There are so many as you read you will see how important steam is and also a steam bath just makes you feel better and live a happier and healthier life.

Stress Reduction & Relaxation
Current estimates show that between 70 and 80 percent of all doctor visits are for stress-related disorders. Chronic stress directly affects the immune system, and if not effectively dealt with, can seriously compromise your health.

Increased Circulation

Steam bathing produces powerful therapeutic effects simply by increasing circulation. As the carrier of the re-building forces of nutrients to all parts of the body, the bloodstream plays a crucial role in the maintenance of health. Within just a few minutes, there is an increase of cardiac output (increased blood flow to the skin) produced by the tiny blood vessels in the skin expanding to accommodate the increased blood flow. During the steam bath, the blood flow to the skin goes from 5-10% to as high as 50-70% of the cardiac output! This increased blood flow brings vital nutrients to skin and subcutaneous tissue, stimulating cellular activity and growth.

Studies show that excessive stress can:
Result in suppression of the immune system, which in turn creates increased susceptibility to illness - especially to immune related disorders and cancer.Affect metabolic rates, increase heart rate and blood pressure thereby increasing susceptibility to colds and viral infections.If stress contributes to illness, then stress reduction would logically promote better health and healing. Fortunately, stress and its effects can be reduced through exercise and relaxation. For stress, the aim naturally is to relax and unwind the mind and body and a steam in your very own steam room is one of the most effective methods available.

Detoxify
Heat speeds up the chemical processes in the body, making steam bathing one of the simplest and most comfortable ways to rid the body of accumulated toxins. As the pores open up and millions of sweat glands start to excrete,the body rids itself of metabolic and other waste products. Steam has some intensive and comprehensive cleansing effects on skin: Enhances total lymph system cleansing. Helps against acidosis and heavy metal toxicity. Helps with detoxification from drug alcohol consumption. Increases circulation and metabolism. Enhances blood flow to skin. Improves skin & body tone. Nourishes skin with nutrients. Hydrates dry skin Cardiovascular Fitness Steam treatments have a stimulating effect on the cardiovascular system.The pulse rate increases from 75 beats per minute to between 100-150 beats per minute during a 15-20 minute treatment. This increases blood circulation, but not blood pressure, since the heat also causes the tiny blood vessels in the skin to expand, accommodating the increased blood flow. The dilation of the capillary vessels enables the bloodstream to carry great amounts of nutrients to the skin, including the increased absorption of the essential oils that are carried in the bloodstream.

Respiratory Aid
Steam inhalation is an effective treatment in respiratory conditions and is highly recommended for treatment of the common cold, pneumonia, flu, sinusitis, bronchitis, allergies and asthma for the following reasons. Relieves inflammation and congestion of upper respiratory mucous membranes. Relieves throat irritation by moistening air. Relieves spasmodic breathing (Asthma, Croup). Loosens secretions and stimulates discharge of mucous from the throat and lungs acting as a natural expectorant. Relaxes muscles and relieves coughing. Keeps mucous membranes from excessive drying.

Pain Relief
We are all aware what a warm climate can do to aid pain relief. To relieve pain and stiffness a dose of intense heat for a short time has a stimulating effect. The relief in pain is due to increased blood circulation and the muscle relaxing influence of heat. Heat can be very effective during the subacute and chronic stages of an injury. Heat can effectively decrease pain, promote healing by increasing circulation, help tight muscles or muscle spasms to relax, and prepare stiff joints for movement. Heat is probably one of the most frequently used methods for home pain management. Everyone has probably used some form of heat at some point in time to help sore, stiff muscles or joints. Some of the benefits are: Increased extensibility of tissues. Decreased rigidity in joints. Reduced muscle spasm ?Relieved pain & discomfort of arthritis. Detoxified muscular aches & pains. Help prevent injuries by increasing muscular flexibility.

