What are the benefits of a bath, medicinal properties and contraindications

A bathhouse is not only a pleasant option for family or friendly relaxation, but also an effective means of preventing and treating many diseases.
Bath procedures have a mild beneficial effect on all systems and organs in the human body.

Regular visits to the steam room lead to general strengthening and rejuvenation of the body, and improve the quality of life.

What types of baths are there?

Taking a steam bath from time to time is an ancient tradition that has survived to this day and has not lost its popularity. Although the essence of this procedure is the same in all countries, several types are still distinguished, depending on the origin. They differ in the properties of temperature and humidity in the steam room.

1. Eastern. The softest of all. Combines relatively low air temperature and optimal humidity.
2. Finnish. The temperature in the steam room is more than 100 °C, humidity is 20%, resulting in dry steam.
3. Traditional Russian. With a temperature of 60 - 80 ° C, humidity on average from 50 to 80%.
4. Roman. Temperature - +50 - 65 ° C, and humidity - 90 - 95%. This species is characterized by a lot of steam, which is why almost nothing in the steam room is visible.
5. Turkish (hammam). In recent years it has become very popular in Russia. It is a circle with passages from one steam room to another, the temperature in which gradually increases. Maximum temperature - +95 °C.

Main types of bath brooms

Well, we took into account the contraindications, consulted a doctor, which means we can go to the steam room! And now His Majesty the bath broom comes into play, any one you like, or whatever you currently have.

A broom first brings hot air to the body, helping to warm it up faster, and then light whippings are added, providing exfoliation and removal of the unnecessary layer of dermis that interferes with the growth of new, young, elastic skin cells, helping and stimulating the natural rejuvenation of our dermis.

Also, patting the surface of the body with a broom in a bathhouse is a healing massage that affects biologically active points of the body. All these manipulations with a broom cannot be compared with any cosmetic procedure.

There are a variety of brooms, differing in a variety of indicators, and they are all especially good at something. But today I would like to tell you about the three main types of bath brooms.

1. A birch broom is ideal for a bath.

   Flexible, elastic, with porous leaves that have the ability to absorb sweat containing all the toxins, and then, opening the pores, revive the skin’s ability to “breathe” and absorb the healing substances contained in the broom leaves.

The broom must be prepared correctly and on time - and this is when the size of the leaves is no more than 30 millimeters, and the twigs are collected from the lower branches of the birch when they are light green in color. Birch brooms should be harvested from the beginning of July to mid-July.

Such “correct” brooms contain the maximum amount of essential oils, flavonoids, several types of biologically active substances, resin, and bitterness. In the opened leaves, experts have confirmed the presence of ascorbic and betuloretic acid, as well as hyperoside, carotene, saponins, phytoncides, etc.

2. Oak broom.

   The oak broom is also among the popular bath brooms. It is very durable and can be used more than once.

   It contains tannins, essential oils, quercetin, and pentosan in its leaves, which greatly contributes to the normalization of oily skin, having an anti-inflammatory effect on it and making it elastic.

3. Coniferous broom (spruce, cedar, fir).

   These brooms are prepared immediately before going to the bathhouse. The needles contain essential oils and resins, which disinfect and deodorize the air in the steam room, ensuring the prevention of respiratory diseases.

   By the way, if you place paws of pine needles on the canopy, which, when heated, will release essential oils, then they will act on the skin with steam, helping to open the pores. A very pleasant procedure.

The benefits of a bath for the body

Steaming in a bathhouse is not only a hygienic procedure. Although first of all it cleanses the body both outside and inside - from dead skin cells, and also removes toxins. The benefits of a bathhouse for human health are not limited to this.

The beneficial properties of the procedure are noted in other cases:

• for health in case of many ailments;
• restoration of strength;
• toning muscles;
• normalization of water-salt metabolism.

One of the properties of the bath is to strengthen the immune system. This benefit is significant: regularly visiting the bathhouse and having a cold are practically incompatible concepts.

In general, the benefit of the Russian bath lies in its general strengthening properties in the absence of contraindications.

It would also be a good idea to visit her a couple of times a month if you are sick:

• joints;
• kidney;
• liver;
• genitourinary system and other organs.

