Since ancient times, it has been customary in Rus' to treat any ailments in the bathhouse. And not only we, Russians, glorify it as a panacea for any disease. Our good neighbors, the Finns, also respect their sauna.
They even have a special saying that the bathhouse can be used by anyone who can reach it. And if the sauna did not help in treating the disease, then nothing will help the person...
A huge leap in science, the study and treatment of diseases with the help of modern medicines has pushed back the healing power of the bath. Of course, the cult of the bath is now completely different from what it was before. If previously colds, joint pain, back pain or ordinary fatigue were treated only in the heat of the bath, today we rush to the pharmacy for healing.
I am not calling for abandoning traditional methods of treatment and seeking salvation in the kingdom of the bathhouse. Alas, the bathhouse culture has been largely lost. But, for the prevention of diseases, and also as a faithful assistant to traditional medicine, the bathhouse is indispensable to this day.
The healing power of the bath
The healing power of the bath was studied by the well-known medieval Persian scientist Avicenna. He believed that the steam room could cure insomnia, headaches, migraines, paralysis and spasms. However, not all baths work the same. Although a Russian steam bath and a dry-air sauna are similar, their effects are different.
Not all people tolerate the wet steam of a bathhouse and the dry air of a sauna equally. The body's intolerance to temperature changes causes fatigue, tiredness and a negative attitude towards the entire bath culture. But it turns out that everything is quite simple - you need to choose the right temperature and humidity in the bath.
Wet steam bath
A real Russian bathhouse is a wet steam bath. Official medicine is a supporter of treatment in the Russian bath for the following ailments:
- Rhinitis
- Chronical bronchitis
- Gout
- Radiculitis
- Rheumatism outside the acute phase
- Pneumonia
- Neurasthenia
- Polyarthritis
- Kidney diseases
- Initial stage of hypertension
- Hypotension
Dry air bath
Although the sauna, or dry-air bath, is a close relative of our Russian bathhouse, its effect on our body is completely different. And visiting the sauna is recommended for the treatment of such diseases:
- Cystitis
- Skin diseases (eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis)
- Stones in the kidneys
- Liver diseases
- Inactive form of rheumatism
- Arthrosis
- Chronic colds
- Hypertension
- Dystonia
Of course, every disease has indications and contraindications; we cannot say that they are absolute. Baths and saunas are complex procedures; they are not limited to one steam session.
Regular use of a wide variety of rubs, compresses, ointments, taking healing tinctures, massage, aromatherapy, clay therapy, phototherapy and even dipping in cold water - all this is an additional part of any treatment in the bathhouse.
Respiratory treatment
The bath successfully copes with both the prevention and treatment of both the lower and upper respiratory tracts, helping with the first signs of ARVI, colds, respiratory infections, runny nose, saving from nasal congestion, improving sputum discharge, including bronchial asthma. In this case, the bathhouse acts as an effective inhaler that replaces boring trips to the clinic. Of course, in case of acute or severe illness, as we have said more than once, you should refuse the bath, especially if you feel individual intolerance.
How does a bath have a healing effect?
The sauna kingdom is not limited to just heat and steam. A whole army of positive factors is concentrated here! Caressing steam, the cradle of all life on Earth - water, healthy aromas and, of course, high temperatures.
Of course, all the bones are warmed up in the sauna! And this is achieved not only by warming the body with steam.
Thermal radiation from the heater provides wave heating of the body. Of course, we don’t notice this wave heating, but the force from the heated bath stones is considerable. Especially if the heater is filled with crimson quartzite or jadeite.
A steam room in a bathhouse with a broom cannot compare in efficiency with any other bath. In the steam room, the power of a broom, its targeted beneficial action treats ailments no worse than certified specialists.
I think that no one will dispute the fact that purity is a strong force. After all, it is cleanliness that the bathhouse gives us above all! Metabolic processes in the body are activated, blood circulation is stimulated, and the heated skin through the opened pores is actively cleansed of all uselessness.
With sweat, lactic acid (which causes fatigue), urea, metabolic end products, salts, etc. are released...
The body, freed from toxins, begins to work together and harmoniously. But, nevertheless, we get a huge, positive effect from emotional and mental relief. Many people associate the bathhouse only with positive emotions and traditions. Here the nervousness somehow goes away on its own and the tension is relieved.
