Infrared Sauna, Sauna

Sauna For Flu: Can I Sweat It Out?

Sweating is a natural method for our bodies to keep themselves cool when our bodies get too hot for some reason. Glands in human skin produce sweat, which then our body evaporates and help to cool our body down.

Nevertheless, sweat is composed of 99% water and 1% of salts, carbohydrates, urea, and protein. You can’t simply sweat out the virus, and you aren’t sweating out toxins – that isn’t the way our body works.

In case you wish to learn further about how the human bodies release toxins – as well as why only sweating does not aid– you can go through this article for further information.

Is A Sauna Bathing Good for A Flu And Cold?

When we develop a fever and catch a cold, this’s because the human body is raising the temperature to aid deal with the virus.

And sweating is a negative effect of the raised temperature – but it is not part of the means for fighting the illness.

Nevertheless, when our body wins this combat, the fever, and cold break, we will feel better and stop sweating. Thus, it is natural to think you started feeling better as you “sweated out” but actually, the cold it is just the body returning to the usual state.

It means that encouraging sweating artificially by sitting in the sauna room alone will not be enough because sweating is not the method our body heals itself – it is just an outcome of our body’s natural healing procedure.

However, this does not mean that sauna bathing has no effects on flu and cold. Although you can’t sweat flu or cold out of your body you can at least relax for some time in the sauna room.

And at the same time, you can prepare your body to fight the viruses since sauna bathing also increases your immunity. Saunas are developed to increase core body temperature as well as relieve stress and pain in the following forms:

  • Saunas can enable open airways to make it more effortless to breathe. And this’s particularly useful for congestion conditions.
  • Heat, as well as increased sweating, often offer a detoxifying impact on our bodies.
  • High levels of oxygen in the brain (from improved blood flow) aid to relieve muscle soreness and fatigue.
  • Heat improves oxygenation and blood flow, which brings immunity boosters all over your body.

So, is sauna bathing really good for a fever and cold? Well, some studies found that regular sauna bathing has significantly more irregular occurrences of fever and the common cold. Thus, the regular usage of saunas may not help in curing fever or cold but sauna reduces the possibility of getting the flu and common cold.

PLEASE NOTE:

So, is the sauna good for the flu? Well, if you are planning to take sauna therapy to cure flu symptoms then it is not a good idea. Professionals always recommend avoiding sauna therapy when sick. Moreover, sauna can’t cure flu or cold. However, if you are planning to get lower occurrences of flu and cold then a sauna is certainly a good method!

Does Sauna Relief Cold And Flu Symptoms? How?

There is a few ways sauna bathing claim to relieve the symptoms of flu and cold to make our body feel better.

Although experts always recommend avoiding taking sauna baths while sick, people still try to relax their bodies and go for sauna baths. If that is the case for you, then here are the symptoms that the sauna relieves.

System Detoxification

A good sauna bathing is an outstanding way to detoxify the body as well as flush out all the harmful toxins from our bodies. This immensely helps cleanse our system of dangerous chemicals that our body has stored while it was busy fighting the infection.

Thus, even though sauna bathing may not help in curing the flu or common cold, it certainly will make you feel better.

Improves Drainage System

The NY Times has documented that a sauna heat session helps to improve the drainage system in people who are suffering from a common cold or fever. This helps relieve congestion as well as the debilitating signs of the disease. So, by improving the drainage system of your body, sauna baths help you get quick relief from cold and flu symptoms.

Improves Cardiovascular Activities

As our body’s temperature increases, cardiovascular activity gets stimulated. Moreover, the heart rate boosts, and this finally results in a boost in blood flow in the entire body. It means there’s a superb supply of oxygen and vital nutrients throughout our bodies.  This nutrient and oxygen-rich blood help our body to heal, combat infection and boost immunity power.

Weakens Viruses

Some believers in sauna bathing claim that the extreme heat inside the sauna room weakens the viruses that are responsible for causing flu and colds.

Traditional sauna therapy runs at temperatures of 150 to 190°F & infrared sauna therapy runs at 110 to 120°F. The hot air inside the sauna room helps to weaken the viruses and make sure you do not get caught by cold and flu.

