SaunaScape

Today’s New York Times reports on this study performed by a team of Austrian researchers that studied the incidence of common colds in a population of 50 people over six months. Half of the population took saunas regularly, the other half was the control, and were not permitted to use the sauna during the test period.

The study concluded that the sauna bathing population had significantly fewer cases of the common cold than the non-sauna bathing population. After three months, the sauna bathing population had half as many incidents of the cold as the control. Both groups, after they contracted a cold, had no difference in the duration and severity of the symptoms.

If I can cut my colds in half, can I deduct my sauna addiction as a qualified medical expense? The IRS says no.

[PubMed.gov] via the New York Times