How a Temazcal Works

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistoryHow to Experience a TemazcalBenefits of a TemazcalSpiritual ImpactParticipating in a TemazcalPotential Pitfalls

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

History

How to Experience a Temazcal

Benefits of a Temazcal

Spiritual Impact

Participating in a Temazcal

Potential Pitfalls

However, you don’t have to be of South American heritage to enjoy the benefits of a temazcal. The ceremonies have grown in popularity over the years and are now practiced in different parts of the world. The wordtemazcalcomes from the wordtemāzcalli, which isNahuatl(an Uto-Aztec language) for ‘the house of heat.’

Historically, temazcals began asa cleansing ritualfor the people to engage in before and after going to wars. It was also rumored to have healing powers.

Some people think that the temazcal is purposefully shaped in a dome-like manner to represent a woman’s womb. And that when a person steps out of a temazcal experience, they are essentially reborn.

A temazcal is traditionally a small space and can typically fit only a handful of people. The structure, as well as the experience, is referred to as a temazcal.

Even though they were traditionally small, modern temazcals can sit as many as 15 to 20 people in one ceremony.

Temazcal Ceremonies Are Unique

The temazcals are typically dome-like structures made out of cement, mud, or volcanic stone. At the start of the ceremony, people are asked to step into the sweat lodge and get comfortable where they will typically sit in a circle or a semi-circle. Once the participants are settled in, steaming volcanic stones are placed in the middle of the circle. Water is then poured over these stones to produce steam for the sweat lodge.

The rocks used during the ceremony are heated just outside the structure before the ceremony starts. As the ceremony goes on, more hot rocks will be brought into the dome, at intervals, to keep the space hot.

In some cases, the water thrown over the rocks is infused with herbs that are thought to have healing and therapeutic properties. Some people might even drink some herbal tea while inside the temazcal.

When the ceremony is over, you’ll be asked to exit the dome and you might be directed to take a cool shower or a dip in a pool to lower your body temperature.

Temazcal has proven to have many benefits. You might notice clearer skin and an improvement in weight loss efforts. Some other benefits include:

For many people, the primary purpose of a sweat lodge might be for its physical benefits such as sweating out toxins. But for many others, these ceremonies are deeply spiritual and hold more meaning.

Temazcals are thought to purify not just the body but the mind and soul—healing you from the inside out.

Traditionally, it is also thought to have the ability to heal many medical problems and aid women during childbirth.

If you are thinking of participating in a temazcal ceremony, here are some tips to keep you healthy and safe and will allow you to make the most out of the experience:

People’s interest in sweat lodge experiences like a temazcal is ever-growing, causing people to take advantage of the growing trend. It is important to only participate in temazcals under the supervision of an experienced shaman or temazcalero who is qualified in safely carrying out these ceremonies.

However, if performed in the right conditions under proper supervision, a temazcal is completely safe and you stand to gain many benefits from this ceremony.

3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Masuda A, Nakazato M, Kihara T, Minagoe S, Tei C.Repeated thermal therapy diminishes appetite loss and subjective complaints in mildly depressed patients.Psychosomatic Medicine. 2005;67(4):643-647. doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000171812.67767.8fSears ME, Kerr KJ, Bray RI.Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury in Sweat: A Systematic Review.J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:184745. doi:10.1155/2012/184745Thompson LM, Clark M, Cadman B, Canúz E, Smith KR.Exposures to high levels of carbon monoxide from wood-fired temazcal (Steam bath) use in highland guatemala.International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. 2011;17(2):103-112. doi:10.1179/107735211799030979

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Masuda A, Nakazato M, Kihara T, Minagoe S, Tei C.Repeated thermal therapy diminishes appetite loss and subjective complaints in mildly depressed patients.Psychosomatic Medicine. 2005;67(4):643-647. doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000171812.67767.8fSears ME, Kerr KJ, Bray RI.Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury in Sweat: A Systematic Review.J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:184745. doi:10.1155/2012/184745Thompson LM, Clark M, Cadman B, Canúz E, Smith KR.Exposures to high levels of carbon monoxide from wood-fired temazcal (Steam bath) use in highland guatemala.International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. 2011;17(2):103-112. doi:10.1179/107735211799030979

Masuda A, Nakazato M, Kihara T, Minagoe S, Tei C.Repeated thermal therapy diminishes appetite loss and subjective complaints in mildly depressed patients.Psychosomatic Medicine. 2005;67(4):643-647. doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000171812.67767.8fSears ME, Kerr KJ, Bray RI.Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury in Sweat: A Systematic Review.J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:184745. doi:10.1155/2012/184745Thompson LM, Clark M, Cadman B, Canúz E, Smith KR.Exposures to high levels of carbon monoxide from wood-fired temazcal (Steam bath) use in highland guatemala.International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. 2011;17(2):103-112. doi:10.1179/107735211799030979

Sears ME, Kerr KJ, Bray RI.Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury in Sweat: A Systematic Review.J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:184745. doi:10.1155/2012/184745

Thompson LM, Clark M, Cadman B, Canúz E, Smith KR.Exposures to high levels of carbon monoxide from wood-fired temazcal (Steam bath) use in highland guatemala.International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. 2011;17(2):103-112. doi:10.1179/107735211799030979

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Temazcal Ceremonies Are Unique#

Temazcal Ceremonies Are Unique