Temazcal: Temaz = bath, Calli = house

One of the best elements preserved in Traditional Mexican Medicine is the use of the Temazcal. This sweat lodge is a place where not only a body cleansing is carried out, but as well a place for therapy, childbirth and emotional healing, where the sacred rituals are performed to honor the Earth, to honor Life and Spirit, and honor ourselves through spiritual and emotional cleansing, strengthening and enduring. It is a place of healing, prayer, petition and remembrance.

A Temazcal in Mexico is traditionally made of stone or adobe. With the Native Americans it is called inipi, made from branches, usually of the willow tree, in a perfect aligned design. While some are more ritual and other are more for therpeutical purposes, they always carry these same principals. 

The heated rocks that enter, are called ‘abuelas’ or grandmothers. Atlachinolli: the burnt water, is the irrigation of water on the stones, activating in an impressive way an increase in blood flow to the lungs where the bronchi expand, expelling accumulated toxins, thus leaving your respiratory system clean of infections. It is used for flu, bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, etc. and it is used especially in children and adults or people of older age, as the steam combined with the aroma of the medicinal plants that are used, help open the airways.

This bath was of great importance in pre-Hispanic times and today used by people of tradition and natural doctors, but people of all corners of Mexican society do an ocasional visit. Nahuas called the lady of the temazcal, deity TEMAZCALTOCI, who was also the patron saint of doctors, bonesetters (traditional chiropractor) and midwives. It serves to improve health since sweating eliminates toxins, vapor liberates the airways, and also to purify oneself, especially for deliveries: before, during and after.

During the Temazcal bath, a relaxing and stimulating effect on the body is produced, which is why it helps to treat problems of stress, insomnia, nervous tension. With the group therapy that is carried out, it serves as a great psychological help to all the participants, allowing emotions to be released.