When to prepare oak brooms for a bath. How to knit and dry oak brooms correctly? When to prepare brooms, timing

Bath broom - what is it? Just an attribute, a symbol, or a useful and irreplaceable thing? Definitely the second answer is correct. The broom is an integral part of a real Russian bathhouse, without which it is impossible to imagine it. The sacrament itself, one might say, which occurs in the steam room with our body, includes procedures with a broom.

So why is it needed? For our health! Brooms different breeds Since ancient times, our ancestors have used it to treat various diseases. And what matters is exactly what plant this bath accessory is made from. Each branch has its own strength, which must be taken into account when preparing brooms. It is necessary to pay attention to other factors - the time of year, the maturation of plants, etc. Only a properly made broom will help achieve the goal and bring maximum benefit to a person.

Everyone knows that they are needed in a Russian bathhouse. But for what? Oddly enough, not everyone can answer this question. Many people think that a broom is needed to fool around, whipping each other. But what's the secret? They didn’t just come up with this one interesting ritual. If you just hit each other on the back, the bathhouse will turn into torture and is unlikely to bring any pleasure. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly know true purpose broom in the steam room.

And they use it for massage. Similar procedure will improve blood circulation not only on the surface of the skin, but also in the tissues. Lymph, blood and interstitial fluid are better distributed throughout the body. And phytoncides and other beneficial substances that “live” in the leaves of the broom provide the skin with youth, beauty and health.

How to properly massage with a broom? You can use different techniques:

Whiplash;
Stroking;
Compress;
Plowing, etc.

With the first, everything is clear; many have whipped their comrades in the bathhouse more than once. You need to stroke it with gentle movements, running the broom along the entire body: from the neck to the heels, and then back. The compress is very easy to make.

The broom is lifted up, capturing more hot air. Then it is lowered and a short time pressed to the body, usually to the back. When fanning with a broom, you do not need to touch the skin at all. They simply fan a person with it, pushing hot air towards the body.

We will explain below why each type of broom is useful specifically.

When to prepare brooms, timing

People began to prepare bath brooms for the Christian holiday - Trinity Day. It comes on the 50th day after one of the most important holidays, Easter. According to popular beliefs, for 2 weeks after Trinity, you can make brooms for the bath. But it is not so. The fact is that the procurement period depends on the region of the country, as well as weather conditions specific year.

The main criterion is the readiness of the leaves.

They should be in the juice, strong, aromatic. For birch, this is usually 2-3 decades of the first summer month. You need to collect the branches before the earrings appear. The leaves must be tender, not rough. When you pull the sheet, it should not fall off, but only part of it will come off.

Best for oak the right time– July, sometimes the first days of August. The leaves should darken a little and become stronger. If the acorns have already appeared, it is too late to prepare the broom.

Types and varieties of brooms

Contrary to what many people think, bathhouse brooms are made not only from birch. They come in linden and oak, juniper and rowan, as well as eucalyptus and walnut. Compositions of herbs are also used, for example, wormwood and tansy, lemon balm, nettle, sage, mint and bamboo.

The most famous and popular. It is soft, gentle, pleasant to the body. This broom is able to cleanse the skin, it removes toxins and impurities. Procedures with birch are useful for kidney problems and bronchial asthma. The broom has diaphoretic, strengthening, and disinfectant properties.

It is not prepared very often. But in vain, because such a broom has many useful properties. It is used in the bath for skin diseases, increased sweating. This product has anti-inflammatory properties.

It has a simply wonderful effect on the skin - it thickens, tones, makes it firmer and more elastic. In addition, a bath with such a broom helps to lower blood pressure and calm down in case of disturbances. nervous system. Oak brooms are heavier and denser than birch brooms. Fanning them produces more steam, which will appeal to those who like hot bathhouses.

Such bath accessories are prepared during the flowering period of this unusually fragrant tree. Interestingly, for a long time, linden products have been actively used in the bathhouse. The buildings themselves, as well as beds and shelves, were built from the wood of this plant.

During and after the procedures in Rus' they drank mead, tea, linden kvass and honey. Using a linden broom, you massage your back, and this has a great effect on the kidneys and urinary tract.

Steamed linden branches and flowers have a positive effect on the respiratory tract - they dilate the bronchi, soothe, and heal wounds.

This representative is perhaps the most rude, prickly, and tough. But that doesn't make it any less useful. The main thing is to find a common language with such a broom. Then you can get from him only the best in the steam room. If you use it incorrectly, you can injure your skin and scratch it.

Such brooms are not prepared prematurely, but immediately before the procedure in the steam room. It should not dry out, compared to deciduous brooms, because then its properties will not be able to be restored. Juniper can be used to make not only brooms, but also flooring for sunbeds in a bathhouse.

How is it useful?

A broom made from such an evergreen species is indispensable for gout, radiculitis, as well as neuralgia and even rheumatism.
It is also useful for the skin due to its properties: antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and also bactericidal.
When the flu and GRVI are raging, it’s worth taking a steam bath with just such a broom.

By the way, he has another secret. Juniper broom- Just an indispensable tool for the prevention and even treatment of allergies of various origins.

Making it yourself is not easy due to the lack of this tree in the forests. But still, despite high price, this type of bath accessory has been very popular lately. And all because of its irreplaceable healing properties. In a steam room with eucalyptus you can relieve pain from radiculitis, bruises, neuralgia, stretch marks, and muscle inflammation. The evaporation from this plant, that is, inhalation, is simply a magical remedy for respiratory tract. Eucalyptus is also beneficial for the skin because it contains tannins. But a broom can be made exclusively from one variety of eucalyptus - twig-shaped.

Herbal broom

It can be used for massage and simply as a fragrance - hanging in a bathhouse. Passing in pairs, the herbs release their beneficial properties, which we inhale and pass into our body. The most popular herbal brooms include nettle, mint, wormwood and tansy.

The plant helps relieve fatigue, normalize blood pressure, activate blood circulation and metabolic processes in the body. Even chronic nervous tension will disappear when regular use such a broom. It should be harvested in May or early June. The leaves should not be too hard and burning. After all, the effect of a broom should not be traumatic, but stimulating, stimulating the skin.

This herb is usually added to brooms made from tree branches or laid on sunbeds or hung in a steam room. The aroma emanating from the branches in the steam room relieves difficulty breathing and helps cleanse the body. Essential oils extracted from wormwood are very beneficial for human body. This broom is prepared during the period after flowering. The stems should be strong, but not too rough. After collection, the grass cannot be wetted, but is immediately sent to dry.

