Bathhouse is a favorite Russian entertainment. What are the benefits of a bath? Are there any harms and contraindications?

If there are contraindications, you should consult a specialist (doctor).

The sauna is used all over the world, it is especially popular in northern countries with harsh climates: Scandinavia, Russia, Northern Europe. But bath procedures in one form or another have been present since ancient times in North and Central America, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, Ancient Rome, and Japan. Bath procedures were used for health improvement, quality rest, they gave birth to children in the bath, communicated with each other, and concluded business deals. Bathhouse is part of the cultural code of Slavic countries. In the 21st century, nowhere in the world does the bathhouse occupy such cultural significance as in Russia and the Scandinavian countries. In many nations, a whole layer of cultural characteristics and etiquette is associated with relaxing in a bathhouse. The bath is beneficial and relaxing for body and soul.

Types of baths

The bathhouse in various forms exists in many parts of the world, differing in the construction options of the building itself, the steam room, the premises, the degree of humidity, and temperature. Even in Russia, each bathhouse owner has his own secrets and methods of steaming, and around the world the differences are even wider.

The essence of all baths is very similar:

• heating the human body with the help of hot steam, air, heated stone floors and benches, infrared rays, stones;
• massage with brooms made from tree branches or regular hand massage;
• subsequent cooling with the help of a font, ice hole, pond near the bathhouse or dousing with water from a bucket, jumping into the snow or rubbing the body with it.

Baths in countries around the world:

• Finnish - sauna;
• Turkish - hammam;
• Swedish - bastu;
• ancient Roman - baths;
• ancient (in Central America and Mexico) - temazcal;
• Japanese - sento.

There are more exotic types of baths, but they differ mainly in construction options and bathing etiquette.

What is the difference between a Russian bath and a sauna?

A sauna with dry air in a steam room is used for medicinal purposes, while a Russian steam bath is used for hygienic and preventive purposes.

A steam bath, unlike a dry-air sauna, puts more stress on the cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous systems of the body. Therapeutic effects of bath procedures:

Peculiarities	Russian bath	Finnish sauna
Options	t 40–80 ºC, relative humidity 60–70%	t 105–110 ºC, relative humidity 5–10%
Therapeutic effects	Vasodilator, diaphoretic, secretory	Vasodilator, diaphoretic, lymphatic drainage, thermoadaptive, anti-inflammatory

• The physiotherapeutic effect of a Finnish bath consists of dry sweating with physical and mental relaxation and alternating extreme heating of the body with subsequent cooling.
• In a Russian steam bath with moist air, sweating occurs less than in a dry Finnish one.

The bathhouse is useful only if you strictly adhere to the rules for visiting the steam room:

1. Before entering the sauna, take a shower and wipe yourself dry. Sick people stay in the steam room for no more than 3–5 minutes, healthy people – 7–10. Then the body is cooled - doused with cold water, bathed in a pool or washed with cold water on the limbs. The cold procedure takes no more than 3–10 minutes. A cooled body needs to rest for 15–20 minutes. The set of procedures is performed 2–3 times.
2. Before visiting the wet steam room, warm up under a warm shower for 2–3 minutes. The head is protected from overheating with a towel turban or a hat with a brim. The first time they enter the steam room for 5–6 minutes, they do not use a broom. When entering again, they steam with a broom. People enter the steam room 2–3 times, with rest breaks of 15–20 minutes. The total duration of stay in a wet steam room for healthy people is up to 30 minutes, for patients – 10–15 minutes.

For skin

During bathing procedures, peripheral blood vessels dilate, causing redness, this is a mechanism for protecting the human body from the surrounding heat. Vasodilation, increased blood flow, and increased sweating cool the skin more effectively. The skin becomes soft from steam and high temperature, and dead particles are removed using a broom, washcloth or other means. This cosmetic effect is used in spa centers.

