Since the mention on Oprah’s show by Dr. Oz of the benefits of infrared saunas, we’ve had a flurry of interest from customers wanting to know more about sauna benefits.
Publications like The American Journal of Medicine and Harvard Men’s Health Watch have claimed that saunas can reduce a host of ailments from stress to illnesses cause by environmental toxins. One study of note by Dr. Lawrence Wilson, with a practice in nutrition and lifestyle consulting in Scottsdale and Prescott, Arizona documented sauna benefits during a yearlong intensive infrared sauna therapy program which he detailed in his book “Sauna Therapy”.
“We could really improve people’s health if we could get them to use saunas,” he said. Dr. Wilson’s primary work is with the elimination of toxins, such as lead, mercury and nicotine. He says that regular sauna use can dramatically speed up their elimination, though it does take time. “It takes a couple of months of sauna therapy just to fix your skin,” he says. “It’s like flushing your skin a couple of times a week. Compared to most treatments, it’s very safe-if it’s done sensibly.”
It’s the heat, of course-whether from infrared or traditional saunas-which raises the heart rate and clears toxins through the skin as one sweats. “There aren’t many methods of getting these chemicals out of your body,” says Dr. Wilson. In addition, the increased heart rate releases a variety of hormones, like endorphins, known to make you feel better and reduce stress. Using a sauna can help make breathing easier when you’re congested, too.
While clinical studies show that saunas can temporarily soothe sore muscles and arthritis pains, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor first. “We don’t promote a sauna as something that’s going to cure someone’s health, says Dr. Wilson. And, he doesn’t recommend saunas for children under the age of 5, or pregnant women or any disease aggravated by heat-such as Uhthoff’s Phenomenon.
After you’ve cleared it with your doctor, a traditional steam or far infrared sauna are the two options to realize these benefits. If you can’t handle intense heat, an infrared sauna is your best choice. Air temperatures in an infrared sauna can be 70 degrees, and you’ll still sweat because the light waves warm your body instead of the air.
Scientists in Japan report that Far Infrared Sauna treatments expand the capillaries and then initiate the start of a process to dissolve hidden toxins and are more effective at toxin release than a traditional sauna.
Sauna benefits are many, varied and proven. But the benefits won’t come to you if you don’t use a sauna regularly. Our customers rave about the benefits they’ve received from better sleep and skin to stress relief and strengthened immune systems (which mean fewer colds and flu). Don’t wait another minute to put a sauna in your home. For less than the cost of a good cup of coffee, you can experience better health.
THE GOOD SWEAT begins with a Finnleo Sauna from Olympic Hot Tub Company.
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