Brooms with mint are pressed onto the skin of the face, neck, hands to soothe and rejuvenate. Mint components also help dilate blood vessels and make breathing easier, especially if you have asthma. The plant has a bactericidal effect.

This broom is an indispensable attribute for aromatherapy in a steam room. You can collect mint for the bath throughout the summer, choosing thick stems. This plant should also not be wetted before drying, nor should it be collected during rain or heavy dew.

In the bathhouse, such a broom will help fight headaches, rheumatic pain, and menstruation disorders. It also promotes wound healing, relieves chronic liver diseases, genitourinary system, with regular use. The herb can be added to compositions or hung in a steam room as an aromatherapy agent. It is necessary to collect tansy during flowering. Dry without rinsing with good ventilation under the ceiling.

Brooms are also made from other trees, shrubs, and herbs:

Canadian maple is used for this, which anesthetizes, cleanses, heals wounds, and tones.
Coniferous brooms are good for aromatherapy; they are good for the respiratory tract, spine, and joints. Christmas trees, fir, and cedar are suitable for this.
An alder broom prevents colds and benefits the skin - it cleanses, smoothes, and makes it more elastic.
You can take branches of fruit trees and bushes. For example, cherries, mountain ash, currants. They fill the steam room with a unique aroma after soaking and are good for the skin, joints, urinary system, and lymph nodes.

How to properly prepare a high-quality bath broom

To assemble and tie the “correct” broom, you need to follow several rules:

Grasses and branches should be cut when the dew has disappeared. The weather should be clear. Simply put, the raw materials must be taken dry.
The branches should be elastic, bend well, and young.
Immediately after cutting, the branches are laid out in 1 layer in the shade so that they wilt. When transporting, you should not pack them tightly, as the leaves may overheat, become damaged and fall off.
A tied broom is placed under pressure. So he gains flat shape. Only after this can it be hung. Dry the broom in a cool place with good ventilation for about 2-3 days.

It is important to remember that brooms should not be dried in the sun. This will rid them of aroma and nutrients. And after steaming, all the leaves will fall off from such a broom. Drying is not recommended in strong drafts. The brooms can be hung or laid out. In the second case, they must be turned over every day to dry evenly.

If the broom is dried well, its leaves are green and have a matte surface. It depletes the pleasant aroma, which greatly increases after the steaming procedure.

Knitting brooms is very simple. No special skills are required for this. In the lower part, all leaves and twigs are removed, leaving room for the handle. It should be no more than 5 cm thick, it will be convenient. Having collected required quantity twigs, they need to be tightly tied with twine, wrapping them at the base several times. Thicker branches lie in the middle of the broom, and thin ones - along its edges. The length of the handle can be left as convenient for you. It is better to prepare longer branches, so that later you can adjust the handle by simply cutting and trimming the edges.

Parking. How to brew a broom

Immediately before going to the steam room, the broom needs to be properly steamed. You can put it in water low temperatures for a few minutes. After this, for the same amount of time warm water and, finally, into hot water (but not boiling water). The container with the broom must be covered. Then this water is used in the steam room - it is used to water the walls or stones.

It is important to remember that fresh and semi-fresh brooms cannot be steamed. Only dry brooms undergo this procedure. By the way, if it turns out that your broom is too dry, then you need to slightly increase the steaming time.

When to prepare brooms for a bath. How to knit birch brooms: video

Well, you already want to take a steam bath with aromatic and such useful brooms? This is very good. After all, it was not for nothing that our ancestors considered the bathhouse an excellent means for relaxation, restoration, rejuvenation and healing. And if you also steam with brooms prepared with your own hands, then the benefits will definitely double! Enjoy Your Bath!

There is nothing complicated in preparing brooms for a bath, but, as in every business, there are some nuances: you need to know when it is better to knit brooms for a bath, which branches to choose, how long they should be, how to preserve brooms for the whole year without losing quality .

When to knit brooms for a bath

Our ancestors prepared raw materials for bath brooms in the first half of June - on Trinity Day after Green Christmastide. If you are far from church calendars and rituals, collect branches in early June, when the foliage has already grown and become stronger, but has not yet become faded and withered.

On church holidays or calendar dates can only be oriented by region: our country is large. In some places it’s almost summer on Trinity Sunday, and in others the leaves have barely sprung. So it’s better to focus on the condition of the foliage.

When are birch brooms harvested?

Not much time is allotted for harvesting birch brooms: a week at most. You need to have time to prepare birch branches when the leaf has already turned green, and not light green, but before the earrings bloom. If time is missed, the foliage becomes very hard and falls off greatly in the bathhouse. So the harvesting period for birch brooms is very short.

But time is not the only criterion. When choosing branches for a birch broom, you need to be guided by appearance leaf. It should have a thick green color, the plate must be flat. There should be no aphids or other pests or diseases. But, most importantly, there should be no earrings on the branches. And for greater effect, you need to cut birch branches with a broom during the specified period, but after a rain. Only the birch must already be dry, otherwise when steaming the leaf will darken and curl.

More advice from the older generation: cut a broom when the leaf on the birch tree is no larger than an old five-kopeck coin, and it should feel slightly sticky to the touch.

But with sticky leaves you get a “soapy broom”. It has an excellent effect on the skin: it becomes silky and soft. But at the same time, leave the steam room with your skin covered in mucus. Not everyone likes this feeling. So here you have to choose: either more comfortable sensations with more “mature” foliage or elastic skin.

Birch brooms harvested in May smell differently than summer ones: they add a smell very similar to the smell of propolis. At this time, there are light stripes on the skin of the twigs, which release this aroma. Such stripes are not found on all branches; they need to be selected separately. Running your hand along such a branch, you feel the tubercles - these are the very resinous odorous secretions. If anyone hasn't tried it, try it. Very pleasant sensations, although the sheet is sticky at this time.

Some bathhouse lovers especially appreciate birch brooms that grew near water - a river or lake (but not in a swamp). Such plants have long, elastic and flexible branches. Twigs, growing roots or stumps of birch trees are good. They are flexible, elastic and tender.

On trees, the lower climbing shoots are considered the best. They are cut for a broom. It is better not to cut single young ones without side branches, even despite the large, beautiful and dense leaf: it turns out to be a whip. And this is not at all what is required from a bath broom.

If you don’t need to cut more than two or three pieces of a young tree, you can harm the plant. Know when to stop - take care of nature!

