Hammam: the benefits and harms of a Turkish bath - all the nuances. What is a hammam: differences from a traditional bath. The benefits of a Turkish bath for joints

For many centuries, hammam has been a favorite pastime for eastern residents. But in the last few decades, the Turkish bath has become popular in Russia, thanks to its low, gentle air temperature and pleasant procedures. But many people still look at the eastern steam room with apprehension: what exactly are the benefits and harms? Turkish bath for good health? Who should not visit it, and how should a vacation actually take place there? We will be happy to answer you!

Is it a Turkish bath?...

Quite a serious question. The fact is that today in Russia the bath business is, of course, developed, but to what extent? As it turns out, those who have personally visited a real Turkish bath say that local hammams resemble it only in appearance - but not in sensation. Absolutely wrong humidity, temperature and special means. And not the same effect at all.

Is it worth saying then how dangerous the impact of such a “hamam” on health can be? After all, the Turks have been developing their bath tradition for centuries, selecting the optimal temperature and humidity conditions down to the degree, and carefully observing the necessary sequence of all procedures. And therefore all this had a positive effect on health. And a failure in any technology leads to other consequences.

Moreover, modern hammams in Russia offer three modes of procedures at once: something like a sauna with dry and hot air, a supposedly Russian bath with steam and an air temperature of up to 100°C, and a “Turkish” one, with heat up to 60°C and humidity up to 100%, which is also wrong. But all this is proudly called “hammam”.

And finally, today an innovation such as “hamam-plus” is becoming popular. This is the same Turkish bath with marble on the walls, but in which a special cable is used to warm the walls, beds and floor, providing up to 70°C instead of the required 45°C, and dry “Russian” steam.

It’s like combining two in one: both and a Russian bathhouse. But such an invention is far from a real Turkish steam room, and staying in it can really undermine your health. But an inexperienced person will be sure that he ended up in a hammam!

So let's take a closer look at what a real Turkish bath actually is and what to expect from it.

Hamam: a look from the inside

Hamam is the most moisture-rich bathhouse existing in the world. Normal humidity here is considered to be in the range of 80-100%, and this is at a temperature of only 40-45°C.

Real turkish hammam is a separate building with six rooms: a locker room, a relaxation room, a steam room, a washing room, a massage room and a swimming pool. It is customary to go out of the steam room into the pool, where you first need to swim in hot water, then at a lower temperature, in order to gradually cool down the hot body without any stress on the blood vessels. Of course, this is not Russian fun in the form of diving into a snowdrift after a good broom.

Interestingly, the hammam did not originate in Turkey, but in Rome, where the baths were thermal. But it is worth noting separately the special interior of a true Turkish bath: domed ceilings allow drops of condensation to easily roll onto the floor and evaporate there. And the beautiful stone mosaic in the decoration evenly absorbs thermal radiation and releases it gently. By the way, initially, more useful marble was used in such baths, and therefore, if you are planning to build a hammam yourself, use it.

Now compare a real Turkish bath with most commercial boors outside the city, housed in an ordinary multi-story building, in just three rooms with rectangular ceilings and a heat and humidity regime selected somehow.

A proper Turkish hammam is heated by boilers with boiling water, which are usually located in the walls or even under the floor. Couples with hot water goes further into the pipes under the floor and seats, and all surfaces heat up. And through small holes, steam enters the room.

And the main advantage of a Turkish bath is that it warms up not only the air, but also the walls, the floor, and even. Thanks to all this, it is possible to undergo truly pleasant and healing procedures:

  1. First, the person rinses in the shower or other running water.
  2. Next, he lies down on a warm lounger and gradually, without stress, warms up the whole body. He lies there for about 20 minutes until the muscles relax and the pores open.
  3. Now it’s time for peeling: the whole body is rubbed with special hard washcloths, which carefully remove dead keratinized cells of the body, cleanse open pores and have a healing massage effect. Moreover, the cleansing is quite deep. Many vacationers at this moment are surprised how so much dirt remains on the washcloths, since they have just been in the shower?
  4. After peeling and another wash (from dirt), it is customary to start soaping. This is not just foam from an ordinary bar of soap - here it is voluminous and airy, and envelops the entire body.
  5. Further procedures are now carried out by a massage therapist, gently kneading each part of the body. This is the most enjoyable time.
  6. Then you can wash off the foam and rest.
  7. And finally, in a proper Turkish bath, after all procedures they drink healing herbal teas in a special “keif” room, where they used to smoke hookah (which is why the name of the room seems so familiar).

In addition, in a proper hammam it is customary to move from a less hot room to a hotter one, which is quite consistent with the words of Hippocrates that the effect of heat on the body should be gradual. That is why the traditions of the Turkish bath have the same centuries-old history as the Russian steam room - step by step, that same healing atmosphere was created.

But today, in many Turkish baths, steam is created by a steam generator; marble is sometimes replaced with not the highest quality mosaics, and laid on polystyrene foam panels. Floor areas are heated with water, and even more often - with electricity. And in the end we get a kind of thermos, which, in its filling, is already quite far from a real hammam.

Benefits of visiting the hamam

Even if you have visited the hammam only once in your life, you will definitely remember this vacation. In addition to feeling incredibly clean, the very next day you will feel much better. And all because a real Turkish bath:

  • Deeply cleanses all pores and removes toxins.
  • It has a rejuvenating effect on both the skin and the entire body.
  • Thanks to prolonged heating, we strengthen the immune system.
  • Has a beneficial effect on nervous system, normalizes sleep and mood.
  • Accelerates skin regeneration.
  • Improves metabolism and helps you lose weight faster.
  • Eliminates salt deposits.
  • Stabilizes blood pressure.
  • Cures chronic colds.
  • Eliminates muscle tone and tension, which is especially valuable for athletes.
  • Relieves stress and improves blood microcirculation in the brain.
  • Eliminates stagnant processes in all organs.

Thanks to the soft and healing microclimate of the hammam, it is useful to spend several hours in it!

Have you already noticed why the illustration above shows only women? The fact is that hammam is popular precisely among the fair half of humanity, while men prefer the Russian bathhouse with its “tangible” procedures. But in Turkey, a woman of any status has the right to file for divorce if her husband does not allow her to go to the hammam.

And if you also take into account that Turkish women have never had much other entertainment (until today), then it is not surprising why the hammam has become an entire art over the centuries. “She’s fussing around like a Turkish woman getting ready for a bath” - that’s what they once said in Rus'. After all, in order to carry out bath procedures according to all the rules, women had to prepare from 15 to 20 items with them!

Although there are exceptions and adherents of the Turkish steam room. But, as practice shows, they often build one on their own site, to be away from women’s “sabbaths” in city hammams. They decorate it with marble and stone, according to all the rules, but they still heat it from a stove in the corner and the air temperature is set to at least 60°C. And sometimes even grabbing a birch broom...

But to some extent, visiting the hammam can also be harmful to the body. Even for healthy people, according to scientists. Therefore, let's also consider their opinion.

