In what month are birch brooms knitted? A birch leaf already costs a pretty penny, or when you need to knit birch brooms

When to prepare brooms for a bath? For each plant this is its own time.

Birch broom for a bath

According to folk custom birch brooms prepared after Trinity Day, which occurs on the 50th day after Easter. It usually falls in early to mid June. In some regions of Russia, the birch tree may not bloom at this time, while in others the catkins may be thrown away. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on the stage of plant maturation, when the leaf is the strongest, a sign of the appearance of the first catkins, but at the same time take branches from a birch tree without catkins. Brooms should be prepared on a dry day. Brooms are broken in the first half of the day, after the dew has disappeared.
Weeping birch is suitable for a broom. As a rule, this is a tall tree. The branches of such a tree are very flexible and unbreakable, long and thick for the steam room. Young birch trees that have never bloomed are well suited; they are considered to have the most delicate leaves. The upper side of the leaf should not be rough, the leaf should be soft and velvety. And the branches are thin and straight.
At first, the branches are tied loosely. Hang on poles or a stretched rope under a canopy, so that there is no direct sunlight, where there is a good draft. After 6–7 days, when the brooms have dried well, they are tightly tied and placed tightly on racks in a dry dressing room, barn or other dry and well-ventilated room.
It is best when the brooms take the shape of a fan rather than a broom. To do this, fresh brooms are laid out on the floor and turned over every day until they are dry. The main thing is not to overdry.
Research has shown that it is precisely by observing all the age-old traditions of collecting medicinal plants(this also applies to birch brooms) active substances are retained in the material in optimal quantity and quality medicinal substances. If you tie a broom from fresh branches tightly, then in the center its leaves will lose color, darken, and such a broom will have almost no smell, since the leaves will “burn.”
Ready brooms after drying should have all the leaves of a concentrated matte green, and the broom itself should smell like balsamic birch oil. This smell intensifies sharply after steaming the broom. Collecting brooms at the beginning of summer is completely justified, because the birch leaves have already become large, but they still have enough essential oil glands, which are abundant not only in the leaves, but also on the young shoots of the birch. Large young shoots are very elastic, so it is pleasant to whip the body with such a broom in the steam room.
You need to knit a broom as follows. First, the branches are cleared of leaves and twigs in the place where the handle will be. Then the required number of branches is wrapped with twine, squeezing the branches with the left hand. It is important to lay thicker branches inward, and around them thinner ones, bending inward. The broom will be dense - it will be enough for several baths.

Oak brooms for baths

Harvesting takes place from June to August in damp, shaded oak forests. One of the characteristics of such a “correct” place is large burdocks under the trees. By collecting branches in such a thicket, you will get a durable broom, which will be enough for several (3-4) visits to the bathhouse.
Oak bath brooms are designed for hardy, healthy people- real Russians!

Nettle broom

Nettle brooms for a bath: harvest time - mid-summer, immediately before flowering or during the flowering of nettles.
Steaming with a nettle broom is a special pleasure. Do not be afraid of the “stinginess” of nettles. When you steam with such a broom, you feel a pleasant tingling sensation, the body becomes ruddy and light. No blisters or burns - only undoubted benefits to the body. Among other things, by steaming with a nettle broom, you “risk” getting rid of radiculitis, rheumatism, and gout.
The only drawback of such brooms is that they are disposable. But it’s also easier to prepare them.

Cherry and currant brooms

These brooms are not as durable as oak or birch, but steaming with them is an incomparable pleasure thanks to their delicious aroma. In addition, they are very beneficial for the skin. The harvesting of branches for brooms occurs in early June.
Young unnecessary shoots and root shoots are cut off. The good thing is that you don’t need to go far for such brooms (if, of course, you live in a private house or have a dacha) - you’ll probably find several currant bushes and cherries in the yard.

Brooms made of linden, rowan, alder, willow and other trees

In principle, brooms can be made from almost any tree. Don't get hung up on traditional ones.
Tree branches are harvested from early July to mid-August. The rules for choosing trees are the same - young trees with flexible, straight branches.
Of course, you cannot collect them near the roadway or industrial enterprise. The distance from “civilization” should be at least 3 km.

Did you know?

Preparing brooms for a bath: general rules

• Brooms, like any medicinal herbs, should be harvested in dry, clear weather in the morning, after the dew has disappeared.
• Try to treat plants with care, cutting off only unnecessary branches. This way you thin out the plant and give the remaining branches the opportunity to grow freely.
• For brooms, you should choose young plants with flexible, well-bending branches.
• Freshly cut branches need to be dried in a shaded place for an hour, spread out in one layer. It is recommended to transport them without packing them tightly so that the leaves do not fall off due to overheating.
• After the broom is already tied, it should be placed under pressure so that it acquires flat shape. After this, the broom is hung in a cool, well-ventilated area for 2-3 days.

