Herbal Saunas, Steam Rooms and Mud Baths

Thailand has a history of herbal saunas, steam rooms and hot springs. It even has thermal mud. For a spa destination it has it all, and anyone who likes to indulge in a soaking hot tub or water, steam or mud there are many possibilities.

Herbal steam rooms, traditionally made of wood and built on a stilted house, are not as common as they once were, and the traditional form of steaming is hard to find. Once, nestled in among a natural place, perhaps on the grounds of a monastery, monks would tend to the steam room, hand picking local aromatic herbs that grew locally. Up to 30 of these herbs would be put into the hot water, to boil away and infuse the steam with a pleasant smell.

Generally made of concrete or stone these days, herbal steam rooms are more modern and sterile. Easier to clean and maintain, they have become somewhat more functional than their wooden counterparts. Though some can be found nestled in caves or rocks, adding in a bit of the old, traditional culture.

Heated with hot steam, the steam room the concrete steam room works in the same way as the old wooden ones. Generally not as hot as a sauna, steam rooms tend to a lot more humid, with a vapor count of 100%. This is opposed to the drier heat of the sauna, where humidity is usually around 30 - 40%.

This allows the pores of the skin to open and sweating to occur. Usually infused with several Thai aromatic herbs such as lemon grass, this also has the effect of opening up the sinuses, and clearing the head. Steam rooms may or may not have a tap or bucket of cold water used for dousing off the sweat.

Saunas on the other hand tend to use dry heat. The heat can be intensified by splashing the heating element or rocks with water, allowing the steam vapor to be released. Because saunas are an essential element of the detox process many spas in Thailand now have saunas instead of steam rooms, as they are easier to maintain. More recently the infrared sauna has become popular.

Thailand's hot springs are a real treat, and occur naturally throughout the country. Some of the best ones are in the northern region of Chaing Mai. And it is possible here to soak away the aches and pains of the body in naturally occurring, sulfur smelling hot water. But For a real treat why not try a mud bath? Be prepared to get messy as you slather on the gloriously warm mud, and relax for a while as it works it magic on your skin, allowing it to detoxify and you to rejuvenate. For some naturally occurring, glorious mud head north of Chiang Mai, to a town called Pai.

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