A professional bathtub made a guide to the preparation of brooms and told how to steam with health benefits

It would seem that in knitting bath brooms there is nothing complicated. But laying twigs is a real craft, a ritual that combines natural magic and strict technology. A high-quality broom does not crumble, serves for a long time and brings maximum benefit. We learned how to make a healing broom, dry it, steam properly.

Professional bathtub Olga Kachura, a member of the Council of the Association of Applied Aesthetics and Spa, says that in the old days the bath (lazna) was considered a special border place between the worlds. At the same time, close attention was paid to the wreath: it was used not only for soaring, but also in rituals, believing that it has a special power. Belarusian proverbs and sayings reflect the importance of the subject in folk culture: “Laznya without a wreath is a quench without a jump”, “Venik at a lazna – we are a gaspadar”, “Venik a couple of paddai – Khvarobu voganiye”, “Dze par da venik, there the doctar is not patreben”, “Laznya without a wrench – stack without a pimple”, “Laznyk without a wree – cabbage without a spike”.

Our expert compiled a guide for readers of the People’s Gazette on the procurement and types of storage of an important natural accessory:

- The classic and most popular materials are oak and birch. The main difference in their harvest is in the timing of ripening, the physical properties of leaves and branches, the biodynamics of trees. In simple terms, it is an understanding of how, where and at what time the life juices move inside the tree.

For example, on a branch of birch, small, rather thin (relative to oak) leaves. They heat up quickly and transfer heat well. When birch soaring, many grinding movements are used - the leaf should mature well and hold firmly.

The golden time for birch harvesting is from early June to mid-July (from Semukha/Trinity to Petrov Day).

The interlocutor draws attention: it is important to check not only individual leaves, but also the general condition of the branch. It should be elastic, bend easily, without crunch. The ideal option is young trees 2-4 meters high, on which the leaves are located as close as possible to each other. The older the tree, the greater the distance between the greens, the branches are thicker - the broom will be naked.

- If you make blanks from an adult tree, choose the lower "weeping" shoots - they will be more thin and flexible. I advise you to avoid too delicate salad leaves on the tops: they have not yet reached the desired maturity and will quickly fly around during soaring, leaving bare tips.

Another marker of readiness is the density of attachment of the leaf to the stalk. If it is easily detached with a light touch, then the tree goes into the wilting phase - the workpiece is carried out late, Olga Kachura draws attention.

Every tree has its own character. The giant oak leaf is larger, dense, it warms up for a long time and keeps heat longer.

The expert shares observations: the oak tree wakes up and gains strength much later. This is confirmed by folk wisdom: "Yes Illi oak - Malady Spadar, Paslya Illi - Suhi Gazpadar.".

- The collection of oak, including Canadian, maple, harvesting of herbs continues (paigma, yarrow, wormwood now in the juice itself). This season is a real gift for those who knit brooms. The calendar says the perfect time is up, but nature thinks otherwise. Masters - broom preparers are guided not by dates, but by living markers, and the main law here is simple: cutting branches to the first yellow leaf on the tree, the banshchita said.

Do not cut branches from dirty, sick trees, damaged by pests, covered with lichen or spider webs, as well as near power lines. According to popular beliefs, it was impossible to take branches from lonely trees, as well as trees that grew from one root (twins) or were damaged by a thunderstorm - this was considered a bad omen.

To the touch and taste, Olga Kachura, studying the bath theme in detail, says that in various regions of the country their authentic features:

- About birch in Polesie and Vitebsk region they said: "Kali on birch leaf with a capeyka - a couple of resats". They believed that the branches and herbs collected on Ivan Kupala – on a special day for Belarusians, covered with myths and legends – have maximum healing power. For a couple of days, a lot of workpieces will not do, so such brooms were saved for special occasions: a wedding, the birth of a child or when the "fever attacked." By the way, our ancestors never went to the forest in a bad mood or after a quarrel - it was believed that the broom absorbed the negative and instead of health will bring a headache.

The interlocutor recalls that more than once she bought special fragrant brooms from her grandfather in Baranovichi, which created a unique atmosphere in the steam room:

- He admitted that he had learned the art of knitting from his father and grandfather and discovered three secrets. Determine the texture: we hold a leaf of birch with a finger if we feel a fluff - a sheet ideal for a broom. Let's taste: the mature leaf has a slight bitterness and tartness, so it has gained strength, sweetness says otherwise. We observe whether there are earrings when the birch has dropped the "decoration" - you can proceed to the preparation.

Often our ancestors looked where the tree grows: “Choose the tart birch, the kala wada of weeping – you have a wreath not apadze.” The main, fundamental Belarusian commandment is the following folk wisdom: "Prysho Пят Five - Apaь leaf, not razh wenik, son!" After July 12, birch juice biodynamically changes, the leaf weakens. Linked after Petrov day birch broom Belarusians jokingly called “golikam”, that is, deprived of strength. The branches are filled with strength and juice in spring and in early summer the tree is in a phase of active growth. All energy, moisture and nutrients rush from the roots up to the crown. In June, the juice movement at the birch is maximally directed into the leaf. It is already strong, poured with essential oils, but the stalk is still elastic and firmly sits on the branch. The oak biodynamic clock is about a month behind the birch. He wakes up later, his juices linger in the crown longer - until August. Many Belarusian herbalists and gardeners check the lunar calendar. It is believed that the broom cut on the growing moon, will be the most fragrant and healing, as the force of gravity of the moon pulls the juices of the earth up.