How to steam a bath broom

• There are several ways to steam a bath broom. The fastest of them is this: for 2-3 minutes, lower the broom into a bowl of cold water, then for the same time in warm water and finally into the basin with hot water(just not in boiling water). In this case, the basin must be covered so that the broom “steams”. You will know when to take out the broom by the delicious aroma it will begin to exude.
• Do not throw away the remaining water from steaming: it can be diluted with water and poured over hot stones or walls to fill the steam room with aroma.
• Only dry brooms need to be steamed. Fresh or dried, but not completely dry, do not steam, because they become limp, become heavy, heat up quickly and can burn the skin.
• A sauna is an incomparable pleasure; moreover, a sauna is effective for losing weight and improving your health. The main thing is not to forget about contraindications for baths and take care of your health.

Greetings, our dear readers. I may be a little late with the release of the article, but I think having studied this topic, it will be useful to you at next year. Although why is it too late, for example, the preparation of brooms for a bathhouse in our region of Siberia has just begun.

In the European part of the country they have already finished preparing brooms. This is where the question arises: when do you need to prepare birch brooms for a bathhouse? I studied this question and tested the result as follows:

• Collected brooms before the required time;
• On time;
• And prepared it after the required period (the month of August).

As a result, I realized what was true and what was not. And since our country is huge and the climate sometimes varies greatly in different territories, there is no single rule for the entire country. Summers are different and birch trees bloom and live differently.

Then it became clear that it was necessary to monitor the weather and the development of the birch itself. And when the time comes, there will be about 1-2 weeks to prepare the brooms.

When does the preparation of brooms for a bathhouse in Siberia, or in the Urals, or in the Moscow region begin? It turns out it all depends on the region. And it also varies from year to year. Some say that after Trinity Day, 1-2 weeks, but in the old days it was determined precisely by observations and trial and error. Indeed, due to different climatic zones, it is not worth relying on just one date.

Below we will determine when and how exactly to prepare brooms for a bath. And for everything to work out correctly, it is advisable to monitor the weather and the development of the birch trees themselves, figuratively speaking.

When does the preparation of brooms for the bathhouse begin?

In fact, everything is quite simple if you have time to watch the development of birch trees.

The principle is this: we focus on the characteristics of the ripening of birch. Maximum strengthening of the leaf will indicate the imminent appearance of earrings. This short time period, when the leaves are the strongest and there are no catkins yet, is most suitable for preparing the correct bath brooms.

It is also correct to collect branches for brooms in June for the reason that during this period the leaves have already grown to a sufficiently large size. large size. But they retain the required level of essential oil glands, which are present, at the same time, not only in the foliage, but also in young birch shoots.

Young large shoots retain high elasticity, thanks to which whippings with such a broom are easily tolerated by a bathhouse visitor.

The correct time for harvesting determines the quality, service life, aroma and softness of brooms. For example, if you collect the branches too early, subsequent steaming will make the broom flimsy, short-lived and slippery.

If there are earrings, the harvesting period has been missed

Just the batch that I collected at the end of May turned out to be like rubber. It’s just that the broom turned out to be very soft and actually more slimy, at first I thought that a lot of soap got on the broom.

And the batch that I prepared very late - the leaves are much darker, the smell is not the same and the leaves fly off almost immediately. It turns out that you are steaming with branches - it hurts.

A properly prepared product will “hold the sheet” for as long as possible.

Dry weather is chosen for harvesting.

If the foliage is moistened with dew or rainwater, when dried it will collapse, curl, fly around, and darken. If it rained the day before, it is better to wait a few days, and only after that start collecting branches for making brooms.

In practice best properties have two-year-old branches growing close to the ground. It is convenient to use pruning shears for cutting. But you can also use a knife or an ax.

Where and how to collect branches for brooms?

Okay, when the preparation of brooms for the bath begins, we have decided. But where to collect these same branches? This question is of great interest to those who live in a big city. And the answer is obvious.

To assemble branches, choose an environmentally friendly place, away from highways and other pollutants.

Bath brooms are traditionally collected from weeping birch. Typically, these trees have a fairly impressive height, while possessing long, strong and quite flexible branches.

Beautiful brooms are made from the branches of young and previously unblooming birch trees - such trees have the most delicate leaves.

Advice! When choosing branches, make sure that the upper side of the leaves is not rough, the branches are straight and rather thin, and the leaves themselves are velvety and tender.

For greater convenience, the collector can climb a tree, bend it down, tie it to some nearby tree and collect the required number of branches. Birch is quite flexible and durable, so such manipulations, provided they are carried out carefully, will not cause harm.

We have prepared branches, what to do next?

This often happens: they brought branches home and tied brooms. Yes, tighter. We hung it under the canopy and use it when we go to the bathhouse. This is possible, but then the broom may dry out incorrectly, and you will also have to bandage it. Since the branches have dried out and decreased in size, then the broom simply flies apart.

