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The article “The health benefits of a peat sauna” focuses on the peat sauna and its caring aspects. The article specifically talks about treatment peat.

Where does peat come from?

Can peat help with menstrual pain?

Does peat help with menopause symptoms?

Does peat reduce cellulite?

What are the active ingredients of peat?

Was ist eine Torfsauna und wobei kann sie helfen?

The history of peat baths

Central Europeans have been using peat baths for many hundreds of years. So-called peat processing plants have been used in spas. In these, the peat is prepared and then heated and transferred to the bath section via pipes.

The used peat is put back into the sedimentation basin and taken back to the bog to wait for the next round of recycling. For this reason, the quality of the peat raw material has not always been the main thing.

The history of peat sauna

Finns have combined peat and sauna because the heat emphasizes the good properties of peat. Applying peat to the skin can treat the skin holistically or locally, and the water does not soak away the good ingredients.

The Finnish folk healers used to take the person to be healed to a swamp where there was peat. In the summer, a pit was dug in the swamp, where people went down to take healing baths.

These bogs and small ponds are often seen here in Germany and Austria. You can often go for a dip in them, but sometimes they are out of use.

Where does peat come from?

Treatment peat is lifted from the bog from a depth of several meters. It has accumulated good bioactive substances over the millennia.

What does treatment peat contain?

Peat contains, among other things:

Humic acids
Lignin
Cellulose
Hemicellulose
Bitumens
Pectin
Magnesium
Zinc
Copper
Water 85%
Peat PH value 4

Peat is a 100% natural product, nothing is added to it, and nothing is taken away from it. Treatment peat is studied on-site, in the laboratory and at the geological research institute.

The cleanliness of the treatment peat is also checked by using a hygiene test. Treatment peat contains up to 33 different elements.

Does peat help with menopause symptoms?

For many women, menopause causes mood changes, irritability, lack of desire, and sweating, including hot flashes, sleep difficulties and fatigue. Symptoms also include dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, palpitations and the cessation of menstruation.

However, you can get help with these ailments from peat and peat saunas.

Therapeutic peat relieves pain and relaxes. Peat contains nature’s estrogen.

Menopause sauna is recommended for menopausal symptoms twice weekly for two weeks to achieve results.

Does peat help with menstrual pain?

Peat and peat saunas help with menstrual pain. You can put a generous layer of peat on top of the belly. You can put plastic wrap and wrapping cloth on top of the peat.

Enjoy the experience despite the pain (the peat does not cause any). Remember to drink fluids throughout the treatment and especially after the treatment. Metabolic waste is eliminated naturally.

Does peat reduce cellulite?

Peat treatments can help with hormonal cellulite. However, one treatment session is not enough; you must commit to cellulite treatment and do it regularly.

Cellulite treatment can also be done without a sauna; you can do it at home in the bathroom.

Also, note that you can influence cellulite and its formation with your lifestyle. Remember to drink water and eat healthy.

The health benefits of peat

Peat speeds up the metabolism, and many fluids and waste materials are removed from the body.

The heat promotes the effect of peat, which is why a sauna is ideal.

After the peat sauna, the feeling is lighter, the muscles are relaxed, and the mood is improved.

Peat is very good for treating acne, psoriasis or oily skin. Those suffering from chronic diseases also get help, such as rheumatism and gout patients.

After the peat sauna, the skin and hair are wonderfully soft. Yes, you can also wash your hair and scalp with peat.

You should set aside plenty of time for the peat sauna, preferably first thing in the morning or after a nap. Drink liquid throughout the sauna, as it prevents dehydration. Hydration also helps metabolic waste to leave the body.

Peat can be used in many different ways, so you don’t necessarily need a sauna to enjoy the good active substances of peat.

Peat sauna

The peat is left to act for 15-20 minutes in the peat sauna. The sauna’s temperature should be above 60 degrees but don’t heat the sauna too hot so that you can stand being there.

Peat bath for tubs

Put 2-3 kg of peat in the bathtub.

Peat wrap

Warm peat is placed on the body, covered with plastic wrap and felt. Leave it on for 45 minutes. This treatment is done in the shower, not in the sauna.