With prolonged exposure to steam and heat, a large amount of sweat is released, pores, sebaceous and sweat glands are cleaned. The skin becomes clean and soft. You can visit the bathhouse even with stitches on the third day after surgery; this will not affect the speed of healing 5. But be sure to consult with your doctor before visiting.

Research shows a positive effect on the physiology of the skin, especially on the pH balance of the surface and the water-holding capacity of the stratum corneum 11.

Rules for conducting health procedures

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.

For heart

The heart and cardiovascular system begin to work much more efficiently under stressful conditions such as bath procedures. Blood flow is greatly increased to cool the body, which clears congested parts of the cardiovascular system. Since people are mostly sedentary in the modern rhythm of life, especially in cities, this further emphasizes the need for visiting a bathhouse for health.

Research confirms the benefits of the bath for people with hypertension, congestive heart failure, and for recovery after a myocardial infarction 3. Of course, you cannot go to the bath immediately after any heart surgery; first you need to fully recover.

The results of Study 4 indicate that macro- and microvascular function dramatically improves after bathing in older adults with stable coronary artery disease.

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.

For joints

A visit to the bathhouse relieves pain and improves joint mobility in patients with rheumatic diseases 2. The bathhouse warms up the joints and stimulates the production of lubricating fluid. In essence, a bath is a stimulation of all body systems due to stressful conditions and contrasting temperatures. But in case of serious joint diseases - arthrosis, gout - do not allow too large temperature changes and do not sit in the steam room for a long time. During any acute conditions, it is recommended to first consult with an orthopedic doctor or surgeon.

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.

For the lungs

The mechanisms of action of steam inhalation in patients with nonspecific lung diseases were studied. This type of aerosol therapy is effective due to its bronchodilator, antimicrobial, and pulmonary hemodynamic stabilizing effects 1. Patients with obstructive pulmonary disease can steam in a bath without causing constriction of the bronchi; bath procedures even cause a temporary improvement in lung function 7. Bath air is almost sterile, and in combination with a broom and the right essential oil, it is also useful, as it is filled with antioxidants and phytoncides. Gently inhaling such air trains the lungs, since the air is very hot and dry or hot and humid, depending on the type of steam room.

For the nervous system

The bathhouse calms you down, allows you to relax and take your mind off the problems in life for a while, and chat with friends about pleasant topics. The heat of the bath gives a feeling of protection, which brings calm, fills with strength 6. The heat of the bath creates a rush of blood to the epidermis, which creates an outflow of blood from the brain, it also relieves mental stress and relaxes the body.

Almost all processes in the human body and mind depend on nervous activity. They determine 90% of our entire life; accordingly, a bathhouse can greatly help in improving the overall efficiency of life. Remember that a sauna can not only relax, but also excite you if it heats up and cools down unevenly.

What increases cholesterol?

Increased cholesterol levels can be due to various factors. The first thing you should pay attention to is your diet

.
If a person has a slight increase in cholesterol levels, doctors usually recommend that they eat less foods high in saturated fat, but certain health problems can also contribute to high cholesterol levels. For example, chronic renal failure or decreased thyroid function. Some people may have high cholesterol levels “naturally” and be inherited. This genetic abnormality is called “ familial hypercholesterolemia
”.

When shaping your diet, you need to remember that cholesterol is found only in products of animal origin. This argument is often made in favor of a plant-based diet by vegetarians. However, this does not mean that if animal food is excluded, the rest of the diet can be uncontrolled. Food fried in vegetable oil and products containing palm oil can also have a negative effect on lipid metabolism.

During pregnancy

Finnish studies have proven that there is no connection between congenital defects of children and visits to the bathhouse by pregnant women 9 10. That is, you can visit the bathhouse during pregnancy, but this must be done carefully, the temperature should not be extreme, and you should not be zealous in the duration of the steam bath. Pregnancy is a gentle time, so all bath procedures should also be gentle. Of course, if there are any abnormalities in pregnancy or the health of the expectant mother, you need to consult a doctor whether she can go to the bathhouse or not.

