Detoxification is a major benefit that can derive from using an Infrared Sauna.
New technology has brought to light the detoxification benefits of using a far infrared sauna. Whether you use the personal, portable infrared sauna, a multi-person pre-manufactured sauna or you build your own custom infrared sauna; research has shown that there are extended health benefits from the use of this device.
Detoxification comes by the way of increased perspiration due to the deep heating nature of the far infrared sauna. While a conventional sauna, one that you would most likely find in a gym or near a swimming pool, heats the air around you; a far infrared sauna actually heats objects, causing a more direct heat that has a much cooler atmosphere. This is why it is much easier to breathe when using an infrared sauna as opposed to a steam based sauna; the air around you does not need to be heated for you to receive the warming benefits. (more…)
The skin is the largest organ in the body. It covers more than 20 square feet in an average adult and accounts for as much as 15% of our total body weight, more than any single internal organ. The average square inch of skin contains about 20 blood vessels, 60,000 melanocytes (which produce pigment), more than a thousand nerve endings, and 650 sweat glands. The skin has multiple functions, not the least of which is simply to hold your body together and prevent entrance of foreign objects and pathogens into the bloodstream and tissues. Often referred to as our third lung, the skin acts as an interface between our internal and the external environments as it regulates exchange processes like absorption and elimination. Skin is a semipermeable barrier through which your body can not only absorb substances but can also release them.
First we will examine the skin as a detoxification pathway, and then we will look at individual therapies that aid the skin in detoxifying the body. You will learn why sauna therapy is so important to the Lyme Disease recovery process. We will survey different types of saunas, including ozone, far infrared (FIR), and dry heat, and also look into variations in sauna therapy such as the use of steam or hot rocks, as well as the construction material used (wood, plastic, or fiberglass).
The skin detoxification pathway
Sweating is one of the primary functions of the skin. It accomplishes both temperature regulation (cooling) and toxin removal. Your sweat is made up many different components. These include water (up to 99%), and substances like salt and other electrolytes, sugar, metabolic wastes like ammonia and urea, metals and heavy metals, and drug metabolites. Because our sweat can be as revealing as urine, sweat analysis is becoming an ever more common clinical procedure for detecting a multitude of substances in the body. For example, a recent innovation in the science of drug testing is the “sweat patch,” a device which offers an accurate and non-invasive way to monitor drug use and abuse.
Sweat in humans is produced by two types of glands. The eccrine sweat glands are present over the entire surface of our bodies and are especially concentrated on the palms of our hands, soles of the feet, and the forehead. They produce sweat composed mostly of water and salts. Apocrine sweat glands are predominant in the armpits and genital area. Apocrine sweat contains protein and fatty materials and is the source of the sweat odor which is caused by bacterial breakdown of organic compounds.
When sweat glands are stimulated to increase production, they secrete a substance (sweat) which is synthesized from the fluid which fills the spaces between our body’s cells (the interstitial spaces). This fluid comes from blood plasma leaked into the tissues by capillaries. Any circulating toxins present in the blood system are carried into the interstitial spaces along with the plasma. In this way toxins make their way into sweat, which is a filtrate of the plasma. Heat stress and exertional activities speed up the circulation of blood and thus accelerate the release of fluid into the interstitial spaces. This in turn prompts sweat glands to produce more toxin-laden sweat.
Most people living in modern times do not sweat very much. Lack of adequate exercise, the prevalence of climate control technology at home and in the workplace, and the non-physical nature of most jobs contribute to minimal sweating. Unfortunately, decreased sweating means decreased toxin removal.
Nenah Sylver, Ph.D., in her book The Holistic Handbook of Sauna Therapy, cites several published scientific studies which illustrate the ability of the body to detoxify via sweat production. For example, from her book we know that nickel, mercury, and cadmium are eliminated more effectively through sweat than through urine. Also, people with known chemical exposure who have symptoms of peripheral neuropathy and/or multiple sclerosis can obtain between 90 and 99% reduction of symptoms through the skin detoxification pathway.
Although skin detoxification is beneficial to anyone living in industrialized society, there are several reasons why it is specifically helpful to Lyme Disease sufferers. As we have seen, those with Lyme Disease accumulate a greater quantity of toxins than do healthy people. Sweating can help eliminate these toxins. The advantages of efficient skin detoxification for Lyme Disease sufferers do not, however, stop there. Unlike most healthy people, Lyme Disease patients have burdened livers and kidneys due to the stress incurred by the inflammation and toxic burden created by a chronic infection. As a result, Lyme Disease patients often have very weak livers and kidneys. Because the liver and kidneys are the primary detoxification organs of the body, detoxification is often stagnant. This can lead to overwhelming symptoms of poisoning by the Lyme Disease neurotoxin.
