steam bath- the most rigid of all types of baths. It is characterized by increased requirements for the state of the cardiovascular system. The very humid air in the steam room causes condensation to form in the lungs, making it difficult for the lungs to absorb oxygen. A decrease in oxygen supply stresses the heart and brain, the most oxygen-demanding organs. In addition, a person In relation to the valuable moist air, the steam room is a "cold body". Moisture condenses abundantly on it. It blocks the evaporation of sweat, thereby eliminating the action of the effective tool thermoregulation systems. The fact is that the very process of excretion, sweat takes very little energy. The main effect of heat transfer in evaporation, the mouth from the surface of the body. Thus, 1 liter of sweat released by the body takes 2400 kJ of thermal energy from it. Of these, 97% of heat transfer is carried out by evaporation, i.e. 2300 kJ.

In a steam bath, sweat flows down with moisture, practically not cooling the body. The body warms up quickly and deeply. This is perhaps the only advantage of a steam bath. Deep warming burns fat, allowing you to lose weight; The use of brooms in a steam bath does not make sense. The protective shell on the skin is not formed, the sweat does not need to be removed, it drains itself, diluted with water. Yes, and the third function of the broom - massage with such a pronounced load is clearly contraindicated.

For a final explanation of the reasons for the polar difference between these baths, let us turn again to science. Saturated steam is the steam produced during the boiling process. It is in its state dry saturated and wet saturated. Dry saturated steam is steam that does not contain liquid. If there are droplets of liquid in it, then this is wet saturated steam - a steam bath.

If dry saturated steam is continued to be heated, then the so-called superheated steam will be obtained - a dry sauna. I warn the objections of experts that I deliberately, in order to better understand the processes by the broad masses of bathers, allow incorrect handling of terms. What we bathe with is not steam, but moist air. But I dare to assure you that, despite such a loose use of concepts, our reasoning traces the essence of the ongoing processes.

It turns out that the amount of heat transferred to the body in a steam and dry bath differs in the defining parameter a by 100 times! In reality, of course, the difference is not so huge, if only because the bath is not pure steam, but a mixture of air and steam, called moist air, and (t-1) for a dry bath is much higher than for a steam bath. But the fact that when entering a steam bath, the body receives heat several times more per unit of time than in other baths, no doubt.

The temperature of the heated body (body t) is the same in both the steam bath and the dry sauna, say 40°C. That is, the amount of heat transferred to the body depends on the ambient temperature * tours (t ° steam). In a dry sauna, the difference (t ^ -t) reaches 70 * C, but there the heat transfer coefficient a is only 20. This gives enough time to warm up, satisfy the desire to take a steam bath, and even think, get a heat stroke or leave the bath with a thirst for life. In the steam bath, the picture is somewhat different. The initial difference (t-t^) is only 8-9 *C. When the body warms up, it decreases to 4-5 X and remains constant. The amount of heat transferred to the body is halved by this moment and also stabilizes. Actually, thanks to this phenomenon, a person can enjoy in a steam bath. But if the temperature in the steam bath is higher than the 45 ° C set by Jan Bjornhaek, then stabilization does not come soon. With the coefficient a = 2000 present there, people are unlikely to wait for this moment. In the best case, he will jump out of the steam room with bulging eyes, but the worst can happen.

Sometimes, after reading a recipe in a cookbook, you get the impression that you read some strange encryption for special agents. Blanch, stew a little with butter, boil until the "soft ball" test - and these are not all the terms used by chefs. But perhaps the most popular among them is the "water bath". How to do it, many do not know, and therefore refuse such recipes. And absolutely in vain. It is easy to make, and dishes cooked in a water or steam bath are tasty and healthy.

It is used in cases where you need delicate cooking and heating the dish to no more than 100 degrees. The easiest way to make a water bath is to pour water into one pan, and put a second, smaller one in it. This is where the food that needs to be cooked is placed. Typically, this method is used to melt butter and chocolate, as well as the preparation of custards and biscuit dough on heating. Homemade cottage cheese is also made on a similar

Another option on how to make a water bath is an impromptu steamer. To do this, you need to stretch cheesecloth on a pot of water at a height of 3-4 centimeters from the latter. Thus, you can cook steamed dishes - vegetables, fish and even meat. In fact, electric steamers work on this principle, which today can be bought at any home appliance store. Before their appearance, they used special pans with a double bottom. This method of cooking is considered the most dietary and healthy.