Musculoskeletal system

People over 50 years of age note that after just 15 minutes of visiting the bathhouse, its effect on the skeletal system is felt. It happens like this: heated skin warms up the muscles and joints, causing the latter to stop hurting and making themselves felt with discomfort. Therefore, such warming up is actively encouraged by doctors if there are no contraindications and the procedure is carried out correctly.

Warming up with oak brooms Source mospar.ru

Warming up the ankle joint Source gribokube.ru

Contraindications

Contraindications to visiting the bathhouse:

• unstable angina;
• high body temperature;
• acute stage of viral infection;
• unhealed open serious wounds;
• recent myocardial infarction;
• severe aortic stenosis;
• Drinking alcohol in a bathhouse increases the risk of arterial hypotension, arrhythmia and sudden death 2.

The sauna is safe for most people with coronary heart disease, stable angina, or a history of myocardial infarction 2.

Effects on the respiratory system

Thermal procedures improve the functioning of the respiratory system, which leads to the enrichment of blood with oxygen, as well as the proper production of hormones. It is recommended to carry out procedures in the stage of remission and in the absence of any purulent formations. The steam room provides positive effects:

• For sinusitis, bronchitis, nasopharyngitis, laryngitis, asthma and allergies;
• During the recovery period after treatment of internal inflammation;
• For colds.

The sauna promotes rapid muscle relaxation, dilation of the bronchi, and strengthening of the lungs. The procedures reduce swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. In case of chronic respiratory diseases and no history of contraindications, it is recommended to carry out thermal healing procedures in the bathhouse.

Energy effects

Our ancestors knew that the bath could be used to cleanse not only the gross body, but also the subtle bodies and membranes. With proper soaring, mastery of steam, a broom, and the atmosphere, a bathhouse attendant could straighten a person’s distorted aura. In Slavic terminology, aura was the name given to the body. The roasting body is a person’s protection from external factors, something like the Earth’s magnetic field, which protects us from deadly cosmic radiation.

With the help of contrasting temperatures, you can enter a state of abstraction from your body and reality for some time. This reboots our mind, tunes it to fresh thoughts, new images, and makes it possible to find a new approach to solving problems in life.

Of course, all these effects are available with absolute sobriety of a person, preferably for many years. Because any intoxicants: alcohol, drugs, chemical food - severely clog the subtle energy channels, in which case it is almost impossible to plunge into this state.

Banya broom

There are a variety of different types of brooms used for steaming, but the main two types of wood for their manufacture are oak and birch. Brooms themselves are useful; after steaming, antioxidants and phytoncides are released from the leaves. But in combination with the correct techniques of steaming, patting with brooms, generating heat by scooping up steam, waving, the benefits of brooms become greater: blood circulation improves, the body relaxes and recovers.

The massage effect of patting with brooms enhances the benefits of the bath, the skin is better cleansed of the stratum corneum, plus the surface layers of the skin are more cleansed of toxins, and this gives an additional positive effect.

Types of brooms:

• birch (harvesting in early to mid-June, but, most importantly, you need to focus on the strength of the leaf);
• oak;
• willow;
• eucalyptus;
• nettle;
• alder;
• coniferous;
• lime;
• ashen;
• juniper;
• rowan;
• combinations of different trees and grasses.

Is all cholesterol the same?

Cholesterol is found in the blood, but does not dissolve in it. Cholesterol is carried throughout the body by lipoproteins. High density lipoprotein (HDL) molecules

move cholesterol from the arteries to the liver. Later, this cholesterol is excreted from the body and is not deposited on the walls of blood vessels. Such cholesterol is considered “good” because it not only does not increase, but reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Another type of cholesterol carried by low-density lipoprotein (LDL) molecules

from the liver throughout the body. In peripheral tissues, cholesterol gradually settles on the walls of blood vessels, resulting in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. It is important for a person to monitor and prevent an increase in the level of low-density lipoproteins, or “bad” cholesterol.