The benefits of the Russian bath for the health of individual organ systems are discussed below.

For the cardiovascular system

The benefits of a steam bath are observed only if the procedure is used correctly and strictly according to the doctor’s recommendations.

After a bath, blood moves faster and easier through the vessels, due to which the body absorbs more oxygen. The blood vessels become more elastic, the heart muscle strengthens. The metabolic processes occurring in the cells return to normal. In particular, the bath is useful for hypotension, as it increases blood pressure.

In this case, cardiovascular disease often becomes a contraindication. For example, if the load on the cardiovascular system is already high, a very high temperature makes it even higher. It becomes difficult for the body to cope with this, which is likely to cause harm and a sharp deterioration in well-being.

Important! For heart and circulatory problems, consultation with a doctor is required before visiting the bathhouse.

For the nervous system

Vaping relieves nervous tension and generally improves the psychological state of the body.

Effectively helps with fatigue. The bath has a relaxing effect and quickly restores strength. It also helps with insomnia and improves mood.

For the respiratory system

The bath is useful for the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract: they are cleansed of dust and germs. Reduces nasal discharge.

Used as an additional remedy along with treatment prescribed by a doctor. It is optimal to steam once a week.

For skin

Not only attending physicians, but also cosmetologists note the benefits of the bath for the condition of the skin.

Massage with a natural broom has a tonic effect. The skin becomes velvety, clogged pores are cleansed. As a result, the skin has a fresher, healthier appearance.

We recommend reading: Anti-cellulite massage: effect, technique, photos and videos

For the musculoskeletal system

Doctors note the benefits of a bath for joints. By increasing blood circulation, pain is reduced, inflammation and congestion disappear, and the elasticity of cartilage tissue improves.

This property of the bath is beneficial for arthritis, osteochondrosis, radiculitis, etc.

For digestion and metabolism

The benefit for those who take a steam bath is to speed up metabolism and improve digestion. There is also such a beneficial property as a decrease in the acidity of gastric juice.

The procedure is suitable for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases, but only with the permission of a doctor.

For women

The benefit of a bath for a woman’s body is that it improves the condition after childbirth, as well as in the case of miscarriages or abortions.

The procedure is also useful for gynecological diseases, problems with the uterus and ovarian dysfunction.

The benefits of the bath for women after 55 years have been noticed: it alleviates the symptoms of menopause, especially if the woman feels severe discomfort.

For men

The beneficial properties of the bath for maintaining the sexual function of men even in adulthood are noted. The benefits of a bath for men's sexual health arise from the stimulation of nerve endings in the pelvis and groin area. Consequently, blood flow in this area improves.

Regular visits to the bathhouse can prevent impotence and help with problems of premature ejaculation. However, this is not a guaranteed solution to the problem, so consultation with specialists is necessary.

Effects on the cardiovascular system

The health benefits of a bath are determined by the effective impact of the procedures on various systems of the human body.

Proper alternation of temperatures helps stimulate the cardiac system, strengthen the heart muscle, increase the elasticity of blood vessels and prevent heart attacks. The heart rate increases to 155 beats per minute, which leads to significant heating of the body and increased sweating.

A visit to the steam room helps stabilize blood pressure. To enhance the effect, it is recommended to carry out contrasting thermal procedures - alternating a steam room, a cold shower or a swimming pool. Such procedures help improve blood circulation and reduce vegetative-vascular imbalance in the body.

Bath before and after training

There is no clear opinion about the benefits of a bath before or after training. In general, the recommendations boil down to the fact that it is better to visit the bathhouse on days free from training.

A study was conducted that showed that vaping before training reduces strength and endurance during exercise. Therefore, it is better to completely abandon the procedure before training.

The beneficial effects of vaping after exercise are also questionable, although there are some benefits:

• overly tense muscles relax;
• lactic acid is eliminated, which causes muscle pain;
• helps with stress from overtraining.

If the goal of training is to build muscle mass, then you should refuse a bath or sauna afterwards. You should not steam after a hard workout. The high temperature in the steam room often becomes additional stress for the body. In addition, training itself is a load on the heart, and the sauna only increases this load.

