Time to collect birch brooms. Rules for the preparation of birch brooms: the timing of the collection of branches, drying and storage

A broom for a bath is an essential attribute when going to the steam room. Without it, wellness procedures will be inferior. The service life also depends on the harvesting, selection of raw materials, drying, storage conditions. No less attention should be paid to the question of how to knit brooms for a bath. We will try to understand all the nuances in the article.

Why do you need a broom in the bath?

Brooms have been used in the bath since ancient times, there are legends about their healing properties. What is this attribute used for?

People say: “To beat yourself with a broom means to expel an ailment from the body!” And this is a true statement. Whipping with such an attribute is a kind of massage of the whole body. In addition, improves metabolism, blood flow and circulation, sweating. A broom helps open pores, bring out dirt, toxins, bacteria, microbes. The leaves themselves, which contain phytoncides, are also useful. Getting on the skin, they act on pathogens, as a result of which they die. And essential oils stop aging.

Brooms made from various types of wood and plants even help fight serious diseases. Before choosing the right attribute, you need to learn about its healing properties.

Can you use a broom in the sauna?

When we prepare brooms for a bath, a logical question arises as to whether they can be used in a sauna. In order to deal with this, it is enough to find out the conditions that are created in the steam rooms.

In the bath, as you know, relatively slight temperature, but at the same time quite high humidity. Using a broom, you can achieve those conditions that will be favorable for your body. With this attribute, you can increase the load on the body by creating even more humidity in the steam room, which will contribute to profuse sweating and the removal of toxins.

In a sauna, conditions are reversed: temperatures are high and the air is dry. At the same time, the body experiences huge loads, and the use of a broom will only increase them. FROM low level moisture to achieve profuse sweating is very difficult. The blood begins to circulate rapidly, the heart to work with frantic force. In this case, the use of a broom is contraindicated so that there is no heart attack or stroke.

Bath brooms and their preparation: choosing the best time

It is advisable to start harvesting raw materials for brooms the next day after the Trinity, and finish on Ilyin's day. It is believed that during this period the leaves are juicy, soft and tender. You need to collect branches only in dry, warm weather, in the morning, after the dew has gone. Trees are recommended to be selected only in ecologically clean areas. The crown should be dense, and the branches not very thick.

Experienced attendants they believe that a tree may not suit a person. To understand whether it is yours or not, you need to bring a piece of foil to the trunk - if it sticks, then the broom must be prepared from this raw material.

We knit a strong broom

"How to knit brooms for a bath?" - perhaps the main question among fans of a good steam bath. This attribute should be light, not very thick and massive, so that it is easier for them to wield. Therefore, raw materials for work must be chosen carefully. After the required number of branches has been accumulated, you can proceed to the process itself.

Their lower part must be completely cleared of leaves and branches, if any. Leave about 6 centimeters for the handle, so that it is comfortable to hold, and tie with a thick piece of twine or twine. Before this, you need to carefully distribute the branches: thick ones should be in the middle, and thin ones - along the edges of the beam. The lower part should be leveled so that all the branches are the same length. To give them a round shape, you can chop off protruding leaves with an ax.

The finished broom must be placed under heavy oppression and left there for a day. After that, the leaves will have the same flat shape. Also, brooms can be laid out on the floor and turned over from one side to the other every day. This process will take an average of a week. The main rule is not to stack them on top of each other, otherwise the foliage will become damp and the process of decay will begin.

Will a simple rope work?

When wondering how to make brooms for a bath, a special role should be given to attribute binding:

First you need to tie a place near the foliage. Thus, we will fix the branches of the broom so that they do not fall out when whipped. Then it is necessary to tightly tie the broom, leaving small distances between the twine. You need to do this until the very end of the broom.

You can use twine or construction twine.

The distance for the handle should not exceed 6 centimeters, otherwise the broom will not be connected enough and will quickly fall apart.

Such simple tips will help to increase the service life of the attribute, and there will be no questions about how to knit bath brooms correctly so that they are strong and reliable.

How to properly dry a broom

When going to the steam room, we want the effect of the visit to be maximum. Not only the temperature regime and air humidity affect this process, but also the attributes. What they should be, consider below.

In order for the attribute for the steam room to serve for a long time, you should know how to dry bath brooms. It is necessary to adhere to the rules, only then the fragrant "tool" will retain its healing properties, while the leaves will be dense, strong and with a good saturated color.

The main rule - ready-made brooms should dry well, but not in direct sunlight! The best place for these procedures is the attic. It is worth pulling a thick rope that would withstand more than one broom (and they are quite heavy when raw). Bunches are hung on it, you can in pairs. It is necessary to try to ensure that there is a distance between the manufactured products, so they dry faster. Typically, this takes a week. After all that has been done, the brooms are stacked (on top of each other) and periodically swapped. The bottom ones go up and vice versa.

When wondering how to dry bath brooms, you need to know a few rules:

avoid direct sunlight;

dry only in a cool dry place;

do not put brooms on top of each other, there must be a distance.

If the bundles are poorly dried, mold will go, rotting of branches and foliage will begin.

Not every broom is equally useful. Choose the right option for you

There are many types of brooms, they differ in the raw materials from which they are made. Consider the most popular:

Russian bath, oak broom - what else do you need for happiness? The aroma and essential oils of the branches and leaves of this tree help lower blood pressure, normalize the functioning of the nervous system. For owners of oily skin, oak resins will help to narrow the pores, while the foci of inflammation, if any, will heal twice as fast.

Are you suffering from sciatica? Fir and juniper will help in the fight against this disease. A broom from these plants relieves fatigue in the muscles, spine, and is used for neurological diseases.

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

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

For church holidays or calendar dates, you can only navigate by region: our country is large. Somewhere on Trinity it is already almost summer, but somewhere the leaves have barely hatched. So it’s better to focus on the state of the foliage.

When birch brooms are harvested

Not so much time is allotted for harvesting birch brooms: a maximum of a week. It is necessary 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 stiff and falls heavily in the bath. So the term for harvesting 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 the appearance of the leaf. It should have a dense green color, the plate should be even. There should be no aphids, no other pests or diseases. But, most importantly, there should be no earrings on the branches. And for a greater effect, you need to cut birch branches on a broom in the specified interval, but after the rain. Only the birch must already be dry, otherwise the leaf will darken and curl up.

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

But with sticky leaves you get a "soap broom". It affects the skin just fine: it becomes silky and soft. But at the same time, leave the steam room with skin covered with mucus. Not everyone likes this feeling. So choose here: either a more comfortable feeling with more “mature” foliage or elastic skin.

