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FAR INFRARED SAUNA - MEDICAL RESEARCH The far infrared sauna has been very beneficial in treating fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. A number of doctors now believe that the "toxic load" of these patients are very high and their detoxification pathways are often compromised. When one is able to reduce the toxins and heavy metals in those with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, their symptoms often greatly improve. A number of people are also suffering unknowingly from mercury poisoning or from other heavy metals such as lead and aluminum. The infrared sauna has been invaluable in accelerating the removal of these toxic metals. By raising the core temperature and creating a 'hyperthermia' effect the infrared sauna also improves a number of parameters in the immune system
Cline Medical Center
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
HYPERTHERMIC DETOXIFICATION THERAPY USING THE FAR INFRARED SAUNA Introduction
Saunas and steam baths have been used for centuries by cultures around the world to bring about detoxification. Traditionally, saunas have been used to improve mental clarity, to diminish pain and promote longevity. In the past few years, hyperthermic (sweat) therapy has been studied quite extensively and several papers on this subject have appeared in the scientific literature. Through this research, it has shown that saunas greatly assist in the elimination of accumulated toxins. Toxic metals, including as well as organic toxins such as PCB's and pesticide residues, are excreted in high quantities in sweat during properly conducted. Heat causes toxins to be released from cells.The toxic molecules will then reside transiently in the lymph fluid. Since sweat is manufactured from the lymph fluid, toxins present in the lymph fluid will exit the body through the sweat. Because the liver and kidneys are not required for this process, these organs are largely unburdened by hyperthermic therapy and toxins are able to leave the body even when liver or kidney function is impaired. This may be a distinct advantage for chronically ill patients whose livers and kidneys may already be under toxic stress. Other advantages of hyperthermia in the chronically ill patient
Hyperthermic therapy also is one of the few things, which brings about a significant rise in the level of growth hormone, an important hormone that helps to maintain lean body tissue, including muscle. For the chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia patient, hyperthermic therapy helps to restore normal autonomic nervous system functioning. This is the part of the nervous system, which governs unconscious functions such as muscle tension, sweating, blood pressure, digestion and balance. Autonomic dysregulation is the term used to describe changes in the nervous system, which result in many of the symptoms of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. Muscle pain, excessive body odor, digestive complaints, visual disturbances and dizziness are some of the many manifestations of autonomic dysregulation. Repeated sessions of hyperthermic therapy can greatly assist in the restoration of normal autonomic nervous system functioning. Advantages of the far infrared sauna
Many people with chronic illnesses find the high temperatures inside a regular sauna or steam room intolerable. In these traditional systems, the inside of the body is heated completely from the surface of the skin. Even though you feel very hot in these units, the heating is quite shallow - only a few millimetres below the skin. In the far infrared sauna, invisible light rays emanate from several infrared emitters. This infrared light penetrates deep into the fat and muscles of the body, creating a more powerful detoxifying influence upon the deeper tissues of the body.As well, since the air temperature remains much lower than in a traditional sauna, the individual feels more comfortable. Sweating often begins before the person feels very hot at all and the sweating is more profuse than in a traditional sauna. Finally, unlike traditional saunas or steam baths, which can often leave a person feeling exhausted, the far infrared sauna is usually quite energizing.Many people actually use these before going to work in the morning, something that one would never do with a traditional sauna. Research conducted largely in Japan suggests that the far infrared sauna has a wider range of therapeutic effects than traditional saunas or steam baths, especially for detoxification.
Excerpted from: Sick and Tired? Reclaim Your Inner Terrain by Robert O. Young, PhD.DSc.1999 Because of the level of pollution we are exposed to and its many sources, as well as poor dietary and exercise habits, the therapeutic value of regular sweating has become immense. It has benefits for both body and mind and, in fact, is the primary benefit of exercise. One of the best passive exercises is the radiant heat of an infrared sauna which, causes a profound deep sweat. After about 30 minutes of exposure, the blood vessels of the skin dilate to allow more blood to flow to the surface to support the cooling process. The millions of sweat glands covering the body are infused with fluid from the blood. In turn, they empty to the skin's surface, thereby flushing large amounts of toxins, including toxic acids and heavy metals, from the body. My research over the last two years shows that a radiant heat (infrared) sauna provides the following benefits: - Speeds up metabolic processes of vital organs and glands, including endocrine glands.
- Inhibits the development of pleomorphic microforms and creates a "fever reaction" of rising temperature that neutralizes them.
- Increases the number of leukocytes in the blood.
- Places demand on the heart to work harder thus, exercising it and also producing a drop in diastolic blood pressure (the low side).
- Stimulates dilation of peripheral blood vessels thus, relieving pain (including muscle pain) and speeding the healing of sprain, strain, bursitus, arthritis, and peripheral vascular disease symptoms.
