How to Make Your Own Steam Room

No Special Equipment Required

Jaipi Sixbear

Why make your own steam room? Steam rooms and dry saunas are cleansing. The detoxifying effects of sweating it out in a steam room are exhilarating. Some people swear by steam rooms as a weight loss tool. Others feel they give skin a younger glow. Considering all the health benefits of a steam room, who wouldn't want their own? Luckily, it's quite simple to make your own steam room. No special equipment required.

Steps for making your own steam room:

1. Create an environment that keeps steam from escaping. Close all doors and windows in your bathroom. Be sure to close heating and air conditioning vents. Use an old towel to seal the crack under the door. Check to see that your bathroom exhaust fan is shut off. When creating your own steam room, it's a good idea to remove tissue and other paper products from the bathroom as they may become wet.

2. Add some herbal therapy to your homemade steam room. Hang a bag of herbs from the shower. This is made simplest by filling a drawstring bag, pulling it tight and hanging it from the string. Position the bag of herbs so that the water will hit it when the shower is turned on. I like to use lavender for relaxation or peppermint as a stimulant. If you have a cold, try some dried eucalyptus as a decongestant. Choose the herbs that suit your taste and needs.

3. Turn your shower to the highest heat possible. This is a private steam room. Don't be afraid to remove your clothing. The health benefits will be greater. Do not get in the shower. Take a seat on your closed throne (toilet). Use a towel under you as a cushion. Once the bath fills with steam and herbal scent (this takes about 10 minutes) shut the water off. (When you get used to steaming, you can leave the water on longer.) Then simply continue to sit until the steam dissipates.

Helpful suggestions:

*Use a dry brush before you steam to remove dead skin and unclog pores.

*While you are steaming, add a deep conditioning treatment to your hair. The steam will help it soak in.

*After your steam, take a warm shower. A cold shower after steaming can be shocking to the body unless you are accustomed to the temperature change.

*Use a loofah or sponge with pure glycerin soap to further exfoliate, then use a good moisturizer.

*Now that your body has cooled, a cold shower will invigorate you.

Please note: As you become adjusted to the extreme temperature, you might want to try the old Swedish trick of alternating hot and cold showers.

Caution: Always ask your doctor before beginning steam room therapy. It may aggravate or worsen certain health conditions and diseases.

More from this contributor:

Which Shampoo is Right for You?

Natural Cures for Summer Dandruff

Four Quick Growing Cures for Acne

Source:

Personal Experience

Published by Jaipi Sixbear - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle

This award winning web writer is co-owner of several writing websites. She's a featured parenting contributor on Yahoo! Shine and Yahoo! Voices. She enjoys helping fellow writers maintain a positive mindset...  View profile

1 Comments

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  • Sadie Heilemann8/9/2011

    I live in the Tennessee Valley; all I have to do is step outside to get an instant sauna! Really, the humidity is often 110%! Add the aroma of roses and ragweed...well, not optimum but hey, it's Tennessee. I can't be too choosy! :D

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