Harvested in May birch brooms they 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 give off this aroma. Not all branches have such stripes; they must 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 sauna lovers especially appreciate birch brooms that grew near water - rivers or lakes (but not in a swamp). In such plants, the branches are long, elastic and flexible. Good twigs growing roots or stumps of birches. They are flexible, resilient 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 a large, beautiful and dense leaf: a whip is obtained. And this is not at all what is required from a bath broom.

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

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

Birch foliage when harvesting brooms should be dense and smooth. Someone advises to try a birch leaf with your tongue. If it is rough, the branch is not good, if it is smooth and velvety, it is an excellent raw material.

Separate growing young trees are an excellent choice

You can navigate along the leg of a young birch leaf. If it has already become reddish, you can cut it, and if it is green, it’s too early.

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

We prepare oak brooms

The term for harvesting oak brooms is longer: starting from the end of June, and some harvest in August and early September. Depends on year and region. But even in the same region, year to year is very different. In some areas you have to hurry: later the foliage is affected by diseases, becomes lethargic or spotty. But sometimes, after being hit by diseases in August-September, the foliage on the oak grows again. That's when you can also get excellent brooms.

When harvesting an oak broom in 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 with birch harvesting, branched shoots with a large leaf are taken.

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

Gourmet baths in the price oak brooms, from tree branches, near which burdock grew. 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. Foliage should be large and abundant.

The harvesting of oak brooms has its own specifics:

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

When to cut linden brooms

If you want a linden broom with color, you have a week and a half to prepare. And that's at the expense different breeds blooming at different times. In general, the best period is when most of the flowers have already opened. The aroma then in the bath is amazing.

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

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

Preparation of coniferous brooms: spruce, juniper

The "widest collection range" of conifers. There are no restrictions here. In Siberia, coniferous brooms are made both in the most severe frosts and in summer ...

Choose a warm, fine, dry day for harvesting. Cut off the branches begin after the dew dries. Choose young and flexible. There are no other recommendations.

How to prepare nettle brooms

Despite the "terrible" pungency, you only need to try the nettle broom. Then you will really like them to bathe. Harvesting them for the winter is problematic, except to insert a few branches into birch and oak trees. No other way. But fresh can be steamed all summer.

Cut off young shoots without color, about 40-50 cm long. It is made short and fluffy. It is better to work with gloves: it burns. It turns out it is quite soft: only for one person.

Nettle broom. It sounds even scarier than spruce. But the benefits are the sea

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

The second option is to dip in cold water, then steam out, stomp on it in the steam room with your feet, hold it over the steam, succumbing to a ladle of water.

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

There is one point in using a nettle broom: it strongly stains the wood. Therefore, it is better not to put it on the shelves. Bring a mat, put it on it.

All other brooms (and what they are, and how they affect the body, read in the article) are collected at the same time as birch brooms until August 2.

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

How to choose branches for a bath broom

They cut branches from young trees that grow in sunny, wetlands, away from roads and enterprises with harmful emissions.

The length of the branches is selected depending on the selected size of the broom. Usually it is from 40 to 70-80cm. Who is comfortable. Similarly, the thickness of the handle is selected. The diameter rarely exceeds 5 cm - it is difficult to wave too large and heavy, although it is a matter of taste and habit.

Branches should be smooth, free of disease and withered parts. The foliage is thick and juicy, not too hard. 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, it will be good to “capture” the steam. Walking with such a broom over the body, you do not whip it, but massage it.

How to knit brooms for a bath

Having picked up suitable branches, they can be immediately collected 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 is easier to work with them then.

Thicker shoots are located inside, thinner outside. If there is a bend on the branches (and most often it happens), then the bend should look 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 so that their shiny side is directed in one direction. When folding, give the shape of a fan or "bouquet" - they do it in different ways. The broom-fan is more common: it seems to hug the body. Feelings are pleasant.

The easiest way is to tightly tie a broom with natural twine at the butt and at the beginning of the foliage

For the handle, the foliage is removed from the bottom. Its length is chosen individually, but the most optimal, established empirically, is two palm widths. It is also necessary to expose the butt of 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 more evenly distributed. For knitting, it is better to use natural materials: dense twine, hemp rope, medical bandage or other similar materials. It is better not to use metal wire: it heats up in the bath and it is very inconvenient to hold such a broom in your hands.

There are several knitting techniques:

Used for knitting and clamps. Some are plastic, some are metal. They quickly tighten the handle, hold tight. And after shrinkage, it will be possible to tighten. So that all these puffs do not rub the hand, then they wrap the handle with a thick cotton tape: it is sold in hardware stores, sometimes in hardware or haberdashery. You can wrap the handle with a thick cotton rope (after using a broom, you can remove it and tie the next one).

There are many more ways to knit brooms. Someone uses marine knots, which make it possible to tighten the rope after shrinkage, someone puts two parts of the branches crosswise with butts, then does not tie them very tightly, then connects the two parts with effort and ties them completely at the butt, and above. Almost every master has his own secrets. But they are very reluctant to share. 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 brooms, they still need to be dried. They are immediately stacked in a heap, one on top of the other. So they lie for a day or two. They flatten out 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 leaf, but will dry it out. But ventilation must be good. If there is no such "luxury" as your own attic, you can hang a broom on a carnation in a well-ventilated place. In any case, you need to find a room where direct sunlight does not fall on it. Only in such conditions the leaf remains green and does not fall off.

With any drying method, 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 away.

How to store bath brooms

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

If you have your own hayloft, you can stack brooms on dry hay, placing them loosely together. Top with dry hay. This is how our ancestors kept them.

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

You can also store brooms in the refrigerator: they are packed in a plastic bag or wrapped in cling film, put on the bottom shelf, in a dark, dry corner.

When to knit bath brooms

When birch brooms are harvested

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

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

Birch brooms harvested in May smell differently than summer brooms: 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 give off this aroma. Not all branches have such stripes; they must be selected separately. Running your hand along such a branch, you feel the tubercles - these are the very resinous odorous secretions. If someone has not tried - try. Very pleasant sensations, although the sheet is sticky at this time.

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

You can navigate along the leg of a young birch leaf. If it has already become reddish, you can cut it, and if it is green, it’s too early.

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

We prepare oak brooms

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

Bath gourmets value oak brooms made from tree branches, near which burdock grew. 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. Foliage should be large and abundant.

The harvesting of oak brooms has its own specifics:

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

When to cut linden brooms

If you want a linden broom with color, you have a week and a half to prepare. And that is due to different breeds that bloom at different times. In general, the best period is when most of the flowers have already opened. The aroma then in the bath is amazing.

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

Preparation of coniferous brooms: spruce, juniper

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

Choose a warm, fine, dry day for harvesting. Cut off the branches begin after the dew dries. Choose young and flexible. There are no other recommendations.

