SAUNA THERAPY
by Lawrence Wilson, MD
http://drlwilson.com/ARTICLES/SAUNA_THERAPY.htm
by Lawrence Wilson, MD
http://drlwilson.com/ARTICLES/SAUNA_THERAPY.htm
Near infrared lamp sauna therapy – and no other type of sauna therapy – is now a central part of every nutritional balancing therapy. The many reasons for this and benefits of this therapy are explained below. Dr. Eck did not include sauna therapy in his original nutritional balancing programs. However, he was aware of this therapy and its potential.
TYPES OF SAUNAS
Four basic ways to heat up a sauna exist.
· Traditional saunas consist of a small room or space that is heated with a heater that sits in one corner. The heater is powered by electricity, gas, wood or other fuel. In traditional native American sweat lodges, the space is heated with hot rocks that were previously placed in a fire. This type of sauna uses a lot of electricity or gas, and must be very hot to work properly.
· Far infrared saunas use metallic, ceramic or black carbon elements for heating that mainly emit in the far infrared range. The electric heating elements are spread around the sauna space. Unfortunately, all of these far infrared saunas give off stray electromagnetic fields that may be extremely harmful. Please avoid all far infrared saunas for this reason.
· Near infrared emitter saunas. A few companies claim to offer near infrared saunas that use emitters. I would avoid these, as I believe they are very similar to the far infrared type of sauna.
· Near infrared lamp saunas use incandescent reddish ‘heat lamps’ for heating. The lamps are very inexpensive and found at most hardware stores. The bulbs emit mainly near infrared energy, with a bit of middle infrared as well. This type of sauna also provides warming and stimulating color therapy. The lights emit a small amount of red, orange and yellow visible light. These particular frequencies draw energy downward in the body and can assist the digestive and eliminative organs to some degree.
While traditional saunas require high temperatures for copious sweating, infrared penetrates the skin and heats from the inside as well as on the skin. This means the air temperature in the sauna can remain much cooler, yet one sweats plenty at this lower, more comfortable temperature.
The infrared lamp sauna penetrates deepest due to the fact that the heat source is all concentrated in a small area, and not due to the frequencies of the energy used. The rays may penetrate up to three inches or so, so the air temperature can stay coolest of all the types of saunas with the same effectiveness. While some people like the intense heat of the traditional sauna, many find it difficult to tolerate, especially those when feeling ill.
Near infrared is an antioxidant nutrient, activates the cells, supports metabolic processes and decouples toxins from water molecules. Near infrared is helpful for wound healing and cellular regeneration as well. Near infrared frequencies can also act as amplifiers of other frequencies that are in the vicinity of the heat lamps.
THE BENEFITS OF INFRARED LAMP SAUNA THERAPY
Near infrared sauna therapy is one of the least costly, safest and most powerful ways to eliminate toxic metals, toxic chemicals and chronic infections. The benefits include:
· Skin rejuvenation. Sauna use slowly restores elimination through the skin. The skin is the largest organ of the body and a major eliminative channel. In most people, it is inactive, congested and toxic. Sun exposure, use of synthetic clothing, bathing in chlorinated water and exposure to hundreds of chemicals damage the skin. Excessive sympathetic nervous system activity and emotions such as fear, anger and guilt cause blood to be withdrawn from the skin, contributing to inactivity of the skin.
· Enhanced sweating. Sweating in a sauna is a by-product of applying heat to the body. The sweating process gently and safely helps eliminate all heavy metals and toxic chemicals. Medical studies demonstrate that most toxins can be eliminated through the skin, relieving the burden on the kidneys and liver. Sweating increases dramatically in most people after several months of daily sauna use.
Sweating during exercise is not nearly as effective for detoxification because exercise activates the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic nervous activity inhibits toxin elimination.
· Exercise benefits. Saunas provide many of the benefits of exercise with much less expenditure of energy. These include enhanced circulation and oxidation of the tissues. Repeated sauna use can lower elevated blood pressure and improve the elasticity of the arteries. Saunas are most helpful for cardiovascular rehabilitation, arthritis, allergies, skin conditions and chemical sensitivity.
· Decongesting the internal organs. Heating the body powerfully shunts blood toward the skin to dissipate heat. This decongests the internal organs and greatly stimulates circulation. Sinuses, joints and many other tissues benefit greatly.
· Fever therapy (hyperthermia) for infections. Raising body temperature powerfully assists the body to kill bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. Many people have a low body temperature and, for this reason, cannot get rid of chronic infections. Common sites of infections are the sinuses, ears, eyes, bladder, throat and intestines.
· Tumors, radiation poisoning and mutated cells. Hyperthermia also helps kill other types of abnormal cells. Tumors, for example, tolerate heat poorly. Raising body temperature hastens their death. Though not a conventional method, hyperthermia is a well-researched therapy for cancer. Heat also disables or kills cells mutated by radiation or damaged by other toxins.
· Inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system. This is tremendous benefit not offered by many therapies of any kind. It enables the body to relax, heal and regenerate itself much faster, causing recovery from many types of ailments.
· Improving oxygenation, hydration, and circulation of the cells and organs. This is an enormous benefit. The sauna does this in ways that few other therapies can do.
· Phototherapy. Modern medical care is starting to pay attention to the fact that shining light on the body at certain frequencies can activate specific enzymes, and even drugs that are used for cancer therapy and other purposes.
· Near infrared benefits. These are many. They are discussed in some detail in another article on this website entitled The Benefits of Near Infrared Energy.
· Helping to move subtle energy in a downward direction, from the head to the feet. This is a terrific benefit that is explained in more detail in the article on this site entitled Downward Moving Energy And Healing.
· Other benefits. Many other benefits are offered by all saunas, and by infrared and the near infrared sauna in particular. These are described in much more detail in the book, Sauna Therapy, and in other articles on this website.
NEAR INFRARED VERSUS FAR INFRARED SAUNAS
by Lawrence Wilson, MD
http://drlwilson.com/ARTICLES/SAUNAS-NEAR%20VS.%20FAR%20I.htm
WHY DOES THE NEAR INFRARED LAMP SAUNA HAVE AN EXTREMELY PARASYMPATHETIC (HEALING) EFFECT
by Lawrence Wilson, MD
http://drlwilson.com/ARTICLES/SAUNA,%20PARSYMPATH.htm
THE BENEFITS OF NEAR INFRARED ENERGY
http://drlwilson.com/ARTICLES/SAUNALITE%20NIR%20BENEFITS.htm
by Lawrence Wilson, MD
http://drlwilson.com/ARTICLES/SAUNAS-NEAR%20VS.%20FAR%20I.htm
WHY DOES THE NEAR INFRARED LAMP SAUNA HAVE AN EXTREMELY PARASYMPATHETIC (HEALING) EFFECT
by Lawrence Wilson, MD
http://drlwilson.com/ARTICLES/SAUNA,%20PARSYMPATH.htm
THE BENEFITS OF NEAR INFRARED ENERGY
http://drlwilson.com/ARTICLES/SAUNALITE%20NIR%20BENEFITS.htm