Detoxifying through the skin (via sweat) lifts the burden from the liver and kidneys because it completely bypasses them. Sweat production allows toxins circulating in the blood to be excreted directly through the skin, removing the necessity for the liver and kidneys to process, store, and eliminate toxins. The vast surface area of the skin allows quick, efficient detoxification without placing a burden on other detoxification organs.
The detoxification abilities of the skin through sweating are limitless. Even a completely healthy set of liver and kidneys cannot process more than a small amount of toxins in a given period of time. In contrast, there is virtually no limit to the amount of toxic material that can pass through the skin. In this way, sweating can greatly accelerate toxin elimination, even in people with healthy detoxification systems. Sweating is the “shortcut” to detoxification. The following therapies are intended to facilitate the skin’s detoxification processes.
The information in this entire sauna section is based in large part on information from Nenah Sylver’s excellent book, The Holistic Handbook of Sauna Therapy. This book, in my opinion, is the most accurate, complete and useful book currently in print on the topic of sauna treatment. Another useful book is Sauna Therapy by Lawrence Wilson, M.D.
Sauna therapy is one way to integrate sweating into a modern lifestyle. People have been using saunas and sweat therapy to detoxify for thousands of years. In comparison to other methods of skin detoxification, sauna therapy is the most affordable, effective, and established method. By increasing both circulation and lipid (fat) metabolism, the heat generated by a sauna causes the release into general circulation of a wide range of toxins stored in fatty body tissue. This process has been well documented in medical studies. Sauna therapy is so effective that the U.S. government recommends it for detoxification of dozens of poisons.
In addition to accelerating detoxification, saunas provide numerous other benefits due to increased body temperature. From Nenah Sylver (as well as Lawrence Wilson, M.D., author of Sauna Therapy, another valuable sauna book), we know that saunas have the following benefits:
Immune system stimulation and activation
Direct antibacterial action
Balancing of the autonomic nervous system
Improving oxygenation
Relieving internal congestion
Relaxing muscles and enhancing flexibility of tendons and ligaments
Alkalizing the body
Increasing circulation
Resolving edema
Normalizing enzymatic activity
Relieving pain
Increasing energy and clearing the mind
Normalizing body temperature
Below, we will examine specific types of sauna therapy, and then we will look at another type of detoxification treatment involving the skin: the Epsom salt bath.
Toxicity is the degree to which a substance is able to damage an exposed organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as a human or plant, as well as the effect on a substructure of the organism, such as a cell or an organ like the liver.WHERE DO TOXINS COME FROM? There are generally three types of toxic entities; chemical, biological, and physical.
Like Cinderella, the lymph labors quietly in the shadows to clean up the mess made by virtually all the other systems of the body. Widely regarded as a lesser sister to the circulatory system, the lymphatic system is actually a crucial player in your body’s ability to ward off disease and heal from injury.
The lymphatic system is recognized by doctors in Europe and the Far East for its importance to preventive health care. They understand how lymphatic function supports every other system in the body, including the immune, digestive, detoxification and nervous systems. In fact, many believe that poor lymph health underlies a host of conditions, from cellulite to cancer. (more…)
Infrared saunas are frequently recommended by medical professionals to relieve pain and even to prevent illness. We believe very strongly in the health benefits of a sauna, and particularly, those of infrared saunas. There is a wide body of both scientific and anecdotal evidence regarding the effectiveness of sauna heat therapy. We are pleased to provide a review of some of the confirmed and believed benefits of infrared sauna use. It is not our intention to provide medical advice. The information contained below was gathered from sources believed to be reliable and it is intended for general information purposes only. As with any decision about your personal health, we recommend that you personally research the topic of heat therapy and the benefits of saunas, and discuss your findings with your physician, to determine if the use of a sauna is right for you. The Lake Norman Medical Spa and Rejuvenation Center at the Center for Advanced Medicine and Clinical Research in Hunterville, NC offers Infrared Saunas.
From health.yahoo.com - Now is the season of awakening. In the flowering trees and noisy birds, we feel spring all around us. Why not feel it inside, too, with a detoxification program — a cleansing for your body and mind.
Your body is not unlike your car — an efficient machine that performs consistently only when it is given proper care. And just like a car needs a regular change of oil and various filters to eliminate the waste products that degrade its performance, the body needs to be cleared of the chemicals and toxins that clog its system.
Many of these toxins are the destructive side effects of our chemical inventions, from the preservatives and additives found in foods or the contaminants in the water supply to the formaldehyde in carpets and furniture. Your body can process and eliminate some of the hordes of chemicals that enter, but the overflow gets stored in the liver, lungs, kidneys, fat cells, intestines, blood stream, and skin — which can result in chronic illnesses down the road.
Feel Fresh with a Daily Detox
Here is a full day of practices to gently detoxify your body:
1. Begin your day with gentle stretches that warm up your body and awaken your mind.
2. Make yourself some cleansing lemon tea. Simply heat up filtered water and squeeze half of a lemon in it. This will cleanse your digestive system.
