Research: Sweat Ritual Reduces State and Trait Anxiety and Improves Mood
A recent study (2008) conducted by researchers in Japan found that a sweat ritual reduced both state and trait anxiety.
Anxiety is a physiological and psychological state characterized by cognitive, somatic, emotional, and behavioral components. These components combine to create the painful feelings that we typically recognize as uneasiness, apprehension, or worry. Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It may help a person to deal with a difficult situation, for example at work or at school, by prompting one to cope with it. When anxiety becomes excessive, it may fall under the classification of an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety can be either a short term "state" or a long term "trait." Trait anxiety reflects a stable tendency to respond with state anxiety in the anticipation of threatening situations. It is closely related to the personality trait of neuroticism.
Here’s the study:
Shinya H., Yosikazu N., Eiji, K., Masahiro I., Yosuke S., Tatsuya N., Chiyoe M., Katsutaro N., Toshiyuki O. (2008). Effects of charcoal kiln saunas (Jjimjilbang) on psychological states. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 14, 143–148.
Summary
This uncontrolled intervention study explored the effects of sauna bathing utilizing residual heat from charcoal kilns (charcoal kiln saunas) on psychological states. Forty-five volunteers (24 males and 21 females; mean age 51.9 years (S.D. 15.7)) visiting a bamboo charcoal kiln in Japan participated in the study. They completed a shortened version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before and after charcoal kiln sauna bathing in order to determine mood and anxiety states. Six factors relating to mood were measured using the POMS: Tension–Anxiety, Depression–Dejection, Anger–Hostility, Vigor, Fatigue, and Confusion. The two anxiety concepts of state anxiety and trait anxiety were also measured. Changes in psychological states before and after sauna bathing were then determined. All mood scales and both manifest anxiety measures were improved after sauna bathing. Charcoal kiln sauna bathing appears to improve mood and decrease anxiety. It is a limitation of this study that this was a descriptive prospective and an uncontrolled intervention study. Further investigation of the improvement of trait anxiety is required.
Conclusion
The effects of sauna bathing utilizing the residual heat from charcoal kilns on psychological states was investigated using the POMS shortened version and STAI. All the six factors of mood (Tension–Anxiety, Depression–Dejection, Anger–Hostility, Vigor, Fatigue, and Confusion) showed a significant improvement after sauna bathing on the POMS shortened version, and state anxiety and trait anxiety also showed significant improvement after sauna bathing on the STAI. As a result, charcoal kiln sauna bathing shows promise as an effective complementary and alternative medicine practice for the improvement of mood and reduction of anxiety.
Sweat Therapy has strong potential to be useful in working with people with anxiety disorders including PTSD.
The links below describe the use of the Sweat Lodge Ceremony for Veterans with PTSD in Veteran’s Administration, Medical Center programs in Arizona and Utah.
Arizona
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-12-10-medicine-man_x.htm
Utah
http://psychsymposium.com/monthlist_html?year=2006&month=11