Many, however, believe that the steam menu is only suitable for children or for those who adhere to a strict diet. In fact, you can cook a lot of original and tasty dishes with steam. It can be a variety of soufflés, omelettes and even muffins. Cooking in a water bath saturates them with extra moisture and makes them juicy, while retaining all the benefits of the products. So the steam menu can be very diverse and not only dietary.

But this does not exhaust all the cases when you need to know how to make a water bath. To make a cheesecake, cake or soufflé in the oven, this cooking method is often used. This is due to the fact that for gentle baking you need to soften high temperature oven and prevent cracking of the top. To do this, pour water into a deep baking sheet so that it reaches the middle of the baking dish. If a detachable form is used, it must be wrapped in foil so that moisture does not get in. It is advisable to wrap in several layers and overlap, and, of course, do not rush.

Knowing how to make a water bath at home, you can diversify your menu not only with dietary dishes. The preparation of many cakes, soufflés and cheesecakes will become a very common thing thanks to her. So, it will be possible to arrange small holidays for your family every day. And steamed cutlets, fish and vegetables often look much more attractive than fried or stewed ones. And most importantly, they combine a delicate taste and health benefits, as they are prepared without adding oil.

We all want our skin to be clean and tender, for this purpose a facial steam bath is used, it washes and dissolves fats in the pores, nourishes the skin with moisture, tones and makes it more tender. The vessels expand and the skin receives more blood, this can be seen from the blush that has appeared on the cheeks. With the expansion of the pores, a deep cleansing of the face occurs and the absorption of beneficial and nutrients is better. After conducting a steam bath for the face, you will immediately feel that the skin has cleared and is easier to clean from black dots and.

If you have problematic or oily skin, then facial skin cleansing is a must. But also for dry skin this procedure very useful, you can just do it less often, once every four weeks is enough, do not forget that the procedure for dry skin is done with a greasy cream applied to the face.

After applying this method, the skin becomes smoother, easier to clean or clear of blackheads.

How to make a steam bath for the face at home?

1 . Put a pan on the fire and pour one liter of water into it, the pan should be enameled. Add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to water.

2 . When the water begins to boil, turn off the stove and put the pan on the table, you can put a board. Wait for the water to cool down a bit.

3 . Sit at the table (its height should be such that you are comfortable), tilt your head so that the steam gets on your face, but not too low so as not to burn yourself and put on a terry towel.

After the procedure is over, wash your face cold water- this will narrow the pores, you can still use a simple egg white, it tightens the pores and dries out oily skin. After all these procedures, you should not go out into the cold air for at least 1-2 hours.

We figured out the cleaning of the skin, but what about nutrients. Everything is very simple - in order to improve the effect of the bath, you just need to add some medicinal herbs and aromatic oil to the water. It is enough to throw a tablespoon of a mixture of herbs into the pan and drip a drop of oil with your favorite aroma.

1 . Herbs for oily skin: take in equal parts: chamomile, mint, rosemary, sage, linden blossom, birch and willow leaves.

2 . Herbs for dry skin: we need chamomile, flax seed, mint, birch buds and yarrow.

3 . For aging skin fit horsetail, wormwood and yarrow.

If there is a rash of nervous origin on the skin, then add chamomile and hop cones to the facial bath, in this case use lemon or grapefruit oil as an oil, they have an excellent effect not only on the skin, but also on the entire nervous system as a whole.

A steam bath for the face helps not only look beautiful, but also fights colds and runny nose, for this, add oil or eucalyptus leaves to it. If you have high pressure, diseases of the heart and blood circulation, problems with the thyroid gland and just very sensitive skin, then you should stop taking a bath.

A steam sauna has a lot in common with a regular sauna, as it acts on the body in a similar way and causes the process of sweating. The main difference is the air conditions, thanks to which in the steam sauna there is not only relaxation, but also the improvement of the body. Besides steam sauna has the strongest cosmetic effect. The best effect on the body occurs at a temperature of 43-46 ° C, and the humidity of the air must be at least 100%, which is accompanied by thick steam. And to provide such fog, powerful steam generators are used. The room itself must be vapor-tight to prevent steam from escaping.

