People have begun to experience the benefits of the sauna for detoxifying the body. This can be considered a holistic experience, if for no other reason than the sheer enjoyment of relaxation, with the added perk of assisting your body in natural healing.
History
Saunas date back hundreds of years. The Ancient Romans used various forms of saunas called thermae, or "hot baths," for relaxation and cleansing following an exercise period. These ancient saunas evolved into what is now called a "hammam" and became very important to the Islamic religion. The Russians, Finnish, Turkish and Native Americans all have their own customary form of a sauna. These high-temperature rooms were used to induce sweating in the body and were long thought to expel toxins.
Types Of Saunas
A variety of saunas are available today, and the main difference is the heat source. A traditional heat source can be anything from a heater powered by electricity to a fire or hot rocks. Far-infrared saunas are heated by elements that emit heat in the far-infrared range, which causes sweating, but cannot be tolerated by some people. Dr. Lawrence Wilson, MD, a holistic physician and proponent of sauna therapy, prefers the third type, the near-infrared sauna. These use incandescent infrared heat lamps as the heat source. They boast the same benefits but cause the body to heat up and begin sweating while not causing the air temperature to increase as much as the other heat sources.
General Benefits
Health enthusiasts and holistic practitioners have used saunas for detoxification for many years. Not only are there benefits to the average healthy person, but these saunas are also now widely used in drug detoxification during rehabilitation treatment. Saunas are considered to be superior to many other types of detoxification, ranging from chelation to fasting cleanses. Saunas are also very enjoyable, which makes the participant more likely to continue the therapy for the long-term health benefits. According to Dr. Wilson, sauna therapy using his choice of near-infrared light, is "an impressive aid for healing many diverse conditions."
Specific Benefits
According to Randa Khalil, author of "Detox Bath," the high temperatures of saunas cause an increase in sweat, which in turn releases toxins from the body tissues and allows them to escape the body in the form of sweat. This type of sweat is more effective at flushing toxins than sweat through exercise because exercise actually inhibits toxin release. The sweat also relieves the liver and kidneys of some of their functional burden of toxin elimination.
Dr. David Tyrrell of Harvard Hospital explains that saunas also cause an increase in body heat. Forcing the body into a feverish temperature range causes many infectious organisms to die, including bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites.
He adds that increasing body temperature increases blood flow to try to cool the body, which improves overall circulation and the transport of oxygen throughout the body. These benefits are similar to those reaped from exercise and include better kidney and liver function, therefore aiding in easy toxin elimination.
Warning
Like any type of therapeutic treatment, a doctor's guidance is recommended before commencing sauna therapy to rule out any dangerous pre-existing medical concerns. Many symptoms of chronic illnesses can be greatly relieved and the overall well-being of the participant is enhanced, both physically and mentally, resulting in general improved health and mental outlook.
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