The-Home-Sauna-and-Spa-Blog

There are a variety of health benefits of saunas. They range from helping your heart and skin to improving your mental outlook. The irony is that a sauna will both stimulate and relax you at the same time while producing beneficial effects. Increasing temperatures promotes sweating and stimulates your circulatory system. Your blood pressure will be reduced and at the same time your heart gets a mild cardiovascular workout. Heat also thins your lymphatic fluids causing them to be circulated more efficiently. Sweating cleans out your pores and removes toxins built up in your body cells. This will greatly improves the appearance of your skin. There is considerable evidence that using a sauna on a regular basis will help reduce the problems associated with acne. Sweating gives rise to a partial myth about the effectiveness of saunas for weight loss. It is true that you can loose considerable weight in a sauna in a very short time but most of it will shortly reappear. Most of the weight you loose is through water loss and will quickly be replaced after your session in the sauna. The good new is that your increased circulation gives you a cardiovascular workout that can burn several hundred calories producing long-term weight loss. For more information click here

September 2, 2006 20:57 - What are some of the health benefits of a sauna? part 2

The health benefits of a sauna come from more than just the heat. The atmosphere you create in your sauna is almost as important as the temperature. A sauna can be your sanctuary, a retreat and a place to escape from your day-to-day troubles. Most sauna enthusiasts know that the sauna is no place to be loud and rowdy. It should be a place to relax and recuperate. If you get into a routine of using your sauna only to relax and unwind you will soon associate your sauna with relaxation. This will create a positive feedback loop that allows you to begin unwinding even more effectively. As soon as you turn on your sauna you know you are going to your "happy place" and the healing begins. This is part of the reason your sauna should so neutral in color and mellow in design. Yes there are practical reasons for wood interiors and bench designs but it would be possible to use other materials and designs. Imagine a sauna with screaming colors, bright lights, loud music and wild posters on the walls. I've never seen on and I hope I never do. You want to relax in your sauna and your sauna should let you do that. This way you can take advantage of all the possible health benefits of a sauna. For more information click here

September 5, 2006 10:14 - What soes Green Tea have to do with the health benefits as a sauna?

Heat is responsible for many of the health benefits of a sauna but there is a lot more to it than that. The steam in a wet sauna has its own surprising health benefits. You have probably heard about the health benefits of ANTIOXIDANTS that are found in things like Green Tea. Antioxidants are a type of NEGATIVE ION. Negative ions are simply atoms that have extra electrons. So how does this affect your health you ask? Well, your body naturally produces molecules called FREE RADICALS. These are molecules that have fewer electrons than normal. They go around stealing electrons from other molecules. In a way you can think of the electrons as energy. In other words free radicals take energy from other molecules in your body (not a good thing). Negative ions (like antioxidants) have electrons to give away. They balance the free radicals in your body and prevent the theft of electrons (energy) from the rest of your body. Ok, lets connect the dots. Negative Ions are also produced when water is turned into steam. The negative ions (good things) in the steamy environment of a sauna act like the antioxidants (a form of negative ion) that are found in Green Tea. They balance the free radicals (bad things) that are naturally produced in your body. So it seems the health benefits of a sauna really are the same as drinking Green Tea. For more information click here

September 6, 2006 15:03 - Sauna treatment aids in 9/11 recoveries

On the upcoming anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11 there is much to contemplate. Part of the aftermath includes ongoing emotional and physical ailments of those that so bravely aided in the rescue efforts. A recent report has been released by Dr. Kamau Kokayi, MD, Medical Director of the Olive Leaf Wholeness Center. In the report he sites multiple lingering physical problems suffered by a large number of the recovery workers including "severe respiratory problems, digestive problems, skin rashes, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, weight gains and elevated blood pressure, lethargy, and recurrent headaches. Heavy metal toxicity was suspected as a causal factor for many of these symptoms." He conducted a demonstration project which provided health assessment, testing and treatment to 160 uniformed service personnel and residents of Lower Manhattan who were exposed to the air at Ground Zero following 9/11/01 for extended periods of time. As part of the treatment Infrared saunas were used to help in the process of detoxification. The results appear to be impressive "within two-three months of beginning the course of treatment: chelation along with adjunctive therapies such as acupuncture, body work, IV supplementation for vitamin and mineral deficiencies, sound healing and use of the infrared sauna, over 60% of the clients reported significant improvement in all of the major health complaints presented at the outset….An infrared sauna was utilized to help mobilize heavy metals out of the tissues, along with lipophilic antioxidants to address the fact that many toxins including mercury and dioxins are stored in the fatty tissues of the body." If only the rest of the worlds ills could be treated as effectively. To see the rest of the report click FINDING OF AND TREATMENT FOR HIGH LEVELS OF MERCURY AND LEAD TOXICITYIN GROUND ZERO RESCUE AND RECOVERY WORKERSAND LOWER MANHATTAN RESIDENTS For more information about detoxification click DETOXIFICATION For more information click here

