The healing properties of the bath depend not only on the covering of the steam room with valuable species of wood. The type and characteristics of various natural minerals, which accumulate heat from the stove and give it out in the form of steam, are no less important. How to choose stones for a bath - we will tell you in our article. Content:
- Requirements for stones
- Types of stones
- Preparation for use
The question of choosing stones for the stove of your own steam room sooner or later arises before each owner of a bath building. Its solution requires theoretical knowledge and a responsible attitude. The time is over when any stone was used to get steam, if only it was good. Today you can choose the right minerals and create different compositions from them that will ensure the maximum benefit from a visit to the bath.
Requirements for the selection of stones for a bath
If you are organizing a bathhouse on a hike, river pebbles or cobblestones found near your parking space are quite suitable for this purpose. But for a steam room in a capital structure, stones are selected very carefully, of proper quality, in specialized stores. Minerals sold for sale undergo preliminary harvesting in specially designated areas and therefore are environmentally friendly. Such stones for a bath are packed in boxes containing inscriptions on the passage of radiation control products.
The minerals selected for the furnace, regardless of their name, must meet the following requirements:
- Resistance to temperature stress … Stones should not chip or crack from being hit with a hammer or against each other. They can be tested in a bath like this: heat the mineral red hot and throw it into the water. A quality stone will not react to this.
- Heat storage capacity … It is determined by the appearance of the mineral: the structure of a quality material is homogeneous, and its specific gravity is quite high.
- Stone size … This parameter is different for each type of oven. Large stones with a diameter of 70-130 mm are used in wood-burning stoves. In compact electric furnaces, smaller minerals are used - 50-60 mm in diameter. The number of stones for the stove depends on its size.
When choosing stones for a bath, follow these tips:
- Sea stones are not suitable for a bath, as they are destroyed very quickly. River minerals are twice as strong as them.
- Smooth and smooth patterns last longer.
- Layered materials - limestone, sedimentary rocks and sandstone - are not suitable for the kiln.
- The place for self-collecting stones is a field, not a river bank, as many believe.
- To accelerate the heating of stones, they are mixed with cast iron or steel blanks.
- The healing effect of the steam room will be enhanced if the hot stones are sprinkled with herbal decoctions.
- The amount of minerals is related to the size of the steam room. 1 m2 its area is 6 kg of stones.
Various minerals differ from each other not only in strength and durability, but also in their healing properties. Therefore, their choice depends on the state of health of the visitor to the steam room.
Types of stones for a bath
The following minerals are suitable for loading into a container of a bath stove: jadeite and raspberry quartzite, porphyrite and gabbro-diabase, peridotite and white quartz, jade and wax jasper, dunite and basalt, chromite and talc (soap) stone.
Each of them has its own characteristics and features, which we will discuss below:
- Jade … Tops the list of the best bath stones. This opaque green mineral is durable and safe, slowly gives off heat, and its high density allows it to withstand not only strong heating, but also temperature extremes. Thanks to this, the jadeite stone for the bath does not crumble, does not crack and is ideal for long-term use. Its price is quite high, so the mineral is placed on top of other stones of cheaper rocks to maximize its healing properties. Their spectrum is quite wide: it treats blood pressure disorders, normalizes heart function, optimizes blood structure, strengthens the nervous system, dissolves salt deposits, reduces rheumatic discomfort, heals the genitourinary system and increases the energy of the whole organism.
- Raspberry quartzite … Has a wonderful purple color, which will effectively decorate the interior design of any steam room. This stone is incredibly fire resistant and dense, capable of withstanding heat up to 2700 degrees. It is durable and reliable. The strength of raspberry quartzite makes it difficult to machine mechanically, so it is supplied chipped. The mineral does not crack; when it is heated, even cold water can be poured onto the stove. Like jadeite, quartzite is placed on top of the main stones for a bath. Its healing properties can heal muscle pains, attacks of rheumatism and colds. Raspberry quartzite normalizes blood pressure, circulatory system and removes salt deposits in the body.
- Porphyrite … It is not very popular among bath-lovers, but this is wrong. Its affordable price makes the mineral available to the vast majority of bathhouse owners. Porphyrite has an enviable heat capacity and aromatic vapor at the outlet. Its initial heating is accompanied by a crack, but there is no need to worry - with repeated heating, it disappears. The stone has a beneficial effect on the work of the heart and respiratory system, relieves skin inflammation and headaches.
