Download The Use of Far Infrared Saunas in Detoxification

EXPERIENCE THE FAR NORTH DIFFERENCE
far inf rared heat therapy
The Use of Far Infrared Saunas in Detoxification
Submitted by: Dr. Chris Spooner
There is a growing concern about the amount of chemicals
As the evidence grows pertaining to the effects these
that we are exposed to on a daily basis. Over the course
compounds have on human health, it becomes clear that
of our lifetime, we are exposed to a large number of
getting these chemicals out of the body is an important
foreign chemicals, called xenobiotics, through the air
step in maintaining health. For many individuals interested
we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink.
in complementary and alternative medicine, we will often
Numerous studies have shown that many chemicals end
consider a yearly cleanse or detox program. These
up in our bodies and accumulate over the course of
programs often consist of a combination of dietary
our lifetime. This is very different from a sudden large
restrictions with herbal formulations to support liver,
dose, which is often what is used in safety studies of
bowel and kidney function.
chemicals. Recent concerns over low levels of bisphenol
A and its ability to act like a hormone in the body led
Sauna is a treatment that is often added
to its ban in Canada and the recall of many plastic
to a detox program. Conventional Western
water bottles. Studies such as the Environmental Working
medicine is quick to ridicule the concept
Groups Human Toxome Project have been groundbreaking in raising awareness, to the point that the
of detoxification, however there is a valid
Canadian government is now conducting research into
scientific argument to be made for the use
the accumulation of chemicals in its population with the
of sauna as a method of clearing chemicals
Canadian Health Measures Survey and Maternal-Infant
from the body.
Research on Environmental Chemicals (The MIREC Study).
Our bodies have evolved complex systems of
detoxification enzymes. These enzyme systems generally
function to minimize the potential of damage from
xenobiotics. However, a growing amount of research
suggests an association between impaired detoxification
and many chronic illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson’s
disease, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, thyroid
FAR INFR ARED THER APY
Unlike a conventional sauna, which heats our bodies
indirectly (first through warm air currents, and then by
contact of that hot air on our skin), more than 80% of the
energy in a far infrared sauna goes directly to heating our
bodies. This far infrared radiant energy directly penetrates
the body tissues to a depth of from 0.5 to 1.5 inches.
dysfunction, fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases and
infertility. It is becoming clear that an individual’s ability
to remove toxins from their body may play a role in
the development or worsening of a range of chronic
conditions and diseases.
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far inf rared heat therapy
Also unlike conventional saunas, far infrared saunas use a
heating which promotes perspiration and provides more
• Copper and zinc are released in high amounts in
sweat (avg. for copper 550 μg/L for males and
1480 μg/L for females; for zinc 500/1250 for
males and females, respectively).
beneficial effects than standard sauna treatments.
• Nickel and lead were found in lower levels than
drier heat at lower temperatures. This increases tolerance
to the sauna treatment, allowing for deeper, longer
By its direct heating effects on the body, far infrared
sauna therapy mobilizes toxins from our fat cells where
they are stored, increases circulation and aids in
elimination of these toxins through perspiration. 30-50%
of the population does not adequately perspire, meaning
they are not effectively mobilizing and eliminating the
toxins they are exposed to each day from their bodies.
Far infrared sauna therapy improves functioning of the
temperature regulating parts of our brains. This increases
perspiration to further stimulate excretion of toxins from
the body.
Sweat is 97-99% water. Far infrared sauna treatments
mobilize the toxins in tissues and cells to increase
circulation and promote perspiration. Sweat induced by
a far infrared sauna session has a higher concentration
of chemicals including solvents, toxic metals, urea,
cholesterol and lactic acid. There is a significant amount
of research documenting the compounds that are released
in the sweat.
Chemical Compounds released
in perspiration include:
copper and zinc.
• Manganese, cadmium, and aluminum have also been
found in the sweat in much lower amounts than Cu and
Znv,vi. With protracted sweating from exercise, the
levels of iron and zinc in the sweat were lower in the
second hour than in the first vii.
• Cadmium and nickel levels in the sweat are higher than
corresponding levels in the urine, making sweating
a prime route of depuration for cadmium or nickel
toxicity viii.
• Sweating has been explored as a valid method for
reducing antimony levels in those with high Sb
exposureix.
• In persons whose blood lead averaged 8.62 μg/dL,
the level in the sweat averaged 5.2 μg/L, which was
about 25% that of the urinex.
• Dermally absorbed lead was released in both sweat
and saliva, but did not show up in the bloodxi.
• A study on the toxicokinetics of lead states that
soft tissue lead, not blood lead, is the source for lead
released in sweat xii.
• The minerals sodium, potassium, magnesium
and chloridei, as well as ironii and chromiumiii.
• Sodium and chloride have the greatest losses (155 and 137 meq, respectively), while magnesium and
potassium are excreted in much lower quantities
(13 and 16 meq, respectively)iv.
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• Only 1 published study was found regarding mercury
and sweat. This study did not give a measurement
of mercury in the sweat, but noted that in a mercury poisoned person the mercury blood level continued
to drop during the sauna portion of the protocol
(which followed chelation therapy)xiii.
• Sauna increased excretion with sweat fluid of lead,
thiuram, captax, sulphenamide C that penetrated the
body during work. Sauna was recommended as an
effective procedure in conditions where chemical and
physical factors are the leading professional noxaexiv.
• A patient had a chronic, debilitating multisystem
disorder of 20-years duration related to a chemical
sensitivity, which resulted from low-level exposure to solvents at work. The patient was able to discontinue,
without ill effect, all medications previously prescribed
to treat her symptoms. Heat chamber depuration
(sauna) treatment brought substantial relief of symptoms
and returned her to gainful employment xv.
