The Benefits of Steam Baths

The benefits of steam bathing have been recognized for thousands of years. Today,steam baths are considered an integral method for purifying and detoxifying the skin and body, increasing circulation, stimulating the immune system and encouraging complete physical and mental well-being.

Steam baths are relaxing and stress relieving. Those with muscle aches or arthritis may find that the heat relaxes muscles and relieves pain and inflammation. Asthma and allergy sufferers find that the heat dilates air passageways of the lung and facilitates breathing. Heat does not cure the common cold but may help to alleviate congestion and speed recovery time.

Steam baths are good for your skin as the blood flow to the skin increases and sweating occurs. Adults sweat about 2 lbs or water per hour on average while in the steam bath. A good sweat removes dirt and grime from pores and gives the skin a healthy glow. The loss is water weight is temporary as the body's physiological mechanisms will quickly restore proper volumes.

Heat is a therapeutic agent and has long been used for healing in many cultures. All of our body's functions depend on chemical reactions. And chemical reactions are directly affected by heat (either accelerating or slowing in direct proportion to available heat energy). This is bound to have an effect on our tissues and our health.

A state of hyperthermia exists when body temperature rises above its normal state of 98.6ºF. Although often misunderstood as a symptom of disease, fever actually is a part of the body's natural healing response. Steam bath treatments elicit similar healing responses in the body, and consequently are often called “artificial fevers”.

During a fever, the functioning of the immune system is stimulated, while the growth of bacteria and viruses is forced to slow down. The production of white blood cells, the primary agents of the immune system, is increased, as is the rate of their release into the blood stream. The generation of anti-bodies speeds up, as does the production of interferon, an anti-viral protein that also has powerful cancer-fighting properties.

Steam baths are good for:

  • easing stress
  • relieving muscle tensions and stiff joints
  • boosting the immune system
  • lymph detoxification
  • stimulating circulation
  • increasing body metabolism
  • alleviating sinus congestion due to colds, asthma, or allergies, and
  • keeping skin youthful.

What can steam heat do?

  • Steam heat increases the extensibility of tissues.
  • Steam heat decreases rigidity in joints.
  • Steam heat reduces muscle spasm.
  • Steam heat can decrease muscular pain.
  • Steam heat increases blood circulation and irrigation, but not blood pressure.
  • Steam heat enhances total lymph system cleansing.
  • Steam heat has been recently used in therapies against cancer and infectious diseases.
  • Steam baths are highly effective is removing fat-stored toxins from the body.
  • Steam effectively washes toxins from the surface of the skin as you sweat.
  • Steam treatment improves vascular flow, enhancing oxygen, nutrient, and lymph exchange at the cellular level.


Steam baths can also be superior to body wraps in the treatment of cellulite due to much shorter time required to raise tissue temperature (1 hour in body wrap = 10 minute steam bath).