Important! There is no need to immediately tie the collected branches too tightly.

The material is hung on a strong rope under a protective canopy so that direct contact with the sun is excluded. There should be a draft in the room. After a week, the brooms are drying out quite thoroughly.

In this state, they can be placed tightly on shelves in a dry, ventilated room, for example, a dressing room or a barn.

It is better that the finished bath broom looks like a fan, and not looks like a broom. To follow this recommendation, a fresh broom should be placed on the floor and turned over daily, repeating until the products are dry. Otherwise, the material may dry out or dry incorrectly.

For example, if the harvester tightly ties the birch branches from the very beginning, the leaves in the center of the broom will become dark and “burn”, which is why they will have practically no aroma.

The color of properly dried brooms is a concentrated green, pleasant matte. The branches should emit the aroma of balsamic birch oil, noticeably intensifying when steamed.

Most often, dried pieces are tied in pairs to a rope and stored in this position. You don’t have to knit brooms right away, but combine the branches into small sheaves. The sheaves are wrapped in hay and stored in the attic. Before going to the bathhouse, the required number of branches is pulled from the sheaf and tied into a broom.

We knit brooms correctly.

The image shows the step-by-step sequence of knitting a birch broom for a bath. To better understand the process, read more detailed instructions regarding this event. The necessary information is presented in the table.

Table. Knitting a birch broom.​

Work stage	Description	Photo
Preparing branches for knitting	First, lay out the dried birch branches on burlap and leave for a couple of days. Branches withered in this way are better suited for preparing birch brooms.
Definition optimal size products	At this point, everything is individual: some bathhouse attendants love massive brooms, others prefer small products. A shorter or longer broom will simply be inconvenient to use.
Cleaning up branches	At the location of the handle, knots and foliage are removed. In general, approximately a third of the total length of the product is subject to cleaning.
Assembling a broom	The cleared branches are collected together. At the same time, the product is given a flattened shape. The frame is created from thicker branches - they must be placed inside the future product. Thin pieces are laid out around the frame. Place them with the curve inward. The leaves should face the same direction and the branches should fan out. IN in this case During the bath massage, the broom will seem to “hug” the body of the steamer. One thick and dense product is enough for an average of 2-3 visits to the steam room. After this, it crumbles and becomes unusable.
Making a pen	The previously cleaned and collected branches are wrapped with twine: you squeeze the workpieces with one hand, and wind the rope with the other. There are no secrets here: the main thing is that the branches are tightly fastened. A strip of fabric is wound at the end of the handle - without it, there is a high risk of getting calluses in the future. Recommended handle length is 150 mm. Most high quality is ensured by tying the branches with twine in several rows near the foliage, and not along the length of the handle - a handle with a free end is more convenient to use, it will not slip out even with the most powerful movements.

Useful advice! When assembling the broom, add some fragrant herbs to its composition.

For example, thyme and chamomile are good, mint and black currant are also good. If nettle, spruce and other thorny plants are added, they should be placed inside the product to eliminate the risk of damage and discomfort.

Don't make the broom too heavy. At this point, be guided by your own feelings: the product should be comfortable and light just for you.

Subsequent drying and storage of brooms.

There are many ways to dry brooms. Regardless of characteristic features each method, one main thing remains general rule: brooms should dry in the shade.

Direct contact with sunlight leads to rapid burning and curling of leaves, volatilization of fragrant and beneficial components, loss of aroma and external qualities. A broom dried in the sun will fall off immediately after steaming.

There should be a moderate draft in the room. The presence of powerful drafts is unacceptable, because... because of them, the final quality of the finished brooms will also not be the best. Ideally, the chosen room should be dry, cool and dark.

While drying, brooms can be either folded or hung. To ensure uniform drying of the branches, as noted, the workpieces must be turned over daily.

The simplest drying option involves hanging brooms from a pole or even a simple rope. To provide protection from the sun, the cord is stretched under a suitable canopy.

It was previously mentioned that best shape for a broom is a fan. To ensure compliance with this recommendation, about a week after the start of drying (during this period the brooms begin to rustle a little), you need to tightly tie the collected branches and lay the workpieces tightly.

They will press together and gradually flatten, becoming like a fan. The method involving drying in hay requires some clarification. Firstly, the hay must be sufficiently dried and fresh. The products are laid in circular layers.

The foliage should be directed directly to the center of the stack. Fragrant hay is laid between the layers. Drying under such conditions contributes to maximum preservation of aroma, color, as well as shape and quality characteristics.

It is possible that the first harvesting experience will end in over-drying of the products. In this case, you shouldn’t get too upset and get rid of the preparations - the brooms can be “reanimated”.