Harm from visiting a Turkish bath

So, what in the hammam can have a negative effect on the body? It's all about the air temperature, 45°C, which is not low, and the highest air humidity - 100%. These two factors have their pros and cons for your health.

Hot air bad because it can lead to overheating human body. Moreover, heat coming from outside is less useful than internal heat:

The bad thing in itself is that the limbs get quite hot at a temperature of 45°C. But the most unsafe thing for any person is a fever in the head. That is why, at the slightest non-compliance with all the rules of steaming in baths, after the procedures many people begin to have a severe headache.

And that is why in the Russian steam room it is customary to wear hats, and in the Eastern ones - a turban made from a towel, which many today neglect for the sake of “beautiful” appearance».

The second point is excessively humid air. It is bad for the body because it further contributes to overheating. So, if a person has at least some problems with cardiovascular system, dangerous aggravation occurs already at 85% air humidity.

But in fact, everything is dangerous only for an unhealthy body, with weak hearted and other problems. That is why there is such a thing as a contraindication.

Who is contraindicated from visiting the hammam?

So, despite the fact that the Turkish bath is the easiest for the body to tolerate, it also has its contraindications. It's all about the heat and high, almost 100% humidity.

To whom this regime (or one of its components) is harmful, you should not visit the Turkish bath:

  • Pregnant women. There is already direct evidence that heat (like any other unnatural conditions) has a bad effect on the fetus. And although some brave expectant mothers take such a warning lightly, this does not mean that everything will work out in other cases. As they like to say experienced doctors, for a healthy and strong body - and stress is like a runny nose, but if it’s hiding somewhere chronic illness, then the consequences will be unpleasant.
  • Severe lung diseases. The fact is that air with high humidity itself is already difficult to inhale, especially if the vapor is not of the best dispersion. And if the lungs work at half strength, the person in the hammam may even begin to choke.
  • High temperature and viral diseases. Of course, the warmth of any bath can heal a cold and even incipient bronchitis, but with temperature and feeling unwell You cannot expose your body to additional stress.
  • Any fungal diseases. This nasty thing multiplies quickly in a warm and humid microclimate. And leaving infectious fungal spores after visiting a public hammam is not an act you can be proud of.
  • Weak heart or any other cardiovascular problems. The fact is that heat is always a big strain on the heart; it is not without reason that the lion’s share of heart attacks occur in the July months. Therefore, do not take risks if you have concerns about own health: unfortunately, today it is not uncommon for cases when after good couple a visitor is carried out feet first.
  • Naturally, the hammam with its warmth and massage procedures is contraindicated for cancer patients. Why such injustice? The fact is that the faster the blood circulates through the veins of such a person (and there is an effect from heat and massage), the faster microtoxins and fine particles tumors that create new problems.
  • Mental disorders. If you or your companion have diseases such as neurosis, psychosis or simply an unbalanced psyche, it is better not to go to a Turkish bath (or any other) for now. Otherwise, your vacation will be hopelessly ruined. Why? Scientists have long proven that heat increases aggression, and people with problematic mental health are especially sensitive to changes in microclimate.
  • Skin diseases. Just as any wound hurts from heat and steam, so does any skin disease doesn't like this regime. Therefore, you should not aggravate the disease.
  • Any spicy inflammatory processes. And with chronic diseases, it is better to consult a doctor in advance.

But, if you don’t suffer from anything like that, then some kind Turkish wishes to you!

The Turkish hammam sauna is an exquisite steam room with high air humidity. Your body is healed and toned here. Hammam is a place where you can rent emotional stress, fatigue and enjoyment in the best Eastern traditions. The aroma of fragrant herbs will give the procedure a blissful relaxing effect. The benefits of hamam are time-tested: this method of healing and relaxation has been used since ancient times.

The Turkish sauna has benefits for our internal organs and their functional activity. The effect of hamam is expressed as follows:

  • Turkish hammam is primarily a cleansing procedure. During its implementation, the skin pores are deeply cleansed, impurities, salts and toxins are removed, and the skin is moisturized. During the process of peeling and massage, old, dead epithelial cells are removed from the surface of the skin. This process leads to an increase in skin tone, as well as its elasticity and firmness.
  • In addition, massage activates blood circulation, thereby stimulating blood circulation throughout the body. This also has an anti-cellulite effect.
  • Thermal procedures in a Turkish sauna normalize the functioning of the sebaceous and sweat glands.
  • Warm air and massage relaxes the body muscles, soothes and normalizes physical and spiritual state. In a Turkish sauna the air temperature is lower than, for example, in a Russian bath. Therefore, the vaping process is easily tolerated.
  • Steaming in a hammam stimulates metabolism and sweating, promoting weight loss.
  • The effect of essential oils added during vaping is also important. They give a strong healing effect. The benefit appears to be on both the epithelium and respiratory organs, and on cells of the nervous system.
  • Regular visits to the Turkish sauna lead to normal sleep, relief from nervous tension and fatigue.
  • Exposure to warm steam coupled with oils helps treat congestive diseases. Great benefit and the hamam provides assistance in the fight against bronchitis and rhinitis.
  • An important point is the benefits of staying in the hammam for joint function. If there are dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system, then going to the Turkish sauna can be regarded as a method of therapy.

  1. There are contraindications and restrictions for visiting the Turkish sauna. Therefore, you need to be sure that the procedure will not cause harm. To do this, you can contact a doctor or specialist at the salon where you want to visit the hammam.
  2. The steam supply in a Turkish sauna is constant, so essential oils act as an inhaler and act on the body continuously.

Contraindications for visiting

Like others cosmetic procedures, the Turkish sauna has some contraindications. Hamam has the most gentle effect in comparison with other types of similar thermal procedures. Therefore, the number of contraindications here is minimal. These include:

In other cases, the hammam does not harm your health and condition.

How to visit the hammam? Features of the procedure

Describing the procedure for taking a Turkish sauna, it is impossible to convey those magical, pleasant sensations of an oriental fairy tale, feelings of bliss and pleasure. It is better to experience this eastern sacrament yourself.

Advice: do not drink alcohol or cold drinks before, after or during the procedure. This may harm the functioning of the heart.

Important! According to Eastern traditions, visiting the Turkish sauna in the nude is prohibited. Therefore, when going to the hammam, take a swimsuit with you.

  1. Before entering the warm marble hall of the Turkish sauna, you need to visit a regular sauna to steam your body for further procedures. You can stay here for about 15-20 minutes. A longer stay in the sauna can cause discomfort and even harm the body.
  2. Next you need to accept warm shower and normalize body temperature. Then we head to the “heart” of the Turkish sauna – the marble hall. Here you will experience the oriental subtleties of relaxation in the bathhouse. The bathhouse attendant rubs your body with a soft glove, periodically pouring warm and cool water over it.
  3. Now the fun part - soaping. As a result of this action, you will become like a soft air cloud. Olive soap is most often used to create foam. The feeling from this is incredibly pleasant!
  4. Then you can move on to the next massage stage. Massage can be done directly with soap foam or essential oils. If you have contraindications to a massage, then this stage is replaced by a visit to the pool or jacuzzi.
  5. Next is the relaxing drinking of aromatic oriental teas and drinks, which have additional benefits and a tonic effect.
  6. The hamam procedure is completed by rubbing with moisturizing fragrant oils.

