Sauna For Allergies: Does It Actually Work?

People use saunas for all sorts of benefits, be it respiratory relief, detoxification, workout recovery, or simply relaxation. But with the allergy season around the corner, sauna enthusiasts are eager if they could use a sauna for allergies. 

You see, this is the time of year when pollen counts are high and many of us are left sniffling, sneezing, and desperately searching for relief. And although nasal sprays and antihistamines are the common remedies, they clearly aren’t a natural solution. 

Thus enters the Steamist sauna, a promising natural remedy that helps fight so many other complications. 

But, is sauna good for allergies or not? 

A short answer is yes, you might find relief from seasonal allergies. 

However, the exact effect of sauna bathing on allergies will depend on the extent of allergens and your body’s own tolerance levels. 

Now, I am sure you’re curious how saunas help combat allergies. And that’s exactly why I’ve detailed everything about sauna and allergy, including the latest research data. 

So, let’s dive right in and have a detailed look. 

How exactly do allergies affect us? 

Before we understand the role of saunas for allergy relief, let’s first see how allergies make us feel so miserable. 

For starters, seasonal allergies occur when our immune system overreacts to substances that are normally harmless. And this could be anything from pollen to pet dander, and more. 

Also called hay fever or allergic rhinitis, allergies trigger the release of histamines. This, in turn, causes inflammation and various other common symptoms like runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, headaches, etc. 

Now, a lot of these symptoms can impact our day to day lives significantly, making us desperate for solutions. So much so that you might find yourself buying some over the counter medicines in no time. 

But what if I said that you need not resort to allergy medications anymore? 
Sitting in the sauna can alone relieve a lot of allergy symptoms, something I’ve explained further in this article. 

Sauna for allergies: How does it work? 

Now that you know how seasonal allergies affect our overall well being, let me turn the focus to the million dollar question, i.e., how does sauna for allergies work? 

As you might already be aware, saunas are synonymous with a ton of natural health benefits, thanks to its warm and humid ambiance. 

For instance, people are increasingly resorting to saunas for sinus infection relief, among other benefits. In fact, many of the sauna bathers I questioned suggested they experienced immense relief from symptoms after just one sauna session.

And this also applies to a sauna or steam room for allergies where you’re sure to come out feeling much better. 

Now, I am sure you’re curious how is sauna good for allergies. So let me break down the benefits of sauna bathing for seasonal allergies to explain how it works wonders. 

1. Sauna bathing quickly opens your airways

As I said earlier, nasal congestion is one of the most common symptoms of seasonal allergies. 

In fact, from runny to stuffy to itchy nose, there are plenty of ways allergens can make breathing difficult for you. 
In a situation like this, the warm ambiance of the sauna opens up your airways or nasal passage 

in no time. Also, it reduces overall congestion and improves airflow. 

Moreover, if a study published in the Asian Pacific Journal is any suggestion, regular sauna bathing can even increase peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) among people with allergic rhinitis.

Simply put, sauna bathing will help you breathe more easily and get rid of the respiratory symptoms of allergy. 

2. It calms your immune response 

Seasonal allergies are triggered by an overactive immunity response as our immune system is alarmed by high pollen or pet dander. 

But what if I told you that frequent sauna bathing can help soothe your immune system and prevent overreaction? 

Yes, you’ve heard it right. 

You see, the same study that highlighted improved breathing out of sauna bathing also found that sauna bathing can lead to changes in heart rate variability. It showed regular sauna use can help shift towards more balanced nervous system function in allergy patients.

Overall, sauna use can calm down your autonomic nervous system, bring down
inflammation, and thus reduce the intensity of allergic reactions. 

3. Low stress = lesser allergy symptoms

Saunas always top the list of natural wellness and stress reduction remedies. In fact, they’re seen at par with other methods like yoga, meditation, etc., which is also the reason why wellness enthusiasts are so keen on sauna yoga combinations lately. 

But what does stress reduction have to do with seasonal allergy, you might wonder? 

Well, the fact is higher stress levels can exacerbate your allergy, making you feel worse. 

So although indirectly, saunas can play an essential role in relieving your allergy-related symptoms by reducing stress and promoting wellbeing. 

4. Detoxification helps eliminate allergens 

We are all aware of the amazing detoxification benefits that sauna bathing is associated with. 

And some experts claim this exact benefit can also come in handy when it comes to finding relief from allergies. 

How?

As you sweat out in the sauna, your skin pores open up and all impurities get flushed out through sweating. Now, it is in this very process that experts say some of the allergens  also get eliminated. 

Is sauna good for allergies as per science? 

By now it's quite clear that saunas are quite effective at providing relief from allergies.

Nevertheless, it's commonplace for people to wonder what science has to say on this. I am sure you’d have had the same question while reading about sauna for allergies. 

To give you an idea, there are a few scientific studies on whether or not sauna bathing helps combat allergies. And I’ve detailed some of those studies below. 

Scientific study #1. 

One of the most prominent studies on sauna bathing’s impact on allergies was conducted in 2013 in Thailand and later published in PubMed. The study involved patients of allergic rhinitis who undertook sauna bathing for six weeks straight. 

After six weeks, these patients experienced significant improvements in lung function and nasal airflow. And this was clear evidence of enhanced respiratory health and better management of allergic symptoms.

Scientific study #2. 

Another study published in a 2007 IEEE conference shows that frequent infrared sauna sessions can reduce inflammation significantly. Also, the study suggests that infrared saunas can calm your immune system down, preventing potential immunity overreaction. 

The study proves that infrared sauna for allergies is a great option to brace yourself for the allergy season and prevent the worst of symptoms. 

So, if you’ve ever wondered whether or not is infrared sauna good for allergies, you’ve got your answer. 

Scientific study #3. 

A 2018 study published by Mayo Clinic suggests that regular sauna sessions can improve lung capacity and overall respiratory system. And this supports my earlier explanation on how saunas open your airways and help clear congestion caused by allergens. 

All in all, if you’re someone who suffers from seasonal allergies, installing a sauna and using it on a regular basis can help you get rid of allergens. 

How should you sauna for allergies? 

Having seen the incredible benefits for sauna bathing for allergy relief, I am sure you’d want to hit your nearest sauna at the earliest. 

But before you do so, there are a few essential sauna bathing tips that you should keep in mind for optimum benefits. For instance: 

1. Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water and other fluids before, during, and after your sauna session.
2. Keep your sauna sessions short at the beginning, starting with 10-15 minute sessions and gradually take it up to 25-30 minutes. 
3. Always follow the basic sauna etiquettes such as showering before the sauna, using a towel, etc., as cleanliness is key to fighting allergens. 
4. Avoid caffeine or alcohol intake before your sauna session. 
5. If you’re pregnant or you’ve existing medical conditions, do consult your doctor before visiting the sauna. 

To sum up 

As you can see, a wet or dry sauna for allergies is indeed an effective tool to combat the allergens and feel better without medication. 

And no, I am not suggesting that saunas are an alternative to allergy medication. But it can surely reduce the need for medicines to a great extent. 

After all, from improved breathing to reduced inflammation to stress relief, and more, saunas go a long way to ensure your body and mind is prepared to combat allergens. 

Awesome, isn't it? 

Even better, you can incorporate the goodness of sauna into your daily life with a home sauna, that too on a budget. 

Curious how that works?

You can get in touch with us!

At Steam and Sauna Experts, we’ve got top of the line home sauna accessories from industry leaders like Amerec, Mr. Steam, Delta, and more. Also, we carry hands-on experience in installing top-of-the-line saunas across South Florida. 

In short, we’ve got all your home sauna requirements covered.