A l arge number of medications
have been detected in the sweat:
• Amphetamines and its metabolites
• Methadone and its metabolites
xvi
xvii
SAUNA USE IN CLEANSING PROGR A MS
Sauna has been used in detoxification programs on
numerous occasions for individuals suffering adverse
effects from exposure to PCB’s and dioxins. L. Ron
Hubbard, founder of Scientology, developed and
promoted the use of the Hubbard Purification Rundown
as a method of reducing environmental chemicals in an
individual. The components of his 3-6 week protocol
include doing all of the following daily xix:
• Physical exercise for 20-30 minutes
• Sauna, 140-180° F, done in 30 minute
sessions for a total of 2 ½ - 5 hours daily
• Increasing doses of niacin each
day and taking a multivitamin
• H2O, NaCl, K replacement
• Oil, 1-8 Tbsp
• Balanced meals and adequate sleep
This program has been used in several instances. In one
case, ten electrical workers who did 3 weeks of the
Hubbard protocol were studiedxx. They experienced a
7.8% drop in adipose pesticide levels and a 4.7% drop
in PCB levels. In the 3 months after treatment ended,
the pesticides continued to be cleared from the workers’
• Anti-epileptic drugsxviii
• Phenytoin, phenobarbital, and carbamazepine were
measured after it was noted that a number of
hospitalized patients had lower serum levels of
phenytoin during a particularly hot summer.
bodies. At the 3-month follow-up, the mean total drop in
pesticides from pre-treatment levels for the treatment group
was 21.2% (2.3% for PCBs).
Removal of such toxic loads from our systems provides
us with increased and improved cellular functioning.
As a result of these effects, far infrared sauna therapies
are useful in many chronic disease states, focusing on
the causation of the illness - the toxin load in our bodies
affecting our cell and tissue functioning.
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far inf rared heat therapy
This program was also used for New York firefighters
who’s health deteriorated after working on the 911 World
Trade Center sitexxi,xxii.
Dr. William Rea, director of the Environmental Health
Center, Dallas (EHC-D), has also published data on the
Dr.. Walter Crinnion, director of the Southwest College of
Naturopathic Medicine’s Environmental Medicine Center
of Excellence has used the following as a detoxification
protocol with patients:
• Exercise 15-20 minutes
included on a daily basis:
• Thermal chambers, 120-130°; three 60-minute
sessions with 10-minute cool-downs in between
• Chemical-free living facilities
• H2O (bottled spring) and electrolyte replacement
therapeutic use of thermal chambers. Dr.. Rea’s protocol
• Use of specially constructed, less chemically
polluted heat chambers; 140-160° F for 2 hours
• Ginger/yarrow tea
• No niacin
• Exercise before the sauna
• Flax oil, 1/2 to 1 oz daily
• Massage after the sauna
• Psyllium
• Niacin—up to 3,000 mg
• Constitutional hydrotherapy (using the protocols of
Harold Dick, ND, and Andre Saine, ND) with
dichromatic green light
• Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, given orally and:
a. Vitamin C–15 g daily, with another 2-8 g orally
b. Several other vitamins and minerals
c. Glutathione
In Dr. Rea’s clinic, the results of treating 156 chemically
sensitive females and 54 males were reported as follows:
86% of the participants had improved symptom pictures;
• Liver herbs, 1 capsule daily containing Chelidonium,
Chionanthus, Arctium lappa, Taraxacum, Urtica dioica,
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Silybum marianum
• Colonic irrigations with purified H2O (triple treatment)
• Herbal, bacterial implants
with autonomic nervous system disorders improvedxxiii.
• Body work, including craniosacral, visceral,
trigger point, shiatsu, acupuncture and massage
Sixty-three percent of those undergoing the cleansing
• Constitutional homeopathy
program had reductions in their serum toxin levels; of
• Nutritional workup
those without any noted reduction, 18% showed an
1. Dietary avoidance of adverse food reactors
2. Dietary avoidance of most toxic foods
3. Dietary avoidance of sugar
57% of those with abnormal balance and 31% of those
increase and 19% remained the same.
Dr. Gerald Ross, who worked with Dr.. Rea for many
years, gave a presentation in 2003 that described
After treating 112 patients in his clinic, 83% of patients
sauna therapy utilized as part of a drug addiction/
reported moderate to excellent results xxv.
criminal rehabilitation program. When a 2-year follow-up
was done, it was found that 23% of those who failed to
complete the program had criminal records, while only
13% of those who completed the program re-offendedxxiv.
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EXPERIENCE THE FAR NORTH DIFFERENCE
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SUMM ARY
Each day our bodies are assaulted with a barrage of
Numerous other chemicals have been demonstrated to
chemicals and toxins from the environment. They come
cause havoc on our bodies, building up in our cells and
from the air around us, the water we drink and bathe
tissues, and causing organ dysfunction and damage.
in, the food we eat, the soil our food is grown in, and
Treating the damage alone cannot stop the process. We
the household products we use. Chronic disease and
need to address the cause, namely the toxic buildup in
cancer are on the rise. These toxins, which we store in
our tissues.
our tissues and cells, have been implicated as major
contributing factors.
It is to this end that far infrared sauna therapy is effective.
By its direct heating effects on the body, far infrared
Heavy metals impair our immune systems and
sauna therapy mobilizes toxins from our fat cells where
neurological functioning. Organic solvents and pesticides
they are stored, increases circulation, and thus aids in
increase our risk of cancers. Carbon monoxide pollution
elimination of these toxins through perspiration.
is increasing with more cars and vehicles on the road,
affecting our nervous system, immune system, respiratory
functioning, and increasing the toxic burden on our cells.
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REFERENCES
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