Most people feel better for taking time out in a sauna or steam room. The body feels cleansed. The mind feels relaxed.

Yet the health benefits are so much more than just a sense of well being. Regular steam bathing, whether wet or dry, has proven benefits for the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. It tones the skin and is regarded by some as one of the simplest ways to rid the body of toxins.

Why then do we in the UK tend to file sauna and steam under the ‘occasional luxuries’ section of our lives? While we may think nothing of spending a fortune on complicated, arduous detoxifying diets, we only venture into a sauna or steam room as and when we find the time to get to the health club.

For many people the concept of having sauna or steam at home is never given serious consideration. Surely such extravagances are only for the celebrity homes of glossy magazines?

Not so, says Kicki Carlsson-Boyd, a director of a home leisure company.


"Many people do still believe these products are only available to the rich and famous, but many others are also coming round to the fact that they can have a sauna or steam room at their home," says Kicki.

In fact, with so many different sizes and shapes of home installation to choose from, they are much more affordable than many people might think, she says. For example, self-contained saunas start at just over £2000 and steam rooms at just over £3000 (excluding VAT).

Of course, for those who are looking to really make a statement, the sky is the limit. "The cost depends on how extravagant you wish to be, but £10,000 will buy you a very luxurious bespoke sauna," says Kicki.

For the first-time buyer though, it is important to look before you leap, she warns. With numerous packages available by mail order or over the Internet, buyers would be well advised to see what they are buying before making a commitment.

"First time buyers need to ensure they buy from a reputable dealer who sells warrantied, quality products - and who gives informative advice and a good aftersales service," says Kicki Carlsson-Boyd.

So much is said about the alleged health benefits of sauna and steam, but what do they actually achieve - and how?

According to Australian health writer George Kozis, the healing powers of water and heat were discovered more than 2000 years ago...

"Give me the power to create a fever and I shall cure any disease," declared the father of modern medicine Hippocrates.

While Hippocrates may have been a tad over-ambitious with his claim, he was spoton about the health benefits of fever.

'During a fever, the functioning of the immune system is stimulated. The production of white blood cells, the primary agents of the immune system is increased, as is their release into the bloodstream' explains George Kozis.

'Steam and sauna baths produce the desired temperature rise in the body, similar to a fever,' he says - hence stimulating the immune system.

Certainly, this is the experience of those in the world of professional sports. "A lot of sports people use sauna and steam to help them treat injuries, because it speeds up the healing process," says Kicki Carlsson-Boyd.

As blood circulation increases, the brain also produces the 'feel-good' endorphines - giving the user a similar buzz to that attained by long distance runners, she adds.

By opening the pores and encouraging the body to sweat, steam rooms and saunas aid detoxification. The skin is sometimes described as the ‘third kidney’ and it is estimated that as much as 30% of bodily wastes are eliminated by way of perspiration.

At the same time, the cardiovascular system is stimulated. Put simply, it exercises the heart and circulation. A work-out without the effort? It must be every couch potato’s dream. But, for obvious reasons, this means that bathers with heart conditions should always seek medical advice before using any kind of sauna or steam facility (see safety notes, below).

The third big health benefit of steam inhalation is as an effective treatment in respiratory conditions, such as asthma, sinusitis, bronchitis and even the common cold.

The steam relieves congestion and throat irritation, helps clear mucous from the throat and lungs and can relieve coughing.

Of course, quite apart from all this information, what the majority of sauna and steam room owners will rave about is the fact that regular sauna or steam bathing just makes them FEEL GOOD.

Because, alongside all the physical benefits, sauna and steam can be good for mental health too, in that it relaxes the muscles and melts away life’s daily stresses – helping bathers to get a good night’s sleep. And in this world of busy lifestyles, when most of us are trying to juggle far too many balls at once, we would all surely benefit from some of that?

For more information on our special offers on Saunas click here