The Many Personal, Health And Medical Benefits Of Home Saunas

It was the Romans who took the concept of temperature bathing, originally developed by the Greeks and made it a part of daily life for all citizens. They built massive palaces based on the idea of temperature rooms and pools for the cleansing, relaxation, healing and renewal of the body and soul. Through the years the technology and implementation have changed but the concept has not; the calming and soothing effects of heat on the body are tremendous.

It was in the first part of the 20th century that the idea of home based saunas was first thought of. Items known as steam cabinets or “hot boxes” were sold by major catalog retailers as health improvement tools. They had a wide range of effects attributed to them and sold well. The units were basically metal boxes with a hole in the top that the head went though and doors on the front to step through. Under a wooden seat inside was a heating element and a water tank. The user could choose between hot and dry or hot and wet by simply omitting the use of water.

Over the years the debate of hot and wet such as a steam room, or warm and dry such as a sauna, began and eventually it was determined that both had their benefits. For relaxation purposes it was deemed that dry and warm was best for daily use, and therefore became the most common type of sauna for the home installation market. Another advantage to the home user was the fact that you could have one installed with only the need for an electric connection. This was more reasonable than steam rooms which required the running of a power supply to the room for lights, the construction of a steam tank and heater unit which often meant gas lines and the running of plumbing systems as well as a vent to the outside to let the moisture escape out. Saunas could be built in a weekend by a couple of guys, steam rooms required heavy construction and utility tie ins and that made them cost prohibitive.

If you want a moist environment from a dry sauna you can always add water to the rocks or place a pan of water on the grill. This gives you the best of both worlds. Of course there are major advantages to having a dry sauna that a steam sauna cannot accommodate. The first is the ability to read, watch TV or use a cell phone or cordless phone while relaxing. These things are out of the question in a wet environment.

The benefits of a sauna in your home are tremendous. Imagine being able to come home and undress before heading to your personal sauna. The gentle warmth engulfing your naked body as you sit or lay comfortably reading the paper or a favorite book. The time floats away as does your tension and stress from the long hard day. Your spouse or children can join you and you can reconnect with those you love while you all release the grip the day to day grind of the outer world has on you. You can also invite over your buddies and your spouse will enjoy the extra time she can have with her pals as well.

There are other benefits as well. It has been shown that those who use saunas regularly have lower levels of toxins in their bodies, have high metabolic rates and have stronger immune systems. Users of home saunas also have healthier and more vibrant skin and due to less stress in their lives, tend to not be at as high of risk with cardiovascular disease, migraines, over eating or addictions to “comfort” items such as alcohol or nicotine.

There are also medical advantages to the use of pre-fab saunas. Doctors have long been in the habit of prescribing dry heat saunas to aid in respiratory illness and recent studies have shown that they are beneficial for the alleviation of suffering from arthritis and some skin disorders. This all due to the fact that heat is a healer and can help the body to deal with certain conditions. The heat of the sauna can loosen stiff joints, exfoliate the skin and relax the lungs to allow for easier breathing.

Having personal saunas in the home is a great way to enjoy all of the benefits that a sauna can have anytime you would like. They are easy to build, economical to own and a pleasure to you. If you have not considered the installation of a home sauna, you should look into it. The benefits are undeniable.