After visiting the Turkish hammam sauna, you can forget about fatigue, malaise, and weakness. State of mind is in harmony and tranquility. In the East, they believe that visiting a hammam is like looking into another world.

Among many eastern peoples healthy man is equated with clean, so going to the bathhouse is a kind of ritual for them. Since ancient times, hammam has been used to put one’s body and soul in order, getting rid of everything unnecessary and, as it were, being born again.

What is hamam?

A Turkish bath that helps a person relax and achieve peace is called a hammam. Long time this place was considered a symbol of Eastern culture and traditions. Hamams are ancient public baths that appeared during the Roman Empire. It is worth noting that the difference from Russian is due to a special temperature regime, so the value is in the range of 30-50°C.

Hammam and sauna - differences

To highlight the main distinctive features, it is necessary to compare the main parameters:

  1. To create steam and heat the room in the sauna, water is poured onto the hot stones, and in the hammam the walls, floor and sun loungers are evenly heated.
  2. When figuring out what a hammam is and how it differs from a sauna, it is worth noting that the first structure consists entirely of tiles and stones, and for the second option, in most cases, wood is used to cover the walls.
  3. If we compare temperatures, the range of 100-120°C is used in saunas, and only 40-60°C in huts. The steam rooms differ and in terms of humidity indicators, the former has a value of 10-15%, and the latter – 100%.
  4. Many people are interested in what sauna is healthier or hamam, so it is impossible to give a definite answer to such a question, since each option has its own advantages. In favor of the latter, we can say that such a steam room can be visited by people who cannot withstand the high temperature of a classic sauna.

How to use the hammam?

There is a certain scheme of what you need to do in this type of steam room to get pleasure and maximum benefit.

  1. You should start in a warm room, where the body should warm up thoroughly. It's better to accept horizontal position on a marble lounger. You need to stay in this room until you sweat. The temperature in the hammam is very pleasant, so in most cases visitors do not feel any discomfort.
  2. At the next stage, a massage is carried out using oils, which is performed with woolen mittens. Thanks to this procedure, blood circulation and joint flexibility improve, and the whole body relaxes. In addition, the rough surface of the mittens exfoliates the skin, removing dead cells, thereby making the skin smooth and silky.
  3. For cleansing it is customary to use special soap, which has unique composition, so it contains olive, argon or peach oil. All this is good for the skin.
  4. At the last stage, be sure to take a cold shower and swim in a cool pool. Thanks to this, the pores close after all previous procedures.
  5. When figuring out what hammam is, it is worth noting that the classic scheme for visiting a steam room is described above, but some salons add some more procedures, for example, after a massage you can apply special oils to the body, make a wrap or a mask. Thanks to this, you can get additional benefits, for example, cope with cellulite, dryness and other troubles.

How to visit the hammam?

First you need to understand what this version of the steam room looks like, so there are the following types of rooms:

  1. Jamekan- This is the first room where the vestibule and dressing rooms are traditionally located. If the building is made in a classical style, then there is a fountain in this room.
  2. Sogukluk- This is a washing room with showers and toilets. The temperature in this room is maintained at 30-35 degrees.
  3. Hararet– this is the main room, which is the warmest and the value on the thermometer is 50-60°C. It contains marble benches on which people relax and receive massages. In the center of the room there is a firebox that creates heat for the entire room. They call it the “belly stone.” Even in Hararet, a swimming pool is installed and it is called “kurna”.

In order for a trip to the steam room to be enjoyable, it is important to follow a number of important advice, and there are also traditions of visiting the hamam:

  1. Turkish baths have separate facilities for men and women. Visitors wear a sarong or at least tie a towel around their body.
  2. It is prohibited to drink alcohol and soft drinks while in the steam room. It is not recommended to eat food 1-1.5 hours before.
  3. Many people are interested in how often they can visit the hammam, so this should be done if possible and for health reasons. To maintain tone and health, you should go to a Turkish bath once a week.
  4. Before lying on the bench, be sure to lay a towel on it.
  5. After completing all the procedures, it is forbidden to stand up suddenly, as this can harm the heated muscles.
  6. When figuring out how to go to the hammam, it is worth indicating what time is best to stay in the Turkish bath, so it’s correct to stay there for up to 1.5 hours, but it can be longer.

What are the benefits of a Turkish bath (hamam)?

Going to the steam room has a beneficial effect on the condition of a person who has no contraindications.

  1. The health benefits of hamam are: positive impact on the condition of the skin. By cleansing the body, a rejuvenation effect is achieved.
  2. A steam room is recommended for salt accumulation, rheumatism and other problems with the musculoskeletal system.
  3. When finding out information about hamam, what it is and what benefits it has, it is worth noting beneficial influence on the respiratory and nervous system.

Hammam for sinusitis

While in a Turkish bath, positive changes occur in the body under the influence of temperature and humidity. If a person has sinusitis, then you can go to the steam room, but not throughout the entire illness. If you have a high temperature and other signs of intoxication, you should avoid going to the Turkish bath. When figuring out how to steam in a hammam, it is worth noting that it is best to go to the steam room at the recovery stage, when foreign microflora has been defeated.

  1. In this case, the procedures will have a healing effect and the immune system will be strengthened.
  2. Exposure to hot, humid air will reduce swelling of the mucous membrane maxillary sinuses and the amount of discharge, and the process of epithelial regeneration is also accelerated.
  3. During the recovery stage, steam hammams can be visited 2-3 times a week for 20-30 minutes. When the disease is chronic form is in remission, then visiting the steam room is allowed every day, but only if you feel good.

Hammam for asthmatics

If a person is diagnosed - bronchial asthma, then it’s better to forget about going to the Turkish bath. It is important to consider that if the disease occurs in complex form with frequent attacks, then the hamam can only provoke them and aggravate the situation. If asthma is on initial stage and the doctor gave the go-ahead, then warm, moist air can be beneficial, since under the influence of moist air the volume of the lungs increases, which reduces the number of attacks. At the same time, it is important to know how to use the hammam, so you should not visit the steam room too often and stay there for more than half an hour.

Hammam for bronchitis

The moist, warm air of a Turkish bath will be useful during the recovery stage, when the acute phase has been stopped. It is forbidden to go to the steam room if the body temperature is above 37°C and there is severe shortness of breath. If these contraindications are not observed, then the Turkish hammam can be useful, subject to a number of recommendations:

  1. It is recommended to drink a lot of herbal tea before going to the steam room.
  2. You need to breathe moderately deeply in the bath, which will promote better mucus removal.
  3. You can't go out of the warmth cold air or lower yourself into the pool, since the body must cool down gradually.

