How to properly steam an oak broom for a bath

A bathhouse is a leisurely, gradual and consistent affair. Everything must have its own order. The oak broom is the real ruler of the bathhouse empire and it requires special treatment. It is necessary to steam an oak broom for a bath in advance.

Oak broom differs from birch broom in greater strength and density of leaves. A properly steamed broom in a steam room practically does not fall off.

A dense and wide oak leaf captures and brings more bath heat to the body. This broom warms the body well and softens the skin.

However, in order for the beneficial properties of the broom to reveal themselves in full force, you need to know the subtleties of steaming. An improperly soaked broom will lose its leaves, quickly break and scratch the skin.

An overly steamed broom will also not bring pleasure. The branches become limp, the foliage becomes heavy, it heats up very quickly and steaming with it is unpleasant and dangerous. Boiling water drips from the hot leaves onto the body, the leaves stick to the skin and burn very strongly.

To avoid such troubles in the steam room, you need to steam and soak the broom according to the rules.

Oak bath brooms

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Everyone has long known firsthand about the healing properties of the Russian bathhouse. In addition to a pleasant pastime, it is also a cleansing and healing of the body at all levels. But this happens not only thanks to steam, but also to a properly selected broom. Its effects on the human body will differ depending on the branches of which tree or shrub it is made from.

In this article we will talk about the most important bathing tool made from oak branches. We will tell you how to properly steam an oak broom for a bath and what its benefits are.

1. Prepare a sleigh in the summer or when and how oak brooms are prepared for a bath 1.1. When to prepare and collect oak brooms for a bath?
1.2. Process of collecting raw materials

2. How to prepare an oak broom for the bath: knit, dry, brew

2.1. How to properly brew an oak broom for a bath

3. What are the benefits of an oak broom for a bath?

4. As a conclusion

Photo from the site https://www.rentier.ru.gamintwo.ru

General tips for proper processing

To make a trip to a bathhouse or steam room using a broom more beneficial, you should follow the recommendations of experienced bathhouse attendants:

Before steaming, any broom should be lightly rinsed with cold water to remove dust and dirt.
The remaining water after steaming can be used to rinse your body and hair.
You should not buy brooms in stores, unless they specialize specifically in bathing. There is a high chance of buying a low quality product.
Fresh brooms should never be steamed or kept in water for a long time, as this will cause them to lose all their beneficial properties.
To use in a steam room, it is not necessary to take classic birch or oak branches. An excellent option would be to use conifers, nettles, field plants or juniper.

Brooms should not be doused with boiling water. It will destroy all the beneficial properties of the product and lead to its excessive deterioration.

Oak and bathhouse

As we have already said, oak wood is the most valuable raw material for construction and ornamental timber. However, not every owner will be able to afford to build a bathhouse on his property from solid oak blocks or decorate a recreation room with panels made from this noble wood.

In the oven

Also, not every owner of a steam room will allow himself the luxury of heating a stove exclusively with oak logs. Although, oak is exceptionally good in the oven:

Its wood has a high calorific value.
The logs burn with an even, moderate flame and practically do not shoot sparks, like the same spruce firewood.
It's a pleasure to split oak. Yes, cutting it across the fibers is not an easy task, but lengthwise, even with little effort, it pricks well, and being well frozen, one might say, it’s even fun.
Oak is not inclined to clog chimneys with soot plugs, the fight against which is a very unusual matter. Even when not completely dried, it does not produce soot as much as other tree species, especially conifers.
Finally, heating the bathhouse with oak wood immediately creates an indescribable atmosphere of some special comfort and an amazing spicy aroma. Yes, of course, it’s nice to heat a sauna with birch, alder, and fruit logs, but oak is damn good in its own way. Anyone who has used it will definitely confirm.

And in the steam room

Let’s now consider why the oak broom seduces users, at least in comparison with its direct competitors:

Due to the abundance of leaves, the size and density of the leaf blade, such a broom is excellent for controlling the “steam cake”. In German baths, and the Germans understand a good bath no less than they understand good beer, it is customary to “conduct” the steam with an oak broom, which, despite its fairly compact size, due to its special fan-shaped shape, performs its function to all twelve points;
It is very durable. It is not uncommon for particularly zealous owners to have a well-made oak broom that lasts five or six trips to the bathhouse. From our point of view, reusable use of a tool is not entirely correct, but this example illustrates the essence and capabilities of oak more than perfectly;
Oak broom is very fragrant. Well steamed, it incomparably aromatizes the atmosphere of a steamy room, where some synthetic aromatizers go;

By the way! According to some experts, the aroma of a steamed oak broom acts as a deterrent to the rise in blood pressure, especially when taking steam procedures with high ambient temperatures.