- Promotes relaxation thereby creating a feeling of well-being. For those who are unable to exercise sufficiently, for whatever reason, the radiant heat infrared sauna is an excellent way to get the benefits of exercise without undue stress on the skeleton, muscles, and associated tissues. Such people have an even greater need for exercise and the sauna fills the bill.
TITLE: Electromagnetic Wave Emitting Products - Potentiate Human Leukocyte Functions AUTHOR: Niwa Y; Iizawa O; Ishimoto K SOURCE: Int. J. Biometeorol 1993 Sept; 37(3):133-8 In their abstract, the authors conclude that materials which emit electromagnetic radiation in the far infrared region "…significantly increased intracellular calcium ion concentration, phagocytosis …and the blastogenetic response of lymphocytes to mitogens.The results suggest that materials emitting electromagnetic radiation in the far infrared range, which are widely used in Japan for cosmetic, therapeutic, and preservative purposes, appear capable of potentiating leukocyte functions without promoting oxidative injury."
Sherry A. Rogers, M.D., Northeast Center for Environmental Medicine, Author of "Tired Or Toxic?" and "Total Wellness" "The ultimate mercury removal? The best way to get rid of heavy metals and pesticide residues? The Infrared Sauna. It has been known for decades that sweating is a wonderful way to get rid of stored chemicals, including heavy metals. In fact, sauna is one of the detoxification procedures used in the Environmental Units in Dallas (Dr. William Rea) and North Charleston (Dr. Allan Lieberman) where the sickest of folks go to heal. But many people, myself included, never could tolerate a sauna. We felt weak, sick, fast heart rate, faint, dizzy, headachy, or just miserable. Thanks to improved technology, the infrared sauna is tolerated much better, because it uses a heat energy that penetrates the tissues better, allowing an overall lower temperature to be used." "The body can get rid of stored mercury through stool, urine or sweat. The sweat route is the most efficient and natural (man used to physically work before computers were invented). I used to hesitate to recommend something so expensive, but when when you realize the lifelong incapacity and expense of diseases such as heart disease, chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndromes, migraines, Alzheimer's, or any others caused by chemical and metal toxicity, a sauna is cheap." "A sauna used to be thought of as a luxury. ...as the first generation of man exposed to such an unprecedented plethora of daily chemicals, we have learned that stored or undetoxified chemicals can mimic any disease. 'Incurable' chronic diseases that were thought to have no known cause often disappear once toxic chemicals are gone. Since the far infrared sauna is the safest, most efficacious and economical way of depurating stored toxins, this makes it a household necessity." 
"Detoxify or Die" by Dr Sherry Rogers with over 100 pages on the extensive health benefits of the Far Infrared Sauna.
Weight Loss and Cardiovascular Benefits of the Soft Heat ® Infrared Sauna As your body increases sweat production to cool itself, your heart works harder pumping blood at a greater rate to boost circulation, supplying the conditioning benefits of continuous exercise. Heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate increase, while diastolic blood pressure drops, for improved overall cardiovascular fitness. As reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), August 7, 1981 "A moderately conditioned person can easily sweat off 500 gms. in a sauna, consuming nearly 300 kcal - the equivalent of running 2 - 3 miles.A heat-conditioned person can easily sweat off 600 - 800 kcal with no adverse effects.While the weight of the water loss can be regained by rehydration with water, the calories consumed will not be. "Since an infrared sauna helps generate two to three times the sweat produced in a hot-air sauna, the implications for increased caloric consumption are quite impressive. In Guyton's Textbook of Medical Physiology, we find that producing one gram of sweat requires 0.586 kcal. Burns 600 or more calories in just one 30-minute session! Calories a 150-pound person normally burns up in 30-minutes of exercise: | SPORT | CALORIES | | Marathon Running | 593 | | Vigorous Racquet Ball | 510 | | Swimming (crawl stroke) | 300 | | Jogging | 300 | | Tennis (fast game) | 265 | | Cycling (10 mph) | 225 | | Golfing (without a cart) | 150 | | Walking (3.5 mph) | 150 | | Bowling | 120 |
The JAMA citation referred to above goes on to state that, "Many of us who run do so to place a demand on our cardiovascular system, not to build big leg muscles. Regular use of a sauna may impart a similar stress on the cardiovascular system, and its regular use may be as effective, as a means of cardiovascular conditioning and burning of calories, as regular exercise. "As a confirmation of the validity of this form of cardiovascular conditioning, extensive research by NASA in the early 1980's led to the conclusion that, infrared stimulation of cardiovascular function would be the ideal way to maintain cardiovascular conditioning in American astronauts during long space flights. A Soft Heat ® infrared sauna can therefore, play a pivotal role in both weight control and cardiovascular conditioning.This would be most valuable for those who don't exercise and those who can't exercise yet want an effective weight control and fitness maintenance program. This also allows for more variety in any ongoing training program. Some weight loss authorities believe that our bodies use fat to dilute toxins.As an infrared sauna is an unsurpassed expeller of toxins, it is also a great way to get rid of any fat our bodies are using to dilute toxins we are storing. |