Hammam for varicose veins

If a person has pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, then a Turkish bath is contraindicated. This is explained by the fact that when the temperature rises, the blood vessels dilate and the volume of circulating blood increases. As a result, the load on the veins increases several times and this situation with varicose veins is very dangerous. Doctors believe that any advice regarding how to properly go to the hammam with varicose veins does not help protect blood vessels, and the danger still remains.

Hammam for colds

When a person feels slightly unwell, has a runny nose and a sore throat, visiting a Turkish bath will be beneficial. It is important to remember that if the temperature has already risen, then the steam room is prohibited.

  1. Warm air helps the pain that occurs in the muscles and joints.
  2. The bath helps to increase the body's defenses and tonify it.
  3. Humid air improves the process of mucus removal during a runny nose and stops the spread of inflammatory processes.
  4. The steam room has a positive effect on the functioning of the respiratory system.
  5. It is important to know how to properly steam in a hammam when you have a cold, so cold showers and swimming pools are necessarily excluded from all mandatory procedures.

Hammam for acne

It has been proven that with regular visits to a Turkish bath, regeneration of the skin occurs, which is important for cleansing the skin, getting rid of dead cells and improving appearance. The benefit is due to the fact that toxins are removed from the body, which often cause rashes on the body. In addition, do not forget that one of the stages of being in a bathhouse is peeling, which is beneficial for the skin.

How is hammam useful after a workout?

During intense sports training, the muscle corset is stressed, so many people suffer from sore throat and other discomfort the next day. For a relaxing treatment, you can visit the hammam after your workout. The steam room helps restore blood circulation, relieve inflammation, improve or restore body tone and muscle elasticity, warm up the muscles and increase the supply of oxygen to the muscles.

Harm from hamam

In some situations, going to a Turkish bath can be harmful, so you need to know the existing contraindications.

  1. Pregnant women are prohibited from going to the Turkish bath, as the increase in temperature can cause harm to the fetus.
  2. Hamam for health cannot be used if a person has severe lung diseases.
  3. The presence of high fever and viral diseases leads to a worsening of the condition.
  4. If a person has any fungal disease, then being in a warm and damp room will provoke their reproduction.
  5. When finding out what a hammam is and for whom a steam room is contraindicated, it is worth noting that visiting such establishments is prohibited if you have problems with the cardiovascular system. Fever creates additional stress on the heart and blood vessels.
  6. You cannot go to the bathhouse if you have mental disorders, skin diseases, cancer and various acute inflammatory processes.

The Turkish hammam is a great place not only to relax, but also to maintain the health of men and women of any age. The benefits of hammam are almost legendary. And it's deserved. Yours beneficial effect on the body the Turkish bath has confirmed throughout its long history.

The very name “hamam” is translated into Russian as “spreading steam.” For those who are just planning to visit the Turkish bath, it will be a real discovery.

Features of the Turkish bath


The peculiarity of the Turkish bath is primarily in the heat supply method. A real hammam must have several rooms, and its visitors must have free access to each of them. Rooms differ primarily in temperature. The uniform distribution of heat allows the body to warm up gradually, which is very beneficial for blood circulation and cleansing the skin.

Temperatures in Turkish baths fluctuate from 35 to 55 degrees. This is the most optimal temperature for healing the body. It’s not for nothing that the ideal range of temperatures in rooms has been selected for centuries, and now we have the opportunity to relax in the best conditions.

Another big advantage of a Turkish bath is wet air, which is very easy to breathe. Surprisingly, humidity can reach its maximum point, which greatly relaxes the body and gives it the opportunity to truly rest.

Treatments in the hammam


The procedures provided in the Turkish bath can be called a real ritual, since they took shape over more than one century.

When you arrive at the hammam, you will first enter the “cold” room. The temperature here is relatively low and will allow your body to get used to the warmth. After you will end up in a steam room, where the bathhouse attendant, having previously doused you with hot water, will cleanse your skin of dead cells.

Complete cleansing of the skin is followed by wellness and relaxation massage. Its peculiarity is that before the massage you will be rubbed liquid soap so that your body will be completely covered in foam. It is likely that the massage will feel slightly painful, but there is no need to worry about this. As a rule, only highly qualified personnel work in Turkish baths.

After the massage there is a bath, which is also produced by the bathhouse attendant. At this moment, it is better to just relax and let your body cleanse itself of accumulated stress and fatigue. When ablution is completed, you can return to the “cold” room again. Here you can simply relax, relax, drink tea and chat with other visitors to the bathhouse.

Contraindications


Like any other procedures, Turkish hammam can bring benefits and harm. So that instead of the desired relaxation, the ritual does not turn into something else, it should be taken into account that not everyone can visit such a bathhouse.

Those who have heart problems. It is better to consult your doctor before visiting.

Don't risk visits if you have any skin diseases. Foci of the disease can grow against the backdrop of the humid and warm climate of the hammam baths, this is especially true fungal diseases. Before undertaking such procedures, obtain all necessary recommendations from your physician.

Turkish hammam is contraindicated:

  • For those suffering from cancer
  • Patients with hypertension (grades 2 and 3)
  • For asthmatics
  • For those suffering from mental illness

Benefit


Having figured out what the contraindications for hammam are, you can learn more about its beneficial properties.

1. First of all, hammam has a beneficial effect on skin condition. It undergoes complete cleansing not only outside, but also inside. All pores are cleansed, all irritations are eliminated, and the skin itself looks healthier and younger after the procedures. The atmosphere of the hammam promotes, by the way, not only the removal of dead cells, but also the active division of new ones. This allows the skin to breathe and be saturated with oxygen.

2. Through purification one achieves rejuvenation effect. Thanks to the boors, the skin seems to be renewed. It, rubbed with a variety of essential oils and warmed up at a favorable temperature, becomes moisturized and healthy. Another point: the temperature and procedures of the Turkish bath enhance the effect of diets, which will help in short terms lose weight. This is all because during the procedures, metabolism accelerates and also slows down the aging process. By the way, a Turkish bath is also useful for hair, since its humidity and temperature help strengthen the hair.

You can build a hammam in your house or apartment. Is it possible? Of course you can!

There is also a wonderful mini-sauna for the apartment - a “cedar barrel”!

Of course, you can’t build a swimming pool in an apartment. But if you have a dacha, or, even better, a house for year-round living, then this is the place for you: .

3. After steaming, you can take a dip in the cold pool. This improves blood circulation and will have a good effect on blood pressure and heart function. It will be useful for those who suffer from arrhythmia or other non-critical heart diseases. However, before experimenting, it is better to consult a doctor.

4. Hammam can permanently eliminate diseases such as salt accumulation, rheumatism and other ailments related to the functioning of the musculoskeletal system. The soft warmth of the hammam bath will warm up all muscles and joints and relieve many problems with musculoskeletal system. Such procedures are especially recommended for those who have had any injuries.

5. The moist air and steam of a Turkish bath can solve many problems associated with respiratory system. It is very useful to visit the hammam for those who suffer from chronic colds.

