Western Red Cedar Saunas - "Saunas of Life"

Western red cedar is an ideal wood for sauna building.will grow and be useful to the people - the roots for
Highly regarded for its resistance to decay, the softbaskets, the bark for clothing, the wood for shelter.'"
red-brown timber is an especially popular choice forThroughout the years, outdoor as well as indoor
building outdoor saunas. Many builders also usesaunas made of Western red cedar have been
Western red cedar to construct decks, gazebos andrepeatedly touted to be useful to the people who
other structures that must withstand all kinds ofare fortunate enough to own them or use them on a
weather and outside elements. Western red cedar isregular basis. Sweat bathing in cedar saunas has been
also commonly used to line closets and chests, forcredited with improving lung function, promoting blood
the pungent aromatic oils from the wood arecirculation, increasing immunity to viruses and
believed to discourage moth larvae, which caninfections, assisting skin care, and aiding relaxation.
damage cloth by their eating.And the list of potential positive effects of consistent
Native to the northwestern U.S. and southwesterncedar sauna use doesn't end there. Given the many
Canada, Western red cedar has a long history of useproven health benefits of sauna bathing and the
by the Native American people of the northweststrong beliefs of the Native American people of
coast of North America. Some northwest coastNorth America's northwest coast, it might be quite
tribes refer to themselves as "people of the redfitting to call cedar saunas "saunas of life."
cedar" because of their extensive dependence onWestern red cedar can be utilized in the construction
the softwood for basic materials. Western red cedarof many types of home saunas and sauna kits.
is called "the tree of life" by the Kakawaka'waka tribeCountless backyard saunas, barrel saunas, basement
and is still highly respected by all northwest coastsaunas, bathroom saunas, bedroom saunas, custom
people for its healing and spiritual powers.saunas, do-it-yourself saunas, traditional Finnish
According to the 1945 writings of Erna Gunther, thesaunas, far infrared saunas, patio saunas, prefab
late University of Washington anthropologist whosaunas and pre-cut saunas made of Western red
studied the northwest coast tribes, "The Lummicedar have beautified the homes and properties of
chew the buds of cedar and swallow them for sorediscerning sauna bath enthusiasts for many years.
lungs, while the Cowlitz chew them for toothache,Interestingly enough, Western red cedar is not
and the Skokomish boil them for a gargle. The Skagittechnically a true cedar wood; it is a cypress. Cedar
boil the ends of the leaves for coughs... The Klallamrefers to trees belonging to the genus Cedrus in the
boil cedar limbs for tuberculosis medicine, (and) theconiferous plant family Pinaceae, while Western red
Quinault make an infusion of the bark and twigs forcedar refers to a species of trees belonging to the
kidney trouble (and) boil an infusion of cedar limbs togenus Thuja in the Cupressaceae or cypress family.
wash sores due to venereal diseases."Nevertheless, most sauna manufacturers and sauna
In 1994, authors Jim Pojar and Andy Mackinnondealers market residential saunas made of Western
wrote of a northwest coast Native myth that claimsred cedar as simply cedar saunas.
Western Red Cedar was created by a "Great Spirit...For more information on Western red cedar saunas,
in honor of a man who was always helping others:consult with a qualified home sauna builder or retailer.
'When he dies and where he is buried, a cedar tree