How to prepare nettle brooms

Cut off young shoots without color, about 40-50 cm long. It is made short and fluffy. It is better to work with gloves: it burns. It turns out it is quite soft: only for one person.

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

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

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

There is one point in using a nettle broom: it strongly stains the wood. Therefore, it is better not to put it on the shelves. Bring a mat, put it on it.

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

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

How to choose branches for a bath broom

They cut branches from young trees that grow in sunny, wetlands, away from roads and enterprises with harmful emissions.

How to knit brooms for a bath

Thicker shoots are located inside, thinner outside. If there is a bend on the branches (and most often it happens), then the bend should look 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 so that their shiny side is directed in one direction. When folding, give the shape of a fan or "bouquet" - they do it differently. The broom-fan is more common: it seems to hug the body. Feelings are pleasant.

There are several knitting techniques:

Used for knitting and clamps. Some are plastic, some are metal. They quickly tighten the handle, hold tight. And after shrinkage, it will be possible to tighten. So that all these puffs do not rub your hand, then they wrap the handle with a thick cotton tape: it is sold in hardware stores, sometimes in hardware or haberdashery. You can wrap the handle with a thick cotton rope (after using a broom, you can remove it and tie the next one).

Proper drying

How to store bath brooms

If you have your own hayloft, you can stack brooms on dry hay, placing them loosely together. Top with dry hay. This is how our ancestors kept them.

You can also store brooms in the refrigerator: they are packed in a plastic bag or wrapped in cling film, put on the bottom shelf, in a dark, dry corner.

As you can see, it is not difficult to tie a bath broom yourself. But this is only the beginning. Brooms, even the most wonderful, can be spoiled by steaming it incorrectly. How to avoid such trouble, read here. Do not forget to read the article, "How to take a steam bath in the bath."

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

The Russian bath is famous all over the world for its unique healing properties and this glory would not be so without the use of unique bath brooms when taking procedures. The article will discuss how to properly prepare brooms for a bath: timing, knitting methods, drying nuances and types of trees used.

Optimal time frame for harvesting branches

From ancient times, it so happened that when preparing bath brooms, they were guided by the feast 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 knitting brooms in the bath comes in June. Christians also focused on semik - the week before the feast of the Trinity. This week was called green (Green Christmas time) and ended with the Slavic holiday of agriculture. See also: "All you need to know about bath brooms."

Speaking from the point of view of the attendant, then brooms are knitted in the summer due to the beginning of flowering of the necessary plants and the abundant growth of herbs. The maximum efficiency of a broom will be only when its foliage is fresh, juicy and exudes a pleasant persistent smell, highlighting various useful for human body substances.

The right choice of time for knitting a bath broom is very important:

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

If met optimal timing to start knitting, the service life of the broom will be long, and the foliage will not crumble during operation. Sometimes attendants, talking about when to prepare bath brooms, it is advised to start this process at least 2 weeks after the Trinity, since the early holiday (in the first days of June) takes place at a time when the young foliage has not yet gained its strength.

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

When to cut birch and oak branches

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

However, it is imperative to take into account general state foliage:

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

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

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

Rules for knitting bath brooms

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

You can cut the branches only in 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 around. 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 bath brooms are knitted, they go for suitable branches away from city streets to ecologically clean areas. Branches are pruned before lunch, when the morning dew has already dried. It is worth picking up branches of 2 years of age that grow lowest to the ground (not to be confused with processes at the roots).

You can cut them off with a sharp pruner. The length should be about 60 centimeters. By observing these conditions, you can get a high-quality, reliable and efficient broom for several procedures.

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

Often, brooms are tied using sheaf technology, assembling a structure from prepared branches in advance. A bunch of branches is folded in such a way that they are divided into internal and external, which protect them. From above, the structure is covered with hay and, in the form of a sheaf, lies in a dry barn for storage. Branches are taken out exclusively for a bunch of a small broom for each trip to the bath.

If the branches are already prepared, then they should be tied, having previously laid them out on burlap. A set of branches from already withered branches is fastened. The thickness of the bundle can vary depending on the tastes of the bath visitor, but at the same time, the broom should be from 40 to 80 centimeters in length so that it is quite easy to use.

Branch preparation looks like this:

The branches are cleaned from knots and leaves in the place where the intended handle will be located. Its length should be about a third of the entire broom.
Thick branches are laid inside the knitting, and with thin ones I cover such a frame from the outside, bending them a little inward. All knitting should take on a flat shape.
It is important to ensure that when folding the foliage is directed in one direction and in the end the bundle should resemble a fan.

By correctly completing all the steps, you can get a broom of sufficient density and density. It will be pleasant for the body and will last at least 2-3 trips to the bath.

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

Many experts, speaking 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 a great aroma and enhance healing effect procedures.

Sometimes, looking through the photos from the bath, you can see that branches of coniferous trees have been added to the broom. It should be said right away that they can only be inserted inside, since the needles can damage the skin when whipped.

The weight of the broom is selected according to one's own feelings, but, naturally, it should have such a mass that it is easy to hold it during the 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 curls and burns very quickly, and its natural aroma and color disappear. The very first trip to the bath will lead to the fact that all the leaves will fall from the steamed branches. See also: "Which bamboo brooms for a bath are better to use - types and features."

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

Uniform drying can be ensured by periodically turning the bundles. If the broom has been dried correctly, then the foliage will turn green with a matte tint on it, and the aroma of balsamic oil will also form, which intensifies when steaming.

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 stacked in such a sheaf in several layers around. A layer of fragrant hay is laid between the layers. The advantage of this drying method lies in the preservation of the shape of the product and all its basic qualities: smell, color, etc.

If the broom was overexposed during drying, then it should not be thrown away, but you just need to steam it longer and add it to the stove before starting the procedures. A couple of branches will reach the necessary conditions. After the procedures, do not leave fallen leaves on the stove.

In modern bath complexes, it is possible to carry out procedures using non-standard brooms, which were previously frozen and placed in vacuum packaging. Such a non-standard way of harvesting brooms came from Finland.

Similar to freezing vegetables, a broom does not lose its useful qualities and aroma, which allows, when steaming, to bring it to an optimal operational state 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 bath, then it is worth pointing out the main mistakes of novice bath attendants, which lead to the rapid fall of foliage and the transformation of a broom into an ordinary bunch of branches.

The most common mistakes:

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

Outcome

The article describes in detail how and what kind of brooms you need to prepare for visiting the bath. If you follow all the recommendations presented, then the products will serve quite effectively for 2-3 procedures and will provide the maximum positive impact on the body of visitors to the bath.

Harvesting birch brooms for a bath - a simple science

A broom is an essential attribute of the Russian bath. Most steam bath enthusiasts believe that the best brooms are made from soft, flexible birch branches.

