While some people question the origin of the sauna, the Finnish are most often cited for its invention. Used as a means for cleaning the body and keeping warm, the first saunas were nothing more than a large hole in the ground where bathers threw water on stones heated by smoldering wood. Saunas eventually became a place for rituals or rites of passage—often used for birthing, marriage cleansing, and even death. During its infancy, saunas were a way of life, not a luxury as they are today. And though steam houses were used for improving personal hygiene and body warmth, they were also used as a place for smoking meats and performing surgeries.

Fortunately, the concept of the sauna, its technology, and the understanding of its health benefits has evolved from its primitive beginning. The following list is detailed, but in no way identifies all ailments that can be treated with sauna hydrotherapy.

• Dermal benefits—to learn more information about how using a sauna can clean and beautify the skin, promote quicker healing of cuts and bruises, and relieve symptoms of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis conditions like eczema.
• Muscular/Skeletal benefits—read more on the soothing benefits saunas have on general aches and arthritis and rheumatic diseases. Also, discover the injury prevention benefits hot tubs provide for athletes and how medical professionals use hot tubs in preventative medicine.
• Cardiovascular benefits—discover how steam therapy can reduce heart disease by reducing blood pressure and promoting blood circulation, and prove relief from symptoms caused by arteriolosclerosis, asthma, and bronchitis.
• General health benefits—to learn more  information regarding lymphatic, endocrine, nervous, and respiratory benefits of steam bathing, including induced sleep, sinus pain and headache relief, weigh loss, reduced bronchitis and asthma symptoms, illness detoxification, and reduced stress.
• Chronic illness benefits—discover how hydrotherapy can alleviate symptoms caused by glaucoma and chronic fatigue.