The Finnish Wellness Ritual You Should Try the Next Time You Shower

I live in New York City, where there are quite a few Eastern European saunas and bath houses. I’ve only been to a few of them, but every experience has been memorable — partially because of how intense-slash-relaxing a sauna or spa day can be, but also because of the ambiance. 

Some spas serve full meals, and some have rooms where the walls are made entirely of ice. And sometimes I’ll see someone getting brushed with leafy sticks while steaming up in the sauna. I’ve always been intrigued by this practice, but never truly learned about what it is or why people do it. I recently saw an Instagram video that finally explained this practice, vihta, and now I definitely want to give it a try. 

According to a “home and body hygiene educator” and content creator who goes by the name Madame Sweat, that practice of swatting herbs and leafy bundles all over your body is called vihta, and it actually has Finnish origins. Vihta (otherwise known as vasta or simply as a bath broom) is essentially a leafy bundle of sticks made of birch and other herbs. (In Russia, the vista or vasa is called a venik and often typically contains birch as well as other aromatics.) 

She explains in a video that when birch stalks are “moistened and then brought into intense heat,” like in a sauna or hot shower, they “release tannins” that can have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. “So while you’re sweating out the day, you’re also getting a plant-based skin treatment” when you brush the leaves along your body, she says. (Unsurprisingly, birch is a common ingredient in skincare.) Plus, she says using vihta is easy to do at home, as all you need is a bundle of birch leaves and a hot, wet environment. If you have a home sauna, or simply like to steam up your bathroom with a very long, very hot shower, you’re already halfway there. 

As unique and transportive as it sounds to practice vihta on the regular, it’s not necessarily realistic for everyone. If you’re pressed for time or can’t get your hands on birch branches or get to a spa, another simple way to use Mother Nature to bring a little wellness into your life is by hanging some eucalyptus in your shower. 

Eucalyptus has a similar appearance, and once you roll out the leaves to release their oils, the leafy branches (which you can get for a few bucks at Trader Joe’s) will release a soothing, spa-esque scent during your shower. It also gives your shower a rustic, natural, elegance. You can save the vihta for the weekends or for your Sunday night everything-shower.