To do this, firstly, the “marriage” must be steamed for a longer time (literally for several minutes), and secondly, after steaming, the product should be kept on the heater. The steam emanating from the laid stones will help rapid recovery brooms

Important! After the " resuscitation measures", be sure to remove fallen leaves from the heater.

Let's summarize.

Preparing brooms for a bathhouse is not such a difficult task. The most important thing is to choose the right time to prepare them and dry the broom well.

Even though not everything will work out the first time, but then you yourself will understand when exactly you can collect a broom and when not.

If a bath broom falls off due to repeated use, you can find an excuse for this - nothing lasts forever. Much more tragic are situations when the foliage instantly flies off after the first steaming. This state of affairs is direct evidence of a violation of the rules for harvesting birch brooms.

Having prepared brooms, ensure their proper and careful storage. The room should be cool, shady and well ventilated. Violation of any of the listed recommendations will lead to yellowing and discoloration of the foliage, it will lose its aroma and freshness.

Hay is good for storing brooms, as well as for pre-drying them. In such conditions, the foliage will be even more saturated useful elements, due to which its aroma will noticeably improve.

For storage in urban areas, you can use plastic or paper bags and vacuum packaging.

Practice also shows that it is best to prepare brooms with a small reserve. However, you shouldn’t be too zealous either: it’s much more pleasant to use a fragrant and fresh broom every time.

And that’s all for us, I hope our article has become a good guide for you on how to properly prepare brooms for a bathhouse. Leave your comments below and also join us on Odnoklassniki and support us on our channel in Yandex.Zen.

Bye everyone and see you later.

Preparing brooms for a bath: timing and how to prepare them correctly. updated: July 20, 2018 by: Subbotin Pavel

The best time to harvest birch brooms is the beginning of summer. It is popularly believed that you can tear branches from a birch tree for a broom immediately after the Trinity Day, which is also celebrated in June. But this calendar principle cannot be taken as a basis, since weather conditions change every year. Sometimes the heat sets in from the very beginning of May, and sometimes real summer doesn’t arrive until the end of June.

It is the weather that influences the formation of birch foliage. This factor must be taken into account first. Branches for a bath broom must be selected flexible and thin, and most importantly, elastic. Otherwise, the broom in the steam room will either break or whip painfully across the body and cause discomfort instead of pleasure. The leaves on them should be bright green, still quite light. The color indicates the age of the leaves; they should be fresh, not old.

Bath attendants advise determining the suitability of birch foliage for a broom not only by color, but also by taste. A good, correct leaf should not be bitter. If this is the case, don't be upset. You just have to wait a little longer.

The most important thing is that the foliage is young, but already gaining summer energy. There is a lot of juice in such leaves, so a birch broom is well suited for giving a massage in a bathhouse, patting a person on the back not with force, but frequent movements. A broom tied at this time will last a long time. If you pick branches with already mature leaves, they will fall off very quickly, and you will have to buy a new broom.

There are other types of brooms - oak, fir, eucalyptus. However, birch is the most common tree in Russia. That’s why birch brooms are so popular in Russian baths.

A good broom has a good day

Birch brooms are used in a bathhouse not only to adjust the temperature, but also to add heat directly to the body to steam the skin well. The bathhouse in Rus' has always been the main hospital. Here people got rid of illnesses and illnesses. And birch strengthens the body, disinfects, and helps with colds, kidney and lung diseases. Therefore, it is also important to properly prepare birch brooms so that they do not lose their beneficial properties.

Not only does the time of year matter, but also the time of day when you cut the branches. It is best to do this in the afternoon, towards evening. Morning dew on the leaves causes them to darken. And it’s even better to choose a day that is not rainy, dry. Properly plucked branches can be dried. You just can’t do this in the sun. Drying must occur naturally V indoors.

A person who has visited a bathhouse at least once knows that you can’t get by without a broom. Only with the help of this integral attribute of the bath can you get not only pleasure from the procedure, but also the maximum effect.

Many people believe that they should only visit the bathhouse in the evening, as it relieves fatigue and has a relaxing effect. But if you take a rowan broom with you to the steam room, you can achieve the opposite effect, that is, you can cheer up well. Rowan has a stimulating effect on nervous system, remarkably tones, charges the body with energy and strength for the whole day.

But of course, the most popular in our country is the birch broom. Its difference from other brooms is that it absorbs water well and does not slip off the body. It is simply necessary for those who have aching joints, but that’s not all of it healing properties. Birch helps with illnesses respiratory system: cleanses the bronchi, helps with coughs, removes phlegm.

Oak brooms also have medicinal properties. Hypertensive patients are advised to visit the bathhouse with them. They will also help solve problems associated with excessive oily skin. Oak brooms save you from stress and depression. Oak is famous

Bath brooms now, as before, receive special attention. It is simply impossible to imagine a bathhouse without them, since it will no longer be her, but something else. In fact, steamers are deprived of the emotional and healing effect, so you need to know when to prepare brooms for a bath and how to do it.

