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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. fa r no r t hsaunas.c om • 1 8 7 7 7 2 8 6 2 7 0 continued on next page... EXPERIENCE THE FAR NORTH DIFFERENCE 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. fa r no r t hsaunas.c om • 1 8 7 7 7 2 8 6 2 7 0 continued on next page... EXPERIENCE THE FAR NORTH DIFFERENCE far inf rared heat therapy • 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. fa r no r t hsaunas.c om • 1 8 7 7 7 2 8 6 2 7 0 continued on next page... EXPERIENCE THE FAR NORTH DIFFERENCE 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. fa r no r t hsaunas.c om • 1 8 7 7 7 2 8 6 2 7 0 continued on next page... EXPERIENCE THE FAR NORTH DIFFERENCE far inf rared heat therapy 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. fa r no r t hsaunas.c om • 1 8 7 7 7 2 8 6 2 7 0 EXPERIENCE THE FAR NORTH DIFFERENCE far inf rared heat therapy REFERENCES i. Costill DL. Sweating: its composition and effects on body fluid. Ann NY Acad Sci.1977;301:160-174. ii. Brune M, Magnusson B, Persson H, Hallberg L. Iron losses in sweat. Am J Clin Nutr.1986;43(3);438-443. iii. Davies S, McLaren HJ, Hunnisett A, Howard M. Age-related decreases in chromiumlevels in 51,665 hair, sweat and serum samples from 40,872 patients—implications for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes mellitus. Metabolism. 1997;46(5):469-473. iv. Hohnadel DC, Sunderman FW, Nechay MW, McNeely MD. Atomic absorption spectrometry of nickel, copper, zinc and lead in sweat collected from healthy subjects during sauna bathing. Clin Chem. 1973;19(11):1288-1292. v. Omokhodion FO, Howard JM. Trace elements in the sweat of acclimatized persons. Clin Chim Acta. 1994;231(1):23-28. vi. Stauber JL, Florence TM. A comparative study of copper, lead, cadmium and zinc in human sweat and blood. Sci Total Environ. 1988;74:235-247. vii. DeRuisseau KC, Cheubront SN, Haymes EM, Sharp Rg. Sweat iron and zinc losses during prolonged exercise. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2002;12(4);428-437. viii.Cohn JR, Emmet EA. The excretion of trace metals in human sweat. Ann Clin Lab Sci. 1978;8(4):270-275. ix. Fuzailov I. [The role of the sweat glands in excreting antimony from the body in people living in the biogeochemical provinces of the Fergana Valley.][Article in Russian] Gig Tr Prof Zabol.1992;5:13-15. x. Omokhodion FO, Corckford GW. 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Downtown Medical: A detoxification Program for WTC Responder. Fire Engineering. June 2003 xxiii. Rea WJ, Pan Y, Johnson AR, Ross GH, Suyama H, Fenyves EJ. Reduction of chemical sensitivity by means of heat depuration, physical therapy and nutritional supple- mentation in a controlled environment. J Nutr Environ Med. 1996;6(2):141-148. xxiv. Ross G. Presentation at the American Academy of Environmental Medicine annual scientific session. October, 2004; Phoenix, AZ. xxv. Crinnion WJ. Results of a decade of naturopathic treatment for environmental ill- nesses. J Naturopath Med. 1997;17(2):21-27. fa r no r t hsaunas.c om • 1 8 7 7 7 2 8 6 2 7 0