Old people who love baths say that even in a birch grove you can’t take branches for a broom from every tree. But only from those whose birch bark on the trunk seems to shine a little. Moreover, the spots on the birch bark are not gray, but rather brownish in color. There are not very many such trees, but they exist. Try to find at least a few and stack the branches separately. Then evaluate the difference and next time you won’t regret it.

When preparing brooms, birch foliage should be dense and smooth. Some people recommend trying a birch leaf with your tongue. If it is rough, the branch is not suitable, if it is smooth and velvety, it is an excellent raw material.

You can navigate by the stem of a young birch leaf. If it has already turned reddish, you can cut it, but if it is green, it’s too early.

The video shows how to choose birch branches and correctly knit brooms from them.

We prepare oak brooms

The harvesting period for oak brooms is longer: starting from the end of June, and some are harvested in August and early September. Depends on the year and region. But even in the same region, it differs greatly from year to year. In some areas you have to hurry: later the foliage is affected by diseases and becomes lethargic or spotted. But sometimes, after disease damage in August-September, the foliage on the oak tree grows back. Then you can also get excellent brooms.

When harvesting an oak broom in the summer, pay attention to the condition of the leaf: it should be an even, dense green color, without spots. The main rule: there should not be an acorn yet. As when harvesting birch, branched shoots with large leaves are taken.

But there are lovers who harvest oak brooms in September. In this case, the leaf turns yellow or yellow. They say it also “works” very well.

For gourmet bathhouses, oak brooms, made from tree branches near which burdock grew, are highly prized. Their shoots are considered the most durable and flexible. Trees should grow in shady corners of the forest and be young: on old ones it is difficult to find non-knotted branches of sufficient length. The foliage should be large and abundant.

The preparation of oak brooms has its own specifics:

firstly, the cut branches are stored in a shady place for an hour and a half, and only then can they be transported;
secondly, after the oak broom is tied, you need to put pressure on it to give it the shape of a fan - this shape is the most common, but some people prefer oak brooms of the traditional spherical shape.

When to cut linden brooms

If you want a linden broom with color, you have a week and a half to prepare it. And then due to the different species blooming in different time. But in general, best period It is considered when most of the flowers have already opened. The aroma in the bathhouse is amazing.

Linden with flowers smells amazing, but they won’t be able to “work” properly - the leaf is soft

There is a linden broom and a later preparation. He also has a period of two weeks - from August 15 to September 1. This is what experts say, who claim that previously collected linden branches contain, of course, more useful substances, but the leaf on them is too soft and, when steamed, curls and wrinkles so that it is absolutely impossible to steam with it.

Preparation of coniferous brooms: spruce, juniper

Most " wide range collection" from coniferous species. There are no restrictions here. In Siberia, coniferous brooms are made both in the most severe frosts and in the summer...

Choose a warm, fine, dry day for harvesting. The branches begin to be cut after the dew has dried. They choose the young and flexible. There are no other recommendations.

How to make nettle brooms

Despite the “terrible” sting, you just need to try the nettle broom. Then you will really enjoy steaming with it. Harvesting them for the winter is problematic, except perhaps inserting a few branches into birch and oak trees. No other way. But you can steam fresh all summer long.

Young shoots without color, about 40-50 cm long, are cut off. They are made short and fluffy. It’s better to work with gloves: it stings. It turns out to be quite soft: only for one person.

There are quite a few ways to steam a nettle broom. Basically, they dip into hot (not boiling water) water for 3-5 seconds, then into cold water. All.

The second option is to dip it in cold water, then, after steaming, trample on it in the steam room with your feet, hold it over the steam, adding a ladle of water.

Regardless of how you prepare the broom, they need to “work” on the already steamed body. That is, you first need to steam with birch.

There is one thing about using a nettle broom: it strongly stains the wood. Therefore, it is better not to put it on the shelves. Bring a rug and place it on it.

All other brooms (and what they are like and how they affect the body, read the article “How to steam a broom for a bath”) are collected in the same time frame as birch brooms until August 2.

If you want to knit a broom from herbs, you need to know the timing of its flowering - at this time they have the highest concentration of useful substances.

How to choose branches for a bath broom

Branches are cut from young trees that grow in sunny, non-wetlands, away from roads and enterprises with harmful emissions.

The length of the branches is selected depending on the selected broom size. Usually it is from 40 to 70-80 cm. Whichever is convenient for you. The thickness of the handle is selected in the same way. The diameter rarely exceeds 5 cm - it is difficult to swing too large and heavy, although it is a matter of taste and habit.

The branches should be smooth, free of diseases and dried parts. The foliage is thick and juicy, not too tough. It is advisable to choose branches with two or three branches - the broom will not only be more magnificent and beautiful, it will also be denser and will “capture” steam well. When you walk over your body with such a broom, you do not whip it, but massage it.

How to knit brooms for a bath correctly

Having selected suitable branches, you can immediately collect them into brooms. Some bath lovers advise pre-soaking them for several days in an unlit, well-ventilated place. They say the branches need to be “withered.” It's easier to work with them then.

The shoots are thicker on the inside and thinner on the outside. If there is a bend on the branches (and most often this happens), then the bend should point inward. Also make sure that the matte surface of the sheet is directed inward, and the shiny surface is directed outward. It should turn out that their shiny side is directed in one direction. When folding, give it the shape of a fan or a “bouquet” - they do it in different ways. The fan broom is more common: it seems to hug the body. The feeling is pleasant.

For the handle, remove the foliage from the bottom. Its length is selected individually, but the most optimal, established experimentally, is two palm widths. It is also necessary to expose the butts of the branches so that the brooms are better preserved during use. If everything is done correctly, then one broom can be enough for two trips to the steam room.

When folding the branches, they are turned over and shaken several times so that they are distributed more evenly. For knitting, it is better to use natural materials: thick twine, hemp rope, medical bandage or other similar materials. It is better not to use metal wire: it heats up in the bathhouse and such a broom is very uncomfortable to hold in your hands.

There are several knitting techniques:

Used for knitting and clamps. Some are plastic, some are metal. They quickly tighten the handle and hold it tightly. Moreover, after drying, it will be possible to tighten it. To prevent all these puffs from rubbing your hand, then wrap the handle with thick cotton tape: sold in hardware stores, sometimes in hardware stores or haberdashery stores. You can wrap the handle with thick cotton rope (after using the broom, you can remove it and tie the next one).

There are still many ways to knit brooms. Someone is using maritime knots, which make it possible to tighten the rope after drying, someone puts two parts of the branches crosswise with the butts, then ties them not very tightly, then connects the two parts with force and ties them finally at the butt, and above. Almost every master has his own secrets. But they are very reluctant to share them. Try simple methods first, then adjust as you like. There will be your personal method of knitting a bath broom.