But only the correct preparation of brooms for a bath, when all the conventions are met, can be beneficial - help you improve your health and get real pleasure from the procedures. Otherwise, you will simply “whip” yourself with wooden branches, and even damage your skin. This is not just a bath tool, it can be called a complex design, the basis of which is laid at the stage when it is necessary to prepare brooms for the bath.

The deadline for preparing brooms for a bath is very important and cannot be missed. Only then can you get that one from them.

During the period when brooms are prepared for the bathhouse, almost all parts of the plant - leaves, buds, thin branches - begin to be filled with useful medicinal substances.

In addition, they are obtained:

• durable;
• elastic;
• soft,

and the leaves on the branches will hold on as tightly as possible. Such a “tool” will be able to withstand more than one steam room, which is also important.

What kind of broom is there?

Their range and price are quite diverse, everyone can choose exactly which one they like best. At the same time, you can take into account the opinion of “bath experts” who claim that each of them has its own healing properties.

The most common are considered to be:

• birch;
• oak;
• eucalyptus;
• linden trees

Less commonly used:

• nettle;
• fir;
• cedar;
• juniper;
• from wormwood;
• cherry shoots;
• rowan;
• ashen;
• aspen;
• from bird cherry.

Also in lately Combination options have gained popularity, when a few aromatic or medicinal plants are added to the main components:

• linden;
• mint;
• St. John's wort;
• fireweed;
• hyssop;
• lemon balm;
• nettle;
• tansy;
• chamomile;
• currants;
• raspberries

When they are steamed in a bathhouse, the aromas of coniferous forests, garden and meadow plants appear.

Tip: Place stinging and thorny branches inside, except when stinging poultices are needed during the treatment.

Preparation - general knowledge

The most optimal time when it is better to prepare brooms for a bathhouse is considered to be the time of flowering of the grass. During this period, the leaf becomes tender, soft and fragrant, and also already strengthened.

Start preparing on the 49th day after Easter - Trinity Sunday, which usually occurs at the beginning of summer. Best time– the first half of the day after dew in dry weather. Finish on “Ilyin’s Day”, August 2, because according to folk beliefs after this day they no longer have healing power, except eucalyptus and oak.

Advice: make sure that the leaf holds well and there are no resin or thorns on the branches.

When you need to prepare brooms for a bath, also consider next factor, do not use growing raw materials:

• next to the road;
• near industrial enterprises;
• close to high voltage lines.

Rules

1. Treat your plants with care; do not cut off all the branches with your own hands, but only those that are necessary.
2. Choose young plants that are approximately 2-3 years old; their branches bend well.
3. Birch that grows near water, which is called “weeping”, is especially valued:
   
   • the best ones are to take branches close to the ground;
   • shoots should be thin, flexible, straight, hanging and long;
   • the sheet should be velvety, not rough.
4. Cut side shoots using pruning shears for convenience.
5. Do not transport brooms in bags or other containers. It is better to tie them with a rope and leave them open.
6. As it says folk instructions, upon arrival, they must be immediately untied so that they do not pack together, otherwise they will not become elastic and loose.
7. You can start knitting only 2-3 days after they have dried in the utility room, where they should be protected from direct sunlight.
8. Sort branches by length before tying.
9. Clear about a third of the leaves from the butt of each branch, then the broom will disintegrate less and will be enough for 2-3 steam rooms.

Birch

Most often it is oak, which is no coincidence.

It is no longer a secret that birch has long been used in folk medicine and in modern times as a means:

• diuretic;
• diaphoretic;
• restorative for colds, as well as during surgical operations;
• disinfectant.

You can find birch almost everywhere in the vastness of our country; more than 100 species grow here. Steamers love it because of its small and soft leaves, which easily glide over the body during the procedure and can be used by everyone without restrictions.

Blank

May is the best time to prepare brooms for a birch bath, when young leaves appear on the branches. By Trinity, the shoots will have already collected the required amount of juice and the emerging foliage will reach the required size.

If you miss the moment when to prepare brooms for the bathhouse, they will no longer give the expected result. healing effect, and the leaves will quickly fall off.

Application

Birch branches are flexible and long, so they require certain knowledge and skills to use in a steam room. Sometimes, to make it easier to use, it is “strengthened” with several oak branches, which are placed inside. Now the “tool” will not be so flexible, but this will not affect the efficiency in any way.

Oak

It has anti-inflammatory, astringent and antiseptic properties. A broom made from oak branches is more durable in use than a birch broom, and is heavier, which allows it to produce more steam. Recommended for people with skin problems, such as hives or eczema, as well as those who suffer from excessive sweating of the feet and hands.

You have high blood pressure and don't know what to do? Use an oak broom in the steam room; of course, before doing this, you should consult a doctor.