Olga Kachura draws attention: at night the tree rests and pulls moisture from the ground, in the early morning the branches are oversaturated with water, dew can lie on the leaves:

- When drying, such a broom can burn, spray, darken and mold.

Under the influence of the sun, photosynthesis is activated, excess surface moisture evaporates, the accumulation and composition of essential oils in the leaves are stimulated. The ideal time to harvest is a dry, clear day after 10am, when the dew has long since gone down, but the sun has not yet begun to set.

Rain disrupts the proper biodynamic balance of the plant. The sheet absorbs excess external moisture. You need to wait a day for the tree to dry. The expert is sure: you should catch the moment when the internal pressure of juices in the leaf is maximum, and the external humidity is minimal. Then the very special broom is born, which comes to life in the bath, smells all over the steam room and does not fall at once.

Our ancestors paid special attention to careful and environmentally friendly attitude to nature.

- You should cut only the lateral branches, without touching the top of the tree and the ends of the branches, use a sharp secator, making an oblique cut. You can't break branches with your hands. From one tree we take sidewalls, so as not to harm the growth of the tree, visually it should remain neat, beautiful. Belarusians have always treated nature with respect, there are certain rules approved by law by the Ministry of Forestry. For example, it is impossible to make blanks for future brooms in recreational and recreational forests, as well as forests located within the boundaries of specially protected natural territories, and this is not the entire list, the interlocutor shares details.

From the pelvis to the package - Bring a broom to the bath - half the battle, it needs to be properly revived, the expert smiles. I often observe the same picture: brooms get wet for several hours in a basin or bucket of hot water. You shouldn't do that. First, when the broom lies in the water for a long time, it turns into tea, and all the beneficial properties go away. Secondly, the leaf gets wet, becomes sticky, and the broom is heavy; the leaves are worse on the branches, quickly fly around. Feelings from soaring with such a broom are lubricated. Thirdly, with this option, the upper part of the broom, the one that is closer to the handle, often appears above the water and flies around first.

According to Olga Kachura, the simplest folk way is a cellophane bag. First we rinse the brooms under warm (not hot) water, wash away the dust. You can do this under the tap, shower or in a large pelvis, gently dipping a broom into it. Without shaking off our workpiece, put it in a plastic bag and wait 20-30 minutes. You can take the package to the steam room and put it on the shelf, then it will take 10-15 minutes. In the same way, you can restore a broom if it dries up during soaring. It'll only take five minutes.

- A more environmentally friendly and aesthetic way is a special reusable steam bag made of dense fabric. It can be found in thematic stores, marketplaces, and the hostess-handlers such a thing without problems sew themselves. I advise you to choose a dense dark fabric: brooms are painted. We just wrap the brooms after rinsing into wet cloth. You can also place a broom in a large basin or a special box, after rinsing, cover it with a lid or a damp dense fabric for 20-30 minutes.

How to quickly and effectively steam a broom?

- There are two options here: over the stones or in the special compartment, the interlocutor said. - What's the difference? After rinsing, we must shake off the broom so that the leaves that do not hold well fly around. Then water with water and hold in steam over the stones, carefully turning. It'll only take a few minutes. If the broom is too dry (the leaf crumbles), then this method is not suitable, try to give the brooms to lie down after rinsing for 10 minutes, it is better to cover them with something. With a steamer everything is simple: leave in containers, pour water and get a ready broom in a few minutes.

For convenience, you can wrap the handle of the broom with a wide rubber band, strips of fabric or string, which will protect the hands from staining, calluses and scratches if the handle is uneven. Juniper and nettle for the thrill of Venica from birch and oak is a bath classic. According to the specialist, for thrills, you can use juniper and nettle, and to create a fragrance - linden, fir, eucalyptus with the addition of wormwood and mint herbs. Bamboo or metal variations have come to the bath recently, designs are used for vibration massage movements after soaring.

- Bath tradition is expanding and recently aimed at maximum tactile and aromadiversity. More and more people come to the bath not only for hygiene and health, but also for deep relaxation, reboot. I use in the bath brooms of maple, ash, robe, aspen, walnut, hazel (hazel), ash, alder, cherry, poplar, cherry, cherry, ferret, blackcurrant, as well as from herbs - pygma, yarrow, St. John's wort, tavolga, oregas, melissa, lavender, donnik, immortal, bagulnik, pink clover, horseradish, chamomile, ivan tea. We have a very good Belarusian school of soaring, Belarusian masters are appreciated all over the world for the quality of work, sincerity, attention to each client. In a professional environment, special techniques of soaring develop. Our unique nature allows you to create a large variety of brooms in various variations, shares observations Olga Kachura.

NOTE

- If the broom smells nice, lush, there are no protruding bare branches - feel free to use it again. To do this, it must be rinsed with warm water, steamed over the stones or allowed to lie on the ground, then dried.

How to dispose of a broom that has served its purpose?

- You can burn in a heater (if the bath is heated with firewood), send it to a compost pit (future fertilizers) or throw it into a container with household waste.

hilkok@sb.by