It is no coincidence that from time immemorial, the most common in Russia was the birch broom for a bath. But everyone's preferences are different. Many people like to steam with oak or linden products. Which one is better? The debate continues to this day...

The harvesting process itself is not too complicated. But in order for the prepared broom to be suitable for the steam room, certain rules must be followed. Harvesting of birch brooms for a bath traditionally falls on the Trinity. But not everywhere the birch "ripens" everywhere, and not all types of wood are suitable for brooms. A tall tree with long, thin, straight branches is chosen - a weeping birch.

To know for sure whether the branches of this birch are suitable or not, you need to try the leaf with your tongue: if the leaf is rough, the tree does not fit. The leaf should be velvety, tender. In addition, the taste of the sheet also speaks about the preparation time. As soon as it ceases to be sweetish and begins to taste bitter, then the time for harvesting has come. Birches, from the branches and leaves of which brooms will be made, should not grow near roads, near enterprises or in the city center. It should be an ecologically clean area outside the city - clearings, edges, clearings. Preparation of birch brooms for a bath is carried out in the early morning hours after the dew has disappeared. It should be a careful cutting of extra branches. Basically, young, flexible, well-bending branches with small leaves are used.

Cut raw materials must be dried in the shade for an hour.

How to knit a broom

Dried branches at the base are stripped of leaves and knots and tied with twine. Thick branches are placed in the middle, and thin ones are wrapped around. The broom turns out thick. The handle is made 15-20 centimeters long. Tied brooms are placed under oppression to acquire a flat fan shape until completely dry. Then the broom is suspended in a ventilated room for a couple of days. It is best to store brooms in a refrigerator, but if this is not possible, then in a well-ventilated cool room: attic, garage, balcony - for two years. Preparation of birch brooms for the bath is completed. Now it's time to go to the bath. But you need to take a dry product with you, and not just cooked.

We steam a broom

A dry birch broom is taken to the bathhouse in order to take a steam bath. By the way, fresh brooms do not steam, because they become limp, becoming heavy, can burn the skin. Dry brooms are steamed: they are lowered for 5 minutes into a basin with cold, warm and, finally, hot water. A basin with hot water and a broom should be covered so that it is steamed. When you feel the aroma of essential oils from the broom, you can take it out. It is ready to work on your body, massaging it and improving blood circulation, cleansing respiratory system, making breathing easier for asthmatics and smokers, cleansing the skin well. It remains to wish you health and light steam with a birch broom!

Birch broom for a bath - features and self-harvesting

The broom is the visiting card of the Russian bath. It is thanks to him that the unique atmosphere and spirit of the steam room is created. Moreover, if this attribute is removed, then the traditional Russian bath would be no different from a sauna.

With the preparation of brooms, just like with the conduct of bath procedures, a whole tradition is associated in Russia. Experienced bath attendants carefully select raw materials, knowing when it is best to harvest birch brooms for a bath. As a result, traditional brooms are obtained, which have been used in Russia for bath procedures since time immemorial.

In this article, we will look at when to cut birch brooms for a bath, how to properly harvest them and how to choose ready-made products.

Traditional brooms

To date, bath attributes are made from branches of various trees and shrubs, but birch and oak are the most common. Birch branches are an excellent material that allows you to get high quality products.

In addition, the healing effect of this tree has been known for centuries, while birch grows almost everywhere, which greatly facilitates harvesting.

About the tradition of harvesting

Many novice bath attendants are interested in when they prepare birch brooms for a bath.

And regardless of which tree you decide to harvest, there are several recommendations for the correct collection of material:

Harvesting is carried out in a certain period every year. As a rule, most attendants choose Trinity Day, which falls in mid-July.

Advice! Before you start harvesting, pay attention to the weather. If it rains, then the branches are not collected, just like immediately after the rain. Optimum conditions are the presence of dew.

For preparation work, it is best to choose the first half of the day. It was at this time that the dew had not yet left the vegetation.
In the event that the weather on Trinity is rainy, the collection procedure should be postponed for a couple of days.

About the beneficial properties of a bath broom

Brooms are not only obligatory bathing attributes.

In addition, they are very useful, which is expressed in the following points:

massage effect.
Each type of wood has its own useful material that have a certain effect on the body (the benefits of birch will be discussed below).
Ecological purity.

Advice! If you do not have the opportunity to carry out independent harvesting, then you can buy a ready-made one. Only preference should be given not to a product on a supermarket shelf, but to a broom made in the countryside according to the technology used by our ancestors, which is passed down from generation to generation.

birch tree features

If the broom is made of birch, then the following is added to the above properties:

When using birch brooms, it is possible to cure aching joints and muscles caused by rheumatism or increased physical exertion.
The skin is also cleansed of acne and sebaceous plugs.
Birch branches heated with hot water emit a pleasant smell and substances that are useful for asthmatics and smokers, since in this way accumulated harmful substances are removed from the bronchi.

We prepare birch branches

Birch broom is the most popular in urban environments. In addition, it emits a pleasant smell, has softness and a number of medicinal properties. In order to make a birch broom with your own hands, you should first of all choose the right tree.

Advice! When harvesting, it is best to use weeping birch, which grows along a river or lake. Such a tree has long falling branches, sloping low to the ground.

Instructions for the correct collection of branches relies on several points:

Good material is obtained from young birches.
Before starting the assembly, touch the leaves: their outer side should be smooth and tender. If it is rough, look for another tree.
The guarantee of a fragrant broom is thin and flexible branches.
It is advisable to collect outside the city. Best of all - in the forest.
Before drying, the birch must be tied very tightly, but there must be free space between the branches. Otherwise, the leaves may lose their color and healing properties.

We collect a broom

There are general rules for assembling brooms.

Regardless of whether you choose branches of oak, birch, juniper, linden, or even combine them, you should adhere to the following recommendations in your work:

Branches should be with fully blossomed green leaves.
It is desirable that the branch has several branches.
Branches are suitable for knitting, 45-60 cm long.
The thickness of the branch is on average 0.5 cm.

In a broom, you should collect such an amount of material that the dressing handle has a diameter of no more than 5 cm. This is dictated by convenience.
Cut branches must be knitted immediately, then hung in a well-ventilated area to dry.
We carry out dressing in two places, stepping back from the butt 4-5 cm and 10-12 cm.
At the butt, the branches are carefully cut.

Advice! The best option for a combined broom is a combination of linden, oak and birch branches. Also, for medicinal purposes, you can add nettles to oak branches.

In the case of proper drying, the leaves remain green and do not fall off the branches.

