For someone feeling sluggish this can provide just the metabolic boost one requires. What are some other benefits?

Many healers suggest that sauna and steam bath can create what is known as a false fever in the body. By increasing the internal temperature, this can help the body battle bacterial infection that may be present. So, essentially a sauna or steam bath may help boost the immune system. Some people enjoy long steams and saunas if they feel a cold coming on, with the thought they might prevent the illness from over powering them.

Others find the increased sweating caused by saunas and steam baths helps the body eliminate toxins. Viruses are also prone to die in heated environments, yet another benefit of both saunas and steam baths.

If you regularly participate in saunas and steam baths your skin is also likely to look better and feel more shiny. Skin contains many blood vessels and oil glands. These glands often become clogged. Healthy skin is more likely when the skin regularly sweats because it has an opportunity to release bacteria and other impurities from the body. A sauna and steam bath is idea for this.

As far as overall health, many clinical studies suggest heat provided by saunas and steam baths may help relieve certain chronic conditions resulting in pain, most notably stiffness including that caused by certain forms of arthritis.

Stiff muscles may also benefit from saunas and steams because the muscles are more likely to relax in a heated environment. Think of the last time you put a hot pack on a tired or worn out muscle. How did that feel? Pretty good undoubtedly. The sauna and steam bath help to relax the entire body, which is probably filled with tired, stiff and achy muscles at times. In fact, you may not realize just how tired and stiff your muscles are until you enjoy a couple of sauna or steam sessions.

Is one better than the other? Some people prefer the sauna because it provides a dryer heat, one that allows the body to sweat on its own. The steam bath however, tends to provide more moisture and is good for individuals with extremely dry skin or those that require a more humid environment. Not sure which is right for you? Be sure to consult with your healthcare provider for practical advise. He or she can also provide you with any health precautions you should take prior to embarking on routine sauna use or steam bath use.

One way to take advantage of natural steam baths is by using onsen. An onsen is a word often used by Japanese to describe hot springs. This term may also describe the public bathing area surrounding the hot springs, at least in Japan.

Many of these structures are outdoors, using natural hot springs coming from geothermal areas in the earth. An onsen should not be misinterpreted to represent a sauna or steam bath, although you may meet some people that use the term interchangeably, meaning they assume the two are the same.

In some areas of the world there is a certain etiquette or formality involved with using these hot springs. Here are some tips you can keep in mind if you use an onsen for cleansing or for healing and comfort.

• First locate an onsen, and take some time to get to know the place and its policies and procedures. You may or may not be comfortable with them. Some places for example host anytime, anywhere sessions whereas some facilities offer same sex bathing or hot springs sessions but this varies tremendously from place to place.
• Make sure you wash and rinse your body prior to entering the onsen. Most facilities will offer a faucet or source of water and shower head so you can clean before you enter the water. This enhances everyone's experience and prevents unnecessary dirt from entering the hot spring.
• Make sure you relax and avoid unnecessary chatter. Most of the time visiting an onsen is a time of reflection and solitude. Incessant chatter may disrupt the quiet and solitude of the experience. Try to avoid too much banter if necessary.
• Be sure to follow the surrounding atmosphere. In Japan for example most people use the hot springs without swimsuits. This may not be the case everywhere you visit. Check in ahead of time to see what is norm and not to make sure you go somewhere you feel comfortable.

Many people and even therapists and healers believe onsen offer therapeutic benefits including healing chronic pain including pain associated with arthralgia or fibromyalgia. Others believe it is helpful for curing disease, including arthritis, chronic headaches or migraines, acne or even metabolic problems. It's almost as if heated springs, saunas and steam baths are the miracle drug of the century when you put it that way! If you aren't booking your ticket to one of the three, now would be a good time to do so.

By TTS Cofounder Omid Jaffari