September 8, 2006 20:49 - Can sweating really get rid of toxins in your body?

Unfortunately for us many toxins tend to accumulate in our bodies. This happens because they are stored in fat cells and lord knows most of us have more fat cells than we know what to do with. Once the toxins are taken in they hang around for a long time. When we sweat we of course are getting rid of water and other chemicals dissolved in that water. The water initially comes from body fluids that are outside of our cells. If we sweat profusely enough this intercellular fluid needs to be replaced with other fluids. Fat cells to the rescue. Fat contains significant amounts of water. As water is drawn from the fat cells toxins follow. When sweat quickly moves out of the body there is no time for the toxins to be absorbed into other cells and they are efficiently eliminated. I know of cases where people claim they have been able to detect the smell of a particular toxin they have been overexposed to as it was being eliminated in a sauna. Sweating not only eliminates toxins but also cleans the pores of dirt and oils. Keeping your pores clean can help avoid other skin problems like acne. There are not many things better than a sauna for your skin. For more information click here

September 9, 2006 15:12 - What about sauna accessories?

Is there anything simpler than a sauna? Its just water and heat with no special equipment, no extra gear, and no clothes! In spite of the simplicity, there are some accessories that can make your experience in a sauna enormously more enjoyable. Natural Materials One good thing about saunas is their natural beauty. The wood-lined walls, ceiling and floor are both visually appealing and practical. When choosing accessories for your sauna, try to find objects that complement this natural beauty. Wooden accessories fit in very well, as do other natural materials such as copper and cotton. All wet saunas need a pail and ladle for splashing water on the rocks. There are many attractive sets available in copper and wood. Wooden pails fit in naturally with the wooden interior of the sauna, but copper accents well too. When choosing a ladle, make sure you get one with a long handle. This keeps your hands away from the steam when pouring water on the hot rocks. Relaxing Lighting Another requirement for most saunas is a light. Unless your sauna has windows there needs to be at least one electric light. Sauna lamps have to provide a vapor barrier between the electrical components and the saunas interior. They can be installed on the wall and covered with a lampshade to give a softer, relaxing light. A handy accessory is a towel rack added to your saunas outside wall. This gives you a good place for hanging towels and robes. Thermometers and timers Timers and thermometers are another consideration. They are useful if you are new to saunas. There are several types of thermometers available in either metal or wood. You should put them on the wall of the sauna and use them to monitor the temperature, keeping it within a healthy range. Hygrometers are also available to measure the amount of moisture in the air. For more information click here

September 19, 2006 10:24 - More evidence that detoxification is a measurable benefit of saunas.

