09 OCT 2018: Picture this, you’re on vacation in a foreign country and on the hunt for an authentic cultural experience. You meet some locals who promise to show you a good time. Next thing you know, you’re disrobed, crammed into a small space, and sweating profusely at near extreme heat. These people hand you a cluster of birch branches with which you swat yourself all over your bare skin. (Suddenly we’re double checking this URL to be sure we haven’t accidentally clicked something inappropriate…)
No, this is not a bad dream, nor is this a scene from the latest 50 Shades of Grey movie. Just a common practice in Nordic countries.
When in Sweden, Norway, and especially Finland, do as the Nordic folks do – sauna (sow-nah – pronounced like “how”). With nearly as many saunas as there are people, this practice is as common as it is health promotive. It’s not just about pushing the limits of your social comfort zone, it is in fact very healing.
They say that salt water heals all that ails you. Be it tears, the sea, (or in the case of the sauna) sweat.
Our skin is more than just a stretchy envelope that contains our muscles and bones. It is actually the body’s largest organ. It serves as a protective barrier, and also as a method for detoxifying and ridding the body of waste. Embracing opportunities to put this organ to work, especially due to its sheer size, is invaluable in supporting health.
Time to heat things up!
While your skin is not the main organ for detoxification, this does not discount its role in the process. Studies have found that particular toxic substances including urea, BPA, and heavy metals prefer to be evacuated via sweat through your skin. The traditional birch branch skin treatment is optional, but it does expedite the process by increasing blood flow and opening your pores.
It’s more than just skin deep.
At a minimum temperature of 65 degrees Celsius, the sauna is the ultimate relaxation station to unwind. In higher heat environments tense muscles soften and become more elastic providing relief from chronic muscle pain and stiffness.
With consistent exposure to these higher temperatures, studies have noted reduced pain and inflammation, lower blood pressure, and improved blood flow throughout the body for overall cellular health. Researchers in Finland found that using a sauna for 15 minutes between 4-7 times per week resulted in a 66% risk reduction in the brain related decline associated with Alzheimers and Dementia, as well as vastly improved cardiovascular health. It is important to understand that pre-existing heart conditions can be exacerbated by the intense heat so it is important to start slowly and always talk to your health care provider.
Enjoying a sauna on a regular basis offers much needed “me time” to reflect and unwind. With the general indulgence and overall hectic nature of the holiday season upon us, we should welcome any opportunity to keep us as close to staying “on track” (and sane) as possible.
Might I add, Finland was ranked number one in the 2018 World Happiness Report. Finland is also home to the most saunas per capita. Coincidence? Headed to a sauna to find out!