The Sauna : A Most Effective Healer

by Purple Herbal

Every two to three days I am in the sauna. It has become a regular part of my wellness routine, and I must say that I hope I never have to do without it. My sauna use started about 9 years ago, because I had been researching natural remedies for acne and found that many people used the sauna to clear their skin. The induced sweating from the high temperature opens and cleanse the pores.

Sweating also detoxifies the body of heavy metals, such as mercury, as well as other toxic substances, plus bacteria and viruses – which can all contribute to poor skin. Bacteria and viruses are killed during sauna use because the sauna creates a fever like state in the body. So, like with a fever, the body is energized and given an immune boost. A fever is the body’s natural way of getting rid of a bacterial or viral infection.

So, for me, going to the sauna every couple of days ensures that my body is fighting off infections, and not allowing any microbes to fester and multiply for any extended length of time.

I love the sauna. I love the feeling of the heat. I love when water is splashed onto the heat source. A dry steam is created that blankets my body with the most intense heat. Immediately my pores are opened and my skin gets cleansed from the inside out. When I come out of the sauna, I have this rosy hue that shows how much blood has come to the surface of my skin. It is said that a person’s skin looks their absolute best about 30 minutes after using the sauna.

One thing that I absolutely love about using the sauna is the fact that I can take a cold shower after using it. Cold water therapy also plays an important role in my health and wellness routine. Applying cold water to the skin helps to increase circulation, and if applied on the legs in the direction of the heart, can also help to reduce varicose veins.

In Scandinavia and Russia, it is common custom to jump into a cold lake, or one that is frozen after being in the sauna. This truly invigorates the body and gets the systems and blood flowing…key elements of having good health. Shivering or having a fever are actually ways your body heals itself.

Saunas originated in Finland as holes in the ground but have evolved into a mainstay in almost 1 in 3 people’s houses in Scandinavia. Scandinavia has the highest per capita sauna use, but people all over the world enjoy its benefits.

There is an old Finnish saying that: “If booze, tar, or the sauna won’t help, the illness is fatal.”

I have read accounts of sauna use curing cancer, because it boosts the immune system by kicking it into high gear. Cancer, being a disease primarily of the immune system, doesn’t stand a chance in the fever like state of the body that the sauna induces.  I just read an article about how heat is being used in cancer treatment, so it’s not as far fetched as it might sound to use a sauna to cure cancer.

Here’s more information on saunas.

If you’re wondering where you could possibly find a sauna to use, check our your local YMCA or fitness club. Some apartment complexes have them in their fitness rooms. That was actually a top priority for me when I shopped for my last apartment. There’s also the possibility of building your own sauna, which I think is definitely worth the investment. There are basically three different kinds of saunas: smoke, infrared, and electric stove.

A sauna can be bought and built with any kind of budget:

Of course, there are some risks concerning the use of saunas. No more than 30 minutes should be spent in the sauna at one length of time. And anyone with a heart condition should consult with their doctor before using the sauna.

A couple interesting tid-bits about sauna use: it used to be the place where women gave birth, and the fire from the original smoke saunas was seen as a gift from the gods, hence the sauna became a place of worship. In Scandinavia, and possibly other parts of Europe, children are brought into the sauna at a young age, like about 6 months.

Let me know if you love using the sauna as much as I do and what your experience has been so far. I’d love to hear from you!