Spa Executive - December 2021

Sauna
Saunas have been around for thousands of years.
The exact origin is unknown, but today these hot
houses are generally associated with Northern
Europe, particularly Finland, where there are an
estimated 2 million saunas for a population of 5.3
million people.
The act of just sitting in the sauna may also
contribute to mental health benefits due to its
potential to be used as time for meditation
and relaxation.
According to the US News & World Report, an
Alternative Medicine Review found that sauna
therapy can help ease mild depression and fatigue
and has been linked to improved emotional
balance in those with anorexia nervosa.
Another study noted that sauna bathing has
numerous health benefits including the promotion
of mental well-being and relaxation, and also
found that sauna bathing was strongly associated
with a reduced risk of psychotic disorders.
The authors wrote, “These new findings add to
emerging evidence that frequent sauna therapy
could reduce the risk of several acute and chronic
health conditions.”
More findings:
• Frequent sauna bathing can reduce the risk of
dementia in men. Men who went to the sauna
four to seven times a week were 66% less likely
to be diagnosed with dementia, and 65% less
likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease,
than those taking a sauna once a week.
• Sauna use elicits a multitude of beneficial
health effects, including improved sleep and
mood-boosting benefits. “Researchers treated
patients with major depressive disorder with
heat so that their core body temperature
reached temperatures equivalent to those
experienced with sauna use. Following just
one treatment session, subjects experienced
elevations in mood that lasted for several
weeks.”
December 2021 Issue • p. 16