Hyperthermia:
Artificially induced hyperthermia (rising body temperature results in the destruction of bacteria and viruses). The effectiveness of hyperthermia directly correlates with the ability to eliminate heat loss during a steam bath. As the body's temperature begins to rise, the body's natural response is to perspire so that the evaporation of the perspiration will cool the body. In a sauna heat, undesirable cooling undermines hyperthermia by the natural evaporation process and allows toxin filled perspiration to dry on the skin. However, in a steam bath, evaporation is not possible and therefore it allows little or no loss of valuable body heat. You still perspire as heavily, it just does not evaporate and dry on the skin. The higher moisture level actually causes condensation on the body to become the primary heat transfer mechanism additionally heating the body. The powerful cleansing and healing process of hyperthermia does not take place until the body reaches 101 degreesF- 103 degrees F. This is accomplished quicker and more effectively in a steam bath than a sauna and only requires 10 to 15 minutes.

Fever
A fever is the body's highly evolved attempt to destroy invading organisms and to sweat impurities out through the skin Fever is an effective natural process of curing disease and restoring health, heat therapy, or hyperthermia, represents a way to create fever to call out his natural healing process.

Heat Therapy
The Secret of Hyperthermia, or heat therapy, is that cancer cells are vulnerable to high temperatures. Heat the cancer cells and they can be easily destroyed, especially if the tumor lies close to the skin surface. In the process, patients can reduce or even eliminate the need for radiation. The Principle The principle behind hyperthermia is simple: heat cancer cells and they can be killed easily. Direct killing of cancer cells begin to occur when the cancerous tissue reaches about 104 F to 105.8F. Only a relatively small rise in body temperature can make a huge difference says Dr. R Atkins who includes heat therapy in his cancer protocols. Unlike normal tissue, tumors have poor blood flow relative to their metabolic needs and cannot dissipate the heat, so they tend to get hotter than the surrounding area. Rapidly dividing cells (i.e., cancer cells) are more vulnerable to the effects of heat. Normally, part of the damage caused by radiation is repaired by the cancer cels, enabling some to survive; however, heat foils this self-repair ability. Taken together, these facts tend to make tumors more vulnerable to heat treatment than normal cells. Hyperthermia is now approved in the U.S. for treatment of breast cancer recurrence.

Newest research shows steam hyperthermia an effective treatment for:

* Detoxification programs
* Immune system deficiencies
* Pain management
* Cancer
* Arthritis
* Stress and muscle tension
* Increasing body metabolism
* Elimination of toxins
* Blood circulation

Steam bathing and thus steam inhalation is an effective treatment in respiratory conditions and is highly recommended for the treatment of the common cold, sinusitis, bronchitis, allergies and asthma.

1. Steam relieves inflammation and congestion of the upper respiratory membranes.
2. Steam relieves throat irritation by moistening the air.
3. Steam relieves spasmodic breathing (asthma, croup).
4. Steam loosens secretions and stimulates discharges of mucous from the throat and lungs.
5. Steam relaxes muscles and relieves coughing.
6. Steam keeps the mucous membranes from excessive drying.

1. Before entering the steam room there are a few precautions to keep in mind. Because of the increase in cardiovascular activity caused by the high heat, sweat therapy is not recommended for people with heart disease or other cardiovascular problems. Individuals with high blood pressure should first consult their doctor.

2. In addition, sweat therapy is not advised for pregnant women, small children, or the elderly. Do not take sweat treatment if you have a fever or an open wound. If you have been working out, be sure that your body has had time to cool down before exposing it to the heat of a steam bath.

3. Limit the bathing time to 15 - 20 minutes. Drink plenty of water before and after the steam bath to replace fluids lost during bathing. The sweat glands can secrete up to 0.5 litres of sweat per minute, so dehydration is a real possibility.

4. The main thing to remember is to enjoy the process. Do not push your body beyond its comfort levels. The point is not to "sweat it out" the longest, but to allow your mind and body to luxuriate in this health enhancing bath.