Steam sauna and principles of visiting it

When visiting a steam sauna, you must follow the same recommendations that apply to a regular sauna:

– the best temperature for visiting a steam sauna is the range of 43-46°C. At these temperatures, it is not only more pleasant to be indoors, but also more beneficial for the body. The state of discomfort will come if the temperature in the sauna rises even 2-3°C. To prevent this, special control systems must be installed in the room that will control the level of temperature and steam.

- Sauna starts with a shower, after which you can go directly to the steam room for 15-20 minutes. After that, the body is best cooled with cooler water or air flow. In no case should you expose the body to shock effects. If during the process of cooling the body the legs are frozen, you should make a hot bath for the feet. In total, no more than 2-3 sessions are allowed during a visit to the sauna.

- when there is not only a steam sauna in the room, but also an ordinary sauna, then you can combine their visits in turn, and after each of them you need to withstand time so that the body cools well. It is strictly forbidden to re-enter the steam room if the body has not cooled down or is generally still hot, as well as to move from one sauna to another, as the circulatory system will be overloaded.

How a steam sauna works

Being in a steam sauna, the body receives a lot of useful things:

- oxygen supply to cells and tissues increases;

- white blood cells become much larger;

- the process of blood supply to the body, as well as filling it with nutrients occurs much faster;

- for one visit to the sauna, the body loses 400-600 calories;

- the tumor death factor becomes more frequent up to 500 times;

- along with sweat, the remnants of medications taken, pesticides, as well as other toxins are removed from the body;

— the immune system is strengthened, and in the body are created artificial conditions and destroy viruses and bacteria;

- muscle tissue relaxes and relieves tension and pain.

Steam sauna as medicine

The effect of a steam sauna cannot be underestimated. The high content of steam, as well as the humid heat of the sauna, have a healing effect on the body. It is recommended to attend procedures to maintain the general condition, as well as to improve its functioning in the following cases: bronchitis, bronchial asthma, hoarseness in the voice, cough, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, rheumatism, joint pain and limitation of their movement. The positive impact of the steam sauna was studied by specialists from the Munich and Moscow University of Balneology and Climatology.

In addition to the healing effect on the body, the steam sauna is great as a supportive treatment and is recommended for use by those people who have sleep disorders, as well as skin problems (dryness, flabbiness, sensitivity) and muscles. While in the sauna, the work of blood vessels improves, and the skin undergoes intensive cleansing. Humid air helps open pores, dirt and dead cells are removed, and as a result, the skin condition improves, it becomes not only clean, but soft and smooth.

Not many people know how important it is to cleanse the pores of impurities that have been accumulated for months or even years. It turns out, as studies have shown, the amount of toxins in the skin is several times greater than in the urine. Therefore, some people call the skin the third kidney. The use of the above described therapy can be regarded as very effective method treatment and cleansing. Steam sauna therapy is accessible to everyone and can easily be included as a maintenance therapy.

Steam aromatic sauna

An aromatic steam sauna can be used to provide a better relaxing and healing effect. For this, evaporator vessels filled with essential oils. They mix with steam and literally envelop. In a steam room with a small area (up to 15m²), it is enough to use a vessel with 10 drops of essential oil. Along with this, you can use sound therapy.

Such procedures will benefit, first of all, those who suffer from constant overwork, nervousness. Aromatic sauna perfectly strengthens the immune system, relieves pain in the joints and muscles, and has a positive psychotherapeutic effect. The duration of the steam sauna is at least 20 minutes. The main contraindication to a steam sauna is asthma.

Steam sauna for the face

This type of sauna is excellent remedy for skin care. With its help, you can carry out pleasant, and at the same time, very useful procedures for facial skin: cleansing, opening pores, removing impurities, dead epidermis. As a result, at the end of the procedures, the skin becomes young, beautiful, smooth, acquires a lost tone. The sauna uses soft steam, which can be supplemented with infusions from medicinal herbs. Steam saunas for the face can be portable, and equipped with a main body, measuring cup, facial attachments. There are contraindications to using a portable facial sauna. Those who have very sensitive skin should refrain from such procedures.