How to choose ready-made brooms

Since not everyone has the desire and ability to prepare bath equipment on their own, there is an option for them to buy it on the market or directly in the bath (find out here how to properly steam a birch broom for a bath).

However, in order not to purchase a low-quality product, you should know what to look for. It does not matter how much the product costs, it is important how well it is made.

Based on this rule, the broom, the price of which is the lowest, may be of the highest quality.

To determine the quality, use the following instruction:

First of all, the product should cause pleasant tactile sensations and lie comfortably in the hand. The thickness of the handle is very important here, as mentioned above. Therefore, just hold the product in your hand.
Inspect for leaf mold. If mold is noticed, this may indicate improper storage or that the bundle was not tied from freshly cut branches. Such inventory should not be purchased.
Shake the broom. If it is dried according to all the rules, then the leaves will remain on the branches. If drying was incorrect, the leaves will begin to crumble. In the event that you steam a bad broom, then after a while you will have only bare branches.

birch alternative

Naturally, birch is not the only raw material for creating bath equipment. And although these trees are located everywhere, nevertheless, in some cases it is more convenient to use other raw materials, for example, oak or linden.

Let's look at what healing properties and the wood most often used in the bath has features:

Oak. Knitted oak branches are found no less than birch. Oak products are great for people with oily skin, due to the drying effect that tannins have. In addition, oak reduces arterial pressure in people with hypertension.

Oak harvesting is carried out in August-September, since it unfolds its leaves later than other trees in the spring. The main strength of the leaves is gaining only by the end of summer.

Advice! When choosing an oak, you need to pay attention to the growing burdock nearby. If there is no burdock nearby, such a tree is not suitable, since the leaves will surely fly around when dried.

Linden. People associate tranquility and balance with linden. Such a broom is a natural remedy for headaches, it is used to prevent vegetative-vascular dystonia, which causes insomnia and migraines. In addition to its calming effect, linden perfectly heals wounds and fights colds.

Eucalyptus. Every respected attendant should have eucalyptus tincture. It is intended for watering the walls in the steam room. And this choice is not accidental, since eucalyptus is attributed to a powerful antiseptic effect, it is used to warm the bronchi and inhalations.

Eucalyptus broom allows you to maximize the healing effect, saturating the skin essential oils, which help fight bruises, inflammation of muscle tissue and sprains.

Conclusion

In order for bath procedures to bring not only pleasure, but also have a healing effect, it is necessary to use the right equipment. Above, we examined how to choose and prepare one of the main bath attributes on our own (see also the article “Fungus in the bath - folk and modern ways fight").

Watch the video in this article for more information.

A broom for a steam room made of oak branches is in second place after birch in popularity among bath lovers. This “second line” is due, perhaps, only to the lesser prevalence of the tree (it’s easier to find birch in Central and Northern Russia), and oak is practically not inferior in its qualities to the “competitor”, and in some positions it even surpasses his.

The terms for harvesting oak brooms for a bath and the knitting procedure will be discussed below, but in order to know about their main qualities, about what diseases it is useful to use oak, you need to know the characteristics of this wood species, since these factors are closely interconnected.

What is oak known for?

This tree is considered the strongest in terms of energy among all species growing in Russia. There are persistent beliefs, by the way, not denied by scientists, that, in contact with oak under any life circumstances, a person receives part of its strength, which means that additional potential appears in the body to fight various ailments.

That is why very often in Russia oaks were planted near the house and turned to them for help, asking them to give health for many years. Today, living in high-rise buildings and not having a suburban area, it is difficult to grow your own "family" oak, so many turn to bonsai. This art allows you to grow an exact copy of a real tree, only in a miniature form, in a flowerpot. Oak grown using this technique will always be present in the house, sharing its energy forces.

But this tree is rich not only in powerful energy - it contains in its bark, branches and leaves a large number of substances useful for the human body are gallic and ellagic acids, pectins, pentosans, flavone compounds, starch, sugar, flobafen, protein, tannins and other substances.

For medicinal purposes, oak raw materials are always tried to be prepared during the period of active sap flow in order to preserve everything in it. beneficial features. Any blanks are dried in a place protected from the sun, and they can be stored for five or even more years without losing their medicinal qualities.

oak bark

Oak bark decoctions are used to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, reduce excessive sweating, heal burns, purulent wounds, treat gums and get rid of other inflammatory processes in the mouth, with severe frostbite of the skin and bleeding hemorrhoids.

Decoctions are also considered an excellent antidote for poisoning with salts of heavy metals and mushrooms. As a vitamin remedy, they are used for rickets and scurvy, as a hemostatic agent for internal bleeding.

It should be noted that this is sufficient strong remedy therefore, before giving it to children to drink, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

oak leaves

For medicinal purposes, young leaves are harvested along with branches. This process is carried out until mid-May, while the leaves are light green in color. They are dried by hanging under awnings and used throughout the year.

Decoctions are an excellent remedy for cuts and abrasions, they disinfect and help ulcers heal. In addition, they are used in the treatment of children suffering from nocturnal enuresis.

Oak fruits - acorns

Only those acorns are considered mature that have fallen from the tree. They are collected and dried away from sunlight - in attics or in sheds with good ventilation, and the final drying is carried out in ovens.

Dry fruits are peeled, then roasted until red, ground in a coffee grinder and consumed like coffee. This drink is useful for various diseases and has the following actions:

Bactericidal, astringent, antitumor and enveloping properties.
It strengthens and cleanses the stomach.
Treats gum disease and soothes toothache.
Stops bleeding of various kinds, including uterine.
Cleanses the body in case of poisoning.

Broom for a steam room from oak branches

All this was not told in vain - all the components of this magnificent tree, except for the listed methods of use, are widely used in the "bath practice". Decoctions are made from the bark, leaves and acorns, which are splashed on the stove, and brooms, useful in every respect, are knitted from branches with young leaves.

The oak broom has fairly wide and strong leaves, so it looks more like a fan. Thanks to this quality, it is excellent for them to pump the heat coming from the heater to the body.

Using a broom is quite comfortable - they seem to rake in hot steam and direct it towards themselves. This quality can be called the first of its advantages over other breeds used to make bath brooms.

With the help of an oak broom, it is good to massage, since the tannins contained in its leaves and branches have a great effect on the skin, making it more elastic.

In addition, oak brooms reduce excessive sweating, as they cleanse the skin and activate the metabolic process. Thanks to the same quality, the skin becomes less oily, receives reliable protection against inflammation.

The use of an oak broom in the steam room helps to significantly reduce blood pressure, which is very important for people suffering from hypertension.
To put in order nervous system, you should also go to the steam room, taking an oak "bouquet" with you, since the substances it releases have a calming effect.
Such a broom is suitable for various massage techniques - they are passed over the entire body, lightly patting it on the skin, pressed against the body, collecting sweat from it, rubbing certain areas, and also making oak branches on the bench in the steam room.

