Han-Jeung-Mak
Korean Saunas are a Treasure Trove of Professional Skin Care Treatments. Heat therapy has long been an important part of folk medicine in Korea and it continues to the present day.
Korean Saunas are famous for their kiln shape, which dates back to the 15th century. Known as the Han Jeung Mak, this dark cave like sauna with a small low opening was heated with by burning the wood of pine trees. The idea of using heat for healing has a long history as it is believed that prior to this, people would crawl into pottery kilns to benefit from the warmth.
Bathing is part of the overall sauna experience. Korean Saunas offer a range of bathing options, all of which have their own special healing properties and benefits.
Mud is one of the favorite substances used for both health and beauty. People cover their body in mud, allowing it to dry in a heating machine for about 20 minutes before showering. A mud bath is usually around 42 degrees, and sitting in one for a short time ensures profuse sweating.
Seaweed baths are also popular and they are made of various types of seaweed and come in a variety of consistencies for baths and body wraps.
At home, you may like to indulge in some of these special Korean style baths: soaking in a yellow earth bath for about 15 minutes (improves the quality of the skin and it is also used for massage), bathing with pine needles is refreshing and helpful in reducing skin irritations, a carrot bath is also good to rejuvenate the skin, and there are also cucumber, rice bran and salt bathes.
Korean Saunas are an institution, the latest form being the jimjilbang which emerged in its present form during the early nineties. The jimjilbang is a Korean Sauna comprised of facilities to watch TV, play games or surf the web, visit a beautician for some professional skin care treatments or visit the hairdresser, use the gym, eat, sleep and bathe – 24 hours a day. Some also have swimming pools and indoor driving ranges for golfers.
Korean Saunas are divided into male and female sections for using the actual sauna, getting a body scrub, massage and showering. In this area where everyone is naked, the dad’s take their sons and mothers take their daughters to their respective sections.
Everything in Korean Saunas is provided for a cost – shampoo, soap and exfoliation materials. If you feel like a special scrub down by the professional ‘scrubbing person’ there is an extra fee and you make a booking when you enter the sauna.
You can also have a massage after the scrub which really leaves you feeling like you are walking on air – the world seems to be a whole different place after wards. If you are looking for depression relief, I can recommend this approach.