The Best Essential Oils and How to Use Them

Inhaling moist steam enriched with a drop of essential oil of fir, eucalyptus, pine, spruce or any other will relieve pulmonary edema and promote the outflow of mucus from the bronchi and nose.

Through experimentation and error, having tried a large assortment of essential oils, I made my choice in favor of these basic, base oils, suitable for use in a Russian steam bath.

1. Eucalyptus oil – helps cleanse breathing, relieve pain syndromes, treat respiratory diseases, and strengthen the body.
2. Spruce, pine, fir, cedar - have similar properties to each other, have anti-inflammatory, regenerating and antibacterial effects. Ideally combine components for healing various skin damage.
3. Juniper - has the ability to increase sweating and remove waste and toxins from the body, thereby enhancing the effect of steam on the body.

The method of using essential oils in a steam room is simple. Add 8-10 drops of oil to one liter of water, and sprinkle the wooden benches and walls, and also pour the solution onto the hot stones.

Together with water and high temperature steam bath oil improves mood. It creates a feeling of bliss, lightness, joy. A person experiences a surge of strength and energy!

Is a sauna good for weight loss?

The bath is a secondary way to lose excess weight. It does not have fat burning properties.

Weight loss occurs, firstly, due to the loss of excess fluid. But you need to be careful and prevent dehydration. This is a kind of express method to get yourself in order in 1 day. For example, before an important event. You should be clearly aware that after 1 - 2 days, most of the excreted fluid will return to the body.

Secondly, the procedure improves metabolism, making weight loss more intense.

Women note benefits in the fight against cellulite: the number of tubercles on the body decreases.

Is it possible for pregnant and lactating women to go to the bathhouse?

During pregnancy, visiting the bathhouse is most often prohibited, since afterwards the body temperature of not only the pregnant woman, but also the child, rises. In addition, it is recommended to avoid sudden changes in temperature.

However, sometimes pregnant women still go for a steam bath. This is possible only with the simultaneous presence of the following factors:

• the woman had previously visited the bathhouse regularly;
• she feels well during pregnancy;
• the doctor who is caring for the pregnancy was warned about visiting the bathhouse and gave his permission to do so.

Anyway, in this case, you need to steam at a low temperature so as not to harm yourself and the child.

Important! Doctors are unanimous in their opinion that in the first trimester, visiting the bathhouse should be avoided, since the female body is just adapting to a new state.

Breastfeeding women are not prohibited from steaming, but there are some recommendations.

It is better not to go to the bathhouse for the first 5 - 6 weeks after giving birth. It is optimal to start visiting when lactation is fully established - after 3 - 4 months.

Breastfeeding women should take into account the fact that after a bath the amount of milk increases. Therefore, it is advisable to feed the baby immediately to avoid lactostasis. If this is not possible, then thoroughly rub your breasts immediately after the steam room.

At the same time, if you don’t drink enough, then milk, on the contrary, will become scarce due to dehydration of the body.

Skin

Speaking about the benefits of a bath for our skin, several factors should be noted: increased sweating, removal of dirt and bacteria from its surface, as well as a positive effect on the functioning of the entire body.

Compared to normal temperature and humidity conditions, when you are in a bathhouse, you produce 20-30 times more sweat. As a result, dirt particles, sebaceous deposits, and dried dead skin are removed. In this way, a kind of preparation and optimization of the surface for the growth of new ones occurs. Regular hardening has a positive effect on the functioning of capillaries that supply the skin with nutrients, which makes the skin silky.

Cosmetic masks in the bath Source i02.fotocdn.net

Regarding the indications for visiting the bathhouse, we can say that such procedures are recommended for the following diseases:

• Eczema.
• Atypical dermatitis.
• Itchy.
• Hives.
• Psoriasis.
• Ichthyosis.
• Allergic or drug rash.

Important! It must be taken into account that if you have a number of skin diseases, visiting the bathhouse is contraindicated. Therefore, before exposing your body to heat stress, consult your physician or dermatologist.

Bathhouse for children

The effect of a bath on a child’s body is completely different from that on an adult. In children, sweat glands are not yet developed, and the body is less able to regulate body temperature. So the benefits of baths for children are completely ambiguous.

