The Russian bath has always been a place in which our heroes gain strength, and girls - beauty. It is impossible to imagine a Russian bath without a fragrant healing broom. Depending on the tree, a broom is used to treat a particular ailment.
Birch broom
A birch broom is considered one of the best. It cleanses the skin well, removes toxins from the body, heals the kidneys. A birch broom is indispensable for asthmatics and ex-smokers, reduces joint pain, promotes metabolism and soothes. After a bath with such a broom, small bronchi expand, sputum leaves, and ventilation of the lungs improves. A birch broom is convenient for massage. It is durable, flexible, birch leaf adheres well to the body, absorbs sweat well and draws out toxins.
In Russia, the healing properties of birch have been known for a long time. Birch leaves cleaned wounds, treated rheumatism, gout, arthritis.
The best time for harvesting birch branches for brooms is early-mid July; they are harvested in dry weather. Young flexible branches (thin and without knots) of weeping birch and curly birch are best suited. They keep better, softer. The surface of the sheet should be soft, velvety, the sheet itself should be small or medium.
Oak broom
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Oak in the old days was considered a symbol of power and strength. An oak broom is stronger than a birch one. An oak broom almost does not absorb sweat and rather does not soften the skin, but thickens it. But the oak broom is useful for people with oily skin, with skin diseases. Under the influence of essential oils of oak, the skin becomes elastic, firm, well cleaned. Steaming with such a broom has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, prevents an increase in pressure, and soothes the nervous system.
For lovers of extreme heat, an oak broom is the best. It is best to harvest an oak broom in August-September. The most durable broom is obtained from "winter" oak (it does not shed leaves for the winter).
Fir broom
Fir broom is a wonderful massage remedy for muscles. Such a broom is good for people with sciatica, rheumatism, neuralgia. It is also very helpful for gout.
The resinous substances of fir needles stimulate perspiration, increase blood circulation deep in the muscles and even in the internal organs. They have disinfecting properties, cleanse the skin of pathogenic microbes. A fir broom is good for the respiratory system.
If you feel the first signs of a cold, hurry to the Russian steam room with a fir broom.
Fir broom is very good for stress, nervous exhaustion. Fir relieves internal nervous and muscle tension, calms, relaxes. Fir oil has an erotic effect by increasing the overall tone and harmonizing mood.
Juniper broom
Juniper broom is an excellent remedy for the treatment of sciatica, paralysis, neuralgia, rheumatism, gout. The bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic properties of the juniper broom are explained by the fact that its needles contain a large amount of essential oil. A juniper broom stings no worse than a nettle broom. If used ineptly with a juniper broom, it is very easy to injure the skin. Juniper broom is a good remedy for allergies of various origins.
Linden broom
Linden brooms are delicate and refined these days. Linden broom accelerates perspiration, has an antipyretic effect, expands the bronchi, increases sputum secretion, and has a beneficial effect on dry and normal skin. Linden broom helps to get rid of headaches, soothes, has a wound-healing effect.
Linden brooms are harvested only from the branches of mature trees and exclusively during the flowering period. Before flowering, the linden leaf is very delicate and fragile, and after flowering it instantly coarsens and deteriorates. Flowering branches for brooms are cut during the entire flowering period until the appearance of fruits - peas.
Eucalyptus broom
A eucalyptus broom is good for muscle disease, bruises, sprains, joint pains and colds. It is useful to steam with a combined broom: 2-3 eucalyptus branches are added to a birch or oak broom. You can add wormwood, yarrow, chamomile. The eucalyptus broom has an amazing aroma, and the exuded essential oils penetrate deeply into the lungs, cleansing them of harmful substances, after which breathing becomes light and free. The eucalyptus broom is not very durable; in the bath it is used not so much for massage as for aromatizing the air and making breathing easier. It helps well in the treatment of runny nose and sore throat.
Rowan broom
A broom made of rowan branches is flexible and soft. It disinfects the air well. The volatile substances secreted by mountain ash are detrimental to Staphylococcus aureus, a mold fungus.
Rowan brooms provide enhanced sweat separation and removal of toxins, increase blood circulation, and are beneficial for the cardiovascular system. If you add a few twigs of tansy to a rowan broom, you get a good refreshing agent.
A bath with a rowan broom gives a boost of vivacity: the processes of excitation of the nervous system are intensified. Such a broom is harvested from early July to mid-August.
Hazel broom
Hazel (hazel) among the ancient Slavs was considered a sacred plant. Hazel bark is used as an antipyretic, anti-dysentery and astringent. Bark essential oil is used to treat varicose veins.
A hazel broom is harvested, like a birch broom, in the month of July. The broom can be stored for up to two years, and is used during several bath procedures, provided that it is properly steamed and thoroughly dried.
Nettle broom
A nettle broom is useful for joint aches, neuralgia, skin, radiculitis, muscle and joint diseases. Nettle has a wound healing and hemostatic effect.
To avoid burns, a nettle broom is prepared as follows: 2-3 times for 2-3 minutes, transfer the broom from hot water to cold water.