Blank

You need to know when to prepare oak brooms for a bath in order to fully benefit from their use. The best option– from June to September.

At the same time, when preparing oak brooms for a bath, you should take into account its weight and volume, so select the branches in such a way that they are convenient to use. Remember, due to their characteristics, they are much more difficult to use, especially after steaming.

Tip: if you want more humidity in the steam room and thick steam, take an oak broom with its broad-leaved branches.

Lime

The most Russian bath broom is made from linden.

The wood of this tree was also used in ancient times:

• for the construction of a bathhouse;
• benches, shelves, tubs were also made from it;
• they made mats and washcloths.

Pay attention!
The aroma of a linden broom in a bathhouse is reminiscent of the smell of an apiary, where there is fresh honey and propolis.

Healing properties of linden

• Helps fight diseases respiratory tract, for example, tea treats chronic cough, sore throat, etc.;
• General strengthening and sedative;
• Linden blossom cleanses the skin of acne, various rashes, and can remove freckles;
• Linden decoction, honey and tea are used to strengthen brittle hair and skin whitening.

Early spring is the period when it is the most appropriate time to prepare linden bath brooms. At this time, the plant begins to flower.

Eucalyptus

The end of summer - the beginning of autumn, the period when it is already possible to prepare a broom for a bath from eucalyptus. In this case, use only the twig-like type of plant. It helps with diseases of the respiratory system, neuralgia and joint pain, heals wounds well and reduces pain.

Two or three uses are enough. Plus, it's hard to find anything better for natural inhalation.

Tip: When using, reinforce the eucalyptus broom with oak branches to make it easier to use.

Addition

In the form of brooms, you can use shoots and branches of bushes or bunches of different medicinal herbs. For example, nettle, cherry, mint are suitable for this. Wormwood, currant and others. Prefabricated brooms are also made when they are excessively flexible, like eucalyptus or birch.

They are in no way inferior in their healing characteristics to similar options.

When making a choice, remember that the use of a broom depends on its flexibility and shape:

1. Massive oak brooms generate more steam. They should be moved with caution so as not to burn the body.
2. Soft and long - require more sweeping and powerful movements.
   
3. When you use a broom yourself, you get not only a healing effect, but also physical activity. Together, this will improve blood circulation and metabolic processes in the body and will make it possible to lose excess weight.

Conclusion

Preparation of brooms - important stage preparation for bath procedures. Every tree at some point becomes a storehouse of healing properties, so this moment should not be missed. In the video presented in this article you will find additional information on this topic.

Birch brooms are the most popular bath accessories. They are distinguished by the flexibility of their branches, the velvet surface of their leaves and fragrant aroma , which together gives an aromatic and healing effect.

Birch brooms are the most common bath brooms, as they have different beneficial properties. An incorrectly assembled workpiece will lose all its healing qualities. The procurement procedure has its own characteristics and rules, compliance with which is mandatory.

Fragrant birch brooms have been used in steam rooms for centuries. They have distinctive features, which make them universal medicine from all diseases.

Bath – effective procedure cleansing and healing the body, and together with a birch broom it becomes a preventive measure viral diseases, a means of cleansing and complex therapy.

They are soft in structure, have a pronounced aroma, hold up well when used and can be steamed more than once.

The benefits of birch brooms for the body are invaluable. They are not only used in cosmetology to cleanse pores and remove excess salts, but also have a strong medicinal effect. The porous structure of the sheets perfectly absorbs sweat.

Tree bark contains essential oils which have a cleansing effect: remove waste and toxins from the body, eliminate excess salts in joints and stimulate blood circulation. To preserve these properties, they must be properly prepared and steamed. They have a complex effect:

• Antimicrobial;
• Expectorant;
• Anti-inflammatory;
• Antiseptic;
• Wound healing;
• Cleansing.

When exposed to high temperatures, essential oils are released from the bark of the branches, which are especially valued in massage. They have a light texture, penetrate well deep into the skin and remove toxins, and also have a relaxing effect and remove excess salts. Oils intensively affect the surface of the skin, giving it elasticity and eliminating any inflammation and rashes.

Birch essential oils have a beneficial effect on hair. They are absorbed into the structure of the hair and scalp, giving hair strength, shine and thickness. It is not without reason that birch decoctions are often used in cosmetology, because the substances in their composition are perfectly absorbed by the body and penetrate the skin, improving blood circulation and nutrition.

Birch contains various useful substances, which open up better in the bath and have a more pronounced effect. Such substances include:

• Vitamins A, B, C, E, K, PP, etc.;
• Antioxidants;
• Balsamic oils;
• Fatty acids;
• Flavonoids;
• Organic acids;
• Tannins;
• Microelements, etc.

Important! Birch brooms are a universal anti-inflammatory, expectorant and antimicrobial agent, but all these properties are lost if they are not collected according to technology.

Steam room massage: what are the health benefits?