Proper drying

No matter how you knit the brooms, they still need to be dried. They are immediately piled up, one on top of the other. They stay like that for a day or two. They become flat under their own weight. Then they can be tied in pairs and hung on a rope or pole in a dark, well-ventilated room.

If it is possible to hang brooms in the attic, they can be tied in pairs (without cutting off the remaining twine for tying) and hung to dry on poles. The best brooms are obtained under a double roof: the heat will not “burn” the sheet, but will dry it. But ventilation must be good. If you don’t have the luxury of your own attic, you can hang the broom on a nail in a well-ventilated place. In any case, you need to find a room where it is not exposed to direct sunlight. Only under such conditions the leaf remains green and does not fall off.

With any drying method, the brooms should not be placed close to one another - there should be free space between them. At first, in order for the branches and foliage to dry evenly, they need to be turned over once or twice a day. When they are completely dry, they can be stored.

How to store bath brooms

Dried brooms can be stacked on a bookcase or shelf (the room again should be dry and well ventilated). But from time to time, the brooms need to be rearranged so that those located at the bottom are in the middle or at the top. Moreover, the brooms should not be exposed to light: the leaf will turn yellow.

If you have your own hayloft, you can stack the brooms on dry hay, placing them loosely next to each other. Cover the top with dry hay. This is how our ancestors kept them.

For apartment dwellers, there is also a storage method: make small holes in a cardboard box, put brooms into it without crushing it, alternating the handle and the crown. In this case, you also need to periodically shift them, lifting the bottom ones up.

You can also store brooms in the refrigerator: they are packaged in plastic bag or wrap it in cling film and place it on the bottom shelf, in a dark, dry corner.

As you can see, tying a bath broom yourself is not difficult. But this is just the beginning. Brooms, even the most wonderful ones, can be ruined by steaming them incorrectly. Read here how to avoid such trouble. Don’t forget to read the article, “How to take a steam bath properly.”

When to prepare bath brooms and how to knit them, how to do it correctly

The Russian bathhouse is famous throughout the world for its unique healing properties, and this fame would not be the same without the use of unique bathhouse brooms during procedures. The article will discuss how to properly prepare brooms for a bathhouse: timing, methods of knitting, nuances of drying and types of trees used.

Optimal time frame for harvesting branches

Since ancient times, it has happened that when preparing bath brooms, they were guided by the holiday of the Trinity. This Orthodox holiday falls on the 50th day after Easter. For both holidays, the date varies slightly from year to year, but usually the time for tying brooms into the bathhouse occurs in June. Christians also focused on the seventh week - the week before the holiday of Trinity. This week was called green (Green Christmastide) and ended with the Slavic holiday of agriculture. Read also: “Everything you need to know about bath brooms.”

If we speak from the point of view of the bathhouse attendant, then brooms are knitted in the summer due to the beginning of flowering of the necessary plants and abundant growth herbs The maximum effectiveness of a broom will be only when its foliage is fresh, juicy and exudes a pleasant lingering smell, while releasing various substances beneficial to the human body.

The correct timing for tying a bath broom is very important:

if you cut off the branches early, then when steaming it will become slippery, and the leaves will break off;
It is also impossible to be late in this process, since by autumn the foliage will begin to lose its strength.

If complied with optimal timing to start mating, the service life of the broom will be long, and the foliage will not fall off during use. Sometimes bath attendants, when talking about when to prepare bath brooms, advise starting this process at least 2 weeks after Trinity, since the early holiday (in early June) takes place at a time when the young foliage has not yet gained its strength.

It is also important to take into account the climatic features of the region where the bath broom is harvested.

When to cut birch and oak branches

If we are talking about how to knit brooms for a birch bath, then there is a clear period of time from the 11th to the 30th, when there are no earrings on the trees yet.

But it is necessary to take into account general state foliage:

the outer part of the sheet should not be rough, but on the contrary, it should feel soft and velvety to the touch;
when you try to pull the sheet, only a small part of it should come off, and not the entire plate.

If we talk about the timing of harvesting oak brooms for a bathhouse, then they fall in the second half of July or the beginning of August. By that time, the leaf should not only get stronger, but also acquire a rich green color in comparison with the young color that is characteristic of it at the beginning of summer

If you do not wait the right time, early mating will lead to a decrease in the strength of the oak broom. But you can’t be late either! The deadline for preparing oak brooms for a bathhouse is the time the first acorns appear.

Rules for knitting bath brooms

In addition to the timing of preparing bath brooms, there are a number of other rules that you should know in advance in order to get a strong, durable and most effective bath broom.

You can cut branches only during the dry period, since high humidity will lead to their damage during the drying process. The leaves, when the moisture begins to leave, will darken, curl and fly off. If it rains in the region during the period of harvesting branches for a broom, then it is worth cutting it a little later.

Usually, when knitting brooms for a bathhouse, they go for suitable branches away from city streets to environmentally friendly areas. The branches are pruned before lunch, when the morning dew has already dried. It is worth selecting branches that are 2 years old, which grow lowest to the ground (not to be confused with shoots at the roots).

You can trim them using a sharpened pruner. The length should be about 60 centimeters. By observing these conditions, you can get a high-quality, reliable and effective broom for several procedures.

Why is summer best time When is the best time to collect birch brooms for a bath (or oak)? Everything is quite simple. By this time, the leaves not only have time to grow, but also contain the optimal amount of essential oil glands. The branches are elastic, which ensures maximum pleasure from lashing them over a steamed human body.

Often brooms are tied using sheaf technology, pre-assembling a structure from prepared branches. An armful of branches is folded in such a way that they are divided into internal and external ones, which protect them. The structure is covered with hay on top and placed in a sheaf in a dry shed for storage. The branches are obtained exclusively for bundling a small broom for each trip to the bathhouse.

If the branches have already been prepared, then they should be tied, having first been laid out on burlap. A set of branches from already withered branches is fastened together. The thickness of the bundle can vary depending on the tastes of the bathhouse visitor, but the broom should be from 40 to 80 centimeters in length so that it is fairly easy to use.

Preparation of branches looks like this:

The branches are cleared of knots and leaves in the place where the intended handle will be located. Its length should be approximately a third of the entire broom.
Thick branches are placed inside the binding, and thin branches are covered from the outside, bending them slightly inward. The entire knitting should take on a flat shape.
It is important to ensure that when folding the foliage is directed in one direction and ultimately the bundle should resemble a fan.