A child under 2 years old should not be taken to the bathhouse at all, since it only brings harm to such a small organism.

From 2 to 7 years, the procedure is not dangerous, but it also does not have any beneficial properties. It is recommended to drive a child only if he likes it.

The bathhouse becomes relatively useful after 7 years. But in any case, you need to consult a pediatrician. One of the main beneficial properties for a child is clearing the respiratory tract of mucus. So the benefits of a bath after the flu and other colds are invaluable.

If there is a child in the bathhouse, then you need to follow simple rules.

1. Use gentle temperature conditions up to 55 °C.
2. 2 sessions of 2 - 3 minutes in the steam room are enough. At first, you can limit yourself to 1 minute.
3. For the first time, it is better to avoid plunging into snow or a cold pool. Temper yourself gradually: first alternate between cool and warm showers.

We recommend reading: Charcot's shower: benefits and harms for weight loss and health

In any case, you should always monitor the condition of your own child. If the procedure does not bring him pleasure, or even worsens his health, he should refuse to visit the steam room. A procedure that is useful for an adult is, for the most part, not useful for a child.

The opinion of the famous pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky about the benefits and harms of baths for children can be found in the video:

Calming the nervous system

Is a bathhouse good for your health in terms of the nervous system? Here it is also a good tool, only the process should be combined with the existing conditions. Warmth itself is already a way to relax, which, naturally, has a beneficial effect on the nervous system as a whole. Many tests of the bath on the human nervous system have repeatedly proven its high effectiveness. Due to the dilation of blood vessels and improved blood supply to all organs, a high degree of calm is observed after stress and nervous situations. The benefits of a steam room in a bathhouse have been proven for the following ailments:

1. insomnia;
2. general exhaustion;
3. fatigue;
4. increased neurosis;
5. nervous excitability.

Rules for visiting the bathhouse

A visit will bring positive emotions if you follow simple rules.

First, you need to remove all jewelry, as after a while they will become very hot and can burn your skin.

Secondly, you should not steam on a full stomach or after drinking alcohol. Too much stress on the body can cause harm to health.

It is recommended to take the following items with you.

1. Broom for body massage made from natural materials.
2. A washcloth. Preferably tougher than usual. Preference should be given to those made from natural materials - fabric, loofah fruits, etc.
3. Large towel.
4. Bath slippers: rubber, plastic, felt or straw.
5. Soap or body gel, shampoo and other hygiene products.

More experienced steamers can take herbal infusions and decoctions that are healthy. To do this, they must be poured onto hot stones. Aromatic oils are suitable for similar purposes. Use them strictly as prescribed or in small quantities to avoid harm.

Important! Don’t forget to prepare a special bath cap that will protect your head from overheating.

The benefits of visiting a steam room in a village or city bathhouse are no different.

How is the therapeutic effect achieved?

A bath is not a superficial, but a deep warming of the body, which is achieved in several ways:

• first: heating through the skin with hot steam passing through the pores;
• second: wave - thermal radiation of stones in the heater;
• third: active targeted impact on the surface of the body (and directly on problem areas) using a broom. Therefore, a steam room is many times more effective than a hot bath;

Thermal radiation from stones warms the body deeper than the hottest steam!

• There is a fourth way! Everyone knows the expression “scorching cold”: if you douse yourself with cold water, the vascular system responds by expanding the capillaries - the thinnest blood vessels. And alternating heat and cold enhances this effect several times.

By plunging into the ice hole, you... warm up!

This is an excellent cardiovascular workout. But let's remember that this is a training session, not a record race! In order not to harm yourself, it is advisable to do without fanaticism!

How to take a steam bath correctly

You need to start steaming gradually; you shouldn’t set records right away. The first time, 5 minutes in the steam room is enough.

Before entering, douse yourself with warm water without touching your hair. Dry thoroughly with a towel.

After active sweating begins, you need to lie down on one of the shelves. For the first time, it is better to choose the bottom one: the body is not yet prepared for the intense heat on the top shelf.