Another form of lipids that provide the body with energy, but in large quantities can be harmful, are triglycerides. They are synthesized by the liver or enter the body with food, and then pass into the blood. A high content of triglycerides in the blood is also undesirable, since it can disrupt the functioning of the circulatory system.

Essential oils for baths

Essential oils can be both beneficial and harmful. It all depends on their quality, combination, and individual tolerance of those steaming in the bathhouse. The heat of the steam room opens up all the pores of the skin, which makes us more susceptible to essential oils, although the main method of exposure is through the lungs.

The essential oil must be completely natural, it should not contain synthetics, otherwise it may result in a headache or even anaphylactic shock. Typically, the price of natural oils is higher than that of synthetic oils. Read the composition, select the oil for yourself using your sense of smell, it should be pleasant and refreshing for you, then it will be beneficial.

Oils are hot, cooling and neutral. You need to know what your dosha is according to Ayurveda before using any particular oil. Most likely, it will happen that in the bath there will be representatives of different doshas, ​​then you will have to use neutral oils.

To understand which oil is right for you, it is advisable to contact an Ayurvedic specialist.

Essential oils suitable for baths:

• tea tree;
• spruce;
• incense;
• eucalyptus;
• spearmint;
• Melissa;
• pine;
• myrtle;
• peppermint;
• patchouli;
• fir;
• cedar;
• hyssop;
• cypress;
• kayaput and many others.

How to choose a broom for a bath

Professionals and experienced hobbyists know that different plants have different effects on well-being. But each brings benefits.

- Birch. One of the most popular options. It has an anti-inflammatory, disinfecting, antimicrobial effect. Useful for smokers and anyone who suffers from lung problems.

— Oak. Cleanses and soothes the skin, eliminates sweating.

- Linden. A good anti-cold remedy. Linden essential oils relax, improve sleep, and relieve migraines.

- Bird cherry. It has a slight wound-healing effect, and its soft branches and leaves give comfort and tenderness, which women appreciate.

- Juniper. Calms the nervous system, relaxes, helps with runny nose and cough.

- Fir. Removes excess fluid and also has a mild anti-inflammatory and sedative effect.

Where in Valdai you can relax and take a steam bath

Come to the country club "Hunter's Shelter"! With us you can stay in cozy houses surrounded by dense forest, enjoy pristine nature, silence and clean air. And the main thing is to receive incomparable benefits and pleasure by visiting a real Russian bathhouse. A wood-burning stove, aromatic herbal tea, pine and birch brooms, which we prepare for guests with love and skill - all this and much more is at your service at our base.

Call or write to us to reserve a house and choose the time for which we will heat the bathhouse.

Spirit of the Bath

In Slavic mythology, the bathhouse spirit Bannik lives in the bathhouse. He is described as a small man with gray hair, a long, scraggly beard, long nails and hairy hands. It is customary to give a bathhouse, like other spirits of nature, a treat, usually a piece of rye bread with salt, preferably consecrated by prayer. The main thing for a bathhouse is that the intentions of the people entering the bathhouse are good, then he will give out a healing, pleasant heat, and will not be angry or misbehave.

The bathhouse needs to be greeted before entering the bathhouse and asked for good heat, then he will treat those steaming well.

Benefits for the respiratory tract

The bathhouse cleanses the lungs and bronchi very well. Excess mucous substances are removed from them, as a result of which breathing becomes much calmer and more balanced.

Where to order the construction of a bathhouse?

Our company Wood-Brus is engaged in the construction of bathhouses in Moscow on a turnkey basis, on a shrinkage basis and using “frame technology” from the Vologda forest (spruce and pine - 50/50). Our production, located in Ustyuzhna, allows us to set competitive prices for services. If you wish, you can purchase a standard version of the project or order an individual solution. The exact cost of work in an individual case can be found out from our consultants. If you choose standard options, then you can look at their cost in the corresponding catalog presented on our website. Contact us and enjoy the final result!