Keep Your Body Clean by Bathing Daily
Ladies and gentlemen, do you take a bath every day? "Are you thoroughly washing your body and soaking in the bathtub to warm yourself up?"
Taking a bath not only cleanses away the dirt of the day and refreshes you, but it is also said to be effective as an anti-virus.
By taking a bath in general, following effects are expected:
(1) Reduce stress and relax
(2) Effect of raising body temperature and improving immunity
(3) Effect of weakening viruses in the nose and throat
Especially in times when viruses are raging, it seems better to take a good bath every day.
As for how to take a bath, if possible, soak your whole body in hot water of about 40°C to 41°C until you sweat a little. However, if you have high blood pressure, it may be better to make the water a little warmer, about 39°C.
Many Japanese people bathe every day, and it is said that they like cleanliness. Come to think of it, in Europe, many people seem to get by with just a shower. I've heard that there are hotels that don't have bathtubs and only have showers, or that if dozens of Japanese tourists come to fill the bathtubs with hot water all at once, the hotel's boiler breaks down. The reason why many people wear perfume overseas may be that they don't need to take a lot of baths to cover up their body odor.
When did Japanese people start taking baths every day?
It is said that the custom of taking a bath came to Japan with Buddhism. It is believed that there are hot springs near ancient temples in India where monks used to bathe. In Buddhism, it is recommended to make bathing a habit by the so-called "Greenhouse Sutra". According to the "Greenhouse Sutra", taking a bath can get rid of seven diseases and bring about seven good things. In Todaiji Temple in Nara, there are remains of a bath where monks used to bathe.
Japan is also a country with many hot springs. In the old days, Prince Shotoku founded a temple called "Gokuraku-ji" in Arima Onsen, and also traveled to Shikoku and entered Dogo Onsen. In addition, legends about the opening of the hot springs by Gyoki Shonin and Kobo Daishi remain throughout Japan. After all, it seems that Buddhism and hot springs and baths have something to do with each other.
By the way, when you think of baths, you think of the Roman Empire. It seems that the ancient Romans loved baths, with ruins of public baths scattered here and there. Unfortunately, after the Middle Ages, public baths were gradually closed, and bathing customs did not take root in Europe.
By the way, according to Jewish law, it seems that it is obligatory to bathe and cleanse the body. When the plague was prevalent in medieval Europe, it seems that Jews who had a habit of bathing were not easily infected. However, it is also said that this led to prejudice and discrimination against Jews.
In order to continue a healthy life every day, I would like to cherish the habit of taking a bath every day.
△*Return to Emphasis on Health and Preventive Medicine