Worries and adversities lose their significance and relevance. A positive attitude after a good steam room is a guarantee of a bath!
But you still need to know about contraindications to visiting baths and saunas...
The bathhouse heals, the bathhouse rules
Photo ysites.ru
Bathing day in the village fell on Saturday or Sunday and took more than half a day. The old people treated bath procedures with great respect and did not spare time on them. White baths began to appear in the village only about fifteen years ago; before that they only washed in black ones. My grandmother’s bathhouse was also heated black, but the humidity in it was higher than in other bathhouses because of the well that was built right in it. They made it so as not to carry water from the river, but when the children all moved away, they rarely used it. Grandmother believed that water for washing should be alive, and if little of it is drawn from the well, then it changes its energy and can cause harm. I completely agree with my grandmother on this issue, since I myself have been convinced of this more than once in practice. One has only to abandon the well for a month or two, and the water in it becomes tasteless, and sometimes even musty.
I always loved the bath, but it was hard for me to wash with my grandmother. Grandma, like all the old people in the village, steamed so much that, as they say, her ears were wrapped in a tube. She scolded me if I got off the shelf to escape the heat and the broom. Grandmother did not allow me to splash myself with cold water or go out the door to breathe fresh air, so by the end of the wash I no longer had the strength to even move. She and I barely made it home and lay down on the bed to catch our breath a little.
I still don’t understand why it was necessary to rape my body like that. But the old people said that this is how the bathhouse should be. They say that this is the only way to drive away all illnesses and wash away all the dirt.
Many people still have arguments about this, but I cannot take anyone’s side. I believe that you need to focus only on your feelings and your own well-being. I’ve noticed that in summer I can tolerate the heat more easily if I wash myself every day in a hot bath with very hot water. But this is only if there is no strong tan yet. For tanning and sunburn, it’s good to splash yourself with cool water and let it dry on its own.
For me, the most comfortable temperature in my bathhouse is +90-100 degrees, but this is provided that no one has washed in it yet. The higher the humidity, the more the body senses the heat, and it may feel higher than it actually is.
A black sauna is always drier, and the heat is easier to bear there.
Black sauna.
Photo zelremstroy.ru Bath stress
It must be remembered that a bath for the body is severe stress, which is dangerous during the period of exacerbation of diseases, in case of acute heart diseases and heart failure. Internal organs cannot withstand high temperatures for long, and when they are heated to forty degrees, the body turns on thermoregulation mechanisms. The sweat glands begin to work at full capacity. The capillaries in the skin expand, and to enhance heat transfer, even those that usually do not function and are kept in reserve by the body for emergencies are opened. Blood from internal organs flows to the skin (and at the same time leaves such blood depots as the spleen and liver). The heart begins to beat 1.5-2 times faster, and cardiac output with each beat increases 1.5-1.7 times. The intercellular fluid enters the lymphatic ducts, and from them into the bloodstream.
An increase in blood flow in peripheral organs leads to a decrease in blood flow in the brain, causing a feeling of relaxation and mild euphoria. Kidney function decreases due to decreased pressure in the renal arteries. The adrenal glands, on the contrary, are activated, as when exposed to any irritant, causing the concentration of adrenaline and norepinephrine in the blood to increase, and a paradoxical feeling of relaxation and vigor appears in the soul. The bronchi expand, the frequency and depth of breathing increase, which additionally activates heat transfer and compensates for the lack of oxygen in the brain. The effect of hot air on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract reflexively enhances changes in the cardiovascular system. Muscles relax due to relaxation of the central nervous system, increased blood supply and increased temperature. A broom helps to further relax them. My grandmother prepared various brooms for the bathhouse, and now I do the same.
Photo https://7lestnic.com/
Birch
Despite the variety of brooms that we make for the bathhouse, the birch broom remains my favorite. I love the effect it has on the skin and the scent.
The volatile substances released by the leaves kill pathogenic microbes and disinfect the air, and this property is enhanced when heated. Birch broom helps smooth out wrinkles, improve immunity, cope with pulmonary diseases and reduce the craving for smoking.