Peat hand and foot treatments

Hands and feet can be smeared with peat, wrapped in fresh plastic, and placed in warm water for 20-40 minutes.

The treatment invigorates peripheral blood circulation and helps with rashes. The calluses on the legs also soften.

I hope this article on the health benefits of a peat sauna helped you when you were looking for information about a peat sauna and other treatments.

Love, Sauna-Kati

In the “How to make a sauna whisk” article, I tell you how to make a traditional Finnish sauna whisk, aka vihta. For this article, I received expert advice from Pentti Hakala. He is a member of Löylynlyöjät ry and the International Smoke Sauna Club and Sauna Whisk—world champion in 2001.

How to make a sauna whisk

I previously wrote the article “What is a sauna whisk?”. In that, I tell more about sauna whisks in general. Today, however, we will focus on how the sauna whisk is made according to the “old teachings”.

Read more: What is a sauna whisk?

How to make a sauna whisk?

Choose silver birch branches for the whisk because they make better sauna whisks than downy birches. You can put a few branches of downy birch or blackcurrant (with leaves) in the whisk for fragrance. Downy birch has a better aroma but sheds its leaves more easily. Blackcurrant leaves also bring a great scent to the sauna and have terrific active ingredients.

When you make sauna whisks for the winter, the best time to make whisks is after Midsummer. You should also follow the lunar calendar, which tells you the best time to collect branches and make whisks.

Cutting branches is not part of the freedom to roam/Everyman’s rights in Finland; it must be done with the landowner’s permission.

The branches are cut from the tree with a knife, not by tearing or folding. Remember always to respect the tree.

Choose a youngish silver birch, preferably one with big leaves.

Watch the video below:

Instructions for making sauna whisk by Pentti Hakala

How to start:

Start by preparing the braches used for tying the whisk together. Choose a young downy birch and peel off the bark with a knife on both sides.
Start twisting from the top end; twisting makes the branch more flexible, making it easier to tie the whisk together in the end.
Hold the other end of the branch with your foot to keep it in place.
Peel the branch completely bare and sharpen the bottom end.

Stacking the branches:

You need 35-40 healthy birch branches for one whisk.
Again, silver birch is better than downy birch because it is sturdier, and the leaves stick to the branch better.
The length of one branch is about 50 cm. The branches are made into a fan-shaped bunch, so the lighter underside is on top.
Always add branches to the top. Tear off the leaves from the lower part of the branches (approximately 10-15cm).
Halfway through, turn the bunch and continue in the same way so that the lighter underside of the leaves is now on top. Keep adding branches to the top.

The finished bunch is fan-shaped and slightly flat.

Here are the instructions in the form of images and text in Finnish:
Wedding instructions-Pentti-Hakala

Tying it together:

Thread the bare branch through the handle of your bunch (use the sharp side for threading).
Bend the branch parallel to the handle and place it under your palm.
Add more twists before tying.
Wrap the branch twice around the handle and tie a knot under both loops.
Tighten firmly.
Thread the end of the whisk through the handle approximately a palm’s width from the bottom.
The distance between the two handle branches should be around 10-12 cm.
Tie the second branch in the same way as the first.
Cut off the extra branches with a knife.
Finish the whisk by making a figure-of-eight loop at the top of the handle.
Remove the branches from the handle with a knife.

Drying and storing a sauna whisk

You can make sauna whisks all summer long. When you use your whisk on the same day, you can do it as long as the birches still have green leaves.
You should be more careful if you want to make whisks for winter use and dry them. The best time to make whisks for winter is in June or early July.
Birch whisks are dried in a dry, airy, shady place with the base up. You can also dry the whisks in a cardboard box and put coarse salt in between the whisks.
It is also possible to freeze whisks wrapped in plastic wrap.

In the “How to make a sauna whisk” article, we went through how to correctly make a sauna whisk. Hopefully, it will help you when looking for information about Finnish Sauna Whisks.

Read more: Midsummer Sauna

Have a great summer, and enjoy your Finnish sauna whisk!

Love, Sauna-Kati