Sauna Detox

DO NOT DO THIS TREATMENT IF:

  • You are in early pregnancy or might be
  • You suffer from seizures or heart disease

Chemicals such as pesticides, preservatives and even some medical drugs can be stored in body fat for long periods, and continue to interfere with functioning, most notably of the brain and nervous system and the immune system. There is no single clearly defined environmental illness, no single chemical sensitivity syndrome; there are perhaps as many different subtypes of illness as there are sufferers, and for each sufferer there is typically a list of several component diagnoses, including toxic symptoms, allergies, auto-immune, endocrine and neurological disruptions, and of course fatigue.

Because they are fat-soluble, not water-soluble, these toxins can only be excreted from the body by three routes:

1. via breast milk
(which is no help to anybody)

2. via the liver into bile then faeces
This involves the liver’s detox-ing enzymes; we use other techniques (see Phospholipid Exchange Therapy) to support this. Even if using sweat as the main route of excretion it is wise to make sure this route is working well also. Some genomic variations can impair it, and it can become overloaded.

3. via sweat
People who do not sweat normally are surprisingly common among our patients needing detox. Seemingly abnormal sweating, such as night sweats, may be a natural attempt by the body to remove toxins.

The process is hard work, and not without side effects, but it has been used successfully by thousands of people in the USA, and a growing number here, under medical supervision.  In this country, where we have a comparable problem with pollution of the environment, of food and water, and thus of our bodies too, no suitable medical facility exists for this treatment.  We have found that it is possible to do it at home though, with care and proper supervision.

We advise that you do not immediately embark on a full-time programme, but start off using infrequent short treatments, with a spouse or friend there to assist you. Feel your way in; do not increase duration or frequency until you are confident that you can handle it, and always have electrolyte replacement salts handy.  If using a health club sauna, advise the staff before starting and show them this literature. The “isotonic” or “electrolyte” drinks available in almost all health clubs are of suitable electrolyte composition, but may be high in sugar content - use them if you have nothing better, but not as a regular thing.

The Heat Treatment

Starting with a too-intense regime can lead to adverse effects early on. Start off using less frequent and shorter treatments — e.g. 5 minutes at a low temperature (35 degrees for instance) every 3-4 days — and only build up when you are confident that you can handle it.  The aim, ideally, is to end up doing daily (or almost daily) treatments, of comfortable duration, for a full month at a time - or at least 2 weeks.

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