Oak
This broom is good for oily and problematic skin and sweating. It is good for hypertensive patients, athletes and after heavy physical activity. An oak broom reduces blood pressure well, perfectly relaxes and calms. An oak broom is bulkier and heavier than a birch broom, especially when wet, but it produces more steam and is more durable, lasting for several trips to the bathhouse.
Lime
Linden broom has anti-inflammatory and immune-strengthening properties. It helps with headaches, sleep disorders and various skin rashes.
Cheremukhovy
This broom is a pleasure to steam with. It has an amazing scent and is very gentle on the skin, which is probably why my kids prefer it. It has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Perfectly cleanses the skin and helps in the treatment of wounds, ulcers and scars.
Eucalyptus
The eucalyptus broom is also indicated for those who have neurological diseases, joint pain, and frequent colds. It is believed that two or three trips to the bathhouse with this broom are enough to get rid of many pulmonary problems.
Conifers (fir, cedar, spruce, juniper)
They are classified as rough brooms and are not suitable for people with sensitive skin. These brooms help with pulmonary diseases, rheumatism, frequent colds, headaches and toothaches. They calm the nervous system well and help relieve stress.
Juniper broom is good for liver and intestinal diseases, as well as lichen.
Improving blood flow
The heat of the bath is indispensable in creating a strong blood flow, which cleanses the blood vessels, removing cholesterol and other deposits from them like a strong stream of water. Redness of the skin is a signal that the warming up was successful. This happens due to the fact that there are many receptors on the skin - nerve endings. It also has thermoreceptors. They instantly respond to heat, transmitting excitement to the brain. Information about the thermal effect on the skin is received by the hypothalamus - that tiny part of the brain that regulates not only sleep, appetite, emotions, wakefulness, thirst, but also body temperature. In response to heat, the hypothalamus reacts by dilating blood vessels. Microscopic nerve fibers cause the capillaries to dilate. Through them, blood from the depot rushes to the outskirts, beginning to treat diseased tissues. Making its way through the capillaries, the blood flow cleanses them along the way, delivering nutrition to starving cells and taking dead cells and toxins into its channel. This restores the movement of fluids, including blood circulation. Within an hour, the body can produce enough heat to boil a liter of ice water.
The heat of the bath, strengthening the blood flow, enhances all metabolic processes, including oxidative ones. This is extremely important for health, since the blood carries not only nutrients, water, but also oxygen. And it is a powerful cleanser of the body. So if you want to maintain and restore your health, go to the bathhouse. There are no diseases that a strong blood flow cannot cope with. That is why after bath procedures the condition of patients improves, which is recorded by blood tests, urine tests and a cardiogram.
Even such a common disease as hypertension can be treated in the bathhouse. When exposed to heat, blood vessels dilate and pressure drops. It is enough to spend five to ten minutes in the bathhouse to feel relief. Interestingly, the pressure continues to decrease for another hour after the bath procedures.
After the bath, the condition of asthmatics also improves. Under the influence of high temperatures, the bronchi expand and the muscles of the respiratory organs soften.
During bath procedures, the load on the kidneys and the level of protein in the urine are reduced. Before the beneficial heat, radiculitis, neuritis, sciatica, rheumatism, gout and hemorrhoids recede. Blood sugar levels also drop. And scientists have proven that the heat of the bath suppresses cancer cells and the bath gives a chance for a complete recovery.
Ekaterina Zarudnaya,
Arkhangelsk region
Contraindications for visiting the sauna
The sauna sets temperature records with low humidity, the heat here is still that great! Even a completely healthy person sometimes feels ill from spending a long time in a dry, hot room. It is better to postpone visiting the sauna if you have:
- High blood pressure
- Tuberculosis
- Severe diabetes
- Chronic kidney disease
- Epilepsy
- Urolithiasis disease
- Upper respiratory tract diseases
- Atherosclerosis
- Glaucoma
Contraindications to baths and saunas are based on sensitivity to temperature conditions for various diseases, to the effects of humidity and thermal radiation. Pay close attention to the advice of specialists and your well-being during bath procedures. Our body is the most sensitive organization that can decide for itself what it likes and what is completely unsuitable...
Even the most avid bath lover involuntarily listens to his feelings during bath ceremonies and evaluates his well-being in different temperature conditions. A bathhouse is not a constant environment; a lot changes here - temperature, humidity, lighting...
