All about eucalyptus brooms for the baths

Experts say that it is necessary to go to the bath with a broom. For a long time in Russia birch brooms were traditionally used. Today, lovers of steam have other accessories. Let's take a closer look at everything about eucalyptus brooms for the bath.

Eucalyptus broom is not the most common item for baths in Russia, as it is associated with the harvesting of raw materials. The fact is that in natural conditions, eucalyptus trees and shrubs belonging to the Myrtle family grow in warm tropical or subtropical climates. There are many species of the plant, but only few can survive temperature drops as low as -15°C, and very few species can survive frosts as low as -23-24°C.

Nowadays eucalyptus plants are cultivated in many countries as its leaves contain essential oils which are widely used in medicine. Infusions, decoctions, oil from leaves have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic effects, they are used in the treatment of many diseases.

It is also not necessary to get rid of the water in which the broom was infused. If you pour it on hot stones, you will enjoy a subtle healing aroma during the cleansing procedure. It should be noted that in addition to the useful properties, eucalyptus brooms have other advantages, namely:

• The branches of the plant are quite elastic, they remain intact for a long time;
• They can withstand constant overheating and high levels of humidity;
• When heated strongly emit not only useful substances, but also a pleasant aroma.

Steam lovers do not always have the opportunity to make their own brooms for the bath, especially eucalyptus. You can buy them in a specialized store. When purchasing it is necessary to pay attention to the following nuances:

• A quality broom can not be very dry; excessive dryness can lead to rapid breakage of the branches;
• Shake the broom - if many leaves have fallen from it, it means that the technique of preparation was not followed;
• The leaves must not be damaged and must not smell rotten or stale.

Experienced bathhouse attendants sometimes consider eucalyptus brooms not good enough because of their very thin, flexible branches and long leaves; blows with such accessories are too soft and don't have necessary massaging effect. Therefore in brooms it is allowed to have branches of other plants, for example juniper. Also branches of eucalyptus are added to birch or oak brooms. The price for eucalyptus brooms is usually slightly higher than that of birch or other products.

Everyone knows about the benefits of bathing procedures. It is not only a thorough cleansing of the body, but also a powerful healing effect on the entire body, strengthening the immune system. Under the influence of hot steam pores open, keratinized cells are detached, toxins are removed. In the bath the blood circulation increases, it better supplies oxygen and nutrients to all organs. As the heart rate increases, the whole cardiovascular system tones up and the metabolism improves. And the use of a broom is also an additional massage effect. Use of eucalyptus broom will repeatedly increase the effect of bathing procedures, because eucalyptus contains not only essential oils. The plant contains many other useful elements, namely:

• phytoncides;
• tannins;
• organic acids;
• esters;
• aldehydes;
• bitterness;
• macro- and microelements.

Eucalyptus has a beneficial effect on the skin, as it has a bactericidal and regenerating effect, active substances stimulate biochemical processes in the epidermis. Regular treatment is indicated for people prone to the appearance of acne, pustular inflammation. Visiting bath with eucalyptus broom will help with muscle fatigue after great physical exertion, will have a good effect on joint pains.

Unusual aroma, saturated with essential oils, soothes the nervous system and suppresses anxiety. Also, the water in which the broom was steamed, you can rinse your hair. Infusion strengthens hair follicles, helps get rid of dandruff, treats seborrhea.

With the competent use of eucalyptus broom, there should be no side effects. However, the product should be abandoned when there is hypersensitivity or individual intolerance to certain substances in the composition of the plant, an allergic reaction appears. This broom should not be used by people suffering from bronchial asthma or respiratory tract spasms. Also visiting the bath is contraindicated in the presence of cardiovascular diseases or pressure problems, epilepsy, with inflammatory processes and malignant neoplasms. It is not worth exposing the body to additional stress during a viral or chronic illness in the stage of exacerbation with elevated body temperature.

Unfortunately, not all lovers of steam from Russia will be able to make brooms themselves. You can do it in the Caucasus, the southern coast of Crimea, or with labor-intensive cultivation in a greenhouse. Harvesting should be done in warm, dry weather. It is better to do this in late summer - early fall. Do not take branches of trees located close to roads or industrial plants. In self-collection collected branches dry in a dark, well-ventilated room. You should avoid exposing them to sunlight. Also make sure that the branches dry evenly, so it is best to hang them on a rope.

Branches can also be dried on a flat surface, in which case they will need to be turned from time to time. Do not allow mold to appear on them, the process of rotting began. Tie the branches together before and after drying. You can do this with a thick twine or normal bandage.

Before tying the branches together you should prepare them: cut off the knots and leaves at their base with a sharp knife. It should be done carefully so that the wood remains undamaged. Inside the product placed thin shoots, surrounding them with thicker branches on the outside. It is not necessary to create any special conditions for storage of eucalyptus brooms, although it will not be superfluous to observe some nuances.

• Keep the accessories in a dry room with good ventilation, so you should not leave them inside the bathhouse. During the warm summer period the brooms can be stored outdoors under a shelter, for example, under the roof of the bathhouse. The main thing is to keep them out of the sunlight.
• When stored indoors, do not place the products near heat sources and even more so near open flame sources (stove, fireplace, stove).

Brooms made of some materials are steamed by holding them over steam. This does not apply to eucalyptus. Steaming it is quite simple. It can be done in two ways.

• The first method will need hot water (about 70 ° C) and a container for steaming. A bowl should be of such a size that the broom fits in it completely up to the handle. It is not recommended to take too much so that the fragrant liquid, which you can then use, becomes more concentrated. Soak the broom for 15-20 minutes. It should be shaken several times while soaking, and it is not necessary to take it out of the water. Before the procedure, you can rinse it with cold water.
• In the second method, you will need two containers: for hot and for cold water. The broom is lowered alternately in hot and cold water, soaking for 3-5 minutes in each container. Actions repeat several times. A sign of readiness - branches, leaves, bark became soft.

Fresh new broom is not necessary to steep. It can be used with a good soaking in warm water. Even when cut, eucalyptus twigs retain their properties very well.

For the bath procedure to be useful, use the product of the exotic plant should be as follows:

• The broom should be thoroughly washed before the first use;
• during steaming it is necessary to ensure that the leaves do not become too soft;
• Since the product does not have great rigidity, it will provide only a light massage; the use of eucalyptus broom is more suitable for recreational procedures;
• after the first sweat, the broom should be used for rubbing the body in the direction from the head to the feet; do not press the product hard against the skin;
• first a whisk with large leaves blowing steam around themselves, and then proceed to massaging pat on the body; the first strokes should be smooth and not strong, then gradually accelerate the movement, the force of strokes increases;
• The strokes should not be too sharp and strong, as they can cause painful sensations; in addition, they can leave marks on the body;
• the bathing procedure should not last more than 5 minutes; you can make several runs, alternating them with a short rest in the anteroom.

The following video tells about eucalyptus brooms for the bath.