Hyperthermic Therapy
Steam

For thousands of years people of all cultures have used the healing power of steam to soothe their bodies and cleanse their minds.

Homes of the wealthy in ancient India often included a bathhouse with a steam room; in fact, bathhouses are still an integral part of life in Muslim culture.

Turkish baths have been popular in Europe for centuries. The Greeks considered the steam bath vital for their physical education regimen, and the Romans were famous for their elaborate baths.

Steam therapy causes body temperature to rise above its normal level of 98.6 degrees F., bringing about a state of hyperthermia, or artificial fever.

Fever is one of the body's most powerful defense mechanism in fighting disease because many invading organisms have a limited tolerance to heat and cannot survive higher temperatures.

Hyperthermia stimulates the hypothalamus, the gland that maintains and stabilizes normal body temperature. This induces a fever in patients whose bodies are unable to develop one on their own in response to inflammation or infection.

Artificial fever created by steam bathing is thought to stimulate the immune system by increasing the number of white blood cells in the body and by increasing the production of antibodies and interferon. In addition, by increasing the blood flow to the skin, it removes impurities and delivers vital nutrients, thus stimulating cellular activity and growth.

Steam therapy also stimulates the cardiovascular system. It improves circulation, but does not raise blood pressure, since heat expands the blood vessels in the skin, thus permitting increased blood flow.

As the heart rate increases, blood flow is diverted from the inner organs, detoxifying them in the process. During a steam bath, the blood flow to the skin can increase as high at 50 to 70 percent of the cardiac output!

In fact, heat speeds up all of the chemical processes in the body, making steam bathing one of the easiest ways to rid the body of toxins. As the pores of the skin open up and the sweat glands start to excrete, the body flushes itself.

Perspiration contains many of the same elements as urine, and for this reason, the skin is sometimes called the third kidney. It is estimated that as much as 30 % of bodily wastes are eliminated in this way.

In addition, the raised temperature reduces the growth rate of most bacteria and viruses, giving the immune system time to mobilize its own forces.

(Note: more than common metabolic waste products are secreted through the skin. Natural health practitioners often notice that when heavy smokers get a steam bath or a body wrap they will leave a yellow residue on the towels.)

The effectiveness of hyperthermia correlates inversely with the natural loss of heat during treatments.

Steam baths usually last from 10 to 20 minutes, followed by a lukewarm to cool shower to stimulate the body.

Ordinarily, perspiration prevents hyperthermia by cooling the body through evaporation, but in a steam bath, this natural cooling process is short-circuited. The body perspires, but due to the lack of evaporation, there is little or no loss of the valuable body heat necessary for effective detoxification or immune-boosting therapy.

In addition to these benefits, a steam bath after a workout reduces the lactic acids in muscles that cause soreness. This contributes to greater muscle elasticity and alleviates the pain of sports injuries and even helps to prevent such injuries before they occur. It also helps to relieve symptoms of arthritis.

Steam Inhalation is a long-recognized and effective therapy for the treatment of common colds and sinusitis.

It eases symptoms of bronchitis, allergies, and asthma by relieving the inflammation and congestion of mucous membranes. It alleviates spasmodic breathing, and serves as a natural expectorant. It relieves throat irritation by moistening the air; thus stimulating secretions of mucous membranes in the throat and lungs, keeping them from drying out. It also relaxes chest muscles and relieves coughing.

In recent years, increasing attention has been focused on the beauty enhancing benefits of steam treatments.

Steam is useful in improving complexion; it deeply cleanses the skin without causing dehydration prior to rinsing. As pores open and perspiration begins, tone-dulling toxins are naturally expelled, leaving behind suppler, cleaner skin.

At the same time nutrients provided by the increased blood supply enhance the development of collagen. Researchers have noted that people with psoriasis report that regular steam bathing helps to keep their skin lesions free of thick scales for extended periods if used in conjunction with topical emollients.

Best of all, steam therapy reduces signs of stress and fatigue, making you look and feel years younger.

The result is a sense of deep relaxation of mind and body and a flushed, youthful appearance that lasts for hours after treatment.

Stress is thought to cause everything from the common cold to cancer. It blocks the free flow of intelligence in the body/mind making the body less resistant to disease. Most of us feel its effects daily. It's good to know that relief from its effects can be only a few short footsteps away.

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