An oak broom is preferable for users with oily skin. Oak leaves contain a large amount of tannins and are able to combat the increased secretion of the sebaceous glands. In addition, village healers used a decoction of oak leaves to combat excessive sweating of the feet. Oak therapy is also good as a restorative for chronic muscle fatigue. It is not for nothing that Volga barge haulers preferred oak during bathing procedures.

What else to take with you to the bathhouse

To make your stay in a bathhouse or sauna complete and enjoyable, do not forget to take with you a terry robe, rubber slippers, a cap to keep your hair from drying out, a towel for bedding and other accessories for the bathhouse, as well as bathroom accessories - a washcloth, soap, shampoo, body cosmetics. And then your vacation will bring only pleasure.

Are you all ready? We go to the steam room to get a boost of vivacity and energy. And plus a cold pool or, if it’s winter, a cross-country run around the bathhouse in the snow barefoot - and you’ll recharge your health and get positive emotions until next weekend, when a trip to the bathhouse will be organized again!

Steaming methods

There are many ways to steam an oak broom for bathing procedures. Each of them has its own characteristics.

Basic. This method is used by most fans of bath procedures using an oak broom. This method involves steaming only a well-dried, durable broom made from elastic oak branches with abundant foliage. Initially, it is placed in a bucket of clean cold water for half an hour, after which it is transferred to a bowl of hot (but not boiling) water for 5 minutes. It is important to use a broom steamed in this way for bath procedures until it has cooled down. Cold oak branches lose their aroma and elasticity.
Long. This method is usually used to soak very dry oak brooms, which begin to crumble under the influence of boiling water. They are soaked for 10-12 hours in cool, clean water until the foliage is completely softened. In this case, no additional treatment of the broom in hot water is required.
Express steaming. This method is usually used in conditions of acute lack of time, when no more than 20-30 minutes remain before visiting the bathhouse (steam room). In this case, a dry bath broom is placed in an enamel basin, filled with boiling water and covered with a lid or a metal container of the same diameter. The broom should be kept in boiling water for 10-15 minutes, after which it should be used for its intended purpose.
Express steaming in a steam room. This method is often used for steaming very dry and brittle oak brooms. This procedure is performed directly in the steam room of an already melted bath. In advance, in a steamy room, prepare a basin with cool, clean water, into which a broom is immersed for 1-2 minutes. Then the broom is moved towards the hot stove stones, holding it over them for 1-1.5 minutes. During this time, drops of cold water falling from the leaves onto the hot stones will turn into steam, due to which the broom will quickly soften and become suitable for use.
Popular. This method is used for steaming hard oak brooms with firmly planted foliage. They are steamed several times, periodically changing the water. The first time they are steamed with boiling water, the second and third time - with hot, but not boiling water. The entire procedure usually takes no more than 40-45 minutes.
Classical. This method is considered a little time-consuming, but it is what allows you to get a perfectly steamed, soft and fragrant oak broom. To do this, you need to soak a dry broom for 8-10 hours in water at room temperature, then wrap it in damp gauze and place it on the top shelf in a heated steam room. After 10-15 minutes it can be used for bath procedures.

Methods for steaming bath brooms: key points

So, before you start steaming the chosen broom in anticipation of a bath massage, you need to take into account the basic rule. It says that fresh brooms, unlike dry ones, do not need steaming. Unfortunately, boiling water has a detrimental effect on young foliage - it becomes sticky and heavy, and along with its beneficial properties, the delicate aroma is lost.

Also, you can easily get a burn from such a “brewed” broom, because it will stick to the body, accumulating heat. Not the best prospect from such procedures is to get tired and disappointed instead of vigor and positive impressions. Therefore, below we will tell you how to steam a broom in a bathhouse. If you follow these basic recommendations, using a bath broom will bring maximum benefits.

The first method, the main one , is optimal for well-dried bath brooms. Place the broom in a container of cold water for about 30 minutes. Then drain the water and pour in hot, but not boiling, water. Leave the broom in it for about 5 minutes.
The second method, long-lasting , is a great way to refresh a dry bath broom. If time permits, you should leave the broom in a container with cold water for 15–20 hours. No further actions are required with hot water.
The third method, very fast , is suitable for cases when there is very little time for preparation. To do this, you need to boil water in a kettle and pour it over a broom, previously placed in a suitable container, for example, a basin. Then it should be covered with a lid so that the steam remains inside, and left for about 7 - 10 minutes.
Method four, the express method , will help refresh a too-dry bath broom directly in the steam room itself. It consists of alternating contrast effects. First you need to fill the container with cold water and lower the broom into it for 1.5 minutes (maximum). Then take out the broom and, without shaking it off, hold it over the heater for 1 - 1.5 minutes, turning it over evenly. Drops of water falling on the stones will form steam, which will create the effect of steaming a broom. This method requires extreme caution and attentiveness - the broom should be held only with gloves on, so as not to get burned by the rising steam. You should also ensure that leaves fall on the heater, which may begin to smolder and form burning and smoke.

Using the above methods, you can steam both oak and birch brooms, as well as maple or eucalyptus for a bath. The recommendations, although universal, will help maximize the beneficial properties of the plants from which the bath brooms are made. And this, in turn, will complement the positive healing effect of the procedures performed and the time spent in the steam room.

Now we list the basic recommendations on how to properly steam brooms, except for birch and oak.

The pine broom should first be kept for 15–20 minutes in a container of hot water, covered with a lid to allow steam to condense;
To make the nettle broom less stinging, before use it should be placed in a container with hot water for 4 - 5 minutes, then with cold water for the same amount. Repeat the procedure several times. But, if the broom is used specifically for medicinal purposes, it needs to “burn”. In this case, you can limit yourself to simply rinsing the nettle broom with warm water;
By analogy with a nettle broom, wormwood brooms should be steamed in the same way.

After studying this article, the questions of how to properly soak an oak broom for a bath or how to steam a nettle broom will no longer raise doubts. By following the clearest and most detailed instructions, you can be sure that the selected bath broom will not lose its foliage and its effectiveness while in the steam room. Enjoy Your Bath!

Using an oak broom

The use of a broom is preceded by its preparation. Just dip a fresh broom in warm water and rotate it in the tub for a few seconds to wet the surface of the leaf. As mentioned above, the key difference between an oak leaf and a birch leaf is that leathery oak leaves do not absorb sweat, but simply remove it from the surface of the body. Therefore, logically, an oak broom should be moistened in warm water more often during the steaming procedure. Brewing a fresh leaf in boiling water will provoke a violation of its structure, will not allow it to perform its function normally, and finally, this will affect the durability of the leaf blade and the integrity of the broom as a whole.

A dry broom is also first dipped into water, but this is not enough to bring it into working condition; a more effective activation of the tool is necessary, primarily with water and elevated temperature. It looks like this:

Briefly immerse the bundle in warm water to rinse it.
Transfer to a tub of cold water for 3 - 4 minutes.
We return it to a container with moderately warm water, approximately 50 degrees Celsius, and let it stand for another 3-4 minutes, after which we add an equal amount of boiling water. We keep it in this heated state for 8 - 10 minutes. At the same time, it is useful to cover the container with a lid for better effect.
To enhance the aroma, practitioners advise holding a broom over the stove stones for several seconds. This will help get rid of excess and useless moisture.

Important! An indicator that the sheet is oversaturated with water is its increased stickiness. This situation can be partially corrected by heating a broom over a hot heater.

Bath gourmets, however, use a longer, but also much more effective method of preparing a broom for use. It consists of soaking a dry broom in cold water overnight, and then, wrapped in a linen towel, placing it on the top shelf of a heated steam room for a few minutes.

Preparing a broom for a steam room

It is necessary to start harvesting in June. There is an important rule: the earlier you prepare it, the worse its quality will be. You can knit a broom in September, but the material will become less durable. It is important to consider not only the preparation time, but also the method of steaming it. To prevent the broom from being hard, you need to learn how to steam it correctly.