After 8 - 10 minutes of active warming up of the body, you need to leave the steam room for 6 - 7 minutes and rinse with water.

After this, you can continue to steam with a broom, patting your entire body with it.

You can continue to stay in the steam room as long as you feel comfortable. It is recommended to enter the steam room no more than 3 times. The time spent in it varies from 8 to 15 minutes, depending on your bath experience and health status.

Important! During breaks, be sure to drink water to restore your water balance.

After the bath, you can take a shower, cool off in a cool pool, or even wipe yourself off with snow. The last option is possible after steaming in a village bathhouse: the benefit of this is to harden the body.

If during the cooling process you feel a pleasant tingling throughout the body, it means that the procedure was beneficial.

Rules of conduct in the steam room

1. Before visiting, you need to take a shower and dry yourself thoroughly with a towel.
2. People enter the steam room wearing slippers and a cap. It is better to cover your thighs with a towel so as not to get burned on the shelves.
3. The first visit should not exceed 3-5 minutes. The body needs time to get used to it.
4. After leaving the steam room, you should take a cool shower or plunge into the pool (ice holes and snowdrifts are designed for the hardened).
5. The second visit to the steam room may last longer. During it, it is good to take a “massage” with a broom. You can climb to the top shelf.

Calculate your strength wisely: the steam room is not a place for setting records.

Harm to baths and contraindications to visiting

Despite all the benefits of the bath, it has contraindications, without listening to which you can harm your health.

To avoid harm, you should refuse a visit if you have:

• oncological diseases or tumors;
• cardiovascular diseases and, in particular, coronary heart disease;
• after a heart attack or stroke;
• stomach ulcer;
• epilepsy;
• tuberculosis;
• hypertension;
• atherosclerosis;
• exacerbation of ear and eye diseases;
• inflamed areas on the skin;
• exacerbation of any chronic diseases;
• at elevated body temperature;
• recent deep wounds or cuts, for example after surgery.

If at least one symptom is present, the steam room risks causing serious harm to the body. The maximum that is allowed is to bask in a warm bath the next day.

Women are not recommended to visit the sauna during menstruation.

The procedure immediately after eating will put too much stress on the heart. Such situations must be avoided. At the same time, you shouldn’t steam in a hungry state either. It is better to have a light snack, avoiding fatty and high-calorie foods. You can steam only after 1.5 - 2 hours.

When should men not go to the bathhouse?

There are situations when experts do not recommend visiting a steam room for representatives of the stronger sex:

• in the presence of problems associated with the heart and blood vessels. When a person reaches 30 years old, certain changes occur in his heart. If a man or woman has not eaten properly, they experience ischemia, which affects their overall health. In addition, the risk of angina pectoris and its development increases. Myocardial ischemia most often occurs when vascular patency decreases. The reason is that blood vessels narrow, cholesterol plaques and blood clots form. When a person sits in a steam room, his blood pressure increases, which can result in negative consequences. Let's say he has parietal thrombosis, and if the temperature in the bath is elevated, the vessels will dilate, and then a blood clot may break off, which will lead to a stroke, arterial thromboembolism (pulmonary). People whose blood pressure is not stable should not go to the bathhouse, otherwise there is a risk of hypertensive crisis;
• Men should not go into the steam room too often, as reproductive function suffers from high temperatures. It is important to keep the sperm at a certain temperature to keep them moving. The optimal temperature is considered to be 37 degrees. If the air temperature is too high, then sperm move much slower, which can provoke the development of infertility;
• the presence of cuts, wounds that were received recently. If the nature of these injuries is not very serious, then you can go to the sauna. In case of greater depth of wounds or surgical interventions, the bath is contraindicated. Why? The blood flow becomes greater (the reason is high temperature), which can cause the wound to open again and begin to bleed quite heavily;
• people who have infectious diseases associated with the skin. They should not carry out various procedures in the bathhouse so that the skin condition does not worsen;
• allergy to heat, which can provoke the appearance of red spots (when a person steams, he is whipped with a broom). When the immune system is overexcited, immune cells move precisely to the places where the spots have formed. This can lead to trophic damage to the dermis and, unfortunately, such a disease has almost no cure.