Some people also believe that these high temperatures inside a sauna room weaken the infection and viruses to hamper its capability to replicate as well as cause damage. The flu and cold viruses succeed at much lower heat in the area of 90°F.

Helps To Boost The Mood

After the flu and cold, our mood often goes down. Then, sauna bathing can help you relax your body to boost your mood. In addition to relaxation, after the sauna, you will feel much better than before because of all the sweat.

Improves Immunity

Sauna sessions (particularly infrared saunas), help to boost immunity and increase white blood cells. Thus, a sauna session with high temperature and humid air, help you improve your immunity. Thus, you can fight against common colds and flu.

What Are The Effects Of Sauna On Cold And Flu?

Sitting in a sauna when you have the flu or cold increases your blood flow. And then the high heat usually opens up your blood vessels to allow more blood to transport easily.

Thus, easier blood transportation improves the immune cells present in your body.

These are then carried in the blood and then reach the viral infection faster as well as help you deal with the flu or cold quicker.

Since infrared rays are used in an infrared sauna, it heats the body from the inside out. Moreover, it raises your body temperature sufficiently to destroy the microbes inducing the cold and flu. Heat is even exceptional for treating pain, as well as it may help you relieve the symptoms of cold and flu.

Some positive effects of sauna bathing are as follows:

(1) The heat increasing helps to widen peripheral blood vessels to promote blood circulation as well as enable sweat glands to remove toxins in your body.

(2) As per oriental medicine, the bad gases that are responsible for diseases can be carried out with sweat, thus, helping to treat your common colds and flu.

(3) Sauna bathing when you have the flu or cold often uses a few herbs with sauna essential oils like lemongrass, basil, chrysanthemum frequency, mint, great compassion, perilla, and marjoram.

The leaves used in sauna bathing have different effects for example:

(1) Peppermint helps to disinfect the oropharynx and it is anti-inflammatory, relieves headaches, clears the throat and nose, etc.

(2) Lemongrass promotes digestion, and antiseptic element, except for phlegm

(3) Frankincense comes with the impact of clearing gas, clearing heat, excepting low, reducing pain, reducing headaches

(4) Perilla and marjoram contain anti-inflammatory elements

Sauna For Flu And Cold: Science Behind Sweating It Out

In one study, the experimenters discovered that a kind of immune cell known as CD8 cytotoxic T-cell boosts when high heat is presented. CD8 T-cells particularly fight off infections. and viruses that can cause the flu and colds.

And thus, when you expose yourself to a hot sauna bathing when you’ve got the flu or a cold is that you may boost your immunity to fight for you. Isn’t it amazing!

On the other hand, in another study in Austria, 25 healthy participants who regularly took saunas had quite fewer episodes of flu and common colds than those people who didn’t.

The sauna’s health benefits become more significant, particularly after 14 weeks of successive sauna baths.

Thus, to completely get the immune-strengthening advantages of sauna baths, you have to take them regularly, at least two times a week all year around.

To increase the maximum immune-boosting advantages of saunas, take full-spectrum infrared treatment. The near-infrared spectrum therapy can boost immune cell activity and growth by stimulating the mitochondria.

On the other hand, mid-infrared spectrum therapy penetrates in-depth into your tissues, assuring that you get aid from the immune-stimulating impacts of heat on your entire body, relaxing and enhancing your sleep.

Finally, far-infrared spectrum therapy has anti-stress and great healing benefits.

What Type Of Sauna Is Most Useful To Deal With Flu And Cold?

Sauna bathings come in 3 general forms such as traditional saunas, infrared saunas, and steam rooms.

Which one delivers the best comfort for typical infection symptoms like the common cold and flu?

So, here are the different types of saunas. Let’s find out which type is best for relieving cold and flu symptoms…

Traditional Dry Saunas

Traditional dry saunas are the hottest saunas but mostly accessible kind of sauna. It is crucial to note that in case you are feeling sick, it is better to use an at-home or personal sauna versus a sauna that is open to the crowd to limit the germs spread.

Pros

While traditional dry saunas are not the best choice for relieving signs of sickness, they do have a few benefits.