I just ran across an interesting article that confirms the healing benefits of a sauna. Its a BBC article about a man with a condition known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) that makes him hyperalergic to many chemicals found in the typical home environment. His use of sauna treatment to reduce the accumulation of chemicals in his system is discussed as well as the method he uses to actually measure the reduction of chemical accumulation. It certainly confirms the fact that detoxification is a major benefit of a sauna. There is a link to the original article below. Father 'allergic to family home' A man with a condition which makes him acutely sensitive to the chemicals in everyday materials has lived apart from his family for more than a year. Guy Wood, 47, told BBC Radio's Eye on Wales he became ill if went into the new house in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, where his wife and daughter live. He says it forces him to stay with friends nearby in older properties. His housing association has refurbished another house with eco-friendly paint and he hopes to move in this week. Mr Wood has a condition known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). It means that he is acutely sensitive to very low levels of chemicals which do not normally affect other people. He said the chemicals in the glues, paints and varnishes used to build and decorate properties left him disorientated and dizzy. Many common domestic products such as air fresheners, soaps, washing powders, flame-retardant fabrics have the same effect. Solid walls The family home is in a new-build housing association property in Scleddau, near Fishguard, where his wife, Jo, and daughter, Seren, three, live without any problem. But Mr Wood said he could even enter the building without falling ill, and had given up trying to live in the house. Whenever he visits, he stays in the back garden. His family try to minimise the risk of him having a reaction when they meet, even keeping their clothes packed in plastic bags to stop them being impregnated with any chemicals present in the house. For the past 18 months, Mr Wood has stayed with a variety of local friends living in older homes of a more traditional construction, such as solid walls. He said: "Life was never meant to be like this. I can hardly find any shoes to wear because of all the chemicals in the soles. "I don't want to be moaning and disempowered, I want to raise the profile of it as much as I can. "This is really the last gasp. Everything hinges on this house, because I can't ask any more of my housing association." Mr Wood has a history of chronic fatigue syndrome and was showing signs of his chemical sensitivity before his housing difficulties. Paints and primers MCS is a controversial area of medicine, with a body of opinion that it is more of a psychiatric problem rather than a physical one. Mr Wood was eventually referred to Dr Sarah Myhill, a GP based near Knighton, Powys, who specialises in fatigue conditions. She diagnosed Mr Wood with MCS. Dr Myhill said MCS affected fewer than 0.5% of the population but for those with such sensitivity it "makes their lives impossible". She said: "One part-treatment is to remove the load of chemicals in the body and that I do by sweating regimes - saunas are a very good way of getting chemical out of the body. "I do fat biopsies to measure the levels of chemicals in the body before the sweating regimes and I do that afterwards and demonstrate the level of chemicals coming down. " Housing association Cymdeithas Tai Cantref said it was spending about £2,000 extra on the refurbishment of a vacant property thought suitable for the Wood family. The main differences include the use of eco-friendly paints and primers, cork flooring and untreated radiators, said the association's technical services David Watkins. He said: "The subtle differences are in the materials used, mainly of an organic base, and making sure that the existence of traditional gloss paints, particularly new gloss finishes, were sealed with material of an organic nature which was environmentally friendly and didn't off-gas in a way that will affect Mr Wood's health." Source:

September 21, 2006 14:15 - 5 ways to detoxify

It used to be that the body would rid itself naturally of harmful toxins and unwanted substances. Or perhaps it was just that there weren't as many pollutants (both environmental and chemical) than there are now. While there is no consensus on whether or not toxins, additives or pesticides are responsible for headaches, depression or cancer, as some experts assert, the following tips may help you to feel healthier and more energized: * Visit a sauna. Ever heard of the phrase, "sweating it out"? A sauna can do just that by ridding the toxins from your body. Make sure to replenish lost fluids by drinking water shortly after your session. * Be food-savvy. While it's not necessary to become a vegetarian to detoxify your system, when eating meat, opt for "certified organic" beef, chicken or pork. This means that the meat is pesticide- and hormone-free. * Consider supplements. Hair of the Dog, a beverage created by Innovative Technologies Corporation of America, contains more than 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C and delivers 3,200 milligrams of Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxifiers, which specifically target the liver. Since the liver works as a filter, protecting the body against thousands of toxic substances, drinks like this can aid the body in the cleansing process. The drink is available in energy and non-energy formulas. For more information, log on to www.hairofdog.com or call (800) 482-2637. * Use natural cleaning products. Everyday household items such as vinegar, orange oil, baking soda and tea tree oil make great cleaning aids instead of over-the-counter, commercial brands. * Choose all-natural skin care products. The skin is the largest organ in the body, so what is absorbed through it can be especially harmful. Get in the habit of reading labels and selecting personal-care products that are not irritating or harmful to the skin. source: NewsUSA

