Ḥammāmtherapy: Integrating Tradition and Evidence in Therapeutic Practices
Abstract
Ḥammām therapy, a traditional bathing practice with historical roots in Roman and Islamic cultures, is designed to provide both physical and therapeutic benefits through a sequence of hot, warm, and cool rooms. Fundamental to the Unani medical system, it uses a series of hot, warm, and cool exposures to enhance circulation, aid in detoxification, and treat skin and musculoskeletal disorders. The therapeutic mechanism of the Ḥammāmis based on principles of balancing bodily humors and restoring health through Tarteeb (regulating moisture) and Taskhīn (heat therapy). Although the practice offers numerous health benefits, its use requires careful consideration of individual temperaments and medical conditions. This review examines the historical evolution, architectural structure, procedural aspects, and types of Ḥammāmbaths, including their specific health benefits & modern clinical studies validating its efficacy in conditions like metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disorders, and post-stroke rehabilitation, emphasizing its relevance in contemporary integrative medicine.
Keywords:
Ḥammāmtherapy, Unani medicine, detoxification, heat therapy, holistic health
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References
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31.ABBAS M, ANSARI AN, NAYAB M, AFZAL U, ABALKHAIL AA. Efficacy of Hot and Dry Bath (Ḥammām-i-Hār-Yābis) in Activities of Daily Living for Management of Post Stroke Hemiplegia: An Exploratory Clinical Trial. Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research. 2022 Mar 1;16(3).
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2.Tausif M, Ali H, Lari IA, Habib S. Ḥammām therapy: A systemic review. International Journal of Unani and Integrative Medicine. 2019;3(1):07-10.
3.Alam MK, Rahman A, Bashir T. A review on the Ḥammām: A regimen from Asclepions. J Pharm Sci Innov. 2020 Dec;9(6):167-170. doi: 10.7897/2277-4572.096191.
4Mazhar SA, Anjum R, Anwar AI, Khan AA. Ḥammām Therapy: An Ancient Wisdom with Contemporary Relevance. Journal of Integrated Community Health (ISSN 2319-9113). 2020 Jul 15;9(1):25-30.
5. Osborn DK. The Greco-Roman Bath. Greek Medicine.net. Published 2007. Accessed September 18, 2020. 169 Md Khursid Alam Ansari et al: J. Pharm. Sci. Innov. 2020; 9(6) http://www.greekmedicine.net/hygiene/The_Greco Roman_Bath.html
6. Allah. M. A., (YNM), Ilaj Bil TadbeerJadeedTehqeeqat Mufeed Tauzeehat, Composed At Karamat Computer Institute, Lucknow, U.P., Pp: 102-124.
7. Aslam, M., et al, (2015). A review on Ḥammām (Hot Bath): An antediluvian art of curing, IHRJ, Volume 3rd, issue-I, Jan-March 2015.
8. Sina, I., (2010), Al-Qanoon-fit-Tibb, (Urdu translation by Ghulam Hasnain Kantoori), New Delhi, Idarta Kitab-ul-Shifa, Pp: 121-122.
9. Yapijakis C. Hippocrates of Kos, the father of clinical medicine, and Asclepiades of Bithynia, the father of molecular medicine. In Vivo (Brooklyn). 2009;23(4):507 514.
10.Nafees Tarjumawa Sharae KulliyateNafeesi B. (Urdu Translation By M Kabeeruddin). New Delhi: IdaraeKitabus Shifa, 1954, 433-435.
11. Siddiqui MMH. Basic Fundamentals Regimen Therapy. 1st ed. New Delhi: Brown Book Publication Pvt. Ltd.; 2020. p. 235-38.
12. Aslam M, Ali SJ, Rahman A, Ahmad I. A Review on Ḥammām ( Hot Bath ): An Antediluvian Art of Curing. Int Hum Res J. 2015;3(1):1-8.
13. Tabri R, Firdausul Hikmat, IdaraeKitabus Shifa. 2010, 312
14. Sari ND. Bathe in Ḥammām and its effects on health as to Ottoman medical manuscripts in Turkish. 2018. p. 35-43.
15.Gazrooni, S., (1910), Kulliyat-e-Sadeedi, Urdu Translation by Husain. M. S. A, Matba Munshi Nawal Kishore, Pp: 140.
