can only be obtained with a reasonable and competent approach to this procedure. After all, the bath, like many medications, also has contraindications. Therefore, people who have any health problems should consult a doctor. Otherwise, instead of benefit, you can cause serious harm to your health.
Well, we will continue to talk about the health benefits of the bath. So, what is the therapeutic effect of the bath?
The first is the benefits of the bath for diseases of the spine, joints and muscles. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system have become the diseases of the century. WHO statistics show that 80% of the population suffers from various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Moreover, most of them are of working age: from 30 to 50 years.
The bath is an excellent remedy for combating such ailments. If the body is well warmed up, then all diseases of the musculoskeletal system (arthritis, arthrosis, radiculitis, osteochondrosis, myositis) recede. The fact is that hot steam removes not only toxins and waste from the body, but also all salt deposits. As a result, the intensity of blood circulation and nutrition of the joint increases, and as a result, the mobility and flexibility of the body improves.
The second is the benefits of the bath for diseases of the cardiovascular system. People with hypertension should visit the bathhouse with caution; they should not go to a very hot bathhouse, and before visiting it, it is necessary to measure the pressure and make sure that it is normal.
The beneficial effect of the bath on the cardiovascular system is that blood flow improves due to temperature changes. Heat promotes capillary expansion. When you jump into a pool or douse yourself with cold water, they narrow. And after leaving the pool they expand again and give off excess heat. This is the so-called “gymnastics” for blood vessels. In addition, blood begins to circulate faster, which leads to improved functioning of all organs, including the heart. The blood clotting ability is activated, but, paradoxically, the anticoagulant ability is also enhanced.
The third is the beneficial effect of the bath on metabolism. The heat of the bath helps to renew and cleanse the body's cells. Toxins and waste are removed from the body along with sweat. The more intense the sweating, the better the metabolic system works.
Fourth , the benefits of the bath for the nervous system. In the process of visiting the bathhouse, it becomes significantly stronger. The human body relaxes, as a result, mental and muscle tension decreases, anxiety disappears, headaches go away, and mood improves.
Fifth , increased sweating reduces the load on the kidneys and liver. High temperatures promote the secretion of bile, having a beneficial effect on the gallbladder.
Thus, going to the bathhouse strengthens the immune system. All body systems begin to work more clearly and harmoniously.
Is it possible to take a steam bath with prostatitis and prostate adenoma?
Recently, doctors have become less categorical about visiting the bathhouse for men suffering from prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland).
This disease occurs in most cases due to infection or fungus. Thermal effects using essential oils may well dull the pain and even destroy the causative agent of the disease.
A visit to the bathhouse can be one component of complex treatment for prostatitis. At elevated air temperatures and high humidity, blood microcirculation in the pelvic organs and urine formation improve, this normalizes the condition of the prostate gland.
When treating prostatitis using a steam room, it is worth remembering some rules:
- Do not overuse the procedure (once every 1-2 weeks)
- Change the broom from birch to lavender, mint or chamomile
- Drink a warm decoction of thyme, currants or sage
- Leave in steam for 2-3 minutes
With prostate adenoma (growth of connective tissue in the prostate gland), the situation is completely different and thermal procedures are strictly contraindicated in case of relapse of the disease or acute stage.
This disease is accompanied by painful urination, impaired urine flow and an increased urge to go to the toilet. If there is a tumor, heating of which can lead to its enlargement and proliferation into internal tissues.
During remission of the disease, going to the steam room is allowed, but in compliance with the recommendations of the attending physician regarding temperature and time of stay.
Contraindications for visiting the bathhouse.
- Heart defects with severe circulatory disorders.
- Severe hypertension with blood pressure over 200 mmHg.
- Severe coronary heart disease.
- Severe vascular atherosclerosis.
- Tendency to bleed.
- Tendency to thrombosis.
- Age over 70 years.
- Exacerbations of chronic diseases of the lungs and bronchi.
- Tuberculosis.
- Severe bronchial asthma.
To summarize, I would like to say. The bathhouse, of course, is not a panacea for all ills. But its positive effect on the body is time-tested. The benefits of a bathhouse for human health make it indispensable for everyone who values their health. The sauna steams, washes, heals, hardens, rejuvenates, cleanses and protects. If you like to steam in a bathhouse, and you have any unique family recipes, write in the comments.