6. Huge benefits the nervous system. Firstly, hammam procedures allow you to relax and think about something of your own, to completely immerse yourself in pleasure and peace. Secondly, with the help of hammam you can get rid of problems such as stress and insomnia.

For many centuries, hammam has been a favorite pastime for eastern residents. But in the last few decades, the Turkish bath has become popular in Russia, thanks to its low, gentle air temperature and pleasant procedures. But many people still look at the oriental steam room with apprehension: what exactly are the health benefits and harms of a Turkish bath? Who should not visit it, and how should a vacation actually take place there? We will be happy to answer you!

Is it a Turkish bath?...

Quite a serious question. The fact is that today in Russia the bath business is, of course, developed, but to what extent? As it turns out, those who have personally visited a real Turkish bath say that local hammams resemble it only in appearance - but not in sensation. Absolutely wrong humidity, temperature and special means. And not the same effect at all.

Is it worth saying then how dangerous the impact of such a “hamam” on health can be? After all, the Turks have been developing their bath tradition for centuries, selecting the optimal temperature and humidity conditions down to the degree, and carefully observing the necessary sequence of all procedures. And therefore all this had a positive effect on health. And a failure in any technology leads to other consequences.

Moreover, modern hammams in Russia offer three modes of procedures at once: something like a sauna with dry and hot air, a supposedly Russian bath with steam and an air temperature of up to 100°C, and a “Turkish” one, with heat up to 60°C and humidity up to 100%, which is also wrong. But all this is proudly called “hammam”.

And finally, today an innovation such as “hamam-plus” is becoming popular. This is the same Turkish bath with marble on the walls, but in which a special cable is used to warm the walls, beds and floor, providing up to 70°C instead of the required 45°C, and dry “Russian” steam.

It’s like combining two in one: both a hammam and a Russian bathhouse. But such an invention is far from a real Turkish steam room, and staying in it can really undermine your health. But an inexperienced person will be sure that he ended up in a hammam!

So let's take a closer look at what a real Turkish bath actually is and what to expect from it.

Hamam: a look from the inside

Hamam is the most moisture-rich bathhouse existing in the world. Normal humidity here is considered to be in the range of 80-100%, and this is at a temperature of only 40-45°C.

A real Turkish hammam is a separate building with six rooms: a locker room, a relaxation room, a steam room, a washing room, a massage room and a swimming pool. It is customary to go out of the steam room into the pool, where you first need to swim in hot water, then at a lower temperature, in order to gradually cool down the hot body without any stress on the blood vessels. Of course, this is not Russian fun in the form of diving into a snowdrift after a good broom.

Interestingly, the hammam did not originate in Turkey, but in Rome, where the baths were thermal. But it is worth noting separately the special interior of a true Turkish bath: domed ceilings allow drops of condensation to easily roll onto the floor and evaporate there. And the beautiful stone mosaic in the decoration evenly absorbs thermal radiation and releases it gently. By the way, initially, more useful marble was used in such baths, and therefore, if you are planning to build a hammam yourself, use it.

Now compare a real Turkish bath with most commercial boors outside the city, housed in an ordinary multi-story building, in just three rooms with rectangular ceilings and a heat and humidity regime selected somehow.

A proper Turkish hammam is heated by boilers with boiling water, which are usually located in the walls or even under the floor. The hot water steam goes further into the pipes under the floor and seats, and all surfaces heat up. And through small holes, steam enters the room.

And the main advantage of a Turkish bath is that it warms up not only the air, but also the walls, the floor, and even the sun loungers. Thanks to all this, it is possible to undergo truly pleasant and healing procedures:

  1. First, the person rinses in the shower or other running water.
  2. Next, he lies down on a warm lounger and gradually, without stress, warms up the whole body. He lies there for about 20 minutes until the muscles relax and the pores open.
  3. Now it’s time for peeling: the whole body is rubbed with special hard washcloths, which carefully remove dead dead cells of the body, cleanse open pores and have a healing massage effect. Moreover, the cleansing is quite deep. Many vacationers at this moment are surprised how so much dirt remains on the washcloths, since they have just been in the shower?
  4. After peeling and another wash (from dirt), it is customary to start soaping. This is not just foam from an ordinary bar of soap - here it is voluminous and airy, and envelops the entire body.
  5. Further procedures are now carried out by a massage therapist, gently kneading each part of the body. This is the most enjoyable time.
  6. Then you can wash off the foam and rest.
  7. And finally, in a proper Turkish bath, after all the procedures, they drink healing herbal teas in a special “keif” room, where they used to smoke hookah (which is why the name of the room seems so familiar).

In addition, in a proper hammam it is customary to move from a less hot room to a hotter one, which is quite consistent with the words of Hippocrates that the effect of heat on the body should be gradual. That is why the traditions of the Turkish bath have the same centuries-old history as the Russian steam room - step by step, that same healing atmosphere was created.

But today, in many Turkish baths, steam is created by a steam generator; marble is sometimes replaced with not the highest quality mosaics, and laid on polystyrene foam panels. Floor areas are heated with water, and even more often - with electricity. And in the end we get a kind of thermos, which, in its filling, is already quite far from a real hammam.

Benefits of visiting the hamam

Even if you have visited the hammam only once in your life, you will definitely remember this vacation. In addition to feeling incredibly clean, the very next day you will feel much better. And all because a real Turkish bath:

  • Deeply cleanses all pores and removes toxins.
  • It has a rejuvenating effect on both the skin and the entire body.
  • Thanks to prolonged heating, we strengthen the immune system.
  • It has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, normalizes sleep and mood.
  • Accelerates skin regeneration.
  • Improves metabolism and helps you lose weight faster.
  • Eliminates salt deposits.
  • Stabilizes blood pressure.
  • Cures chronic colds.
  • Eliminates muscle tone and tension, which is especially valuable for athletes.
  • Relieves stress and improves blood microcirculation in the brain.
  • Eliminates stagnant processes in all organs.

Thanks to the soft and healing microclimate of the hammam, it is useful to spend several hours in it!

Have you already noticed why the illustration above shows only women? The fact is that hammam is popular precisely among the fair half of humanity, while men prefer the Russian bathhouse with its “tangible” procedures. But in Turkey, a woman of any status has the right to file for divorce if her husband does not allow her to go to the hammam.

And if you also take into account that Turkish women have never had much other entertainment (until today), then it is not surprising why the hammam has become an entire art over the centuries. “She’s fussing around like a Turkish woman getting ready for a bath” - that’s what they once said in Rus'. After all, in order to carry out bath procedures according to all the rules, women had to prepare from 15 to 20 items with them!

Although there are exceptions and adherents of the Turkish steam room. But, as practice shows, they often build one on their own site, to be away from women’s “sabbaths” in city hammams. They decorate it with marble and stone, according to all the rules, but they still heat it from a stove in the corner and the air temperature is set to at least 60°C. And sometimes even grabbing a birch broom...

