There are definite and documented health benefits from the sauna, especially for the immune system (and someone else here mentioned the mental health benefits also). I find the sauna essential in recovery from heavy training. In fact, as my normal sauna has been closed since March, I've been trying to replicate the effect with contrast showers.

The sauna is one of the things that I am very happy to have discovered here in CH.

Ba-doom, tish!

I'm often puzzled when people make such assertions, as any positive effects on "the immune system" would be really difficult to quantify. Are there actually any proper peer-reviewed studies on the subject?

Personally I quite like a sauna, and I'm sure that as relaxation therapy it can only have a good effect on body and mind, but I'm very dubious about more specific claims like this.

Yes, there have been studies. A long summary can be found here.

I've been following the Medcram youtube channel since the start of the pandemic, and they have a nice video in which a couple of studies on human thermal response and immune function are presented, including this one.

I haven't discovered saunas here but I know they help me too, esp after sprinting and weight lifting. If followed by ice cold water only, though. But I don't need saunas to take ice cold showers to get similar health benefits. It is just nicer that way, more relaxing. I also like the Japanese ladies who are often there, it is like a lovely cult. Sauna religion. They probably think that I am nuts for working out so much before vegging out in dry heat

Interesting, thanks.

A lot of stats quoted, which tend to show reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and several other specific conditions, although TBF they're nearly all simply observational studies with no demonstrated causal link.

Anyway, I'm not in any way trying to argue with the idea of health benefits in general, but the whole 'boosts the immune system' idea, which is not even mentioned in that article, seems always to be assumed, never really explained.

EDIT: Oops, I missed your last link, which is the sort of thing I was looking for. It's looking at White Blood cell counts as a measure of 'immune system' response and finds some effects, although only significantly so on trained athletes.

The linked Medcram video has more references related specifically to immune system function and thermal response. See articles here and here.

This article was for a controlled study, and found that common cold incidence was reduced in the sauna group compared to the non-sauna group, but there was no effect on severity or duration.

This is true, from personal experience. Plus all the kick you get afterwards, it is very affordable considering the great and inefficient lengths people go to feel better. So - an intense work out and sauna is a great remedy for those who feel unfit, fat or bad about themselves.

I do have problems with soft lining (airways) exposed to extreme dry heat but fix it by a few mins in sauna only.

Whether to wear a towel or not...who cares. We don't here in split saunas.

No first hand experience, thank you.


Also very, very few real sauna visits, TBH.


But....


Wikipedia, as usual, got you covered:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontaktsauna


;-)

There was a paper published a year or so ago that demonstrated a significant reduction in the number and length of colds people have if they take a cold shower every day. 30s helped some, most effective was 60s.

Staying at home hiding in my cellar has improved my immune system. I've not a cold or similar in months!

They said avoid unnecessary social contact but not lock yourself in the cellar!

In Austria the towels to sit on are still compulsory, and I suppose this rule is valid everywhere. I meant they allow people with towels wrapped around their bodies, thank goodness for that. As you might already know, in those popular Austrian spas there aren't separated saunas, only mixed ones. So for those who really can't remove this mental barrier it's better to inform themselves before making reservations. For me it was a bit of a shock first because I never went to a mixed sauna before Austria, only gender separated.

I'm glad they're offering this option at Aquabasilea, might try it sometime in the future. I'm sure some fancy gyms here have (separated) saunas too, maybe it's worth checking it out when it will be allowed again. It's not such a big deal anymore but I'll definitely feel more comfortable.

Sauna has many health benefits but for me its biggest bonus is just relaxing and absorbing all the warmth. If I could, I'd like to have my own sauna, all mine! I don't like small talk or overhearing other people's conversation, or noticing when someone enters or leaves the sauna. Most people are well behaved and quiet, but there are obviously those who don't really get it. Btw, my favourite spa in Austria is Aquadome, I think I already recommended it couple of times on EF. For families - there's also a babysitting/nursery service available within the spa, while you enjoy the experience with your partner. I'm not sure it's cheaper than in CH though. Of course people can rent a hotel room or holiday apartment somewhere else and just buy a ticket for a day.

To be honest, it's what I did before lockdown, so no real change.

You've a sauna in the basement?

No. I'd love one, but I'd either lose my home cinema or my office.

I know. The world can be a mean place.

First world problems...

This first world problem is not Finnished.

Indeed, if it was Finnished, it would certainly have a sauna.

Not sure you needed to explain the pun.