A massage with a birch broom in the steam room allows the pores of the leaves to open and the bark to release all its oils, so the procedure has a beneficial effect on the entire body.

During the massage, the leaves stick to the body, but do not rush to remove them, they remove toxins and absorb salts along with sweat. Thanks to its elastic structure, it can be used more than once without losing its properties.

The main indications for the use of birch brooms in baths are diseases of the upper respiratory tract (bronchitis, asthma), joint pain, inflammation of the biliary system, skin rashes etc.

Main medicinal properties:

• Remove toxins from the body;
• Increases skin elasticity and tone;
• Stimulates kidney function;
• Removes mucus from the lungs;
• Eliminate inflammation and acne;
• Improve blood circulation.

Using a birch broom in a bathhouse is comparable to inhalation, since birch oils penetrate deeply into the lungs and stimulate expectoration. Massage with a broom improves blood circulation and improves skin tone. It has various beneficial properties, and under the influence of high temperature in the bath, all its properties are enhanced.

When to cut brooms for a birch bath

According to traditional custom, the period of harvesting birch brooms for the bath begins 2 weeks after the Holy Trinity, that is, in mid-June. But this rule not entirely accurate, since due to the peculiarities of the weather in different regions, by the time the right moment arrived, the birch leaves did not have time to get stronger, but the buds were already forming.

June–July is considered a suitable time, but experienced bath attendants claim that by the third week of July, birch leaves become hard.

Attention! Harvesting is carried out only in sunny weather. The assembled wet wigs will have bad smell.

The time for harvesting birch brooms begins at the beginning of June, maximum in the middle of June. When to harvest from birch can be determined by the condition of the leaves.

For the preparation you need delicate, velvety, slightly downy leaves. If they become hard, it is too late to collect the broom. He will scratch and leave small cuts when used in a bath.

If, on the contrary, you choose leaves that are too tender, they will fall off the branches during drying. And if the leaves don’t fall off, the broom itself will become slippery and unpleasant to the touch.

Collection rules: key points

Traditionally, collection carried out from the so-called weeping birch. These are tall trees with strong and long branches. The most suitable are birch trees that have not bloomed; they have more elastic twigs and velvet leaves. Choose branches that grow in the shade; their leaves are more delicate.

Advice! Choose trees that stand in the shade, near bodies of water. Their branches and leaves are more juicy and tender.

Do not cut the entire bunch from one tree. Firstly, in this way you are harming it, and secondly, it will be impossible to use it for mating anymore, since its branches will become stiffer and the leaves will become coarser. How to make a bath broom from birch:

• Collect branches from different trees in the same area;
• Choose branches that are lowest to the surface of the pond;
• Do not cut branches where there are flowers, they will be tough;
• Branches should be straight, no longer than 60 cm;
• Cut branches in one motion without damaging the structure of the branch;
• Use sharp scissors and be careful not to damage the cut branches.

Before knitting a broom, you need to dry the branches a little in the shade.

Carefully! Do not use wire for garter, only thread, otherwise you will get scratched in the steam room. Do not tie the rods too tightly; they will not dry well.

How to dry properly so that the leaves do not fly off

Properly drying birch brooms should be in the shade on outdoors. The brooms are hung by the base in the shade, on the veranda or in the garden, and dried in this position for 5-6 days.

Avoid exposure to the sun as it will dry out the leaves and cause them to curl.

When the leaves become brittle and breakable, it means that the broom is already dry and you need to immediately put it away for storage, otherwise the leaves will fall off.

Advice! Before drying, place the brooms under a press for several days, turning them over periodically, so that excess moisture will be released from the leaves and branches.

How to store birch brooms for a bath?

A prerequisite for their storage is a dark, cool, well-ventilated room with optimal humidity. The ideal option is a haystack. They are placed inside with leaves so that the handles are on the outside and placed in a circle.

Also, an attic is suitable for this purpose, but it must be poorly lit. Can be stored in the dressing room. A glazed balcony is suitable as an alternative, but you should minimize sun exposure and place brooms in cardboard boxes

Advice! You can extend the shelf life of brooms by sprinkling salt on top of them.

It is better to store them by the handle, so as not to damage the structure of the broom. Separate each one from each other so that they are ventilated and do not “suffocate”. Be sure to avoid drafts, otherwise they may crumble.

Basic errors during procurement

If after the first steaming the broom falls off, it means that a mistake was made when preparing or storing it. The main mistakes when preparing brooms are due to a lack of experience and neglect of recommendations. Even the slightest failure to comply with harvesting rules can cause the fragility of a birch broom. TO typical mistakes include:

• Incorrect time for collecting rods. Optimal time for collecting branches is determined by leaves. If you collect them earlier than expected or later, it will fall off. The best time to collect is mid-June, but you need to pay more attention to the leaves.
• Incorrect drying. If you dry the branches in the sun, then all the leaves will certainly curl up and fall off. The broom must dry for a week in the shade, otherwise the leaves will wither or dry out.
• Using wet branches. The rods should be collected in sunny weather. If you use wet branches, an unpleasant odor will appear and the branches themselves will become stiff.