16.Kabiruddin. H., (1954), Kulliyat-e-Nafeesi, Idara Kitabul Shifa, New Delhi, Pp: 431-439.
17. Majusi. A. I. A., (2010), Kamil al Sanaa’t,1294 Vol. Urdu translation *by Ghulam Hasnain Kntoori, Idara Kitabul Shifa, New Delhi, Pp: 232-237.
18. Aslam M, Ali SJ, Rahman A, Ahmad I. A Review on Ḥammām ( Hot Bath ): An Antediluvian Art of Curing. Int Hum Res J. 2015;3(1):1-8.
19. Avicenna. The Canon Of Medicine Of Avicenna. (Gruner C, ed.). New York: AMS Press; 1930.
20. Hamdani HSMK. Buniyadiasool (Ilaj bit Tadbeermutabiqtibbunani): Ejaz publishing house; 1st Ed, 2004, 31-33.
21. MaseehiKitabul Miya I. Markazi council baraetahqeeqattibbunani; 1st Ed. 2008; 1:176-77.
22. Rahman HSZ. Tibbitaqaddume: Muslim university Aligirh, 2000, 31-42.
23. Ahsanullah Ilaj Bit Tadbeer M. Qaumi council baraefaroghurduzaban; 2nd ed. 2006, 111-118.
24. What are the benefits and risks of a sauna? Medically reviewed by Yamini Ranchod, PhD M.S. on June 17,2 019; Written by Mary Ann de Pieto, CRT; available on https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313109 cited on March 13, 2020.
25. Turkish bath benefits https://www.turkishbaths.org/ turkish-bath-benefits/ Last visited 13 February 2020; 2100 hrs IST.
26.Sweat N Chill Zone. Difference between a sauna and a Turkish bath: 2023 Dec 17 Available from: https://www.sweatnchillzone.com/
27.The Science Behind Swedana: How Ayurvedic Therapeutic Sweating can Transforms Your Health www.totalayurveda.in/swedana-ayurvedic-therapeutic-sweating/
28. Walk in chamber, cited at: https://thermotron.com/equipment/humidity-chamber/walk-in-test chambers.html, cited on: 08-10-2018
29.. What are the Benefits of Ḥammām? Why Should I Go to Ḥammām? | Hürrem Sultan Ḥammām https://www.hurremsultanhamami.com/en/
30.Ahmad MZ, Ansari AN, Nayab M. Efficacy of Ḥammām-i-yābis (dry bath) in metabolic syndrome: a single arm, open-labelled clinical trial. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. 2022 Dec 5;19(4):1019-24.
31.ABBAS M, ANSARI AN, NAYAB M, AFZAL U, ABALKHAIL AA. Efficacy of Hot and Dry Bath (Ḥammām-i-Hār-Yābis) in Activities of Daily Living for Management of Post Stroke Hemiplegia: An Exploratory Clinical Trial. Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research. 2022 Mar 1;16(3).
32.Shiralkar VV, Jagtap PE, Belwalkar GJ, Nagane NS, Dhonde SP. Effect of steam sauna bath on fasting blood glucose level in healthy adults. Indian Journal of Medical Biochemistry. 2018 Apr 1;22(1):18-21.
33.Laukkanen T, Kunutsor SK, Zaccardi F, Lee E, Willeit P, Khan H, Laukkanen JA. Acute effects of sauna bathing on cardiovascular function. Journal of human hypertension. 2018 Feb;32(2):129-38.
34.Birle PA, Anusha DT, Queen ZE. Immediate Effect of Steam Bath Followed by Cold Shower on Body Temperature Among the Healthy Individuals: A Single Arm Study.DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20230102.
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Irshad AW, Bushra H, Rayees AM, Mohd N, Mehmooda B. Ḥammāmtherapy: Integrating Tradition and Evidence in Therapeutic Practices. World Journal of Current Med and Pharm Research [Internet]. 2025Feb.13 [cited 2025Mar.23];7(1):8-14. Available from: https://wjcmpr.com/index.php/journal/article/view/349
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