September 22, 2006 15:12 - May the"loyly" be with you

Here is an interesting article showing the popularity of saunas in Finland, a little of their history and tradition plus an example of why some people claim "men are pigs". Sauna's clean Finnish By Jonathon Moran Article from: AAP IF the entire population of Finland was told to immediately enter a sauna, they'd all be accommodated. With a population of around five million, there are more than 2.5 million saunas. That means almost every household has its own sauna. And there are plenty of public saunas. "Sauna is basically in the nature of everything here," says Jari Etelalahti, who runs local tour company Eat and Joy Helsinki. "A lot of homes have them and Finnish people are crazy about summer cottages which all have sauna." For Finns, going to a sauna is more than a pastime. It is part of their Nordic culture. "In the old days, that was the only place that was really heated," said Etelalahti. "It was hygienic also so you gave birth in a sauna ... you spent half of your day in the sauna. As a tourist, there are many opportunities to experience the traditional Finnish sauna. Public saunas are open daily and you may be lucky to be invited to enjoy some Finnish hospitality at a local's home. A traditional sauna is a wooden building where bathers sit on benches splashing water on hot stones and gently beating themselves with leafy birch whisks. Nowadays, it is more common for homes to have electric saunas. "The real sauna is the smoke sauna which is heated for like six hours before the whole event and it stays like that." "Saunas can be electrical ... many of these flats nowadays have electrical saunas. "But for me the wooden heated saunas are the best." Temperatures can range from 70C to 180C for hardcore sauna lovers. "It can get up to 150 or 180 degrees and the guys sit there happily sweating." There are even competitions where people attempt to stay in the sauna for a lengthy time at a high temperature. Etelalahti said men were particularly competitive. "Of course when guys have a sauna, they want to be competitive and there is also a world championship for people to see who can stay in the sauna the longest at some high temperature," he said. "Guys are always competitive and many have fainted in the heat of the battle. "But usually it is about being therapeutic so you can stay in the sauna as long or as little as you want." Certain rules generally apply to saunas. "Sauna is not supposed to be connected to business so the rules are: no politics, no religion, no business and hardly no sex talk at all," says Etelalahti. "It is just about pure and natural things. It is nice to just talk about everyday subjects like the weather or food." A trip to the sauna usually takes a couple of hours and involves a sequence of rituals. Sauna is usually taken nude and everyon must shower before entering. "Every time you go naked because it is more hygenic not to go with the swimsuit," says Etelalahti. In public places, men and women are generally segregated. At home, saunas are usually mixed. The term sauna refers to the whole bathing process and includes several repeated periods of perspiring in the heat and the steam, known as "loyly", produced by the water thrown on the stones. Loyly is described as the spirit of the sauna. It is a Finno-Ugric word going back 7,000 years. Between bouts in the sauna room, people often bathe in cold water. In winter, people cut holes in the ice in the Baltic sea or any lake and jump in for a short time. If there is no water nearby, the Finns will often roll around naked in the snow. "If you have water next to you, of course you want to jump into it," says Etelalahti. "If you don't have the ocean or a lake near you, you always go outside and chill out in the cold for a while." "It is addictive, both sauna and going into the icy water." The writer was a guest of Scandinavian Airlines, Finnish Tourist Board, Helsinki City Tourist and Convention Bureau and MyPlanet. Source

September 24, 2006 14:21 - Home sauna convenience

So why have saunas earned a reputation as having "fad" status? One of the main reasons for the dramatic increase in sauna use has to do with convenience. It is now much easier to enjoy a sauna in your own home. You no longer need to travel to the gym and "get naked with the masses" to enjoy the sauna experience. Many prefer to build their own sauna, but for the less handy (or more busy) there are options as simple as having a prebuilt unit delivered to your home and installed. Many can literally be put together in minutes. For those do-it-yourselfers there are an ever-increasing number of precut kits available.

Another innovation is the Infrared sauna. Compared to the 2000 year history of conventional saunas, this is a relatively new way to produce the body heat that will increase your circulation and promote sweating. Infrared saunas use infrared waves to heat you. They do not heat the surrounding air. One downside is the lack of löyly (steam) from heating water but they do tend to be more time efficient. Since they heat you and not the environment there is little warm up time prior to taking your sauna. There is also strong evidence that suggests infrared heat penetrates deeper into you skin increasing the health benefits of taking a sauna.