But to some extent, visiting the hammam can also be harmful to the body. Even for healthy people, according to scientists. Therefore, let's also consider their opinion.

Harm from visiting a Turkish bath

So, what in the hammam can have a negative effect on the body? It's all about the air temperature, 45°C, which is not low, and the highest air humidity - 100%. These two factors have their pros and cons for your health.

Hot air is bad because it can lead to overheating of the human body. Moreover, heat coming from outside is less useful than internal heat:

The bad thing in itself is that the limbs get quite hot at a temperature of 45°C. But the most unsafe thing for any person is a fever in the head. That is why, at the slightest non-compliance with all the rules of steaming in baths, after the procedures many people begin to have a severe headache.

And that is why in the Russian steam room it is customary to wear hats, and in the Eastern ones - a turban made of a towel, which many today neglect for the sake of a “beautiful appearance”.

The second point is excessively humid air. It is bad for the body because it further contributes to overheating. So, if a person has at least some problems with the cardiovascular system, a dangerous exacerbation will occur even at 85% air humidity.

But in fact, everything is dangerous only for an unhealthy body, with a weak heart and other problems. That is why there is such a thing as a contraindication.

Who is contraindicated from visiting the hammam?

So, despite the fact that the Turkish bath is the easiest for the body to tolerate, it also has its contraindications. It's all about the heat and high, almost 100% humidity.

To whom this regime (or one of its components) is harmful, you should not visit the Turkish bath:

  • Pregnant women. There is already direct evidence that heat (like any other unnatural conditions) has a bad effect on the fetus. And although some brave expectant mothers take such a warning lightly, this does not mean that everything will work out in other cases. As experienced doctors like to say, for a healthy and strong body, stress is like a runny nose, but if a chronic disease is lurking somewhere, then the consequences will be unpleasant.
  • Severe lung diseases. The fact is that air with high humidity itself is already difficult to inhale, especially if the vapor is not of the best dispersion. And if the lungs work at half strength, the person in the hammam may even begin to choke.
  • High temperature and viral diseases. Of course, the warmth of any bath can heal a cold and even incipient bronchitis, but if you have a fever and feel unwell, you cannot subject your body to additional stress.
  • Any fungal diseases. This nasty thing multiplies quickly in a warm and humid microclimate. And leaving infectious fungal spores after visiting a public hammam is not an act you can be proud of.
  • Weak heart or any other cardiovascular problems. The fact is that heat is always a big strain on the heart; it is not without reason that the lion’s share of heart attacks occur in the July months. Therefore, do not take risks if you have concerns about your own health: unfortunately, today it is not uncommon for a visitor to be carried out feet first after a good steam.
  • Naturally, the hammam with its warmth and massage procedures is contraindicated for cancer patients. Why such injustice? The fact is that the faster the blood circulates through the veins of such a person (and there is an effect from heat and massage), the faster microtoxins and small particles of tumors are spread throughout the body, which create new problems.
  • Mental disorders. If you or your companion have diseases such as neurosis, psychosis or simply an unbalanced psyche, it is better not to go to a Turkish bath (or any other) for now. Otherwise, your vacation will be hopelessly ruined. Why? Scientists have long proven that heat increases aggression, and people with problematic mental health are especially sensitive to changes in microclimate.
  • Skin diseases. Just as any wound hurts from heat and steam, so any skin disease does not like this regime. Therefore, you should not aggravate the disease.
  • Any acute inflammatory processes. And with chronic diseases, it is better to consult a doctor in advance.

But, if you don’t suffer from anything like that, then some kind Turkish wishes to you!

Hammam, also known as Turkish bath, has completely become one of the most popular and desired beauty and health treatments.

Hammam is a temple of relaxation where East and West meet.

Hammam is a real temple of relaxation

And yet, does boorish man give only health benefits or is he also capable of causing harm?

The principle of influence on humans

Water is health, even when it takes the form of steam that envelops the body. This aspect was discovered in ancient times by the Greeks, Romans, and peoples of the Middle East, who made the Turkish bath a philosophy of life.
In the hammam, the humidity reaches 90 - 100%, and the temperature does not exceed 55 °C, which is much healthier than the conditions of a sauna. In a Finnish sauna, the air is dry and temperatures reach 100C.

Relaxation and getting rid of toxins are the beneficial properties of hamam.

Sitting on marble or stone surfaces (doctors recommend sitting, not lying), in very dense steam, inhaling warm waves of moist air, which calms breathing, gets rid of toxins through sweat.
The expansion of pores in the skin, caused by heat, allows steam to penetrate and therefore allows the skin to renew itself, becoming soft and elastic.

You will learn all the details about the hammam from the video:

You may also be interested in an article about the benefits of running for women.

How is it useful in general?

The ritual of visiting the hamam has several other features that bring health benefits:

  • Immunity increases;
  • Almost everyone visits the hamam age groups is an excellent blood pressure regulator;
  • It is easier to get rid of salt deposits;
  • The properties of steam stimulate the removal of dead skin cells;
  • Hammam steam, creating a warming effect, accelerates blood circulation and expands blood vessels. This effect is achieved by alternating hot and cold temperatures;
  • Muscle tension is easily eliminated;
  • A trip to the hammam is also useful for those who need treatment and prophylactic agents for diseases respiratory tract.

Benefits for women

The benefits of hammam for women are clearly recognized. It lies in the fact that it is precisely this part of humanity, constantly concerned about the presence of cellulite on the body, the condition of hair, skin, etc., that in this place can happily take care of the body and spirit. Relieving stress and improving sleep are also important factors.

The benefit is that you can avoid damaging your hair with dry heat, as in a sauna, for example, but, on the contrary, in the humid environment of a hammam, you can enhance growth and strengthen hair follicles.

Lots of different treatment procedures with herbal decoctions, infusions, creams and scrubs, massages and steam baths- all these manipulations for women are very, very important, useful and pleasant. And if you massage with coconut oil, you will get a stunning cosmetic effect!

Various procedures in the hammam are not only pleasant, but also useful

Benefits for men

Men, more often susceptible to diseases genitourinary system, hammam is useful like no other. Moist heat and special conditions promote heavy sweating.

This process helps the kidneys unload and relieve the painful condition for a while.

Men are more susceptible to stress and endure it more severely than women. Hammam is the place where it is filmed nervous tension, blood circulation improves, general state normalizes much faster.

Benefits for athletes

Very often the hammam is visited after the gym, which can be beneficial or harmful to a person after physical activity. What is absolutely useful about a hammam after a workout is that it is easy to relax spasmodic or toned/stressed muscles, joints and ligaments.

But by coming to the hammam immediately after training, before your pulse and blood pressure have time to return to normal, you can cause serious harm to your body. Sports doctors recommend spending about 20 - 30 minutes after training in peace, and then visiting the hammam.