3. For your detox diet, choose high fiber and organic foods, and eat more beans, brown rice, oat bran, vegetables, fruits, and chicken or turkey. This Super Cleanse Broth will spring you into good health. To make, simply prepare a broth from: collards, Swiss chard, kale, mustard greens, cabbage, dandelion, Brussels sprouts, daikon radish, watercress, seaweed, shitake mushrooms, cilantro, garlic, leeks, fennel, anise, ginger, and turmeric.
4. Drink your veggies in juice form! Try a terrific detox juice made with Aloe vera juice, apples, asparagus, beet greens, cabbage, carrot greens, celery, cucumbers, and parsley.
5. Soak for 20 minutes in a revitalizing herbal bath. To help draw out toxins, infuse your bath water with eucalyptus, wintergreen, peppermint, fennel, cinnamon, and epsom salts.
Herbal Therapy
Whether steeped into tea or added to your cooking, you can use these potent cleansing herbs to remove toxic build up and wastes from your body:
• Chrysanthemum flower: Traditionally used to cleanse the liver, brighten vision, and neutralize toxins - and studies show that chrysanthemum lowers blood pressure and cholesterol and balances blood sugar.
• Dandelion: Research shows that dandelion root enhances the flow of bile, improving liver conditions such as hepatitis, gallstones, and jaundice.
• Milk thistle: Extensive research has found that the major component of milk thistle extract, silymarin, has a protective and a restorative effect on the liver, stimulating the growth of new liver cells to replace old damaged cells.
• Hawthorn berry: A famous cardiovascular tonic that is chock full of antioxidants, hawthorn is used to cleanse the blood of plaque and other toxins; according to studies, it helps the body maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Turmeric: A common spice, turmeric speeds up the detoxification process in the whole body by increasing bile production and release, eliminating toxins like heavy metals and other chemicals.
• Seaweed: The algin in seaweed absorbs toxins from the digestive system and has been thought to absorb and remove drugs, chemicals, heavy metals, and radioactive strontium from the body. Some experts claim that seaweed’s active ingredient, sodium alginate, binds these toxins in the gastrointestinal tract, preventing their absorption into the body.
Jon Barron and The Baseline of Health Foundation have touted for years that regular detoxing of ALL major organs is essential to maintaining health.
It is simple: you can down all the vitamins, herbs, and antioxidants but you won’t see your health turn around if your colon is filled with putrid fecal matter or if your liver can’t clean toxins out of your blood and perform its daily functions.
Why do a detox? Some of you may know about different types of water or juice fasting, but very few have incorporated a full body, organ specific cleanse as designed in this program. Although general fasting definitely provides overall benefits, targeted detoxing takes advantage of certain herbs, nutraceuticals, or alternative health protocols to greatly accelerate the process – particularly in regard to specific body systems and/or organs. The combined fast with an organ-specific detox offers the most powerful cleansing program for overall health of the body.
The specific detoxes include the colon detox, heavy metal detox, gallbladder & kidney cleanse, and finally the liver & blood detox (specifically in this order).
Let’s look at all of them in detail:
Why Do A Colon Detox
There is an old saying, “Death Begins In The Colon.” Although an oversimplification, the road to health begins with intestinal cleansing and detoxification–no matter what the disease or problem.
And, you miss the big picture when you think it is just about drawing out old fecal matter. We are talking about enhancing each function from your mouth to your anus: digestion, nutrient transfer, waste processing, metabolic functions, toxic drainage, and boosting your immune system. For this program, you MUST do a colon detox before a liver detox or you risk having major toxins push back into the blood stream (since your drain pipe is plugged). Learn More…
Why Do A Heavy Metal Cleanse
Many health ailments–headaches, exhaustion, and muscle cramps–are coming from heavy metal toxicity. It has been implicated in everything from increased risk of Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease to mental retardation and cancer. And, with today’s environmental pollutants, everyone around the globe is at risk.
Why Do Kidney & Gallbladder Cleanse
The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse estimates that each year, nearly 100,000 Americans are newly diagnosed with kidney failure. More than 100,000 currently have End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) due to diabetes, and an astounding 7.7 million have physiological evidence of chronic kidney disease.
Yikes! Paramount to good care of the kidneys is reducing the toxic load they have to deal with, especially proteins and chemical contaminants which can build up in the kidneys, slowing their function, increasing acidity and raising blood pressure. (more…)
I saw this post/video online. It gives a great rememdy for helping you to sleep, and detoxification of your liver, as well as states that walking just 90 minutes a week, is the best anti-depressant you can get.
By following the steps on this DVD, while under the supervision of a physician, patients have experienced up to 80% improvement in all their complaints, regardless of their underlying medical condition.
The Spa and Rejuvenation Center
at the Center for Advanced Medicine
Dr. Rashid A. Buttar Huntersville Business Park
9630 Julian Clark Ave.
Huntersville, NC 28078
Spa: 704-659-7575
Clinic: 704-895-9355
