Infrared Saunas Are More Than a Place to Sweat!!!

By Marcia Lewis, RN

Clinical Director, In Harmony Wellness Center

So, what is so AMAZING about the heat in a sauna?  It's called heat stress. Heat stress is a great way of optimizing the heat shock proteins (HSP) inside your cells.  This in turn is what supports your overall health (especially cardiovascular, cardiac and brain health) by triggering the mitochondria.  These little guys in every cell of your body are responsible for producing the "energy of life".

HSP become damaged over time and need to be renewed, because accumulating damaged HSP can cause plaque in your brain and vascular system.  Heat stress helps prevent this downward spiral. Hence the importance of regular sauna use.

Most of the research is from Finland where most citizens use a sauna once a week and saunas are found in most homes and work places.  So what are the benefits of regular sauna use that have been found?

• Reduced risk of stroke
• Benefits the brain, lowering the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's
• Boosts your mood
• Improve fitness and athletic performance
• Protect your heart by improving vascular health, blood pressure and heart rate
• Flush toxins out of your body including pesticides and heavy metals
• Boost your immune function
• Reduce pain of rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, ankylosing spondylitis and headache
• Kill disease-causing microbes
• Lower inflammation and reduce oxidative stress
• Improve respiratory function in asthma, bronchitis and COPD
• Reduce your risk of death from any cause

Here's some more amazing data:  compared to once-a-week sauna use, studies indicate that taking a sauna 4 or more times per week reduced the risk of

• Death from heart disease by 50%
• High blood pressure by 47%
• Dementia and Alzheimer's disease by 66%
• Respiratory diseases and pneumonia by 41% and 37% respectively
• Premature death from all causes by 40%

Saunas come in several types that work in different ways.  The Finnish wet sauna uses steam and humidity.  The Finnish dry sauna is mostly electric and no water. And then there's the infrared sauna which includes the far- and near-. All of these induce heat stress and make you sweat.  The big difference is that the Finnish saunas heat you from the outside in, and the infrared sauna heats you from the inside out.  

The most popular sauna in the U.S. is the infrared, with the near-infrared having the most benefits.  Near-infrared penetrates the tissue more effectively and deeper.  The near-infrared actually triggers the mitochondria to produce additional ATP (cellular energy). 

Near-infrared is beneficial in regenerating deeper structures like tendons and bones.  Metabolic syndrome and diabetes are also benefited. It helps your body produce melatonin that helps improve your sleep.

Since mitochondrial dysfunction is now known to be at the heart of most health problems and chronic diseases, including aging, using a full spectrum sauna, including near-infrared, is highly recommended.

Let's talk about safety precautions in sauna use. 1) If you are new to this therapy, start slowly, spending only 5 minutes or so to start, building your heat tolerance without stressing your cardiovascular system. 2) The detox process can be severe, depending on your toxic load.  If you experience detox symptoms or feel ill after the sauna, cut back on your time. 3) Avoid the sauna if you are pregnant.  And men, be aware the heat will decrease your sperm co unt and motility. 4) Drink plenty of water while in the sauna..no alcohol. And your body loses electrolytes with your sweating, so supplement with extra Himalayan salt, flavored with lemon or lime juice. 5) You can use a cool rag over your head if you experience a headache in the sauna. 6) Staying in a sauna longer than you should can lead to death.  Your core temperature should stay below 104.8 F. 7) Sauna with a buddy and listen to your body. 8) Steer clear of public saunas if they are not cleaned between clients.  The toxins released in the sweat can be reabsorbed from the previous client through the skin...better yet, purchase your own sauna for use at home. 

There are plans at http://drlwilson.com/SAUNAS/SAUNA%20PLANS.htm, the website for Dr. Lawrence Wilson. Dr. Wilson is the medical director of ARL laboratory that specializes in hair tissue analysis for heavy metal toxicity.

Now, why not try a sauna!