Tips for parking a broom

Here are some recommendations for properly parking your future broom:

If you use fresh twigs, there is no need to steam them. It is necessary to clean them from dirt and dust using water.
Be sure to keep an eye on the structure of the sheets while steaming. They should not be flabby or soggy.
You can try soaking a broom made of oak branches before the steam room. To do this, dip your broom in warm water for about ¼ hour, then add hot water and cover the container.
You can even steam a broom literally a few minutes before the steam room procedure itself. Dip it into the steamer, first fill it with hot water or boiling water. You need to let it stand for a few minutes, then place it on the stones.
If you are going to the bathhouse in the evening, you need to soak the broom in the morning. Early in the morning, place it in warm water and then in boiling water. Then shake off the water from it and wrap it in a bag. Then indoors, spray it with water again and place it on the hot stones.

Types of brooms for baths

In order to properly steam a broom, it is important to take into account the characteristics of the wood from which such an attribute was prepared.

Based on the type of material, brooms can be divided into three categories:

Deciduous – birch, oak, alder, linden, hazel, ash;
Conifers - pine, fir, spruce, juniper;
Herbal - from wormwood, mint, nettle.

Birch

Products made from birch branches are practical, durable, flexible and easy to use. Thanks to the porous surface of the leaves, a birch broom has a gentle effect on the skin during massage procedures and quickly absorbs sweat.

Often, brooms are made from weeping or curly birch.

Oak

They are characterized by amazing strength and wear resistance, absorb sweat less well, but at the same time contribute to the rapid build-up of steam. Products made from oak branches are harvested at the end of summer from young trees.

Conifers

Products made from pine branches should not be used by people with sensitive skin. Harvesting is carried out from cedar, fir, pine and spruce branches throughout the year. They are effective for rheumatic diseases, as well as for respiratory diseases.

Nettles

Bundles of young nettle are recommended for use by patients suffering from gout and radiculitis. They are no less effective for various skin diseases. The only drawback of nettle broom is its fragility. The preparation of nettle bath attributes is carried out at the beginning of summer.

Beneficial features

Oak has power and energy. It represents longevity, health and good spirits. Its bark and foliage contain tannins, polysaccharides and flavonoids that act against pathogenic flora. An oak broom in a bathhouse can improve well-being and prevent the development of chronic diseases. It is useful for hypertension or hypotension, varicose veins and sweating. Cleanses the skin, fights pimples and acne, and starts the process of restoring damaged tissue. Relieves stress, restores psycho-emotional state, improves mood, restores vitality, increases the flow of oxygen into the blood.

Preparation of oak brooms

Even today, people grow small copies of real oak in a flowerpot in order to purify the energy in the apartment and increase immunity.

But let's forget about the esoteric for a few minutes and remember the beneficial substances that each oak broom preparation contains. The tree not only contains a large amount of minerals and vitamins, but also tannin and protein components, as well as acids. The content of ellagic and gallic acid together with flavonoids significantly enhances the therapeutic effect of visiting the bathhouse and has a beneficial effect on the epidermis.

The preparation of oak brooms is carried out during the season of strong movement of juice inside the plant to increase the beneficial substances in the composition. The loss of useful components can be avoided by drying without exposure to sunlight. In this case, oak bath brooms will retain their quality for up to 5 years.

Moreover, not only the branches, but also the bark and acorns have beneficial properties. Acorns are dried, fried and ground, after which they are used to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract, increase immunity and stop bleeding. Oak bark is used to create decoctions. They have a wide range of beneficial effects: strengthen the cardiovascular system, eliminate purulent inflammation, stop internal bleeding, and replenish zinc and iron deficiency in the body.

What beneficial properties does an oak bath broom have?
When are oak brooms harvested?
What to consider when collecting branches?
How to knit oak brooms?
How to properly steam an oak bath broom?
When will the results of a massage with an oak broom appear?

What beneficial properties does an oak bath broom have?

Experienced bath attendants use not only a broom, but also acorns, leaves and bark, as they have healing effects and are safe for health. From them, medicinal decoctions are created, which are gradually splashed onto the heater. The branches are used only during the preparation of oak brooms. Because they have wide, lush and durable leaves, they are great for creating heat and are suitable for massage. With its help, you can easily scoop up hot steam and direct it in the desired direction. Seasoned bath attendants note that this is the most important advantage over other brooms.

oak bath brooms are especially popular among the fair sex because they smooth out wrinkles and make the skin soft and elastic. This effect is associated with the high content of tannins in the leaves. Additionally, excess oiliness of the epidermis, which provokes the appearance of acne, is eliminated. Improving tissue metabolism and eliminating sweating allows you to reduce skin inflammation and completely get rid of acne with regular visits to the bathhouse. In this case, active massage is not always required - you can simply press brooms to problem areas.