By correctly performing all the steps, you can obtain a broom of sufficient thickness and density. It will be pleasant to the body and will last at least 2-3 trips to the bathhouse.

The handle is processed by wrapping the stripped part of the branches with twine. The entire area is rewound without knots and leaves, and at the end the remaining branches or material are carefully trimmed. Thus, you get a neat handle that will not lead to the formation of calluses in the process of whipping a bathhouse visitor. The optimal length is considered to be a handle of 15 centimeters, in which there is no winding under the very leaves, which allows you to make the broom more voluminous. It fits comfortably in the hand and does not slip out of the hand when clapping.

Many experts, when talking about how to prepare brooms for a bath, recommend adding mint stalks, thyme, chamomile or young shoots of black currant between the branches. This will give the product great aroma and strengthen healing effect procedures.

Sometimes, looking at a photo from a bathhouse, you can see that branches have been added to the broom coniferous trees. It’s worth saying right away that they can only be placed inside, since the needles can damage the skin when whipped.

The weight of the broom is selected according to your own feelings, but, naturally, it should have such a mass that it is easy to hold during procedures.

How to dry branches for bath brooms

There are several ways to dry branches for bath brooms, but they all have one thing in common: you need to place the cut branches in the shade. In the sun, the foliage very quickly curls and burns, and its natural aroma and color disappear. The very first trip to the bathhouse will lead to all the leaves falling off the steamed branches. Read also: "Which bamboo brooms are best to use for a bath - types and features."

The formation of drafts in the drying area of the branches is also unacceptable. Based on all of the above, we can conclude that the branches for the broom should be dried in a dark, dry and cool place. Bunches can be either hung or laid out.

Uniform drying can be ensured by periodically turning the bundles. If the broom has been dried correctly, the foliage will turn green with a matte tint, and the aroma of balsamic oil will be formed, which will intensify when steamed.

In the Russian outback, you can often find the option of drying a bath broom in a fresh sheaf of absolutely dry hay. Brooms are placed in such a sheaf in several layers in a circle. Between the layers is a layer of fragrant hay. The advantage of this drying method is that it preserves the shape of the product and all its basic qualities: smell, color, etc.

If the broom was overexposed during drying, then you should not throw it away, but you just need to steam it longer and put it on the heater before starting the procedures. After a couple of branches will reach the required conditions. After the procedures, you should not leave fallen leaves on the stove.

In modern bath complexes, you can carry out procedures using non-standard brooms, which are previously frozen and placed in vacuum packaging. Such a non-standard way of preparing brooms came from Finland.

Similar to freezing vegetables, the broom does not lose its useful qualities and aroma, which allows steaming to bring it into optimal operating condition even from a frozen state.

What not to do when preparing bath brooms

If we are talking about how to properly prepare brooms for a bathhouse, then it is worth pointing out the main mistakes of novice bathhouse attendants, which lead to the rapid fall of leaves and the transformation of a broom into an ordinary bunch of branches.

The most common mistakes:

Harvesting was done at the wrong time: if it was too early, then the leaves did not have time to get stronger, and if it was too late, they had already lost their strength.
Drying was carried out in open places under the influence of direct sun rays.
Wet branches were used, or they were washed before tying, which is absolutely forbidden to do. Dust from the broom can be washed off only after drying and always with boiling water when you first visit the bathhouse.

Bottom line

The article describes in detail how and what kind of brooms need to be prepared for visiting the bathhouse. If you follow all the recommendations presented, the products will last quite effectively for 2-3 procedures and will have the most positive effect on the body of bathhouse visitors.

Massage with a birch bath broom – excellent remedy against pain in muscles and joints, promoting faster and painless recovery after various physical activities. Birch helps normalize the condition of acne-prone skin, accelerates the healing of minor wounds and abrasions, and soothes the body as a whole.

One of the most pronounced medicinal properties of birch broom is its intense positive effect on the bronchi - the substances contained in the plant contribute to their expansion, which normalizes lung ventilation and facilitates the discharge of sputum. That is why experts especially strongly recommend the use of birch brooms for smokers and patients with asthma and allergies.

Birch leaves contain vitamins A and C, many essential oils, tannins and other useful components. So that they are fully preserved in the broom and show their potential as effectively as possible. useful action, you need to know, firstly, how to prepare birch leaves for a bathhouse, and secondly, how to properly use the ready-made device. It is this information that you are invited to familiarize yourself with as you study the information below.

Centuries-old traditions of harvesting birch brooms

In ancient times, bath brooms were traditionally prepared 1-2 weeks after Trinity Day. Typically, this holy holiday falls in June. Along with this, due to significant differences in climatic conditions in different regions of Russia, it is not worth relying on folk custom alone - in many zones the birch tree does not have time to bloom before Trinity, and a broom made from such branches is of little use.

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 the most suitable for preparing the right bath brooms.

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.

Helpful 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.

Branches can be cut sharp knife or collected by other suitable means. 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, as noted, is quite flexible and durable, so such manipulations, provided they are carried out carefully, will not cause harm.

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 laid out 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.

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. big size, but keep required level essential oil glands, present, however, 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.

Summarizing the above, we can draw the following conclusion: for preparing birch brooms, branches with strong and young leaves are used. Such foliage contains a maximum of components beneficial to humans. On the territory of Russia, depending on climate zone, the optimal time for harvesting birch brooms can range from early June to mid-July.

Choosing a time and place to collect branches

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

A high-quality broom is fragrant, durable and “holds the leaf” well.

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.

To assemble branches, choose an environmentally friendly place, away from roads and other pollutants. On practice best properties have two-year-old branches growing close to the ground. It is convenient to use pruning shears for cutting.

What to do with the branches after harvesting?

An attic space is a good place to store harvested branches, or a heap of hay is even better. A balcony or even a mezzanine is suitable for storing workpieces in urban conditions. In this case, the brooms will need to be pre-wrapped in paper bags.

Drying brooms on the roof of the barn is also allowed. This is done in the following sequence:

meadow hay is spread over the roof;
birch branches are laid out on the hay with small gaps;
a layer of hay is laid out on top of the branches;
Every day (some experts advise increasing this period to 2-3 days) the branches turn over. This is done over the course of a month.

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.

Instructions for tying a birch broom with your own hands

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

Table. Knitting a birch broom

Stage of workDescriptionPhoto


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.
At this point, everything is individual: some bathhouse attendants love massive brooms, others prefer small products. The only standardized recommendation is regarding length: keep it within 0.4-0.8 m. A shorter or longer broom will simply be inconvenient to use.
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.
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 be facing in the same direction, and the branches should be fanned out. In this case, the broom will seem to “hugg” the body of the steamer during the bath massage. 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.
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. The highest quality is ensured when tying 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.