- Gabbro-diabase … Refers to minerals of volcanic origin. It has a granular structure, incredible density and dark marble color. The stone is supplied in crushed form from Karelia, which is an ecologically clean natural area. A long set of heat and rapid cooling without heating are the disadvantages of this material. At high temperatures, gabbro-diabase emits a specific odor, tinctures and essential oils cannot be used on its stones - carbon deposits are formed instantly from them. The mineral is prone to cracking, its service life is 2 years. But due to the low cost of the stone, this is unlikely to upset anyone. The healing properties of gabbro-diabase are modest, therefore, it fits down under more healthy stones. This helps to enhance the healing power of natural healers at times.
- Peridotite … It attracts attention with a variety of its shades - from green to deep black. It does not contain harmful impurities, the mineral evenly radiates heat when heated. When it enters into a chemical reaction with carbon dioxide, steam peridotite disinfects and purifies the air. It is laid at the bottom of the heater under more valuable rocks.
- Semi-transparent white quartz … Outwardly very effective. It contains silicon and oxygen. Thanks to the latter, after a sharp cooling, the mineral gives off pure ozone, which has a rejuvenating effect. Quartz helps to restore the epidermis layer and cleanses the breath. The healing effect of the mineral is noticeable even a few days after the procedure. This stone is not durable at high temperatures - it can even burst. Therefore, quartz is often sorted out with the removal of heat-damaged specimens.
- Nephritis … Has high strength of steel. It is almost impossible to split it by hand. It is not for nothing that in ancient times various tools and instruments were made from it. When using a jade stone for a bath, the body's metabolism, the state of its nervous and muscular systems, skin and sweating are improved. Jade cures insomnia, stress and relieves fatigue.
- Jasper wax … It has long been used in baths by wealthy people, as it is a semi-precious stone. When used in stoves, the mineral shows excellent characteristics. The use of jasper in traditional medicine helps in the treatment of the heart and internal organs. The mineral is suitable for the healing of mental and female diseases. Jasper is needed for insomnia, to stop bleeding and to heal wounds.
- Dunite … Does not contain radiation, radiation and harmful impurities. It is resistant to destruction from temperature extremes in the heater. The excellent thermal conductivity of the mineral contributes to the rapid release of its heat, and the high heat capacity contributes to its long-term preservation. Only dunite has this unique feature. The mineral is good for the cardiovascular and nervous system, it cures colds and lowers blood pressure inside.
- Basalt … It is black in color and is the most durable volcanic stone of all that is used in baths. It has good heat capacity and performs well when heated and cooled to create steam. The mineral is durable and does not contain harmful impurities. Hot basalt gives intense and long-lasting steam. This is one of the types of stones that pleases with their price.
- Chromite … The most common in Russian baths in the Urals. There he became known as the "black bath stone". The coefficient of its thermal expansion at a high density of the mineral is relatively low. Chromite is not susceptible to cracking, does not have a detrimental effect on the body in the form of radioactive radiation. Traditional medicine uses this mineral to treat colds.
- Talcochlorite … "Soapstone", as it is also called, is a fairly strong mineral with good thermal conductivity. It has an attractive appearance with a variety of gray shades and ensures the creation of "soft" steam in the steam room. The mineral is very resistant to alternating heating and rapid cooling. When heated, soapstone for a bath emits enzymes that have a beneficial effect on the body's metabolism and its immunity. It stimulates metabolism, normalizes blood pressure, heals internal inflammation and colds.
Preparation of stones for use in the bath
Before loading stones into the oven container, they must be checked for defects. Then the stones are kept in salted water for an hour, washed thoroughly and dried at normal temperature.
The stove is filled according to the following scheme: the largest samples are located at the bottom, and the smallest ones at the top. A three-layer backfill should be made of different sizes of minerals in each layer and gaps for steam and air should be made.
The optimal ratio of the volumes of the steam room and stones is 1:50. If it is aged, the stove will warm up the room well and give excellent steam. The initial hardening of the installation is done as follows: it is slowly heated until the lower layer of stones is reddened and sharply doused with water from a bucket. According to the results of this operation, cracked stones are rejected.
Inspection of stones should be carried out constantly. Damaged samples are replaced with new ones, and dirty ones are washed. Every 3-4 months, stones must be examined, discarded, washed and air dried. Defective stones are thrown away.
Only heated water is used to spray the heater. This will increase the quality of the steam and will not compromise the durability of the stones.
How to choose stones for a bath - watch the video:
Now that you have learned which stones for the bath are best used, their choice will not be difficult. The quality of bath procedures and your well-being depend on it.
