You’ve just returned from a long, stressful day in the office and feel drained; or perhaps you are enduring muscle pain that just won’t go away. The gentle warming of the muscles through steam treatment, typically experienced using a home steam shower is increasingly found to improve your health and feeling of well-being.
In fact, steam benefits as associated with a steam room or steam shower have been known for thousands of years, where wet heat opens the pores of your skin to aid body detoxification.
A steam generator is used to create water vapor at high levels of humidity. The heat and humidity may bring health benefits ranging from aiding stress relief, to body cleansing, to soothing aching muscles or arthritis. Different research and user studies show that the benefits of steam showers are numerous and may aid your bodily health by:
• rejuvenating, deep cleansing – hydrating the skin,
• boosting your immune system and promoting antibody production,
• relieving the discomfort of asthma, allergies and arthritis,
• enhancing the respiratory system,
• helping eliminate toxins,
• reducing stress and the appearance of wrinkles,
• relaxing and soothing mind & body,
• relieving stress & relaxing muscles,
• relieving throat irritation by moistening the air,
• relaxing muscles and relieving coughing,
• increasing body metabolism,
• relieving inflammation and congestion of upper respiratory mucous membranes,
• loosening secretions and stimulating the discharge of mucous from the throat and lungs (natural expectorant),
• keeping mucous membranes from excessive drying,
• helping in the treatment of cancer,
• helping fight against HIV,
• aiding against cellulite.
For other articles & research papers, please see:
» AromaSpas.com – The benefits of steam & aromatherapy (http://www.aromaspas.com/benefits.html)
» AlerG Inc. – The Benefits of Steam Baths (http://www.alerg.com/steambaths.html)
Benefits of Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy, often used to benefit steam room sessions is the use of essential oils, which are extracted from flowers, leaves, bark, wood, seeds, roots and peel, to promote a persons health and mood. These essential oils are absorbed into the bloodstream and metabolised in the body, resulting in many health benefits. Research studies and findings have shown that essential oils can aid in:
• reducing tension and anxiety, caused by stress, insomnia, and other similar issues; Benefits of Aromatherapie
• reducing fatigue and helping alleviate sleeplessness;
• concentration, memory recall and alertness;
• enhancing the experience of meditation and self-reflection; directly impacting emotional states through the olfactory system;
• fighting against colds;
• relaxing, calming, uplifting, or stress-relieving the body.
For more detailed articles & research papers, please see:
» Aromatherapy Science Research Citations Database
» University of Miami Touch Research Institute – Aromatherapy Research
» Internet Health Library – Aromatherapy Research
Benefits of Saunas
A sauna is used as a source of hot dry heat (although steam is sometimes used) where the occupant can enjoy temperatures of well above 80°C due to the low humidity levels. These temperatures cause the bodies temperature to increase, helping to:
• improve circulation, increase your metabolism and relieve internal congestion, Benefits of a sauna
• destroy bacteria, viruses and tumors (which can’t survive the higher temperatures),
• eliminate toxic chemicals, heavy metals, radiation and other toxins from the body,
• increase the ability of the skin to eliminate poisons,
• provide many of the benefits of exercise while requiring much less exertion,
• relax, rejuvenate and revitalise the body,
• removing the accumulation of potentially carcinogenic heavy metals as well as alcohol, nicotine, sodium and cholesterol,
• burn as many as 300 calories in a typical session,
• soothe and relax tired muscles,
• burn the same amount of perspiration as a 10 kilometer run, or as many calories as you would during rowing for 30 minutes (in an approximately 30 minute session).
For more detailed articles, please see:
» Dr L Wilson – Sauna Therapy. » Health Benefits of Saunas