Helpful 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 others are added thorny plants, 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 of brooms

There are many ways to dry brooms. Regardless characteristic features Each method, one basic general rule remains: 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 the 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.

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.

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.

You can find a description of the most common errors in the following table.

Table. Mistakes when preparing bath brooms

ErrorsExplanations


Incorrect timing of collecting birch branches	A broom will inevitably fly around if it is made from branches collected too early or, conversely, collected too late. As noted, the best period for harvesting branches is June-July. In June, the foliage is already quite strong and dense. By the middle of the second summer month, the birch begins to prepare for the approaching autumn, which is not in the best possible way affects the characteristics of foliage.
Violation of the rules for drying brooms	Often, inexperienced bathhouse attendants, trying to prepare as many brooms as possible in the shortest possible time, dry the preparations in the sun. Yes, the products will dry in literally a day or two, but the leaves in this case will not survive the first contact with boiling water. Remember: the broom must dry on its own and the heat of the sun does not help it with this.
Collecting branches after the rain	Firstly, branches cannot be collected immediately after rain. Secondly, the workpieces cannot be washed independently. If the issue of settling dust does not leave you alone, wait until you go to the steam room and then pour boiling water over the brooms - not a trace of dirt will remain.

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

Before use, brooms are traditionally steamed. Fresh products do not need such preliminary preparation - they can become limp. Before use, dry preparations are immersed in cool water for 10-15 minutes, then in boiling water for a couple of minutes.

If the birch broom is too dry, its steaming time can be increased. In this case, the basin is filled with boiling water, after which the product is lowered into the water and covered with a second bowl. Another a good option– dip the product in boiling water for a couple of seconds, and then place it on the heater. In this case, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the broom, slightly shaking and rotating it to prevent burning. Usually 2-3 such approaches with a total duration of up to 1.5-2 minutes are enough to bring the broom back to normal.

It is more convenient for two people to go to the bathhouse with brooms. The person receiving the massage is in a lying position. The performer is first recommended to wear gloves to avoid getting calluses (if there is fabric wrapped around the handle, as recommended in the instructions given earlier, you can refuse to use gloves).

Get ready right away: steaming using a broom - a whole science. First of all, remember the most important rules:

The massage is performed with a damp broom. Periodically, the product should be moistened with a little warm water;
touching the body with a broom should be light, soft and barely perceptible;
If the steam room is heated to more than 60 degrees, you need to use a birch broom as carefully as possible, otherwise the steam will leave burns.

A competent bath massage helps improve blood circulation processes and normalize metabolic processes, getting rid of pathogens, strengthening the skin.

The traditional sequence of a bath massage using a broom is as follows.

One person lies on his stomach and places his arms along his body. The second bath attendant takes 2 birch brooms and carefully, slowly, from bottom to top, strokes the body of the first bath attendant. At the same time, the brooms do not come off the skin. In the reverse movement, birch brooms are passed along the sides of the body. You need to repeat all this 2-3 times.

On next stage The masseur lifts the birch brooms up to take some heated air, after which he lowers them onto the lumbar area of the first bathhouse attendant and presses them with his hand for a couple of seconds. This manipulation helps restore the back muscles after heavy loads, get rid of pain and quickly cure various injuries.

If you take bath procedures without brooms, the effect of skin cleansing and the benefits of the procedure are reduced

The so-called medicine helps well with lower back and lower back pain. stretching. To carry it out, both birch brooms are placed on the lower back, after which one is taken to the back of the head, and the second to the legs. This wiring must be done at the same time. The knees and shoulder blades are worked in the same way.

Important! During the massage, you need to make sure that the brooms touch the bath attendant’s body, and not just move through the air. Violating this recommendation in an overheated steam room will result in burns. When found unpleasant feeling burning sensation, moisten the broom with cool water.

Very useful technique is quilting. This massage is carried out by applying quick tapping movements with the end of a birch broom on the body of the bathhouse attendant. The back is worked first, followed by the lower back, and finally attention is paid to the pelvis, hips and then to the feet. The whole procedure takes about a minute. Finally, the steamer’s torso is stroked with brooms, but at a higher speed than at the beginning of the procedure.

More strong massage is whipping. It is carried out in the following sequence:

the broom rises upward to capture some air;
all parts of the body are whipped 2-3 times;
alternately with whipping, a “compress” is performed (described earlier, when a broom is pressed against the body for a couple of seconds).

Also interesting and useful massage therapy is fanning, which involves lightly waving a broom with barely perceptible touches to the skin. “Treatment” is best started from the legs, gradually moving up along the body, and then pay attention to the sides, moving in the opposite direction. During the procedure, light warm air currents will be felt.

If it is necessary to warm up the body more intensively, the broom should be periodically lifted upward and shaken. A broom heated in this way is pressed for a couple of seconds on the lower back and shoulder blades, knees, and feet. If necessary, cool the product with cool water.

The massage ends with rubbing. To do this, the performer takes the broom by the handle, and with the other hand, slightly pressing on the part with the foliage, slowly and gradually rubs the body. The legs and arms are rubbed lengthwise, the torso is worked in all directions.

Important! After the massage described, you may experience slight dizziness - be careful in your movements.

Have fun!

Video - Preparing birch brooms for a bath

Preparing bath brooms: combining business with pleasure

How to make “bouquets” for a bath from various plants
Healing properties

Steaming with a broom is a native Russian tradition that has many advantages. The preparation of brooms for the bath lasts from May to the end of August and depends on the branches of which bush or tree they are made from.

General rules for preparation, knitting and storage

It is best to use fresh twigs, they contain more phytoncides, essential oils and other active substances. But, out of season, you have to take previously prepared brooms with you to the bathhouse.

In the central part of Russia, the main preparations are made in May-June. During this period, trees, shrubs and herbs bloom, the leaves have already become stronger, have collected juice and have the greatest aroma.

Advice from the master!

Branches should be cut in dry weather. Even slightly wet leaves from rain or dew will quickly curl, fly off or deteriorate. Cut material should be stored in the shade. Under the influence of direct sunlight, beneficial essential aromatic substances will disappear from them.

Briefly, the rules for preparing brooms for a bath are as follows. There are several methods for drying tied branches.

You can do this in a dry and dark part of the attic of a house, bathhouse, or garage. But a small pile of hay is best. In the city, brooms can be stored on loggias, balconies or mezzanines in paper bags.

