Bay leaf sauna whisk

The laurel leaf broom in the sauna is not a classic sauna broom. The use of this plant comes from the peoples of the Caucasus and Asia. However, laurel in the sauna is multifunctional and has many valuable properties.

It is no secret that bay leaves are widely used in cooking. The reason for this is essential oils, which give special aromas and tastes. It is these oils that make the plant valuable also in the sauna.

Each leaf contains tannins, resin and bitterness. All these elements are the basis of antiseptics - eucalyptol and camphor. Laurel vapors and infusions have an expectorant, invigorating effect.

Bay leaf sauna brooms can be used in different ways:

- Traditional massage with a broom. With proper preparation, branches and leaves can withstand heavy use. Such steaming is especially helpful for pimples, scratches and acne on the skin, prevention and treatment of colds, loss of strength.

- Inhalations. Laurel leaves, when heated with steam in a sauna, release essential oils into the air. They help in the fight against diseases of the respiratory system, calm the nerves. It is especially beneficial if several such brooms are hung in the room or a little water from soaking the broom is poured on the sauna stones.

- Internal use. You can always tear off a couple of leaves from a clean, new broom and make an infusion (2-4 leaves per 100 ml of freshly boiled water, depending on the size; leave to infuse for 10 minutes). If you drink such a remedy before going to the sauna, the body will better remove harmful substances with sweat. In addition, some bathers claim that the infusion helps to better tolerate high temperatures after eating, as it eases the stomach.

- Antifungal treatment. Strong infusions and decoctions of broom leaves (10 leaves per 500 ml of water) are successfully used for the prevention and treatment of fungi. The feet can be immersed in a container with such a liquid, or it can be sprinkled regularly on a wooden floor in a sauna. You can use water in which the brooms have been soaked.

- Rubbing the joints. This technique is known from the records of the First Caucasian War. Many times mention was made of linseed oil steeped on laurels, which was rubbed into sore joints to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. For preparation, it is enough to place a cup with 20-30 ml of oil in the sauna and throw 1-2 leaves from the sauna broom into it. In advance, it is better to roughly divide the leaves into 3-4 parts. The oil will naturally heat up in the kiln and absorb the ethers and resins. Apply the product on heated skin with massaging movements. If the oil is too hot, let it cool to a comfortable temperature. It has a particularly beneficial effect on ankles, knees, tired, sore muscles.

- Against harmful insects and rodents. The smell of laurel repels most representatives of the animal world. Brooms hung around the perimeter and water spilled on the floor of the sauna, as well as crushed leaves scattered around the corners of the sauna, also work well.