So that the broom can be used several times, and at the same time it retains all its medicinal properties, the raw materials for it must be properly prepared and dried. A well-prepared oak broom can be used three to five times in the steam room.

Preparation of brooms from oak branches

Harvesting oak brooms in the southern regions of the country is carried out from mid to late May, while in central Russia this event is held in the second half of June. At this time, the leaves are small and delicate in structure, and the branches have not yet gained thickness and have not lost flexibility.

You can, of course, harvest throughout the summer, however, the closer to autumn, the leaves become stiffer, and the branches thicker, so the broom will be heavier and less flexible.

You should not cut branches too early, as the leaves will be too tender, not having gained useful substances, so steaming will not give the desired therapeutic effect, and the strength of this broom will be extremely low.

Branches for such purposes are taken from the lower part of a large tree that grows in the thickest oak forests, where it penetrates least. sunlight. A good guideline for choosing a tree for cutting a broom will be burdocks growing under it, which have large juicy leaves. It is rather difficult to find single branches on old oaks, therefore, most often a branched branch with a dense leafy cover on a good annual growth is chosen. If the young growth on the old branch has the desired length of 500 ÷ 550 mm, then it is cut off and further brooms are formed.

Branches are also taken from young oak trees, having a height of only three ÷ four meters - such trees have an optimal thickness of branches and foliage size for a broom.

Branch of "winter oak"

Good brooms are obtained from the "winter oak" - this is the name of one of the varieties of the tree, which does not shed its foliage for the winter. The leaves change their hue from green to golden, but do not fly around, but hold tightly to the branches, although the sap flow in them stops. This type of oak does not grow in oak forests, but singly, and most often - on high hillocks or on small hills.

It should be noted that the best brooms are obtained from branches from trees growing in oak forests than those cut from single trees.

Rules for collecting branches

Traditional healers and experienced herbalists have developed rules that help to preserve cut branches for bath brooms and collected medicinal herbs for a long time:

All natural raw materials - both branches and grasses, must be harvested in the morning, but only after the dew has disappeared, in dry and clear weather.
You should not take sluggish branches that have already been broken off, as when steaming they will gain more moisture, becoming heavy.
The broom is cut only from those branches that have high flexibility - they bend well and do not break.
When harvesting brooms, wood should be treated with the utmost care. You should not cut it completely or deprive it of large side branches, as this can only harm the plant. If only young shoots are cut in different places of the oak, then this helps him, since thinning the branches is very useful. With the right attitude to the tree, it will supply raw materials for baths and medicinal decoctions for many years.
Young oak trees should not be cut off, for which the loss of several branches can be fatal. You need to let the tree take root well and get stronger before using it for your own good.

Knitting brooms

After cutting the branches, leaves and knots are removed from their lower part, and then they are laid out on the table in one layer and left for one hour and a half. You can not leave them piled in a heap, since from such storage the leaves can quickly crumble.

After this time, you can start knitting branches into brooms:

Each of the branches is shaken, and then they are folded into a "bouquet". The branches are equalized along the upper leaves - they should be located at the same height and create the required density of the broom.
Branches with thicker trunks are placed in the middle, but there should not be more than three of them in each of the brooms, otherwise the fan will be too hard and they can damage the skin. The thickness of the broom handle should not be more than 50 mm, otherwise it will be inconvenient to hold it. The length is usually 100 ÷ 120 mm, and the height of the fan is 450 ÷ 500 mm.
Further, the lower part of the branches, left without leaves, is compressed and tied with twine in two places - immediately under the leaves and below, forming a broom handle. It must be remembered that it is still impossible to tighten the handle strongly, it will finally be tied when the broom dries a little.
Some modern bath lovers have adapted plastic self-locking collars - “ties” for tying brooms. They bind the branches lightly at first, then, after drying, they pull them up a little, and already before using the broom, they tighten them tightly.

Pens related brooms trimmed with secateurs. And then the finished bundles are laid under a not very heavy oppression. This is necessary so that the brooms acquire a flat fan shape, and the branches do not stick out in different directions. In this form, the brooms are left for one or two days.

After that, the brooms are hung in a ventilated shed or in the attic. In no case should you dry them in the sun, as the leaves will be overdried and may simply crumble.

Video: a good example of tying an oak broom

Steaming an oak broom

All bath lovers have their own ways of steaming brooms:

A fresh broom is dipped in hot water for one to two minutes, and then it can be steamed.

The simplest and fast way to prepare a dry broom is to lower its fan into cold water for three ÷ five minutes, and then immediately transfer to a container with hot water and leave for the same time.
Another method involves rinsing the broom in cold water and placing it completely in a bowl with warm water. After immersing the broom, the container is closed with a lid and left for 10 ÷ 15 minutes. The main thing here is not to overexpose it in water, otherwise it will become sour and quickly crumble.
In the event that the broom is very dry for some reason, it is placed for 5 ÷ 7 minutes in warm water, and then pulled out, shaken off and held over hot stones, periodically turning. Both the fan and the handle will steam well, and the broom should become soft.
Some attendants soak dry brooms in cold water in the morning and leave them in it until late in the evening. Then they are pulled out and wrapped overnight in a dense cloth. A broom soaked in this way is not only soft, but also gives a very rich forest aroma. In addition, it will last for several vaping sessions.
Sometimes steaming occurs in a contrasting way, when the fan of a broom is moved from cold to hot water, leaving it in each of the containers for 1 ÷ 2 minutes, and before entering the steam room, it is poured over with boiling water.

Other bath lovers prefer to cook a broom on the eve of going to the steam room. After keeping the brooms in hot water for 15 ÷ 20 minutes, they are wrapped in polyethylene and left overnight. After entering the steam room, such a broom will remain heated over the heater - and it is completely ready for bath procedures.

Do not throw water from steamed brooms into the street. She, during the stay of oak leaves in her, is saturated with useful substances, and a kind of decoction is obtained. It is used to rinse the body, wash the hair, or pour it on the heater to create a healing steam. Hair after such water acquires a pleasant shine and receives a significant vitamin dose. A decoction of oak leaves also has a positive effect on the skin, thanks to all the natural substances that this plant is rich in.

Naturally, it is difficult to get the desired results in one trip to the steam room with an oak broom - you need to do these bath procedures every week for a long time. Only in this case, you can significantly improve your physical health and get energy from this amazing tree.

In conclusion, I would like to say that, despite the unique properties of oak, many sauna lovers prefer mixed brooms, consisting of oak and traditional birch branches. This complex combines everything necessary qualities for soaring - birch leaves adhere well to the skin, collecting sweat and opening pores, and oak leaves nourish the skin with vitamins and strength.

