I use steam as a part of my normal and routine health regimen and lifestyle and have been doing so for the past seven years and with great results.  Steam greatly detoxifies your body naturally, makes breathing easier, helps to relieve stress, muscle aches and pains; enhances and increases bodily circulation, cleanses the skin, boosts the immune (defense) system by increasing blood cell formation; and helps eradicate respiratory problems.
People around the world have been using steam in the form of steam baths for thousands of years to promote good health and well-being.
Hippocrates, the Father of Western Medicine, well, actually the name of a secret society of healers, was a strong advocate of the healing powers of steam, hypothermia, and scented mists. Hippocrates said: "Give me the power to create a fever and I shall cure any disease."
I have always been a fan of steam rooms and capsules every since becoming health conscious. Steam (or hyperthermia) helps to open up the pores so as to release toxins from the body via the skin. It is one of the best ways to detoxify the body. Heat speeds up the body's natural processes. As the body's pores open up and numerous sweat glands start to excrete, the body rids itself of toxic waste products that have built up over the months and years. It is estimated that as much as 30% of bodily waste can be eliminated via perspiration. That's profound!
One of the body's ways of dealing with toxins is to store them in fat. However, this keeps them in your body and when you burn fat for energy (if you're mobile), the toxins are being constantly recirculated through your body.
Western medical studies have shown that hyperthermia (steam) is an effective detoxification program for eliminating fat-stored toxins (i.e. PCB's, dioxin, and DDT) from the body.
Did you know that when you subject cigarette smokers (Dragons, as I call them) to steam or heat wrap treatment for up to 45 minutes, that they often leave a yellow residue on their towels? And what do you think that yellow residue on the towels is? Answer: NICOTINE (and other toxins)!
Steam or sweat therapies are very effective in helping people who are chemically dependent to kick their addictions. Studies have been conducted in the country of Finland for several years now.
Steam heat therapy can help such ailments as arthritis, gout, and Tendinitis. Steam even improves cardiovascular health. Steam treatments stimulate the body's cardiovascular system. Within 15-20 minutes, the heart's pulse rate can increase from 75 to between 100 and 150 beats per minute. This is a nice workout without the effort! This gives your heart and arteries a healthy workout and this increased blood flow does not raise the body's blood pressure and this is because the heat from the steam also causes the tiny blood vessels in the skin to expand - accommodating the increased blood flow. And this dual effect of increased blood flow and capillary dilation allows the bloodstream to carry greater amounts of nutrients to the skin and this makes the skin healthier and enhances the appearance and contributes to a youthful glow.
If you are a meat-eater, steam therapy and treatment is a must as meat and its cholesterol greatly damage heart activity and arterial health.
Steam heat therapy will also help every skin disorder to heal naturally - guaranteed!
I use steam heat therapy on my face every week, just for health maintenance purposes. Whether its dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, herpes zoster (shingles), acne, or pimples, steam heat therapy will help. Remember, the Body Intelligence uses the skin as an organ of elimination. Actually, the skin is the largest organ of elimination and most don't know this but need to know this. Skin eruptions and diseases is the body's way of throwing off or dumping toxins from the body. Skin problems usually denote major eliminative channel (organ) problems, mainly colon or intestinal problems. If you are not dumping, eliminating, or excreting from the rectum, then chances are you are dumping or excreting via the skin.
But doesn't heat dry the skin? Regular dry heat will and does dry the skin, but steam washes toxins from the skin rather than allowing them to dry or bake back in.
Steam also helps to prevent dehydration of the delicate tissue of the lungs and respiratory system. This is why I especially love steaming my face (nose area) and my chest.
Anybody suffering from sinus congestion or who is unable to breathe from or through one nostril should try facial steaming (called "tinting") for about a good 10-15 minutes. You can do this at home by boiling a pot of water (to the point of steam) and then placing a large towel over your head and then placing your head over the pot (using the towel to trap the steam in) and inhaling the vapors of the steam. You can also add aromatherapy to this process by adding a few drops of essential oil of Eucalyptus (or White Camphor) and Pine to the boiling water to enhance the healing effect. After performing this process you will be able to breathe easily out of both nostrils. Try it and see for yourself.
Another thing I personally like about steam or heat sweating is that sweat emulsifies the fat of your skin's glands and does so more effectively than water and cleanses away the fat, oils, bacteria, impurities, and toxins they contain.
Why did Hippocrates say he could cure any disease with a fever? Answer: Because he knew the therapeutic effects and benefits of sweat and sweating. You see, when you get "sick," you often get a fever and unfortunately most people (the masses) view a fever as an unpleasant symptom of illness. But actually, a fever is one of the body's strongest defense mechanisms. Why do you think natural health practitioners commonly recommend Cayenne Pepper or Ginger for a fever? Cayenne and Ginger are warming herbs that heat up the body and causes perspiration (sweating). Herbs don't counteract a fever. They work with the fever. There is no resistance in natural healing. The next time you or your child have a fever, bathe in some hot water with slices of Ginger root in it or drink some Ginger tea and watch that fever terminate or break quickly.
Sweating is the body's natural way to release toxins from the body. So don't see perspiration as an enemy. Start seeing it as a ally.
In many cases, the cause of backaches, muscle pain and other stress-related injuries is due to lack of oxygen and nutrients supplied to the affected muscles. Steam improves vascular flow, which in turn, enhances oxygen, nutrient and lymph exchange at the cellular level and thus restoring a state of optimal well-being.
 In closing, start using steam treatment and therapy as part of your normal health routine. Hippocrates prescribed a daily hot steam bath scented with essential oils. I take a hot steam bath scented with essential oils almost every single day. I use essential oils of Eucalyptus, Camphor, Cajeput, Inula, Pine and Spruce for improved breathing and respiratory health; Lavender, Bergamot, Roman/Wild Chamomile, and May Chang (Litsea Cubeba) for relaxation and stress prevention; Sandalwood, Frankincense, Sage, Davana, and Myrrh for spiritual purposes and protection; Peppermint, Wintergreen, and Spearmint for aching muscular pain; Oakmoss, Patchouli, Cedar, Ginger and Cinnamon for abundance and prosperity; Sandalwood, Buddha wood, Himalayan Cedar, Bay Laurel, and Davana for meditation purposes (yes, I meditate in the tub); Ylang-Ylang, Rose, Neroli, Jasmine, Nag Champa (Magnolia Blossom) - the real thing, and Davana for aphrodisiac purposes; and Carrot Seed, Juniper Berry, Celery Seed, Tumeric, Oregano, Parsley Seed, Tea Tree, and Hyssop for detoxification purposes.
Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the healing and spiritual benefits of the Native American sweat lodge in this article. Native Americans use the sweat lodge for physical and spiritual purposes. It is called a sweat lodge because once you get inside that tent (symbolic womb of the Mother) and water is poured on those hot, burning rocks, serious heat and steam is produced. Purification takes place on many levels.
Bikram yoga is also worth mentioning within this article because of its use of steam. Imagine that, performing yoga in serious heat. This is also healing and purifying on many levels. Yoga improves breathing, chi circulation, balances the chakras (energy field), and enhances blood flow in the body and then you add in the therapeutic benefits of heat for sweating purposes and now you have hyperthermia which also has a plethora of beneficial side effects.
Who would have ever known that hot water in the form of steam was so healing? STEAM - another benefit of water and fire. Nature working together for the benefit of man (humanity).
Thank you for reading! |
