Sauna

What are the health benefits (if any) of saunas and steam rooms?

My family and I were sitting in a sauna earlier today, and found ourselves wondering, what if any are the benefits of them? I know they are a big deal in Scandinavia, and that the steam opens your pores, and whatnot, but do they do anything else? Thanks for your time!

Public Comments

1. They are supposed to sweat out the toxins in your body. Some people also use them to help them lose weight. Doesn't work though, it's only fluid lost and is quickly put back on.
2. some drug rehab centers put there patients in them to (belive it or not) rid their body of any drugs that are still in them
3. Yes - many many things. The skin is the largest eliminating organ of the body. Steam is useful to speed up the cleansing of the body internally. It can be used to induce an artifical fever to treat infections. It is useful in reducing pimples etc.etc.etc
4. A steam room is a high humidity chamber that heats water to create vapor. A sauna is a low humidity chamber that uses hot rocks (or even infrared rays) to create a high, dry heat. Please read my article here: