Herbal Steaming Therapy

There are essential differences. Sauna is a simple environment of dry heat or moist heat——you sweat out 'water', the core effect is to promote sweating. Chinese medicine steaming is a steam bath with added Chinese medicine——the effective components of the Chinese medicine in the steam are absorbed through the skin and respiratory tract in a dual way, while the warm effect promotes blood and Qi circulation, and has the effects of warming meridians and collaterals, dispelling wind and cold, and nourishing the skin. Each steaming program is customized by a practicing TCM physician according to your constitution.

On the contrary——the relief effect of Chinese medicine steaming on dry skin problems mainly lies in the moistening effect of the steam plus the effective components of moisturizing Chinese medicine (such as Angelica sinensis, dahurian angelica, Sophora flavescens, etc.) penetrating the skin, helping to improve the skin barrier function. The water temperature and steam intensity can be adjusted during the operation, and the specific program is determined by a practicing TCM physician according to the skin condition. It is not suitable temporarily during the acute exudative stage of eczema or when the skin has obvious damage.

It is not recommended to go out in the wind immediately after steaming. After steaming, the pores of the whole body are dilated and blood circulation is accelerated, and it is easy for cold evil to penetrate at this time. It is recommended to rest in the clinic for 15-20 minutes, wait for the body to cool down naturally and sweat to dry before leaving. Drink more warm water that day to replenish body fluids. Pay attention to keeping warm after steaming, and the specific frequency of adjustment is determined by a practicing TCM physician according to the constitution.

There are essential differences: foot soaking and bath soaking are liquid water baths, the active ingredients need to be dissolved in water and absorbed through the skin, and the water temperature is generally lower (40-45℃); steaming is a gas steam bath, the effective components of the medicine are absorbed through the skin and respiratory tract in the form of gaseous small molecules, with higher bioavailability, and the warm effect of the steam is more profound. In addition, during the steaming process, the human body is in a state of being wrapped by steam, which also has a regulatory effect on the respiratory tract, such as rhinitis and pharyngitis, which cannot be achieved by foot soaking.

Rheumatoid arthritis belongs to the category of bi syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine. The warm effect of Chinese medicine steaming plus the effects of dispelling wind and cold, and promoting blood circulation and collaterals has a good relief effect on joint cold pain of this kind, especially in the remission period. However, it is not suitable for hot steaming during the acute redness, swelling, heat, and pain of the joints (it may worsen the inflammatory reaction). It is recommended that my grandmother be examined and evaluated by a practicing TCM physician first to determine whether steaming is suitable, and at the same time, it does not replace the regular follow-up and treatment of the rheumatology department.