Sauna Therapy: Unleash the Healing Power of Heat
A sauna therapy is a wood-paneled with dry heat, humid room with varying effects on an individual, such as increased blood circulation. Sauna is considered by many as the perfect way to unwind and relax.
Written by
WG
Editorial Team
Reviewed By: Dr. Irfana Akther, MBBS, MAHM (UK), NMD
Saunas are revered as the ultimate relaxation retreats, offering a sanctuary to unwind and rejuvenate. With temperatures soaring between 70°C to 100°C (158°F to 212°F), these heated chambers promise not just relaxation but a myriad of health benefits.
Dive into this article to explore the myriad ways a good sauna therapy session can enhance your well-being.
Introduction to Sauna
Popularly used for thousands of years to date, Sauna is considered by many as the perfect way to unwind and relax. It is essentially a heated, humid room that has varying effects on an individual such as an increase in blood circulation. There are many other health benefits obtained through a good Sauna therapy which you will learn about through this article.
A sauna is a room heated to a temperature of 700 to 1000 Celsius or 1580 to 2120 Fahrenheit. The conditions vary based on the type of sauna you opt for. A Finnish sauna uses dry heat with 10-20% humidity, while a Turkish-style sauna uses a greater level of humidity. While using a sauna therapy, your skin temperature can rise to roughly 400 C or 1040 F. Rising skin temperature leads to heavy sweating, and a rise in heart rate to cool the body.
Principle of Sauna Therapy
As the skin temperature shoots up in a sauna, an average person pours out about a pint of sweat. This causes the pulse rate to jump by 30% or more and the heart to nearly double the amount of blood being pumped per minute. Blood circulation is shunted away from the internal organs and instead, extra blood flows to the skin, resulting in a rise or fall of blood pressure. According to Dr. Reuben Chen, M.D., a board-certified physician specializing in sports medicine and pain management in the report of Forbes Health, the traditional sauna is believed to have originated in Finland and Turkey, where people use it mostly for relaxation, circulation enhancement, and sweating promotion.
