In Unani system of medicine the term hammam refers to hot bath it is aimed not only to clean the body but also to obtain beneficial effects for skin and different organs and prevention from humoural diseases. It evacuates the superfluous matter or waste material from the body in the from of sweat and vapours Unani physician use sweet water (aab-e sheerin) for the purpose of prevention of health hammam reduces repletion and increases attractive power for nutrients and thus prevent and promote health. Hammam reduces repletion and increases attractive power for nutrients and thus prevent and promote health.
The concept of therapy with warm-cold contrast was first experimented in Germany 150 years ago, when Reverend Sebastian Kneipp applied and confirmed the therapeutic values of water. Medical sciences and other science reached the zenith of its glory during this period. Book were written and translated into various languages and different countries of the world adopted this method regimental therapies were also incorporated. One of the major regimental therapy in treating disease was through special type of medicated bath known as HAMMAM where treatment through water was adopted and the people of turkey were the first to construct the concept of hammam which was named as TURKISH BATH. Hammam in Arabia were also built which were actually the copies of Turkish bath.
Types of Hammam
1)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Barid (Cold Bath)
2)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Bahri (Sea Bath)
3)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Bukhari (Vapour Bath)
4)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Barqi (Electric Bath)
5)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Boraqi (Borax Bath)
6)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Tadreegee (Graduated Bath)
7)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Turki (Turkrish Bath)
8)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Hamizi (Acid Bath)
9)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Dawai (Medicated Bath)
10)Â Hammam-e Ramli (Sand Bath)
11)Â Hammam-e Khirdali (Mustard Bath)
12)Â Hammam-e Qabiz (Astringent Bath)
13)Â Hammam-e Qadmi (Foot Bath)
Water use in the Hammam
a) According to the mizaj of water
1. Cold water  0.5-18.3 ‘C
2. Tepid water  26.6-32.2 'C
3. Warm water  32.2-36.6 'C
4. Hot water     36.6-37.7 ‘C
b) According to the elements
Kinds of Hammam room and its importance
Hammam is a type of medicated bath for which a particular type of construction was done having some time three and some time four room designed in sush a way that the temperature of the first room was as per the human body.
Hammam as per the benefits we need to draw
Those with dry temperament must use plenty of water in the hammam and the stay should be short. It assists the penetration of water before sweating, which moistens the body. If the purpose of hammam is to get tarteeb & taskheen, as in case of pthisis, the floor of the hammam should always be kept moist by sprinkling water over the floor and allowing the water to remain stagnant so that by the effect of the heat the water evaporates and humidifies the air which reduces the perspiration, making the body warm & moist. The bath should be followed by massage with some suitable oil so as to gain more moisture & to hold what has been absorbed.
For persons with ratab temperament, like those suffering from ascites, dropsy, and the atmosphere in the room should be kept dry & hot so that there is excessive dispersion of secretions by perspiration that leads to dryness. Person desirous of putting on weight should enter hammam generally after taking food, as it promotes the digestion & absorption of food, provided there is no tendency for developing obstruction. If there is tendency, obstruction may be prevented by giving sikanjabeen in case of haar mizaj and jawarish podina or jawarish fallafali in case of barid mizaj, prior to hammam.
If the person wants to lose weight, he should enter the hammam empty stomach and continue for a long time. But a person of safrawi mizaj should never enter the hammam with empty stomach and it is best to take bread soaked in fruit juice or in rose water as a snack. For mere health preservation the person should enter after the completion of 1st digestion of food and before a sense of hunger returns
The concept of therapy with warm-cold contrast was first experimented in Germany 150 years ago, when Reverend Sebastian Kneipp applied and confirmed the therapeutic values of water. Medical sciences and other science reached the zenith of its glory during this period. Book were written and translated into various languages and different countries of the world adopted this method regimental therapies were also incorporated. One of the major regimental therapy in treating disease was through special type of medicated bath known as HAMMAM where treatment through water was adopted and the people of turkey were the first to construct the concept of hammam which was named as TURKISH BATH. Hammam in Arabia were also built which were actually the copies of Turkish bath.
Types of Hammam
1)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Barid (Cold Bath)
2)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Bahri (Sea Bath)
3)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Bukhari (Vapour Bath)
4)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Barqi (Electric Bath)
5)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Boraqi (Borax Bath)
6)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Tadreegee (Graduated Bath)
7)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Turki (Turkrish Bath)
8)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Hamizi (Acid Bath)
9)Â Â Â Â Â Hammam-e Dawai (Medicated Bath)
10)Â Hammam-e Ramli (Sand Bath)
11)Â Hammam-e Khirdali (Mustard Bath)
12)Â Hammam-e Qabiz (Astringent Bath)
13)Â Hammam-e Qadmi (Foot Bath)
Water use in the Hammam
a) According to the mizaj of water
1. Cold water  0.5-18.3 ‘C
2. Tepid water  26.6-32.2 'C
3. Warm water  32.2-36.6 'C
4. Hot water     36.6-37.7 ‘C
b) According to the elements
- Alum water
- Copper water
- Iron water
- Ferrous water
- Sulfur water
- Decoction of herbal drugs of water
Kinds of Hammam room and its importance
Hammam is a type of medicated bath for which a particular type of construction was done having some time three and some time four room designed in sush a way that the temperature of the first room was as per the human body.
- 1st room – mizaz sard tar (33 – 65 0F / 0.5 – 18.3 0C)
- 2nd room – mizaz garm tar (98 – 100 0F / 32.2 – 36.6 0C )
- 3rd room – mizaz garm khushak
- 4th room – mizaz motadil (98.4-98.6 0F)
Hammam as per the benefits we need to draw
Those with dry temperament must use plenty of water in the hammam and the stay should be short. It assists the penetration of water before sweating, which moistens the body. If the purpose of hammam is to get tarteeb & taskheen, as in case of pthisis, the floor of the hammam should always be kept moist by sprinkling water over the floor and allowing the water to remain stagnant so that by the effect of the heat the water evaporates and humidifies the air which reduces the perspiration, making the body warm & moist. The bath should be followed by massage with some suitable oil so as to gain more moisture & to hold what has been absorbed.
For persons with ratab temperament, like those suffering from ascites, dropsy, and the atmosphere in the room should be kept dry & hot so that there is excessive dispersion of secretions by perspiration that leads to dryness. Person desirous of putting on weight should enter hammam generally after taking food, as it promotes the digestion & absorption of food, provided there is no tendency for developing obstruction. If there is tendency, obstruction may be prevented by giving sikanjabeen in case of haar mizaj and jawarish podina or jawarish fallafali in case of barid mizaj, prior to hammam.
If the person wants to lose weight, he should enter the hammam empty stomach and continue for a long time. But a person of safrawi mizaj should never enter the hammam with empty stomach and it is best to take bread soaked in fruit juice or in rose water as a snack. For mere health preservation the person should enter after the completion of 1st digestion of food and before a sense of hunger returns