Advice! Do not wash branches before harvesting. All dust will be washed away during use in the bath.

If you are making a preparation for the first time, then it is better to tie a couple of brooms and, following all the recommendations, collect, tie and store them as expected, so as not to be upset if something does not work out.

Useful video instructions

See how to make a birch broom for a bath:

How to choose the right one when purchasing?

If it is not possible to make a broom yourself, then you can purchase a ready-made one. They are inexpensive and in terms of quality you can find an excellent option. To do this, you should know how to choose the right broom when purchasing:

• Turn the bunch leaves side down and shake a little. If a lot of leaves fall off, it means that the harvesting technology was violated.
• Touch the leaf; it should be dry, but not crumble in your hand.
• A well-made bundle should fit in your hand. The lower branches are specially trimmed to make it comfortable to hold.
• Smell the broom: the presence of a smell of dampness or mold is a sign of improper preparation and violations of storage conditions.

The bunch should be tight, but not too tight, so that the air can circulate and the leaves can ventilate.

How to properly steam a broom so that it lasts for several times

To feel all the benefits, you need to know about birch. A dry bundle can be steamed in two ways:

• Place the leaves in boiling water and leave for half an hour. During this time they should soften. If the rods leave marks when used, you still need to keep the bundle in boiling water.
• Place the leaves in cold water and wrap in a wet cloth. Then the bundle should be placed in a bag overnight. Before the steam room, you should place it in boiling water for a couple of minutes, and then you can use it.

Dry brooms need to be steamed well so that they do not leave marks on the skin, but at the same time, the main thing is not to over-expose them so that they do not become sour.

Advice! Do not throw away the water in which the broom was steamed. It can be used to rinse hair.

How to steam fresh brooms?

There is no need to steam fresh birch brooms. Indeed, as soon as you have tied a broom, you can immediately use it in the bathhouse. It can be soaked in water at room temperature for 5-7 minutes, but under no circumstances in hot water. If you pour boiling water over the bundle, then fresh leaves They'll just cook and disappear.

It is important to wet them a little, but not to let them gain too much moisture, which can also lead to shedding. Fresh preparations may leave painful marks on the skin, so you can keep it in the bath for a while high temperature so that the pores of the leaves open, and then immediately begin to use.

How to steam properly for health and pleasure

The process of using a birch broom differs from using bunches from other tree species. This is due to the tenderness of birch leaves and the elasticity of the branches.

You cannot whip the birch too hard, otherwise marks will appear. It should be used like a fan, which attracts heat. There are several recommendations to consider:

• The broom in the bathhouse should always be wet. Once it dries, it needs to be re-wetted in water.
• Touches should be superficial and soft. No harsh slaps. They can leave burns and wounds.
• You should barely touch the broom to the skin and try to avoid blows from branches.
• At temperatures above 60 degrees, you need to keep the broom wet at all times; if not in use, immediately put it in water.

To get all the benefits of birch, you should massage correctly. Using soft, light and painless blows, you need to work the entire surface of the body. If you feel discomfort, then you should not hit, but stroke it - the effect will be the same.

You can use bundles to collect warm air. To do this, lift it up and lower the air flow to the lumbar or back area. The broom should touch the body, at least a little. Otherwise, hot air will stagnate between the leaves and the body, causing burns.

Slight, but sharp, whip-like movements with the tip of the branches are very useful. The procedure should end with light stroking to soothe the steamed skin.

A useful contrast is when, after a hot steam room, the bath attendant takes a cool shower. Thus, blood circulation improves and the effect of using birch branches is enhanced.

Alternative options

Birch - great solution for a bath. It contains all the useful substances, valuable components and healing properties that are fully revealed in the steam room. If you are not a fan of birch brooms, then they can be replaced with bunches of other tree species. An excellent alternative to birch:

• Linden;
• Oak;
• Eucalyptus;
• Bamboo.

In their structure and properties, oak and linden are not inferior to birch. They also have a beneficial effect on the body’s functioning and improve functionality. internal organs and help remove toxins, salts and waste.

Eucalyptus will fill the steam room with a delightful aroma of pine needles and strengthen inhalation properties baths You can use any type of tree for the steam room, the main thing is that during use they do not leave marks, burns or cause pain, because the bath should, first of all, bring pleasure.

- a storehouse of useful properties. He has therapeutic effect, improves the effect of the bath and promotes cleansing and healing of the body. Properly collected and prepared brooms will bring many health benefits.

- an excellent massager. Very often used in SPA procedures. Such types of massage as Creole and Old Samurai are widely known.