Temperature stages

There are several stages with different temperature conditions hamam:

  • Tepidarium- located in a humid room where the temperature, as a rule, remains around 36 °C. This is the stage of useful acclimatization, the beginning of the process. But cleansing the body begins with it;
  • Calidarium- the next room/hall, in which the temperature is noticeably higher - up to 45 °C. The action of the vapor is quite powerful, the moisture promotes sweating and makes the skin glow.

    Temperature and humidity in the calidarium are quite high

    A steam bath promotes significant fluid loss. Ideal for those who suffer from water retention and therefore the benefits of hammam for weight loss at this stage are clearly expressed.

    It is usually recommended to drink Herb tea, decoction with mint added, snack on fruit. In good, large hammams there is always a relaxation room with all the necessary attributes of relaxation.
    About the benefits and harm delicious tea Read “Milk Oolong” in this article...
    How healthy it is to eat a lot of fruits and what fructose is, read in this article...

    After sufficient time in the calidarium, the skin is ready to be scrubbed (exfoliated), and then, after washing, numerous methods of treatment or body skin care are possible:

    • massages;
    • hair and body wraps;
    • masks and treatments for face and body.
  • Frigidarium- the last stage of the hammam, in the hall of which the temperature is maintained at about 30C. Usually the dive is done in cold water(about 28 °C), which closes the pores and gives an enhanced tonic effect.

Is hamam harmful?

Much can be said about the Turkish bath - hamam, about its benefits and possible harm, but still after analysis, the pros are clearly visible than the cons.
First of all, if you want to visit the hammam for the first time, it would be very good to consult a doctor for an opinion on whether it is safe to visit a Turkish bath.

When visiting the hammam for the first time, it is advisable to consult a doctor

To spend time in the hammam only for your own benefit, you need to know about the contraindications.
First of all this:

  • presence of cancer or suspicion of it. Due to high temperatures, exacerbation or accelerated growth tumors;
  • epilepsy;
  • people with respiratory diseases (asthmatics, etc.) cannot visit the hammam, because too humid, hot air can cause another attack;
  • any dermatological diseases ( atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, etc.);
  • fungal diseases. Due to the threat of infecting other visitors to the hamam;
  • high blood pressure when visiting the hammam. People with chronic hypertension just don't abuse it long stay in the hamam. “Gymnastics” of blood vessels (alternating cold and hot temperatures), very useful for hypertensive patients;
  • pregnancy.

Even knowing about the contraindications to going to the hammam, you can soberly assess your capabilities and still, at the first opportunity, be sure to visit this place.

Conclusion

Going to the hammam should be an indispensable habit to truly bring health to a person.

This will allow you to protect yourself from everyday stress and take care of yourself, cleansing your body and mind.

It’s not for nothing that the Turkish bath has been known and loved since the times of the Byzantine Empire.

Hammam has long been famous for its beneficial properties. But is there any harm from a Turkish bath and how often can you visit it? We will tell you about all the benefits and harms of hammam in this article!

Fans of the Russian bath have an alternative - turkish hammam, which translated means budding steam. In its traditional design, it is a spacious room with marble cladding and 5 niches with different degrees. The temperature in them does not rise above + 45°C. Moving from section to section, everyone can choose a mode that is comfortable for themselves.

Which sauna is the healthiest in your opinion?

Bath etiquette

This option is suitable for those who like to relax and feel beneficial effect air scented with herbs and essential oils. In such conditions they like to engage in spa treatments and have leisurely conversations. oriental women. Traditionally, they spend the whole day in the bathhouse, but a couple of hours is enough for hygiene procedures and relaxation. To get maximum benefit, it is important:

  • Do not hurry;
  • Follow the rules;
  • Do not break the sequence of steps.

Before visiting the steam room, first enter a room with a temperature of + 35°C. Staying in a warm dressing room prepares the heart for thermal stress. After adaptation, they go to the hararet - the washing room. In the round marble hall in the middle there is a gobektashi (belly stone), on which procedures are performed. Below it in the basement there is a firebox with a boiler, from where steam is supplied through pipes.

Enjoy Your Bath!

Lying on a heated stone, it is easy to forget about chronic fatigue and everyday problems. No need here:

  • Give in to the heat;
  • Torture the body with a broom;
  • Cool off periodically in the pool.

A visit to the steam room comes down to one goal - to sit on a towel and sweat heavily. After 10 minutes, sweat flows in streams, and because of the veil of thick steam, it is impossible to distinguish objects half a meter away. After a quarter of an hour, the relaxed body is ready for bath procedures.

Helps you feel bliss professional massage and cloud soap suds. First, the dexterous hands of the bathhouse attendant knead each joint until it crunches. Not only the arms are used, but also the legs. Classic Turkish massage involves kneading the prone body with the soles of your feet. After the execution, rest is required. Then the bath master puts on a kise mitten woven from horsehair or hard fibers and literally removes the skin in layers.

The bathhouse attendant dilutes olive soap in a mesh bag and squeezes a mountain of snow foam onto the body. Gently rubs the skin and last moment drenches ice water. Instead of a soap massage, you can choose a classic or lymphatic drainage massage. After the procedures, the body becomes weightless. The feeling of lightness and pleasant sensations are worth subjecting it to “torture”.

Treatments for rejuvenation

To the pristine skin covering Apply nutrients just right, instantly penetrating through open pores into the deep layers of the dermis. It is not forbidden to carry out:

  • Massage with coconut oil;
  • Rub in the honey-vitamin mixture;
  • Wrap with Moroccan clay, chocolate, seaweed.

Select procedures from the list or limit yourself to applying peach oil, grape seeds, olives.

Treatments in the hammam are not only pleasant, but also useful for rejuvenation and health promotion.

  • Decay products and salts are removed from the open pores along with moisture.
  • Tissues and blood are saturated with oxygen.
  • Cell division and blood flow increase.
  • The keratinized cells of the epidermis are removed.
  • The skin texture is evened out.

Oriental sauna for weight loss

Nutritionists say that the steam room is one of the best means against cellulite and fat deposits. Hot air accelerates lymph flow and blood, which helps fight subcutaneous deposits. The optimal effect is achieved by combining diet and spa treatments - anti-cellulite massage, mud or algae wraps. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

  • For improving oxygen supply and penetration of nutritional components, the steamed skin is cleansed by peeling. The following abrasives are used: salt, coffee or special remedy with fruit acids.
  • The body is rubbed with soap self made With anti-cellulite components- essential oils, Dead Sea minerals, olive oil and peeling.
  • The active substance is distributed onto the thighs, buttocks, and thighs. Then the body wrapped in film.

What do you choose for wraps?

For elimination orange peel Applications with green coffee, berry extracts, kelp, coconut oil, special gels and creams are effective.

  • Coffee promotes the breakdown of fat, accelerates cell renewal.
  • Vitamin-mineral complex with brown algae nourishes and tightens the skin.
  • Creams They are not able to get rid of subcutaneous fat, but they have a lifting effect and even out the texture.