Therefore, when preparing brooms, you need to collect different variants, try each of them for yourself and choose the best one.

Having a good broom is only half the battle!

The first trip to a real bath is better to organize with an experienced person - so as not to harm your health out of ignorance. How to steam- read in a special publication of our "bath encyclopedia".

Brooms are an essential attribute of the Russian bath. With the help of bath brooms, health-improving water procedures are carried out that have a positive effect on the body.

At the same time, it is important to know the most suitable types of plants, the features of their cutting, drying, knitting and other important aspects of preparing brooms.

By following the rules for steaming each type of bath broom, you can significantly improve their effect. Brooms are always on sale, but it is much more pleasant to collect and prepare them yourself.

Types of bath brooms and their properties

Bath brooms make out various kinds trees and shrubs.

Each plant differs in the content of certain vitamins, essential oils, tannins.

Tannins- These are organic compounds found in many plants that can be used as an anti-inflammatory, hemostatic and bactericidal agent.

Depending on the desired effect, you need to use one or another broom, since their use not only brings pleasure, but also treats various diseases. The following bath brooms are considered the most useful:

birch
oak
linden
juniper
nettles
eucalyptus
maple

Birch broom

Birch is considered the best option for a broom due to strength, comfort and flexibility. birch leaves They are characterized by a rough and porous surface, due to which they effectively absorb moisture, tightly adhering to the skin. Weeping or curly birch brooms are especially useful.

In the first case, the broom turns out to be very light and flexible, and in the second - thick, resistant to hot steam. The use of a broom helps to improve the condition skin, their cleansing, healing of wounds, abrasions, eliminates the feeling of aching in the joints and muscles, has a positive effect on mood.

The use of a birch broom will be useful for those who abuse smoking, suffer from asthmatic and other types of lung diseases.

oak broom

Oak leaves and bark are saturated with tannins and produce healing effect. The skin after applying a broom becomes elastic, matte, stops inflammatory processes and the oiliness of the skin disappears.

Regular bath procedures with the use of an oak broom can improve blood pressure, normalize its performance due to the aroma of oak. Compared to a birch broom, it absorbs moisture worse, but is characterized greater strength.

Linden broom

The main advantage of linden leaves is the content of many bactericidal substances as well as essential oils.

The use of a linden broom is considered especially useful for those who suffer from colds with characteristic symptoms(runny nose, headache, sore throat, cough, fever), it is especially useful to use such a broom in winter.

The spreading aroma of linden helps to get rid of headaches, is able to lower the temperature, remove heat, and has a relaxing and calming effect. Linden also promotes wound healing, stimulates the kidneys.

juniper broom

A common juniper broom may not be used by everyone due to its rough and prickly branches. Improper use causes numerous wounds on the skin, so the broom must be soft, well steamed.

However, the plant is famous for its numerous positive properties. Juniper disinfects the surface of the skin, removes inflammation, is used in the treatment of rheumatism, sciatica. Effective use of a broom for colds, allergic diseases and flu.

Another type of juniper is also common - Cossack, which is known for poisonous fruits, but branches and bark can be used without fear.

Terms of preparation of brooms

Any variety of brooms for a bath is harvested summer but in different periods.

Birch brooms are best harvested in early-mid July. For oak, the period from June to August. Good brooms are obtained from linden, collected in July or August.

Juniper shrubs have the best properties, starting with end of spring and ending with the middle of summer.

Important! Brooms from untimely harvested plants crumble at the first use due to weak or too old leaves.

Rules for the preparation of bath brooms

cut branches follows in dry and clear weather, the ideal time is the first half of the day. For cutting, several bushes and trees are used.

Young plants are best suited, the branches of which have the necessary flexibility. Avoid trees and bushes located next to the roadway. Optimum branch cut length - 50-60 cm.

After cutting the branches, they are laid out in 1 layer in the shade so that the leaves become a little lethargic ( an hour is enough). When transporting, it is not recommended to carefully pack the blanks - due to elevated temperature, which forms inside the package, the leaves may crumble.

Drying and knitting bath brooms

Not fresh plants knit, but dried- it is enough to spread the branches in the shade for 2 days.

Before tying the branch in place of the handle, carefully cleared from leaves and knots. When collecting a broom, lay out each branch in such a way that the leaves are directed in one direction - you get a kind of fan.

Such a broom turns out to be thick and, when used, fits snugly against the skin. When assembling a broom, the following subsequence:

a broom is going (long and thick branches - inside, short and thin - outside)
the place of the future broom handle is tightly wrapped with a cord (closer to the leaves)
the cord is tied into several knots for durability
the ends of the handle are cut to the same length

Advice! To make the aroma emanating from the broom even more intense during application, add sprigs of mint, sage or thyme to the composition of the broom.

Drying brooms is carried out in a shady, dry and cool place. In the sun, the leaves curl, as a result, the leaves lose their beneficial properties, aroma, and original color.

Turn each broom daily so that the branches dry evenly. You can also dry them limbo is the easiest way. The result should be brooms in the form of a fan of a matte green hue.

Storage of bath brooms

Improper storage can spoil brooms from the best plants, make them yellow, stale, with a barely noticeable smell.

Brooms are well preserved in a room where there is no sunlight, but there is ventilation. The main thing is to be dry and dark. In urban conditions, brooms are placed in paper bags, and if possible, it is best to cover them with hay on all sides.

Buy ready-made brooms from various materials can be in any bath. They are sold at an affordable price: from 70 to 150 rubles per piece depending on size and plants used.

Often there are brooms in vacuum packed that had previously been frozen. Thanks to freezing, brooms retain both useful substances and odors. And vacuum packing helps to save brooms.

How to steam bath brooms

Brooms steamed up differently depending on the type of trees used.

Eucalyptus should be soaked in a bowl of hot water for half an hour. Eucalyptus is not used as a basis for a broom, but as an addition to the composition
birch washed under running water, dipped 1 time for 3-4 minutes in cold and 5 minutes in hot water. Then the broom should be scalded with boiling water directly in the basin and left there under the lid for 10 minutes
Oak leaves are denser and require a different approach. For about 20 minutes, they are steamed in boiling water, lowered into cold water, and then back into boiling water for a couple of minutes.
Juniper not dried, but used fresh because of its specific qualities. The steaming process takes a long time - more than half an hour in hot water. This is necessary to soften the branches and needles. If desired, you can use branches that have not been treated with water, but after such an application, many small scratches will appear on the skin.

How to properly prepare brooms for a bath, you can see in this video instruction.

