Bath brooms

Taking a steam bath is not only pleasant, but also very beneficial for the body. Under the influence of moist hot air, blood circulation accelerates, the pores of the epidermis open, through them wastes and toxins are removed and other harmful substances. A broom is an indispensable attribute of a Russian steam room. It consists of bundles of dried herbs and tree branches. The broom is prepared from various plant materials: birch branches, wormwood, oak branches, nettles, eucalyptus.

The benefits of a broom in the bath

Dried branches and stems of trees and plants contain many essential oils, phytohormones, vitamins and minerals. After steaming, the leaves are able to release beneficial components to the skin. A broom massages the whole body; it has a relaxing effect on the body. Essential oils help speed up metabolism and prevent premature aging.

Phytoncides have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. If you douse yourself with cold water after a steam room with a broom, the blood vessels narrow sharply and the cardiac system is trained. Blood and lymph flow accelerates, the body’s water-salt balance is restored.

When patting with a broom, the effect is peeling, dead skin cells are sloughed off. The epidermis is renewed, becomes smooth and even. Impact with a broom improves the functioning of joints, helps with radiculitis and arthritis. Oak products are effective for skin rashes.

For the male reproductive system, going to the steam room with a broom is an effective procedure. Nettle broom can improve the functioning of nerve endings and blood vessels in the groin area. As a result, sexual function improves and problems with premature ejaculation decrease. The antibacterial effect of a broom is important for men who are promiscuous.

Massage with a broom reduces muscle tension and relieves hypertonicity. As a result, pressure on the nerve cells of the spine decreases and back pain goes away. After the steam room, the level of sweating increases, this helps to remove excess fluid and lose weight.

Birch broom for a bath

The most common in Rus' was a birch broom. Bathing procedures with it are recommended for respiratory diseases. Birch aroma improves the functioning of the small alveoli of the lungs and bronchi, facilitates the discharge of sputum, and improves ventilation of the lungs. Birch leaves contain tannins, flavonoids, and vitamin C. They increase sweating, cleanse the skin of toxins, and accelerate metabolic processes. Natural components have wound-healing, anti-inflammatory and diaphoretic effects.

You need to cut the branches for the broom on Trinity Sunday or after it. The day should be dry and sunny. After the dew has dried, the branches are cut and tied into bunches. Weeping young birches are better suited for harvesting. They have thin branches with young leaves.

The brooms are first dried in a draft, and after a week they are placed on shelves in a barn or dressing room.

The bunches need to be constantly turned over so that they take the shape of a fan rather than panicles. Thicker branches are placed inside the bundle. When harvested correctly, birch twigs are especially soft and flexible; they retain a maximum of useful substances. You can use a broom in a bathhouse twice.

Oak broom for a bath

A fragrant whisk made from oak branches is useful for those with oily skin. A large amount of tannins in the leaves provides an antibacterial effect. They increase skin density and make it smooth. Small pustules and rashes go away faster. Sebum production is normalized and sebaceous shine is reduced. Phytoncides and flavonoids penetrate the epidermis through the pores, improve vascular tone and the condition of the nervous system.

Oak branches for the broom are harvested in August and September. The leaves of the broom are large in size, moderately dry and dense, and are easy to generate steam with. The broom is durable and can be used in a bath 3-4 times.

Foot massage with oak whisks is recommended for excessive sweating of the feet. Tannins normalize sweating and heal small cracks and inflammation.

Eucalyptus bath broom

Brooms made from eucalyptus twigs are regularly used in the Caucasus. The leaves of the tree contain 1-3% essential oils of the total mass. Eucalyptus vapor is recommended for colds and viral diseases of the respiratory system and throat. You need to press the brewed broom to your face for 5 minutes and breathe in the steam through your nose. You need to moisten the walls and stones in the bathhouse with the water in which the broom is brewed. This way the aroma will spread better throughout the steam room, and the therapeutic effect will be maximum.

The most suitable month for harvesting twigs is August. Eucalyptus branches are thin and flexible, the broom is weak. In the steam room you have to make an effort to steam. To increase the ease of use of eucalyptus brooms, birch or oak branches are added to them.

Nettle broom

Stinging nettle can be used to make a medicinal broom. The plant contains a large amount of formic acid, which helps with diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The raw materials should be mature plants, cut in dry weather and well dried. The bundle is knitted small, it is very important to prepare it correctly.

To prevent the plant from burning the skin, before the steam room it is soaked in turn in basins with hot and cold water. If you want nettle to burn the skin, then use only a bowl of hot water and soak a broom in it for 1-2 minutes.

A bath with nettle broom is recommended for the following diseases: radiculitis, gout, back pain, rheumatism, skin rashes. The wound-healing effect of nettle is used when boils appear on the skin. After a nettle massage, blood pressure is normalized, stress and nervous tension are relieved, the skin is cleansed, and sleep is normalized.

Coniferous broom

Coniferous brooms are used by people who visit the bathhouse regularly. Spruce, fir, and cedar twigs contain many phytoncides that have antibacterial and antiviral effects.

Here are the special properties of coniferous brooms:

• Juniper broom is effective in combating diseases of the respiratory system, lungs, radiculitis and diseases of the nervous system. Massage will improve the functioning of the digestive system and intestines. But such a broom cannot be used for delicate skin.
• Products made from fir and cedar are indicated for the treatment of diseases of the genitourinary system, kidneys, viral and colds, and rheumatic arthritis.
• Spruce trees help with colds and coughs.

Collecting coniferous branches for brooms is allowed at any time of the year.

You need to choose young side legs with delicate needles. Freshly knitted brooms must be steamed with boiling water before use. It’s better for them to steam after the second run, when the skin is steaming and became elastic.

How to choose a broom for a bath

When choosing a broom, you need to proceed from personal preferences and the desired effect. If you rarely go to the bathhouse, then birch or oak would be optimal. For experienced bath attendants, nettle and coniferous products are suitable. After the first massage session, you need to note the skin's reaction to a specific type of twig in order to prevent allergic reactions. Mixed brooms have the maximum therapeutic effect.

The finished broom should be well dried and tightly tied. Its branches should not be too long, brittle, or thin. Products with a length of 45-55 cm are considered the most convenient. Such a broom is inconvenient to use; you need to swing it hard, which will quickly tire the bathhouse attendant.

Shake the broom before purchasing. The product is worth buying if the leaves have not fallen off and do not have plaque or mold. But the best broom can be made with your own hands.