The bathing kingdom can become both a healer and an enemy. A bathhouse can cure many diseases if you do everything “wisely,” because no one has ever done anything good in a hurry.
Otitis and its manifestations
Otitis is an inflammation of the ear, most often occurring during respiratory illnesses in which swelling of the Eustachian tube occurs. Because of this, fluid accumulates in the middle ear, which leads to the growth of pathogenic organisms in it. This disease can affect different parts of the ear cavity :
- interior;
- average;
- outer.
Each of these types of otitis is characterized by its own characteristics, the course of the disease and the appropriate treatment prescribed by the ENT specialist. But the following symptoms are common to them: ear pain, congestion, hearing loss .
Otitis is a disease that requires increased attention
Otitis is a very serious disease, but not in terms of treatment. Usually it responds very well to competent treatment by specialists. The disease is dangerous because of possible complications if it is not treated in a timely or incorrect manner.
It is important to know that otitis media is considered the most common cause of hearing loss.
I got a cold in my ear. Is it possible to go to the sauna or is it better not to overheat?
Vasily Makarenko
Yes, as a doctor I can only say that as little water as possible gets in there, cover it with a cotton swab and everything is fine
Petibskaya Elena
you can't go to the sauna
Under no circumstances should you categorically go into a bathhouse or sauna with otitis media or other ear inflammations.
No need to take risks.
Vladimir Melnikov
It will be easier to cure with camphor oil using drops.
Xthn_13(666)
GO TO THE DOCTOR!! ! there is no other way... and if so, then this is a false path.
Alisa Alisova
What does the doctor say?
My ear was shooting and it hurt, I climbed onto the wall. horror. Not a single doctor could help. Then, on the third day, the relative wrapped me in a blanket and forced me to inhale through both my nose and mouth so that the tears flowed. in pairs from the Vietnamese “Star”. In a saucepan of boiling water, I diluted half a nail of ointment, and so on twice before going to bed. And wrap yourself up well, In the morning it was all gone. For 15 years I remember it like a nightmare.
In an acute condition it is impossible. Not good, go to the doctor.
Long-term bath heating helps with otitis, but during an exacerbation, the bath is contraindicated.
Bath for otitis or ear congestion
The inflammatory process in the auditory cavity is a common lesion that affects not only children, but also adults. Treatment of otitis involves the use of traditional and traditional medicine.
Physiotherapy and warming methods often come to the rescue. Patients are concerned about the question of whether it is possible to go to the bathhouse with otitis media, but it is not so easy to give a detailed answer to this question.
In some cases, the procedure will be beneficial, but, for example, with a purulent inflammatory process, the harm can be significant.
Is it possible to visit the bathhouse?
Many patients note improvements in their condition with otitis media after visiting the bathhouse. This effectiveness is explained by the fact that as a result of exposure to heat, blood flow to the diseased organ is ensured and the process of normal blood supply to tissues is restored. Experts say that a bath can only be beneficial for catarrhal otitis media. In this case, warming up can significantly speed up the recovery process.
Attention! Ears with otitis should be protected from water, which is impossible with high humidity levels characteristic of a bathhouse.
In case of a purulent form of the lesion, exposure to heat should be avoided. Warming up can be a factor that causes the spread of pus. In this case, the course of the pathology will be aggravated. With massive purulent otitis, there is also a risk of perforation of the tympanic cavity with pus draining out.
Sauna
Visiting the sauna should be postponed until the otitis media is completely cured. Despite the fact that the air in such a place is dry, the thermal procedure can provoke increased inflammation, as well as the spread of pus into the middle ear, which will lead to a more severe course of the disease and complications.
It is permissible to visit the sauna in the following cases:
- 7 days have passed since the end of treatment for otitis media;
- no pain in the ear area;
- no discharge from the ear canal;
- body temperature and blood pressure are normal;
- general health is satisfactory.
Treatment of purulent otitis in adults at home
The pathological process in children develops quickly, so you can take your child to the sauna only after complete recovery from otitis and with the permission of a specialist.
Pool
Any water procedures during the period of otitis are prohibited. You can swim in the pool a week after the symptoms of the disease disappear. If the ear inflammation was complicated by perforation of the eardrum, the event must be postponed for 2-3 months (until the hearing organ is completely restored). At the same time, you cannot dive headlong into water or jump from a springboard for 4-5 months.
