The sauna: is it a remedy for the common cold?

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As well as being a daily wellbeing ritual, the sauna is an ancient therapeutic practice.

It can actually help relieve cold and flu symptoms, although it is no substitute for medical treatment. There are several ways a sauna can help treat the common cold, let’s take a look at them in this article.

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IS A SAUNA GOOD FOR A COLD?

The answer is yes: a sauna does help when you have a cold. It can give relief to symptoms and a boost to the immune system, due to the body’s reactions to high temperatures.

A sauna increases your body temperature, inducing sweating. This can help get rid of toxins through the skin and clear your airways. This purifying process, which is triggered by heavy sweating, can help relieve the symptoms of a cold.

After a sauna you must always replenish lost liquids with plenty of warm water or herbal tea, especially if you are feeling under the weather.

The second reason for taking a sauna when you have a cold is that exposure to heat dilates the blood vessels, improving circulation. Increased blood flow helps deliver more nutrients and oxygen to the cells in your body, so the immune system can fight the viruses which cause flu and colds.

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HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU TAKE A SAUNA TO TREAT A COLD?

Just one sauna session can give temporary relief to cold symptoms such as a stuffy nose or a sore throat. As a general rule, taking a sauna once a day flushes toxins out of your system more quickly, putting you on the road to recovery.

Plus a sauna is relaxing and helps ease stress. Excessive daily stress weakens the immune system, making the body more susceptible to viral infections. The feeling of relaxation you get in the sauna, especially if you take one regularly once a day, can help prevent colds and the flu, as well as relieving their symptoms.

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IS A SAUNA GOOD FOR FLU?

The warm air and low humidity in a sauna can help open your airways, making it easier to breathe and helping to clear congestion.
This can offer temporary relief to the main symptoms of flu such as an irritated throat, stuffy nose and cough. It goes without saying that a sauna is no substitute for conventional medical treatment so, depending on the severity of your flu symptoms, you must always follow your doctor’s advice and consider your state of health before using a sauna.

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SAUNAS AND COLDS: WHAT OTHER RESPIRATORY DISEASES CAN YOU “TREAT” WITH A SAUNA?

Thanks to our body’s positive reactions to the intense heat of the sauna (like sweating, relaxation and clearing of the airways), this practice can have beneficial effects on the symptoms of other respiratory diseases.

Let’s see which:

1. Bronchitis: some people with chronic bronchitis may get some benefit from the warm air in the sauna, as it could help their breathing and reduce the feeling of constriction in their chest.

• Sinusitis: the heat in the sauna can help reduce inflammation of paranasal sinuses, alleviating the symptoms of sinusitis.

• Asthma: in some cases, the warm dry air can relax the airways and help breathing. If you suffer from severe asthma, you should always consult your doctor for the most appropriate treatment.

In general, the most common flu symptoms like a sore throat, cold, pharyngitis or laryngitis, if only mild, can be treated with daily sauna sessions to help speed up recovery.