Are Saunas Good for Colds?

Findings From the New York Times

2/17/2009

My friend Clint found this article from the NY Times on saunas and cold relief. And this is what they had to say:

“Scientists recently confirmed the age-old notion that hot liquids can relieve some cold and flu symptoms.” But what about a dose of heat on a much larger scale — say, in a sauna?

With temperatures of 176 Fahrenheit or greater, saunas have been recommended for arthritis, asthma and chronic fatigue, among other things, since they were used by nomads in Finland centuries ago. Some reputed benefits have not been examined, but there is evidence that saunas may speed recovery from colds and reduce their occurrence.”

My Own Experience: Sauna Got Rid of My Cold!

It was day four. Sick of television, sick of my pillow, sick of my bed, I had to get out of the house. I grabbed my youngest son, our hockey sticks and gear and hit the outdoor rink. Ten minutes in and I was starting to second guess myself. Holding myself up along the boards, hacking like a chain smoker, dizzy with Robitussin remnants, I could just hear my wife “you shouldn’t have pushed yourself”. But I had.

I had to do it. I was sick of staring at these crisp clear sunny January Minnesota days from inside. Plus I knew what was waiting for me, my backyard sauna. We made it home and after grabbing 32 oz of water and my towel, I escaped to my sauna.

Goodbye hacking

I first noticed a change half way through round one. No more hacking. Just as a wood burning sauna can take the bite off a zero degree night, it cleared me out after just one shot of water on the rocks and a few coughs. ahhhhhh sticking it out a little while longer, I then doused some cool water over me and stepped out into the fresh air. Not bad!

Goodbye weird drugs

I don’t know about you, but taking cold medicine is just a bit of lessor of two evils. I have no idea what guaifenesin is or what it does to your body, but it sure ain’t natural, and it surely is in cough medicine. And a by product of being sick and taking drugs is that weird “out there” feeling from drugs. I forget what I’m watching on TV, my wife’s voice has a freaky echo, and I get dreams to a warped degree. Not good. This much is clear: if I were to take a sweat sample off my skin during round two, I’m sure it would be full of guaifenesin. I’m pretty sure the body doesn’t digest the stuff, but i’m very sure I was sweating it out. It felt great to sweat, and feel myself again.

Goodbye achy body

Laying in bed all day and night sucks. I had pretty much turned into peanut brittle. Skating took on heightened fear, for had I crashed, I’d surely break into pieces. Yet, while sitting on the bench during round three, I began feeling the complete opposite. I tossed a shot of water on the rocks, stood in the sauna and began stretching. “Oh, so that’s what my ankles feel like!” My lower back pain was gone, I was like Gumby and each stretch and deep breath made me think “did i really just lick this damn cold?”

On the package of Cold Eze and those zinc lozenges it says something like “proven to shorten the duration of the common cold.” I can personally attest, this same claim could also be posted outside my sauna door.

Update

Sound asleep, all I noticed was the sound of a garbage truck. “Garbage truck? what the?” So, I started thinking, “if I am hearing a garbage truck it must be morning, and if it is in fact morning that means I actually slept through the night.” I opened my eyes. I looked at the clock. 7:08 am. Sheesh. I just slept soundly for 8 1/2 hours. First time I could say THAT since my cold. Yippie!! Thank you sauna! I take a deep breath, no need to cough. I get out of bed.. ah.. gumby, but not peanut brittle.