The steam sauna and the dry sauna are both ancient forms of heat therapy that remain popular to this day. These facilities, which date back to ancient Rome, use intense dry heat or steam to heat the air in an enclosed room. The dry sauna uses an electric heater to bring the temperature of the room to over 160 degrees F. The steam sauna, while not as hot, often feels just as hot as the dry sauna, due to its 100 percent humidity. Users of saunas claim various physical and psychological benefits.
Stress Relief
Both the steam sauna and dry sauna can be used as a form of stress management. The hot environment warms muscles, encouraging them to relax. Essential oils, like eucalyptus, can be added to the sauna, creating a relaxing, invigorating form of aromatherapy.
Exercise Recovery
Heat, especially combined with cold, can eliminate soreness and help muscles recover from exercise. By reputedly moving from a hot sauna to a cold shower or immersion tub, you can cause blood vessels in muscles to rapidly dilate and constrict, causing a pumping action. This pumping action quickly clears muscles of waste products that can make them sore or stiff.
Easing Arthritis Symptoms
According to "Clinical Rheumatology," the sauna use may play a role in managing the symptoms of arthritis. Following exposure to an infrared sauna, a type of dry sauna that uses infrared heat, patients noticed a reduction in arthritis pain and an increase in range of motion. These effects, while significant, do appear temporary.
Respiratory Relief
Bronchial conditions, such as asthma, may be eased by steam, according to asthma expert Dr. Michael Segal. Asthma attacks are partially triggered by a build-up of mucus in the airways which obstructs breathing. Steam helps to loosen the mucus so it can be cleared from the airway. Additionally, the heat from the steam can relax tight muscles in the throat and chest.
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