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Saunas Are Filling Up, but Are They Actually Good for You?

Saunas, steam baths and sweat lodges are baked into cultural traditions for many people across the globe, from Native Americans to Koreans to Scandinavians. And saunas themselves come in different permutations — for example, Finnish-style saunas are typically built from wood and known for their dry heat, while steam rooms fill with moist vapor, and more modern infrared saunas often use light panels to generate heat.

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Featured

 Can’t face running? Have a hot bath or a sauna – research shows they offer some similar benefits

The thought of stripping off one’s clothes and bathing or sweating in close proximity to several strangers may not be everyone’s cup of tea, yet in countries where saunas or hot baths are integrated into daily life, the general public appears to be reaping the benefits.

 Europe's new steamy, semi-nude wellness trend

As saunas gain global popularity, a hypnotic offshoot involving theatre, music and towel-twirling known as "Aufguss" is attracting wellness-seekers across the world.

Articles of Interest

Can an Infrared Sauna Change Your Life?

While eating healthy and exercising often can help you live a balanced life, there may be a missing piece to the puzzle. That piece has been credited for relieving stress and stimulating collagen production in the skin, and is, like any wellness craze worth its salt, endorsed by Gwyneth Paltrow. The latest craze in the health game is here: Meet the infrared sauna.

Cold Showers, Hot Saunas and the New Way to Tame Stress

Dosing yourself with bursts of pressure, called hormetic stress, can help your body and mind weather tough times

Hot Saunas Linked to Better Heart Health

A study finds the risk of dying from sudden cardiac arrest, heart disease and cardiovascular disease dropped with frequent sauna use

Infrared Saunas Will Not ‘Detoxify’ You

The popular spa treatment is certainly relaxing—but its purveyors make a lot of false claims.

Sauna Innovations Promise to Bring Health Benefits to More People

Saunas offer a medication-free way to relax and socialize, and recent studies show health benefits too: sitting in an enclosure where a wood stove or electric heater has pushed temperatures of 195 degrees or higher can ease chronic stress and muscle pain and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and other serious ailments.

Saunas help you live longer, study finds

Research tracking 2,000 Finnish men for decades suggests regular use gives protection from heart attacks, strokes and other conditions.

The Case For Sauna Bathing Is Stronger Than Ever

Anew research review has plenty of good news for people who love a good sauna session: Studies overwhelmingly suggest that the relaxing habit is also a healthy one.

The Case for Sweating Your Ass Off in a Sauna

Some experts think it can help you build strength and endurance.

The Science of Sweating It Out

You can’t detoxify your body in a sauna. But you just might get a runner’s high, a spiritual experience or a workout for your heart.

Why saunas really are good for your health

Things are hotting up in the world of sauna research. Previously, anecdotal claims of possible benefits were rarely backed up by medical evidence. But recent studies have shown that taking a regular sauna can be extremely good for your health – alleviating and preventing the risk of common acute and chronic conditions.