Ideally, a bandage wrap with gel impregnation is used, which activates drainage in the subcutaneous matrix. After 30 minutes, the applications are removed. The temperature of a heated body decreases gradually. To tighten the pores, pour cold water on yourself or jump into the pool. In one session, up to 3 cm of volume is lost.

How often should you go to the hammam?

I want to visit this piece of paradise often. Turkish women do not deny themselves pleasure and find a reason to spend quality time once a week. There are no restrictions for experienced steamers, but one visit per week is enough for beginners. After a month you can increase it up to 2 times. If you take a bath more often, it will decrease healing effect.

Benefit

Despite the high humidity, due to the low temperature and soft steam, you can breathe deeply. A visit to a Turkish bath will help with ARVI, nasal congestion, and persistent cough. The procedures strengthen the immune system and allow you to forget:

  • About a cold;
  • Sore throat, laryngitis;
  • Diseases of the respiratory system, except asthma;
  • Joint pain for arthritis, rheumatism, gout, radiculitis;
  • Neurosis, melancholy;
  • Chronic fatigue;
  • Muscle pain after sports training and injuries.

Regular visits to the hammam will stop the development of hypertension in the initial stage.

Contraindications

In some cases, a visit eastern bath forbidden. It is worth refusing in case of exacerbation of acne, after laser resurfacing, chemical peeling. Aggravated in warm and humid environments fungal infections, eczema, rosacea. Procedure not shown:

  • For oncology;
  • Liver problems:
  • Cardiac ischemia;
  • Hypertension;
  • Pathologies of the thyroid gland;
  • For cataracts;
  • After a stroke.

Temperature and steam put stress on the kidneys. At the first symptoms of discomfort, they move to the waiting room or lobby.

Can pregnant women steam?

Gynecologists agree that visiting a steam room is dangerous only when early stages. The ban is due to the fact that with an unformed placenta, there is a high risk of miscarriage. In the second semester, expectant mothers can indulge in the pleasure of sitting in the hararet with light steam and pampering their skin and hair with masks and oils.

In the last 3 months before giving birth, many try not to take risks. If the pregnancy proceeds without complications, relaxation will not cause harm. It is better to avoid visiting last month. Heating and sudden cooling of the body causes redistribution of blood. This can cause premature release of water. You don’t have to go to Turkey to pamper yourself with the procedure. Most bath complexes offer you the opportunity to enjoy soft steam in SPA centers of the city.

The traditional Turkish bath, Hamam, is popular and well-respected throughout the world. The incredibly beautiful architectural style of the bathhouse’s interior, the special healing effect and the unique ritual of taking the procedures are incomparable to anything. For Turks, the hammam is a part of culture, a national treasure and a landmark.

History of the Turkish bath Hamam

The first Turkish bath appeared more than 1000 years ago. Even then, steam rooms were perceived not only as a place for hygiene procedures. Hamams were often built near mosques so that Muslims could perform ablutions according to Islamic law. Later, the baths became the center of city life. People of different classes came here to communicate, exchange news, and resolve important political issues.

Once a week, a women's day was held in the bathhouse. Even the most jealous husband was obliged to let his wife go so that she could undergo cosmetic procedures, chat with friends, relax and unwind. It was in hamams that mothers of grown-up sons looked for future daughters-in-law.

Turks today treat their baths with special respect. This is noticeable in the interior decoration of the steam room. The hammam resembles a real work of art. The decor of the bathhouse uses gilded items, vintage paintings and marble finishing. To this day, hammams have practically not been preserved in their original form. But there are Turkish baths everywhere, designed taking into account ancient traditions.

What is the difference between a hammam and a bathhouse?

The hammam gives a particularly pleasant feeling of relaxation, completely different from what occurs in other baths. The Turkish steam room is becoming an excellent alternative for people who are contraindicated heat sauna or Russian bath. This becomes possible due to high humidity (100%) and moderate temperature (35-60°C). In such a climate, you can easily enjoy all procedures. There are other differences:

A visit to the hammam involves performing a whole range of cosmetic procedures (peeling, massage, wraps);

When finishing the hammam, not wood is used, but ceramic tile and natural marble;

All cosmetic procedures are performed on a marble lounger;

A visit to the Turkish bath is always complemented by aromatherapy;

Hair and skin do not dry out, as in a Russian bath, but are moisturized;

A visit to the hammam does not wash away the tan, but helps even out the color.

Despite the differences, both Russian, Turkish, and Finnish baths help improve health, rejuvenate the body, and improve mood.

The health benefits of hammam for women and men

What are the benefits and harms of visiting the hammam for the body? Beneficial features Turkish bath is difficult to overestimate. Thanks to bath procedures:

  • muscle tension is relieved;
  • blood circulation is stimulated;
  • manages to get rid of pain from rheumatism and arthritis;
  • the skin and internal organs are gently warmed up;
  • Stress is relieved, nerves are calmed;
  • chronic bronchitis is cured;
  • cleanses the skin and rejuvenates the body;
  • the effects of physical activity are relieved;
  • fat breakdown processes are stimulated.

The health benefits of hammam are also evidenced by the fact that in just one visit to the steam room you can lose weight by 2 kg. In progress bath procedures processes of fat cell breakdown are launched, the effectiveness of any diet is enhanced, and toxins are removed.

Contraindications

Despite the benefits, visiting the hamam can also cause irreparable harm. It is not advisable for people suffering from:

  • severe form of bronchial asthma;
  • epilepsy;
  • oncological diseases;
  • varicose veins;
  • dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
  • heart diseases.

You always need to know when to stop. And a healthy person, feeling unwell in the steam room, should leave the hammam. If there are no contraindications, a Turkish bath will be an excellent way to maintain health and beauty, and heal diseases of the mind and body.

How to visit the hammam correctly

For Turks, the hammam is not just a place for hygiene procedures. This Cultural Center where you can relax and unwind. Before visiting the bathhouse, you should not drink alcohol or chilled drinks - this is important rule which must be followed.

A standard hammam has three rooms, each of which has its own purpose:

1. Cold room, where the cash register counter, locker room and fountain are located. Here you can drink tea, chat and change clothes.

2. Warm room with air temperature 30-35°C, which contains showers and toilets.

3. Warmest room temperature 50-60°C. In the center there is a firebox, a swimming pool and marble couches where massages are performed. Here you can take a steam bath and take wellness treatments.

Initially, you need to warm up in a warm room and prepare for subsequent procedures. They steam on a marble lounger until they sweat. Next you need to do a massage. The procedure is carried out by a massage therapist using rough gloves that help improve blood circulation. Then peeling is done with a special brush. Next, the body is soaped with a special composition made on the basis vegetable oils. After these procedures, take a shower or dive into the pool. Now you can go to the steam room, where foam is first lathered all over your body and then doused cold water and take a dip in the pool.

It is not advisable to eat food before visiting the steam room. Several hours should pass after your last meal. At the end of all procedures, a nourishing cream is applied to the skin. Now you can relax and drink Turkish milk tea.

Do you like visiting hammam?

Video Galileo - Turkish bath hammam

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