You aren’t feeling well, and are wondering if using a sauna will help. The short answer is very likely yes! The sauna is especially good when you are feeling cold and flu like symptoms. Stuffy nose, clogged sinuses, sneezing, headaches, achy, tired, fever symptoms are all helped by taking a sauna. You will also reduce the frequency of being sick when taking a sauna at least 3 times a week.
Through my personal experience, I’ve found that regular Sauna use appears to decrease the amount of times I feel cold like symptoms, particularly during the winter months here in Minnesota. If I do find myself with a cold, there is no home remedy like a hot sauna with tons of water on the rocks to drain the sweat and clear up a stuffy nose.
Do Saunas Help You When You Are Sick?
The scientific research has supported the idea saunas can help minimize cold symptoms as well as reduce recovery time. The heat of the sauna improves drainage, and many believe it also weakens the flu & cold viruses. The production of sweat is also very important. Sweating is a sign of our bodies cooling down. Sweat minimizes symptoms like congestion by loosening nasal mucus. We recommend staying properly hydrated and listening to your body, don’t overstay in the heat. Pregnant women should not sit the sauna. If you have a heart condition, you should be careful and consult with your doctor before beginning a sauna routine.
Adding essential oils to the water you pour over the rocks in a traditional sauna also helps. Personally, I like to sauna in a lower temperature, with lots of steam using Eucalyptus oil. The Eucalyptus oil specifically helps with clearing out sinuses, and it smells wonderful! Eucalyptus is a natural stimulant, and helps wake you up. This is even better if using the sauna in the morning.
To recap, taking a sauna when feeling sick with a cold/flu is beneficial to shortening the cold or flu virus, and reducing the symptoms by opening up nasal passages. Benefits are compounded when paired with Eucalyptus oil in the steam water. Stay hydrated and listen to your body. Pregnant women should not use the sauna, and people with an underlying heart condition should consult with their doctor before proceeding.
Should I Sauna When Sick?
Always consult with a medical professional prior to utilizing a Sauna if you’re sick. Aside from that, we always recommend listening to your body. While many of us that use Sauna regularly have no problem taking a Sauna while we’re sick, there are many times where taking the night off from Sauna is a good idea.
Listen to your body, consider reducing the amount of time spent in the Sauna if you’re sick and determine what helps you feel the best.
