The steam bath is an ancient kind of bath ritual that was performed by the ancient Romans and Greeks; its origins are traced to the Roman bath. In many communities and during their social gatherings these baths became an essential and important element of their enjoyment, spirituality, pleasure, fulfillment, nature, and routine. No matter which socio-economic class you were in you could or would participate in this social norm, as everyone in the Roman Empire used these accessible public baths.
Today, there are some natural steam baths still being used, that utilize a similar process of which the Romans used. Among the Ancient Roman and Greek steam bath, other common types of the steam bath include the Turkish bath.
The Turkish bath, another ritualistic process, is also known as the Russian bath. It is a variant of a steam bath, but distinguished by a focus on water instead of steam. In the Victorian era, the Turkish bath was used as a popular method of cleansing and relaxation in Western Europe. The actual process of taking a Turkish bath is similar to that of a sauna, but is more related to the ancient Greek and Roman bathing practices.
When taking a Turkish bath you first relax in a room, known as the warm room, that’s heated by a continuous flow of hot and dry air, which allows the bather to perspire freely. As an option to the bather, the person can move to an even hotter room, that’s known as the hot room, prior to dousing their bodies in cold water. After engaging in a full body cleansing process, and receiving a massage, the bathers’ experience is completed in a cooling room for a certain length of time to relax.
Although this ancient bathing process and ritual is still practiced and common in our everyday lives, there’s some information you may not be privy to. Some advantages that you may not be conscious of, and disadvantages that you may not think of are as follows:
Advantages of the Steam Bath:
• Relieves tension, or tension buildup, and stress
• Soothes and relaxes the spirit, mind, and body
• Relaxes muscles
• Balances emotional mood, and keeps your emotional mood stable and happy
• Improves arthritis, muscle and joint pains, amongst other body pains
• Reduces weight for those in need, or for those who want to
• Releases toxins and other negative energies, due to the sweat that your body produces from such a hot temperature
• Regulates and stimulates the flow of blood, and makes the metabolism work more efficiently and faster
• Helps skin to look fresh, youthful and truly healthy
Disadvantages of the Steam Bath:
• Steam baths that use tap water may be contaminated, and those particles will be absorbed by the skin (such as chlorine, or other chemicals which are harmful to the body)
• The humidity that the steam room produces is an easy breeding ground for bacteria and viruses, which can pose a risk to the body
• Improper installation of a steam room can or may cause headaches
• The heat emitted from the steam room can be harmful for those suffering from asthma and heart issues