With all this convenience it is no wonder that so many people are choosing to enjoy having a home sauna of their own.

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September 26, 2006 21:05 - Infared, Infrared or Far Infrared (FIR)what is the difference and which is best for a sauna

The terms infared, Infrared and Far Infrared are often used when describing the relatively new (compared to the 2000+ year old traditional form) form of sauna. A discussion I had recently revealed how confusing the topic can be so I thought a little clarification is in order.

Let's do the easy one first. Infared is a mispronunciation or misspelling of the term Infrared. If you are in the market for a sauna and the manufacturer insists it is an Infared sauna - run away.

Infrared and Far Infrared are closely related. The Electromagnetic Spectrum is made up of a group of waves with certain characteristics. One common characteristic is that they can all travel through empty space thus this group of waves can reach Earth when emitted from the Sun. Familiar waves include Gamma rays, visible light, and Radio waves. The major difference separating these waves has to do with their wavelength and the frequency of their vibration (oscillation).

One of the groups of waves within the Electro Magnetic Spectrum is known as the Infrared waves. They are waves with a slightly longer wavelength than the visible color red. These waves are capable of producing heat when they penetrate and object. The group Infrared is divided into Near, Middle and Far Infrared waves. The Far Infrared (FIR) waves are called FAR because they are FARTHER away from visible light on the Electromagnetic Spectrum. It is the FIR waves that are the most efficient at penetrating skin and producing heat.

Ok, so much for the science lesson, let's get back to saunas. Most Infrared saunas should more properly be called Far Infrared (FIR) saunas since it is the FIR wave that creates the best and deepest heat. That is not to say that all FIR saunas are created equally. Some emitters produce more of their energy on the FAR end of the spectrum (wavelengths of 5.6-1000 microns). Others produce a mixture of Near, Middle and Far Infrared waves. The more Far Infrared waves the better in a sauna.

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September 28, 2006 14:53 - Is it Power Sauna Time, Power TV Time, or a waste of time?

Here is an idea - what about a TV in the sauna. My first reaction to this idea was that I don't need to add a TV to make using a sauna enjoyable. After some thought I realized it could be viewed with a different spin. Instead of adding a TV to the sauna could it be adding a sauna to the TV? Most of us spend a fair amount of time in front of the tube anyway, what if that time could do double duty.

We know how healthy spending time in a sauna is so could we make "couch potato time" "sauna bench time" and get some benefit from it? It is a little like diet soda and junk food. Some people will see having a diet soda with a fast food (high calorie, low food value) meal as ridiculous. My view is that if a person is going to eat the junk food anyway having a diet soda is better than a regular (fat) soda to go with it.

I realize that I am stretching things a bit and having a TV in your sauna seems wrong somehow and probably is for most people (myself included). To many this may seem like a logical union. Whatever works for you, is right for you.

A TV in your sauna needs to be specially designed to take the humidity. If you are interested in finding one that fits the bill here is a link to an interesting article that gives you some options.

September 30, 2006 12:49 - For do it yourself sauna builders - which wood is best?

Traditionally the woods of choice for do it yourself sauna builders have been cedars, redwood, some spruces and pines. These make great choices but they are not the only options available.

If you want to venture into the less common and exotics there are a few things to consider.

Not all woods are suitable for saunas. You may have noticed that the traditional woods are all "softwoods" and not "hardwoods". This has to do with the density of the wood. Hardwoods do a poor job of absorbing moisture and are therefore less suited for saunas.

Another consideration is the oil content of the wood. You don't want a wet oily wood or one that will release a lot of sap over time. Excess oil and sap makes the wood too hot and uncomfortable to sit on in the heat of a sauna. Many exotics are too oily and wood with knots will give off sap. You also want to look at the environmental ramifications of using a particular species of wood.

Sauna materials continued.

If you are a do it yourself sauna builder you need to consider the wood used carefully. In my next post I will take a look at a new wood out on the market that may or may not be good for saunas and one way to find out about the sustainability of harvesting that lumber.