Effect of Steam Bath on Spirometry variables among healthy Individuals - A Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

Despite being widely usedin naturopathy clinics, yoga studios, and other health-related facilities all over the world, the mechanism underlying the therapeutic value of steam baths is not well understood. In order to learn how steam baths, alter spirometry measurements in healthy participants, our goal was to conduct research. Materials and Methodology: The study involved 300 healthy participants of both sexes, aged 26.1 ± 3.5 years, with 170 male and 130 female participants randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Three sessions of 15-minute steam baths every alternate day were delivered, followed by cold showers, and the results were compared to the control group\'s sham steam bath. Using the spirometry parameters forced vital capacity (FVC, L), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1, L), and FEV1/FVC ratio (absolute value) were measured. Additionally, as a secondary objective for this study, SBP, DBP, SpO2, and PR were assessed throughout each session. Results: Three hundred participants were followed for 2 weeks on the trial. For the all the parameters data were collected on 1st, 3rd, 6th during intervention sessions along with (1st and 2nd week) 2 follow-ups. During intervention data shows significant improvement in pulse rateat day-1 (P=0.05), at day-3 (P=0.03), at day-6 (P=0.05). However, improved FEV1has been reported in both the follow-ups(1st week; P=0.01) and (2nd week; P=0.001). Moreover, analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows significant improvement in FEV1 (P=0.0001), FEV1/FVCratio (P=.0001) in intervention group while significant improvementin FEV1/FVC ratio (P=0.0001) has been reported to be improved in control group. Conclusion: Regular steam bath improves the spirometers parameters among healthy participants. However, further clinical trial on respiratory conditions require to validate the study findings.

Introduction

Hydrotherapy, the therapeutic use of water in liquid, solid, or steam form, has been practiced since ancient civilizations and is widely used in naturopathy due to its safety and health benefits. Steam baths, a common form of hydrotherapy, expose the body to moist heat and are believed to improve circulation, relax muscles, promote detoxification, and enhance respiratory function. However, scientific evidence on their effects on lung function is limited.

This randomized controlled study investigated the effects of steam bath sessions on spirometry parameters in 300 healthy adults aged 18–30 years. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (steam bath) or a control group. The intervention involved 15-minute steam bath sessions, three times a week, with follow-up assessments at one and two weeks. Primary outcomes included FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC ratio, while secondary outcomes included pulse rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.

Results showed that steam baths were safe and well tolerated. The intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in FEV1 during follow-up compared to the control group, indicating enhanced lung function, while FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio showed no significant between-group differences. Pulse rate increased slightly during intervention sessions, but blood pressure and oxygen saturation remained unchanged. Within-group analysis confirmed sustained improvement in FEV1 over time in the intervention group.

The findings suggest that steam baths can positively influence respiratory function in healthy individuals, likely due to bronchodilation from warm, humid air, reduced oxidative stress, improved circulation, and heat-induced physiological adaptations such as hormesis and activation of heat shock proteins. Overall, regular steam bath use may support respiratory health and overall well-being, highlighting its potential role as a complementary preventive and therapeutic practice.

Conclusion

This study shows that taking a steam bath helps healthy people\' respiratory function. Additional research is still required to corroborate our findings in various populations and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of steam baths for a range of respiratory diseases. Informed consent – After detailing the study’s duration, nature and protocol in both written & verbal form, informed consent was gained. Ethical Approval – The University Ethics Committee (Medical) with reference number SMC/UECM/2021/268/155 Trial Registration – Trial is registered with Clinical Trials Registry of India – REF/2021/06/044831

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Dr. Satyendra Singh, Dr. Abhay Shankaregowda. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.