There are invariable attributes used in the steam room. One of them is a broom. It performs many functions, helping to better warm up the body, producing a massage, as well as providing an aromatic and relaxing effect.

You should learn about when to harvest birch brooms before preparing for the adoption of procedures.

Properties of a birch broom

A broom in a bath has been used for many years as a universal remedy that helps a person to steam in the best way, to reach the deepest layers of the skin.

It also performs massage functions, dispersing blood through the body. The smell emanating from the branches and leaves aromatizes the room, and also heals the body. After all, it is not in vain that so many people have cured many physical and spiritual diseases with regular visits to the steam room.

In order to maximize all the useful properties, you should figure out when birch brooms are harvested. It depends on what effect it will have on the human body.

When preparing birch brooms, it should be noted that this remedy helps with pain in the back, muscles and joints, helps to relax the body after long physical activity. If you add a few viburnum twigs to birch branches, you can save the skin from itching after mosquito bites.

Soaked and steamed birch brooms cleanse the airways.

The number of the beginning of the preparation of brooms

There is a tradition of collecting branches to form birch brooms for a bathhouse after the Trinity holiday. It falls on a different date each year. Therefore, the date when they begin to harvest birch brooms shifts every year from the end of May to June.

Our ancestors had many traditions based on church holidays. Even long-term weather forecasts for the season were made based on an analysis of the state of nature on such key days of the calendar.

Therefore, the collection of herbs, branches, flowers medicinal plants always associated with such special dates.

To answer the question of when birch brooms are harvested, the date of the beginning of this event is correlated with the Trinity. In 2015, the collection started on May 31. From that moment, according to tradition, the period of harvesting birch brooms for the bath began.

In 2016, this period begins on June 19. Folk legends say that the collection of material is carried out in the next 2 weeks from this date. It is then that flowering and herbage occurs. The leaves of the plant have already gained the necessary strength and aroma.

Branch picking period

However, it is important not only what date birch brooms are prepared for the bath, but also what this day itself is like. It should be sunny and warm. Leaves that are wet from rain do not dry well and may deteriorate.

The best time to collect branches is between June and August. An important factor influencing the readiness of birch is the weather. The hotter were last days May, the earlier it comes. The leaf should reach its maximum size and hold firmly on the branch. If the broom was collected early, the leaves will scatter and slide over the body in the process of visiting the bath.

The end of the collection period is marked by coarsening of the branches. Late collected, they will fall out of the general bundle. It will be unpleasant to massage with such a product. Essential oils will stand out to a much lesser extent.

time of day

To collect birch brooms for the winter, even the time of day it was made matters.

The most suitable time of day starts at noon. When preparing birch brooms for a bath, the sheet is evaluated for the presence of moisture on it. There may be dew on it in the morning. The broom collected during this period may deteriorate during drying.

After noon and until evening on a sunny warm day, the branches dry well. This is the best way to collect them.

If the place where the branches are collected is quite far from home and you have to carry them in your hands without the help of transport, it is better to do this after 3 pm. Direct sunlight can dry out cut leaves and shoots. Toward evening, the sun becomes less active and will not harm the future broom.

If near the house is Birch Grove, the collection is allowed to be made even at noon.

How to assemble a broom

Birch, like oak, brooms are harvested in the same period. Raw materials are collected in ecologically clean areas, away from roads and cities. The leaves absorb all the impurities, so when steaming, such substances will be released along with essential oils. There will be little benefit from the procedure.

When preparing birch brooms for a bath, they do not break many branches from one tree. It is necessary to try to harm the plant as little as possible. Biennial shoots are best suited. They are closer to the ground. Branches should be cut with secateurs up to 60 cm long.

How to form a broom

There are two ways to store cut shoots. The first involves collecting branches in a sheaf. The upper ones retain the inner ones. From above, the entire workpiece is wrapped in hay. As needed, the inner shoots are taken out, and a broom is tied from them.

The second method involves storing the material in assembled form. When preparing birch brooms for the winter, they perform a certain sequence of actions.

First, cut branches are laid out on burlap. After a couple of days, the dried shoots begin to be folded into armfuls. The length of the broom can be from 40 to 80 cm. Otherwise, it will be inconvenient to use it.

In the place where the broom handle will be, the branches are cleaned of knots and leaves. Folding the product, it is given a flat shape.

When birch brooms are prepared and made for a bath, stronger branches are left to form a frame. Small thin shoots are used on top of the product.

The handle is wrapped with twine and cloth. This broom can be steamed up to 3 times.

Product drying

When birch and oak brooms are harvested, they are dried in the shade. In the sun, the leaves may turn yellow and curl. Fragrant essential elements disappear, and the benefits of such a broom will be minimal.

The place for drying should be dark, dry and obstructed. Brooms are hung or laid out on the surface. They should be turned over every day.

First, the branches should be twisted loosely. After 6-7 days they can be folded more tightly. Properly dried broom has matte dark leaves and a persistent aroma.

How to store a broom

A properly dried broom should be stored in a cool, dark place with good ventilation.

Attics, garages or sheds are ideal for these purposes.

Careless storage will cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall off. A dry broom should not be frequently moved, thrown, or placed on it with various objects.

When birch brooms are harvested, they are often stored in hay. It adds even more aroma and useful qualities to the product. This method is more suitable for rural residents. In the city, brooms can be saved in paper or plastic wrap, as well as in vacuum packaging. With proper storage, the product will not lose its positive qualities for a long time.

Harvest errors

To better understand when birch brooms are prepared for a bath and how they are made, you should consider the main mistakes that you should not make in this matter.

There are miscalculations in the time of harvesting branches. Harvested shoots too early or too late degrade the quality of the final product. Therefore, attention should be paid to appearance leaves, on them characteristics readiness.

A common mistake is drying the material in the sun. This speeds up the process, but reduces the quality of the birch beam. The broom should dry out gradually, being in the shade.

It is wrong to collect branches immediately after rain. This omission will lead to darkening of the leaves. It is also unacceptable to wash the broom at home from dust. To get rid of the dust that has settled on the leaves, you should immediately scald the broom before visiting the bath. This will clean it of possible contaminants and help open the whole gamut of natural aromas.

When preparing brooms, you should provide for such a number of them that each time you take a new bunch with you. Each of them should be applied once. Every time it will give a fresh aroma and maximum benefit for people in the steam room.

Having become familiar with the rules that allow you to create right broom from birch, it will be enough just to prepare the required amount for the whole year. Adhering to the considered recommendations, you can get the maximum benefit from visiting the bath. When birch brooms are harvested, weather conditions, time of year and even days are taken into account. A scrupulous approach to the collection and storage of material is a guarantee of a good and useful pastime in the steam room. The right birch broom will cure many diseases and prevent future health problems.