Over my years practicing functional medicine, I have treated many patients who have a heavy burden of toxins. Whether they grew up in homes with lead, have sustained multiple dental procedures with mercury, worked in toxic environments, or harbor toxins from pesticides in foods, toxins are rampant in our society and can have a deleterious affect on one’s health. While many healthy people can fight toxins with their natural immunity,others are unable to do so effectively, which can result in a constellation of symptoms. At the Center for Natural and Integrative Medicine, we offer the Infrared Sauna for detoxification, and have seen how it has helped patients on their path to health.

Why Infrared Sauna?

Though our ancestors did not face the same toxic exposure as we do in our modern day society, they did have an effective way of eliminating toxins from the body–sweat! That’s right. Sweating is a simple, yet imperative part of toxin removal. While sweating can be achieved with exercise, the infrared sauna aids in this process, and is able to eliminate toxins more effectively and efficiently. One study showed that while sweat from exercise contained 1% of toxic chemicals, sweat after the Infrared Sauna was comprised of 15% of toxic chemicals, therefore being a more effective way to detoxify!
The Infrared Sauna works with the far end of the infrared spectrum ( 4-14 microns), which are the safest and most vital rays for health and healing. While conventional saunas use heat to warm the air, the infrared sauna uses light.

Indications

The Infrared Sauna has been used for the following conditions:

1. detoxification
2. pain management
3. stress management
4. brain fog
5. anxiety
6. depression
7. weight control
8. chronic fatigue.

What to Expect

While the sauna can go up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, we recommend starting slow and working up this temperature. To begin, we recommend starting the Sauna at 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 mins at a time. Eventually, you may be able to tolerate a full hour at a temperature of 120-130 degrees Fahrenheit. However, everyone is different and it is best to progress slowly. Prior to the sauna, it is important to drink plenty of water. If your sauna session is an hour, be sure to have adequate supplementation of Magnesium, Zinc, Calcium and Tri Salts, which should be monitored by your health care provider. To achieve maximum results, it is recommended to exercise 10-20 minutes prior to the sauna, to really mobilize the chemicals from the adipose (fat) tissue. If exercise cannot be tolerated, a strong loofah, body brush or massage can help mobilize toxins. Remember to drink water while in the Sauna! When it is complete, open the door and do not rush out or immediately run to take a shower. Wait until your body has acclimated to the room temperature, and then proceed with a luke-warm/cool shower.

Detoxification is a key step in the road to optimal health. If you are interested to learn more about the sauna and how it may benefit you, feel free to contact our office at (407) 355-9246. We also encourage reading the book, Detoxify or Die, by Dr. Sherry Rogers.