  • Boost white blood cell count and your immune system process
  • Detoxification through sweat
  • Reduction in pulmonary congestion issues
  • Boost blood circulation that reduces muscle aches

Cons

However, traditional saunas have some disadvantages as well as soon as it comes to utilizing one when you are sick. So, here are the disadvantages

  • Irritation of your airways and lungs by dry heat
  • Heatstroke in case not hydrated properly
  • Overall discomfort because of temperatures that are more than 150° Fahrenheit

Infrared Saunas

Infrared sauna therapy operates at temperatures between 120° Fahrenheit and 140° Fahrenheit. They’re known for delivering the ability to infiltrate deep tissues and raise your core body temperature fast.

Pros

Saunas that utilize infrared radiation are not practically as humid as traditional saunas, but they do have similar advantages to curing sore throat and fever.

  • Heat penetration that is capable of alleviating muscle soreness
  • Boost the production of heat shock proteins
  • Immune system power improvement
  • Activation of more white blood cells
  • The killing of bacteria, germs, and also cold and flu viruses

Cons
Here are a few disadvantages of infrared saunas

  • Dry heat may aggravate airways as well as cause coughing
  • Not as compelling as steam saunas at easing pulmonary congestion out
  • Deteriorating heart diseases or seriously compromised immune systems
  • Greater risks of dizziness and dehydration

Steam Sauna

A steam sauna is the most suitable choice to help reduce symptoms experienced by common colds or flu viruses. The increased levels of humidity unlike other sauna styles are extremely effective at relieving sinus pressure, cold, or flu.

Pros

Steam saunas may be your best friend as soon as it comes to healing from a minor disease. Here are the benefits of a steam sauna…

  • Soothing ease sore respiratory systems through high humidity
  • Immunity & energy boosting
  • The flushing of phlegm from the airways
  • Improved circulation & activation of more white blood cells
  • A more relaxed, lower temperature than infrared or traditional saunas

Cons

Here are a few disadvantages of a steam sauna…

  • Risks of dehydration
  • Bacterial growth because of extra moisture in the air
  • Vascular complications

NOTE:

Steam saunas are generally the best option for the relief of flu and cold symptoms. Usually, they work at lower temperatures as compared to other saunas (almost 115°F) while still delivering enough moisture to lower your symptoms. 

While traditional sauna bathing will feel extremely hot, the dry temperature of the infrared sauna therapy could be annoying to your lungs and throat.

FAQ Sauna For Flu

Following are the common questions on Sauna For Flu.

How Long Should I Stay In A Sauna With The Flu?

Generally, experts recommend not sitting in a sauna room when you are sick. Yet, if you want to sit in a sauna room to treat the flu then make sure you’re using the sauna for not more than 15 to 20 minutes.

Is It OK To Sauna With A Fever?

NO. It is recommended not to sit in a sauna room when you have a fever. However, if you are a regular sauna practitioner then you will have a lower chance of getting a cold or fever.

Conclusion

Scientists recently documented the age-old idea that hot beverages can ease some flu and cold symptoms. But instead of hot liquids intake, only with hot steam, can you relieve cold and flu?

Well, no. Sauna can’t cure flu or cold but it certainly has some effects. If you use a sauna regularly, you can get relief from illnesses like chronic fatigue and other illnesses. Moreover, people who use a sauna regularly, seem to have lower occurrences of colds, heart conditions, flu, fatigue, etc.

 

References:

  • steam-sauna.com/blog/can-i-still-use-a-sauna-when-i-am-sick-yes-and-no-and-here-s-why.html
  • sunrisespecialty.com/sauna-when-sick
  • homesaunaheaven.com/sauna-cure-cold-flu
  • saunahelper.com/sauna-when-sick-is-it-good-for-colds-coughs-flu-fever/
  • floatandrestore.com.au/sauna-can-speed-flu-recovery/
  • nytimes.com/2009/02/03/health/03real.html
  • womenshealthmag.com/health/a27662368/sweating-out-a-cold/
  • pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2248758/
  • greatbayspas.com/blog/is-a-sauna-good-for-a-cold-or-flu-virus/
  • infraredsauna.co.uk/blog/how-to-use-a-sauna-for-a-cold
Cathryn McMillan

As a health and lifestyle enthusiast, Cathryn have always found the sauna and its healing effects fascinating. This life-changing technology transform her from a casual researcher into a passionate fan. A relaxing session at her at-home sauna unit has become a no-skip routine for her.