Oak bath brooms are very beneficial for health because they have the following effects:

They lower blood pressure and improve well-being, which is especially important for older people.
The active components quickly enter the bloodstream when inhaled and have a positive effect on the central nervous system, which helps eliminate stress.
The massage cleanses the skin. The pores are completely cleansed and the tissues receive a full range of vitamins and minerals.
Increases immunity and protection against germs and harmful microorganisms.

If oak brooms are harvested correctly, they will retain their beneficial properties for 5 years. In a steam room they can be used 3-5 times, since the leaves are quite strong and retain their qualities for a long time.

When are oak brooms harvested?

The harvesting season begins in the southern zone of the Russian Federation from May 15 to the end of the month. In the middle zone, it is recommended to collect branches from June 15-20 until the beginning of July. This is the best period because the leaves are small in size and soft in texture. At the same time, the branches are very flexible and not too thick, so they are great for massage.

It is not recommended to collect branches in late summer or autumn because the leaves harden and the branches become thicker. For this reason, the fragility of the broom increases, and massage is inconvenient due to the increased mass. The same applies to premature collection. If you cut off the branches too early, they will contain less useful substances, so the healing effect of the broom will decrease.

During collection, it is better to give preference to branches that are in the lower zone. In this case, you need to choose trees that are located deep in the forest. This is due to the fact that almost no sunlight penetrates there. Ultraviolet radiation can negatively affect the positive qualities of a plant. If dense and large burdocks grow under the oak tree, then it can safely be used to collect branches. It is almost impossible to detect single branches on old trees, so the choice falls in favor of spreading branches with leaf covering and good density. With a length of 50-60 cm, you can safely cut off the branch and start forming brooms.

Young trees up to 4 meters in height can also be used to collect branches. They are optimal for forming brooms because they have the ideal length and thickness of the leaves. Often used is “winter oak”, which does not shed its leaves in winter. At the same time, the foliage becomes golden and confidently stays on the tree (sap flow inside is stopped). It is difficult to find such an oak because it grows on small hills or on high hills. But as practice shows, the highest quality brooms are obtained when collected in lowland forests with a large number of oak trees (single and old trees are less suitable for this purpose).

How to prepare a broom?

Its service life depends on what time of year and how to prepare an oak broom. This is usually done in July or August. You can cut brooms in the fall, but their wood is more fragile and brittle during this period. It is advisable to collect branches in a damp, darkened forest rather than from isolated trees. Oak has practically no single branches. Therefore, you need to choose a strong, wide branch with branches and good leaf cover.

Be prepared to climb a tree. Good, suitable elements can rarely be cut off, choosing them at the level of your height. As a rule, you have to cut down entire branches, which are then, when directly knitting brooms, disassembled into smaller ones. In order not to cause great harm to the oak, try to use only the side shoots, leaving the central tree intact.

The broom is also knitted according to certain unspoken rules. Small elements are placed side by side with some offset, like a fan. This arrangement is considered optimal for the oak version due to the wide and dense leaves. In this case, it is advisable to use a small number of branches, otherwise the product will turn out to be too heavy. It is also worth considering that when steaming, the broom will absorb moisture and become even heavier. Oak variations are dried in the same way as all others: in a dry, ventilated, dark place, without allowing them to dry out.

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How to steam with a broom?

To obtain greater benefits and pleasure from the bath procedure, you should follow certain tips:

You should not go to the bathhouse earlier than 2 hours after a heavy lunch.
You should not drink alcoholic beverages before visiting the steam room.
All metal jewelry must be removed
There is no need to rush in the steam room, let your body rest, warm up, and relax
It’s more comfortable to steam together
Before vaping, it is advisable to rinse with clean water and dry with a towel.
In the steam room it is recommended to breathe with an open mouth
It is useful to quench your thirst after a bath with strong tea, kvass, lemonade, juice

There is a slight difference between oak and other brooms. The light birch version, for example, heats up, gives off heat when touching the body, and warm steam overtakes in a whirlwind a little later. In the case of oak, the steam “falls” on the body up to the broom. Wide leaves allow it to be pumped quickly, which is good for lovers of hot bath procedures. In other words, an oak broom is good for hardy people.