Visiting the pool during illness can lead to exacerbation of otitis media. Water with chlorine that gets into the ear canal can cause an allergic reaction or increased inflammation in the middle ear and nasopharynx.
You can go to the pool after illness, observing the following conditions:
- protect your ears with special earplugs;
- wear a rubber cap that fits tightly to your head;
- do not dive (if the pressure drops, the eardrum may burst);
- to remove water from the ear, tilt your head to the side and hop on one leg, then blot the ear canal with a cotton pad;
- after swimming, wipe yourself dry and dress warmly; in the cold season, be sure to wear a hat;
- Do not swim if you have elevated body temperature, purulent discharge from the ear, or general weakness.
To take a bath
Doctors recommend replacing bathing with showering during illness and recovery. With a long stay in hot water, the pathogenic flora actively multiplies, the inflammatory process intensifies, which leads to complications of the disease. The temperature difference when leaving the bathroom also negatively affects the hearing organ.
Washing your hair for otitis media
Is it possible to wash your hair if you have otitis media? For many of us, especially for women who are accustomed to frequently refreshing their curls, this procedure is an urgent necessity. But won't washing your hair harm your inflamed hearing organ?
In fact, the main danger in washing your hair during otitis is not so much the possibility of water getting into the ear canal, but rather the sudden temperature change. After this hygienic procedure, we leave the warm, damp bathroom into the cool, and this can provoke an intensification of the inflammatory process and its spread to neighboring areas of the hearing organ.
To avoid unpleasant consequences, you should take the following precautions when washing your hair:
- It is allowed to wash your hair with otitis extremely carefully so that water and foam do not get into the ear canal;
- the temperature of the water you want to wash your hair with should not be too hot - 37-40 degrees is enough;
- make sure that there are no drafts in the rooms you will find yourself in after the bath;
- After washing your hair, dry your hair thoroughly with several towels to dry it as much as possible.
But there are situations when this hygiene procedure should be postponed. If you have a fever or acute inflammation of the middle ear that has not reached the perforation stage, it is better not to wash your hair with otitis without the permission of an otolaryngologist. The fact is that even warm water can provoke active production of exudate. In the best case, under the pressure of the accumulated masses, the eardrum will burst; in the worst case, the pus will break in the opposite direction, to the inner ear.
Why is otitis media dangerous?
After a detailed study of statistical data, we can conclude that otitis often provokes the manifestation of dangerous complications, the list of which includes:
- Perforation of the eardrum.
- A benign neoplasm in the auditory cavity is cholesteatoma.
- Inflammation of the mastoid process or mastoiditis.
- Degenerative changes in the eardrum.
Against the background of pathologies of the hearing organs, in most cases, a violation of the integrity of the eardrum appears. This complication is characterized as mild and, with timely intervention, reversible without consequences for auditory function. The main task of the patient and physician is to prevent chronic otitis media in this case. This is due to the fact that with chronic inflammation, persistent perforation often develops, that is, the resulting hole does not heal. Against this background, the patient’s quality of sound perception decreases, and hearing loss often develops.
There are other, more dangerous consequences of improper treatment of the inflammatory process, so it is worth emphasizing the danger of the disease. The risk of death is also present; the patient's death may occur as a result of meningitis or sepsis.
Since otitis media is classified as a dangerous inflammation, you should not treat it at home yourself. If the first symptoms appear in the form of ear pain accompanied by an increase in temperature, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will determine the exact location of the lesion and select the optimal treatment. The patient should also familiarize himself with the basic rules of therapy, because therapy implies some restrictions in everyday life.
Precautions when visiting a bathhouse with otitis media
You can wash in a bathhouse only if the pathology is chronic or during the recovery period. Liquid entering the ear canal during the recovery period can cause a relapse of the pathological process, therefore, when visiting the steam room, you must follow certain rules:
- protection of the ear from water ingress;
- the duration of stay in the steam room should not exceed 10 minutes;
- procedures involving temperature contrast are prohibited; hardening should be postponed until the protective indicators have stabilized;
- Before visiting the steam room, you should put on protective gear on your head to prevent overheating.
Before leaving the bathhouse you should spend 10-20 minutes in the dressing room.
