title: The sauna and bathing in different countries.
abstract: Hot baths have been popular at different periods in different countries, although the sauna in Finland, has been popular for two thousand years. Bathing practices and the use of the sauna differ, though a common feature is inducing sweating followed by cooling off to create a sense of wellbeing. But in many places the sauna has been used to mask other practices, including those which pander to people's sexual appetites. It would be advantageous therefore for supporters and advocates of the sauna to try to correct the abuses.
authors.affiliation: Finnish Sauna Society, Vaskiniemi, Helsinki.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valtakari
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D005387:Finland; D049690:History, Ancient; D029002:Steam Bath / Q000266:history / Q000592:standards*