Does a sauna have any anti-viral effect ?

[Blue Bubble]

Given the body's own mechanism of increasing body temperature (i.e. fever), might this suggest that regular sauna usage might be beneficial in fighting viral infections ?

Edited to correct my failing language skills!

 

[LW]

Given the body's own mechanism of increasing body temperature (i.e. fever) suggest that regular sauna usage might be beneficial in fighting viral infections ?

Never noticed any difference, but there's an old Finnish folk saying: "Jos ei viina, sauna ja terva auta, niin tauti on kuolemaksi" that translates to "if an illness can't be cured with booze, sauna, and tar, then it will be fatal".

 

[ChristineR]

It was the standard treatment for syphilis in Shakespeare's time. That's literary knowledge, not medical. I really don't know if it worked.

 

[NeilC]

Apparantly recent research has shown that ginseng has a positive effect on avoiding colds and lessening their impact when you get them. As good as some antiviral drug apparantly.