You can dry them on the roof of the barn:

Spread meadow hay on it
Place branches on it at small intervals from each other.
Cover them with a layer of hay on top
Turn the branches over every 3 days for a month

Then cover them with fresh grass and leave to dry until early October. In the fall you can start tying brooms.

As a rule, “bouquets” are stored on a rope, tied in pairs. But you don’t have to knit them right away, but make small sheaves from the twigs. They are placed in the attic or barn, wrapped in hay. Before visiting the bathhouse, take out a few twigs from the sheaf and tie a broom.

This is how it should be done. Place thicker branches inside, they will serve as a base. Around them, in a bend inward, distribute thinner branches.

Remove twigs and leaves from the handle of the workpiece in advance. Make the broom light so that your hand does not get tired when using it. After collecting the branches, wrap them with twine, and to avoid injury, cover the handle with a thin cloth or bandage.

True bath lovers know well that in order to get real pleasure from visiting a steam room, you need dry steam, and of course, healing folk remedy for strong health - a good broom. Correct preparation buying brooms for a bath is a very responsible process. This is exactly what we will talk about in this article.

Let's look at the types of brooms, their healing properties, time and rules for harvesting. How to make a broom yourself - see useful videos expert advice.

The right brooms for a bath

Brooms are most often prepared from birch, oak, eucalyptus, linden, juniper, and young nettle. And each of them is good in its own way.

Birch broom

He is everyone's favorite. Its properties:

perfectly massages and calms the nerves;
relieves pain;
heals wounds;
cleanses the skin.

It’s not for nothing that people say “sticks like a leaf.” It is thanks to the porous surface that the sheet adheres tightly to the body and absorbs sweat. Thus, unnecessary, harmful substances with toxins and waste are removed from the body through the pores.

The volatile substances released by birch brooms not only create an unforgettable aroma in the steam room, but also purify the air, destroying various microorganisms. Breathing this air is very beneficial for lung diseases.

Blank

It is best to harvest birch brooms in the first half of summer. By this time, the leaves on the birch had already grown stronger. Young birch trees that have not yet bear fruit are suitable for harvesting. Their foliage is smooth and delicate, and their branches are flexible.

Such trees are most often found in low, fairly damp places. And also near reservoirs, ponds, rivers, that is, closer to the water.

At the same time, you should remember to respect nature, cut young shoots from several trees without harming the tree. If the upper surface of the leaf is already rough and rough, then such shoots should not be cut off - they are not suitable.

Oak broom

Many bath lovers prefer it. It is more massive and durable. Dense leaves of oak branches allow you to pump over the body high fever and perform an excellent massage.

It is better to harvest oak brooms from June to August, choosing damp places in the forest for this.

Preparing bath brooms from other plants

Brooms made from linden and currant branches are less durable. But the high content of vitamins in them allows them to have a beneficial effect on the entire body and restore strength.

There are many fans of brooms made from juniper, and in Siberia - from fir and cedar. They relieve any fatigue and stress, and illness goes away. They are especially good for treating rheumatism, muscle and joint pain.

Of course, you need to get used to the tingling sensation of brooms made of juniper, fir, and cedar. However, the resinous aroma and excellent massage are worth a little patience and a lot of pleasure.

Brooms made from young nettle branches are useful, as they contain many vitamins, iron and other valuable substances. Before the steam room, it should be placed not in hot, but in warm water. They need to be harvested in the spring during the flowering of nettles (they are not stored in reserve).

Steam room lovers often use mixed brooms, for example:

from birch and oak;
birch and wormwood;
eucalyptus and oak.

But no matter what he is, his presence in the steam room is simply necessary. And the therapeutic effect will be enhanced.

How to knit a broom for a bath

After harvesting the branches, they begin to form them. Knit them in a certain sequence:

First, thicker branches are laid, they serve as a frame.

Then thin branches are tightly arranged around it, bending inwards.

The number of branches may vary. The main thing is that the broom turns out to be quite dense and thick, but at the same time convenient for a free swing.

For a more visual representation, watch how the preparation of brooms for a bath takes place and the rules for knitting them in the video.

Preparing brooms for a bath according to the rules

Now let's remember a few general requirements:

1. Places for harvesting should be chosen away from busy roads, treatment facilities, polluted water bodies.

2. Branches and young shoots must be cut carefully, without causing harm to the tree or plant.

3. It is best to store finished brooms in a dry, dark, but ventilated area. In bright light they turn yellow, become less durable and lose their aroma.

4. It is not only in dry weather that raw materials need to be prepared. Under no circumstances should moisture be allowed to enter during storage.

Oak brooms are in high demand due to their healing qualities and the relative ease of collecting stems. The type of oak plays a big role. Winter oaks (which make some of the highest quality brooms) grow in the highlands. The trees got their name because they do not shed their leaves during the cold season.

Also, bath attendants are increasingly choosing brooms made of pedunculate oak (a large tree with a large trunk and a voluminous crown), average age which can exceed 300 years. Bath accessories made from common oak Quercus robur or Canadian red Quercus rubra. Caucasian oak is also quite good from the point of view of preparing oak brooms. Its leaves are impressive in size and are considered one of the densest.

Note! Making brooms from Canadian red oak branches is a pleasure! It has large leaves and flexible long branches, which makes mating much easier.

TOP 10 tips that will help you correctly prepare oak brooms

Remove branches that grow at the bottom of the tree. This is where you will find stems that have not yet gained thickness, but their leaves are large and dense.

Good branches for oak broom have leaves that are rich green in color.

Give preference to oak that grows in the shade, as these are ideal conditions for active growth.

A good oak is one that grows in the forest thicket, in an ecologically safe areas, away from highways and industrial areas.

The average length of branches for brooms is no more than half a meter. The stems should be straight, moderately flexible and dense. These are mainly found in young oaks or in older ones, but in the lower part of the trunk.

When choosing a tree, avoid “lone oaks”. They usually have inelastic stems and small leaves. To get really good stems, look for trees in oak groves.

The ideal height of oak with good raw materials for bath brooms is up to 4 meters.

To cut the stems you will need a regular garden pruner. Side branches must be cut, not from one, but from different trees. So you naturally If you thin out oak trees, you do a good deed, and at the same time you get good material for oak brooms. At the right attitude to the tree it will give you good stems for many years to come.

We pick branches for an oak broom in good weather, in the morning. If there is dew on the sheets, shake off the moisture and dry in a place with active air circulation.

If after knitting you still have excess, do not rush to get rid of it. Oak branches can be used to make good flooring for a shelf where massage will be performed, and healing decoctions.

