Birch or Oak leaves for Massage: What works Best?

The study show that there are different types of leafy twigs or vihta
for Sauna and Steam Bath Healthy Massage. What Works Best and why?
Here is what I found:

Sauna massage with leafy twigs stimulates blood circulation, detoxication and breathing. It strengthenes the immune system of the body. Tree leaves of twigs absorb sweat and pollutants coming out from the skin and apply natural fragrance essential oils.

For the best results bathers use bunch of Birch tree twigs, Oak tree twigs or, more rarely, Eucalyptus tree twigs. They are prepared and dried in a special mode from fresh leafy twigs with all the healthy natural substances preserved. Such massage leafy twigs can be stored and used the year-around. Synthetic brushes, sponges or synthetic vihtas are not good substitues as they do not possess the natural healthy substances the preserved tree leaves do.

The most popular types among Russians are made of Birch tree twigs and Oak tree twigs. The popular Finnish vihta (also called as vasta) is made of leafy Birch tree twigs.

Bunch of leafy Birch twigs
is good for its advanced sweat absorbing. It is more flexible. It provides a pleasant scent and health improving substances from birch leaves: essential oils, tanning substances, vitamins C and A. Bunch of Birch twigs helps with muscle and joint pains. Sauna massage with it accelerates wound and lesion healing. It provides with strong anti-inflamatory effect. Bunch of Birch twigs is especially recommended for smokers and asthma deseased or people living in smogy areas. The massage with Birch twigs helps with removal of phlegm and ventilation of lungs because of the Birch special property to widen small bronchi. After soaking Birch twigs in warm water you can use this water to rinse your hair. It will strengthen your hair and destroy dandruff. The bunch of Birch twigs is durable: you can use it upto 2 times.

Bunch of leafy Oak tree twigs
is popular among those who prefer aggressive or vigourous massage techniques and hot tempretures. When it is used for whisking or special sauna massage it seems that tempreture is hotter. Bunch of oak twigs is good for strongly built men, experienced sauna bathers and those experienced in hot steam tempretures. Usually men and experienced bathers choose this type. Bunch of oak twigs is also recommended for people with oily skin. It makes the skin smooth and resilient. Oak leaves are rich in tanning substances, their scent creates a sedative effect, strong anti-inflammatory effect and stress relief. Oak leaves extract helps with oily skin and excessive sweating of feet. Bunch of Oak tree twigs is also popular for its long-lasting properties. You can use it for 2 or 3 times.

Bunch of leafy Eucalyptus tree twigs is popular for its pleasant scent and eucalyptus essential oil. Usually ladies who prefer special pleasant aromas and care about skin choose this type. The eucalyptus oil from the Eucalyptus leaves is good for skin. You can use it only once, and this bunch of twigs provides you with moderate massage techniques.

It is also a good idea to take a bunch of Birch tree twigs and add several twigs from bunch of Eucalyptus tree twigs. Such combined bunch will provide you with advantages of Birch bunch and Eucalyptus scent and oil.

There are sometimes other types of leafy twigs used for sauna or steam bath massage, but they are not that rich in healthy subtances and essential oils as the named above most popular types.

Leafy twigs for massage are also called by Russians as a steam bath ‘Venik’ or Finnish ‘Vihta’. It is a bunch of fragrant, leafy twigs made of Birch tree twigs or Oak tree twigs. It is often called as a broom, bundle of leafy tree twigs, switch of branches, besom or whisk. It is used for whisking or leave beating the body during hot sauna session and for various sauna massage techniques. Such massage is applicable in various types of sauna and bath: hot sauna, dry sauna, steam sauna (or Russian steam bath). In US it is often called platza massage.

Source and more information: http://www.ziger.ru/page.php?lng=en&page=attend