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Sauna - types (facial, steam bath) and benefits
A sauna is a small room or house with hot or humid environment, where the temperatures exceed 80°C. The sauna sessions include disrobing and sitting or reclining, as the heat promotes sweating and induces relaxation. The effect is soothing, but at times heat prostration can occur, or even the more serious hypothermia (heat stroke). Cool shower after the session icreaes the blood pressure and therefore is not advised for people with history of heart stroke or those suffering from hypertension.
The mixed gender nudity is common in the conventional sauna, which is often regarded as a gender-free zone but nevertheless, a swimming suit can be worn. In the dry sauna one usually sits on a towel for hygiene and comfort. Temperatures over 100°C in the sauna are intolerable and together with the wet and hot environment may cause scalding. Thus, one can choose a higher level bench for hotter experience and a lower level bench for a moderate temperature. According to the good manners, do not keep the sauna door open for a long time, because it cools inside for those that are still inside.
Finnish sauna
History tells that the first wooden saunas date back to the 5th or 8th century. They were more primitive than the contemporary ones and were dug into a hill, later built above ground. The old technology included heating rocks in a stone fireplace with a wood fire, gradually warming the room and producing a smoke. The wood smoke aroma was part of the cleansing ritual and this type of sauna was called "smoke sauna".
In Finland it is a tradition that families go together to the sauna and they rarely use swimsuits or towels. In the shady lighting of the sauna, Finns prefer to sit in silence and relax. Many have heard about the popular Finn therapy, called “vihta”, which means that people use a small bunch of birch branches to swat themselves and their fellows in the sauna. This ritual promotes a pleasing birch odour and improves blood circulation. Sometimes Finns pour beer on the hot stones to release a grains odour, but it might not be approved by everyone. Others prefer scents like tar or eucalyptus, as well as the traditional birch aroma.
The major purpose, for which Finns use the sauna, is to cleanse their mind and refresh the spirit, but they also use it to prepare the dead for burial. The sauna kills any kind of bacteria and being the cleanest structure, it was applied as the place where Finnish women gave birth in the past.
Health benefits of the sauna
During a sauna session (usually lasting 10-12minutes), the heart works harder, providing a good metabolic result. The cardiac rhythm is increased like in a brisk walk or a physical exercise. The heat results in higher blood pressure, causes expansion of the blood vessels in skin and helps to increase circulation to the extremities. Thus, important nutrients are brought to the skin surface, which has beneficial effect on the cellular activity. The high temperature enhances opening of the pores and sweetening, which removes toxins and flushes impurities from the body. The skin nourishes and increases its elasticity and smoothness, as well as wrinkle-free complexion.
The high heat in the sauna increases the body temperature to 40°C creating an artificial fever state, known as hypothermia. It is a natural healing process, which stimulates the immune system and helps in production of white blood cells and antibodies in organism. The steam in the sauna can be used for inhalation as an effective therapy for many respiratory problems. This way, the moist air relieves throat irritation and bronchitis; loosens secretions and is a good remedy against sinusitis.
However, people with heart problems and especially those with stable coronary artery disease should consult with a doctor before using a sauna. That is because the blood pressure rises and lowers unpredictably after using a sauna and so complications are possible.
Types of sauna
Today there is a big choice of sauna options. Sauna types vary in using different heat sources, such as wood, gas, electricity and other. Those saunas at continuous fire are recent invention. They use firebox and smokestack, as the stones are placed in a compartment above the firebox. This type of sauna is cleaner and hotter than the smoke sauna. In other cases, sauna has electric heater or is “always-on” with a very large heat reservoir, used in public saunas. Another classification includes dry saunas, wet saunas, steam saunas, and infrared saunas (using infrared radiation rays, which kill the bacteria causing acne).
You can install a sauna in your home, or in backyard, and even in a vehicle. Due to the advance of technologies the possibilities are endless and the designs – more and more innovative. Thus, one can enjoy the health benefits of the sauna whenever he likes.
Steam bath
The steam bath was popular yet among the ancient Greeks and later adopted by the Romans, who named it "Sudatorium" and included it in their famous Roman bath. In Turkey, the steam bath has also been known since the old times and renown as "Hamam", which has turned to the widely used today term for "Turkish bath". In northern Russia it was known as "Banja".
It induces sweating but unlike the sauna, temperatures are between 43-46°C and there is a permanent humidity of 100%. The steam bath makes you relax and replenish your energy and its beneficial effect on the skin is highly appreciated by women, since the moist heat stimulates blood circulation, opens the pores, removes the impurities and cleanses the skin, leaving it soft and smooth.
The high steam content of a steam bath improves health. It relieves asthma, bronchitis and respiratory diseases. As a supportive measure, the steam bath treats well: joint disorders, muscular tension, poor skin circulation and sleeping disorders.
Hammam
The Turkish hammam, known also as Turkish bath is a variant of a steam bath, widely spread in the Middle-East. Its role in the Eastern culture was important, since it helped socialising and was used in the past as a ritual cleansing. Hammam resembles the Roman bath in combining several type of treatments and being accessible both by men and women. Hammam’s building usually has a beautiful architecture, decorated with large domes and marble stones, as well as corners with fountains.
The Turkish bath procedures include first relaxing in a room (known as the warm room or tepidarium), where one can experience a continuous flow of hot dry air. Bathers move then to the next hotter room (known as the hot room or caldarium) and splash themselves with cold water. Afterwards, they receive a massage and finally go to a cooling-room for a rest and relaxation.
The hot room is used for soaking up with the steam and scrubbing massages. In the tepidarium you will wash your body up with soap and water, while in the cooling room you can relax and have a refreshing drink, sometimes even nap in private cubicles after receiving the massage.
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