You should not pick stems that are too young and have light, translucent leaves. Most likely, they have not yet collected a sufficient amount of nutrients, which means that the massage will be ineffective.

In ours, you can choose a suitable establishment to personally see the correct oak broom, and evaluate the quality of the massage with an impeccable bath accessory.

When are oak brooms prepared for a bath?

Connoisseurs begin collecting branches in the summer - around the beginning of June and until mid-August. At this time, the leaf is already juicy, has grown and strengthened quite well, and has gained natural nutrients.

The optimal time for harvesting oak brooms is after they are collected. Do not delay this process, as during storage the stems may become damp and rot, and this is undesirable for a bathhouse. Immediately after collecting, place them in a dark, dry place with good oxygen circulation (no need to be afraid of drafts) so that the leaves “wither” slightly. Do not place them too close - air should flow freely between the branches. Make sure that the leaves maintain their integrity - torn ones can be torn off. After preliminary preparation stems, they are hung on a string in a cool place for final drying.

How to knit and dry oak brooms correctly?

If the stems have been cut and rested slightly, you can proceed to knitting a bath broom. Remove leaves and shoots from the bottom, which is necessary to form a tight handle. The average length of the handle is about 12 cm, width is about 5 cm.

Each branch is shaken well (if excess leaves fall off, it’s okay) and a voluminous “bouquet” is formed.

It wouldn’t hurt to trim the broom along the top. The leaves should be at the same height, creating good density.

Branches with thicker stems are placed inside, while thinner ones frame the core.

The broom should be voluminous, but not heavy. But a very hard accessory is inconvenient for the bathhouse attendant, and during subsequent massage with such a fan you can damage the skin.

The lower part of the stems, intended for the handle, is well compressed and tied at the bottom and directly under the foliage. The ends of the handle can be trimmed with pruning shears.

Note! You should not tighten the handle during the preparation process. You will finally “stick” it when the workpiece dries.

Special plastic clamps are also often used to form the handle. With their help, the stems are fixed, after drying, the clamps are slightly tightened, and before direct use, the broom is tightly pulled together.

The handles are leveled with garden pruning shears. The resulting oak “faggot” is placed under a press and left in this position for three days so that the branches “look” in the same direction, the broom takes the form of a “fan”, and during the massage process it gently “hugged” the body of the bath guest.

The resulting bundle is hung on the veranda, attic, but most importantly, away from direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation. “They love” blanks Fresh air, shade and optimal humidity. But if you neglect these conditions, even the best broom will dry out and then crumble.

Why should you choose oak brooms for a bath?

An oak broom is an ideal “massager”. A simple oak “faggot” perfectly pumps air during a bath massage. This is achieved thanks to large and dense leaves.

Natural cosmetology accessible to everyone. The tannins found in the leaves and stems have a beneficial effect on the skin. After such a massage, wounds on the body heal, the skin becomes elastic and silky, rashes and traces of them go away.

It's profitable! One oak bath accessory is enough for four or even five sessions active massage in the steam room.

Detoxification. Substances contained in oak leaves and stems have a powerful antitoxic effect. Massage is good after a course of medication, for health purposes, to strengthen the immune system, and accelerate metabolic processes in the body.

Powerful Energy. It’s not for nothing that after a bath massage with an oak broom, dark thoughts go away, the mind becomes clear, the mood rises, and a person concentrates on the positive.

The powerful energy of oak helps fight depression, loss of strength, and stress.

Proper preparation of a bath broom made of oak is the key to what you will definitely feel healing effect from using it and get the maximum benefit from the massage.

Oak broom for a bath due to large unusual shape leaves perfectly absorb steam, filling the steam room with a rich aroma. The raw materials used to make brooms are rich in tannins and essential oils, which have a beneficial effect on the body. They improve the condition of the skin and reduce sweating of the feet, are used in the fight against varicose veins, relieve rheumatic pain and normalize blood pressure. The benefits of an oak broom are noticeable if it is prepared correctly.

When and how are oak brooms collected for a bath?

The time to harvest branches for oak brooms is mid-July. During this period, the leaves contain an optimal supply of nutrients. Branches are cut from Canadian red oak, common oak.

The collection period may vary slightly depending on the region. It is best to assemble an oak broom at the moment when its coils are flexible and pliable.

To ensure that your steaming broom is of high quality, you should not deviate from the following rules:

raw materials are collected in the morning in dry weather;
branches are cut from trees located far from roads;
one of the sure signs of the environmental friendliness of the place where you plan to collect raw materials is the abundance of burdocks;
Only lateral branches are subject to harvesting, cutting them with pointed pruning shears.

To prevent the leaves of cut branches from falling off, they should be harvested with caution. The cut branches are carefully separated from each other and left in the shade for an hour. Then they are transferred to a drying place.

Since ancient times, there has been such a custom - oak brooms are prepared for a bath on Trinity. There is also such a sign: if a tree is strewn with fresh acorns, the moment to collect raw materials for knitting a broom has been missed. During the cutting process, overheating is unacceptable: under the influence of high temperatures, the leaves can simply fall off.

The brooms collected and transported to the drying site are placed under a press for 24 hours, after which they begin drying.

The rules of the procedure are as follows:

brooms are hung in pairs in a shaded, dry, well-ventilated room;
the dried raw materials are turned over daily;
It is recommended to dry brooms mixed with hay. This method allows you to preserve the rich aroma and color of the leaves.

You can steam with oak brooms collected this season for the next 2 years.

How to store an oak broom?

It is equally important to ensure proper storage oak brooms. This is the only way to preserve the complex of useful substances present in them. Dried raw materials are stored on racks with good ventilation, which are installed in attics, dressing rooms, and loggias. By steaming an oak broom, the storage of which was organized correctly, you will definitely feel the unique aroma of this tree and get maximum pleasure from steaming.

Errors in storage manifest themselves in yellowing of leaves and loss of aroma.

Before use, an oak broom should be soaked in cold water for 20 minutes, and then kept in boiling water for a couple of minutes, covered with a basin. If the leaves and branches are too dry, it is recommended to increase the duration of the procedure.

Oak brooms used for steaming are much stiffer than birch brooms. They are not always suitable for sensitive skin, but they give an amazing effect.

To avoid injury to the skin, it is forbidden to make sudden movements with an oak broom. Movements such as shaking, plowing, and compressing are ideal. If the temperature in the steam room exceeds +60°C, use the broom with caution to avoid burns.

Subject to the rules, the positive effect of visiting a steam room with an oak broom is guaranteed.