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Detoxification saunasOne of the most basic steps of detoxification is promoting heat in the body to release lipophilic (fat-soluble) toxins from the fat cells of the body. This is known as heat depuration, which means to remove a toxic contaminant or to purify with heat. When heat frees toxins from the fat cells where they are stored, they move to the bloodstream where they are flushed out of the body in perspiration, urine, bile, and other body fluids. Not all methods of detoxification will be available or appropriate for all people. For some of them medical supervision is essential; others can be done on your own at home. The heavier your total toxic burden is, the more imperative it is to have medical supervision for your detoxification program. Detoxification must take place slowly enough that the detoxification mechanisms of the body can handle the increased load, so that you do not sustain organ damage. The use of a sauna is a major part of most detoxification programs because the "heat stress" of a sauna is very effective in releasing toxins from fat cells. Developed in Finland centuries ago, saunas are now used worldwide and are common in health clubs and gyms. A sauna is a relatively airtight room with wooden platforms and benches. The air is kept fresh by a special ventilation system that preheats outside air before it enters the sauna. For good ventilation, the air should be exchanged six times an hour. Saunas may be either dry or wet. For a dry sauna, no moisture is added to the sauna room. Electricity is used to generate infrared heat. Dry saunas stimulate a therapeutic sweat that helps flush out toxins and heavy metals. They also stimulate vasodilation of peripheral blood vessels and increase cardiovascular activity, which helps the body rid itself of more toxins. Saunas speed up all metabolism in the body and inhibit the replication of pathogenic organisms, such as bacteria and viruses. The immune response is also strengthened because the number of leukocytes (a type of white blood cell) in the blood is increased. Steam is used in wet saunas. A steam generator or water poured over heated rocks may be used to provide steam. In steam saunas, the humidity is controlled to maintain 50 to 60 grams of water vapor per kilogram of air. The steam raises the body temperature quickly, and is beneficial for arthritic pain and upper respiratory conditions, and humid heat helps the skin. In modern saunas, the walls and floor are often made of tile and concrete rather than wood. Cleaning is easier, which is important in saunas that are used exclusively for detoxification regimens. The benches and platforms are best made of poplar wood to keep outgasing of terpenes from the wood at a minimum. In saunas where chemically sensitive people are not using the sauna and outgasing is not a consideration, benches may be made of cedar, which adds an aroma from its terpenes. Sauna facilities may have cooling-off rooms in addition to shower rooms. Some sauna programs involve a gentle cooling-off, whereas others use cold showers, a dip in the lake (even through a hole in the ice), or a roll in the snow. If there are known health problems, cooling off naturally or with a tepid shower is safer. The use of saunas for detoxification has been thoroughly investigated. In the 1960s, scientists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to research the effects of recreational drugs, including alcohol, on the body, as well as researching methods that would help people cleanse the harmful effects of drugs. In 1977, a sauna program called "The Sweat Program" was introduced. The program took months to complete. People in the program began to report the excretion of substances in their sweat that smelled or tasted like medications, recreational drugs, anesthetics, diet pills, food preservatives, and pesticides. They also reported sensations of old sunburns, past illnesses, and physical and emotional conditions from the past. By 1979, scientists had developed the "Purification Program." This long-term detoxification program was designed to assist in releasing and flushing accumulated toxins from the tissues as well as rebuilding impaired tissues and cells. It is a precise program of exercise; sauna; adequate fluid intake and replacement; a regimented schedule; specific vitamins, minerals, and oils; and a diet with appropriate, lightly cooked fresh vegetables. The sauna, vitamins, and minerals must be taken at the same time each day and adequate sleep is essential while a person is on the program. Niacin, or vitamin B3, was an important cornerstone of the program because it appears to help release toxins from the tissues. Niacin also stimulates the cardiovascular system and causes vasodilation of skin capillaries. This causes the skin to flush, especially in areas of old sunburn. This hot flush, accompanied by prickly, itchy skin, can last up to one hour. It is not an allergic reaction. When people continue to take niacin, the flush disappears at a given dose, then returns with less intensity at a graduated higher dose. Niacin dosing is very important, and only the short-acting form is used. Most people start with 100 milligrams (mg) a day of niacin, taken in one dose, with food. When there is minimal flushing and other symptoms have disappeared or diminished, the niacin dosage is increased. Because toxins and drugs can cause deficiencies of nutrients, the scientists recommended other nutrients in addition to niacin. Drug and chemical residues persist in the body for a long time, and they continue to deplete nutrients while stored. In addition to niacin, the Purification Program included vitamin B complex; additional vitamin B1, vitamins A, C, and D; and mineral supplementation. Calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, potassium, and iodine were to replace those minerals lost by sweating. This program has been incorporated into many detoxification programs offered today. It represented a breakthrough in treatment, as it demonstrated that toxins can be eliminated rather than stored in the body indefinitely. In North America today, there are several sauna detoxification facilities, which use a regimen of exercise, sauna, shower, and massage or physical therapy. These facilities are built of environmentally safe materials and they specialize in treating environmentally ill patients rather than patients detoxifying from recreational drugs. The programs have added to the list of nutritional supplements used, as well as employing other aids to detoxification. The following are some of the additional substances used to aid the elimination process.
When using a sauna in a detoxification program, a healthcare professional should guide you. It is imperative that people with a high toxic burden be supervised as they detoxify. The speed of detoxification must not exceed the capabilities of the body's detoxification mechanisms, or it can cause organ damage. If possible, use a dry sauna that has been constructed to be environmentally safe, with air cleaners attached to the air circulation units. Commercial saunas at health clubs tend to be too hot, have inadequate levels of oxygen, and may be constructed of materials that will outgas chemicals that chemically sensitive people cannot tolerate. However, sometimes it is better to use a sauna that is not perfect than not to undergo detoxification. One- or two-person dry saunas constructed of wood are available for home use. Infrared units provide the heat source for these saunas. Poplar is the best choice of wood for sensitive people, as it outgases fewer terpenes. Portable saunas, sometimes called cabinet baths, are also available for home use. They are available in both wet and dry models. These saunas allow the head to remain cool and the user to breathe the cleaner outside air. Take care when selecting a portable sauna because plastic parts can outgas. Dry saunas are recommended because they increase sweating and so speed detoxification. A complete sauna cleansing program should include exercise, time in a dry sauna, and a cleansing shower followed by a massage or physical therapy. Both the exercise and sauna time should be built up gradually so that stress to the body is minimized. The bodywork breaks down chemical storage, mobilizes toxins, and helps break down toxic chemicals through increased metabolism. Some people experience increased excretion of toxins if they exfoliate the skin. The skin is in contact with pollution, ultraviolet radiation, and dirt. These substances combine with the oils, salts, and toxins that the skin excretes daily, as well as dead skin cells that are being shed. Exfoliation, which involves gently rubbing off the old layers, is accomplished with the aid of a loofa sponge, sisal mitt, or brushes. Exfoliation helps speed the detoxification process by increasing circulation, opening pores, and invigorating the skin. If you use exfoliation, take a shower before beginning your exercise session. Begin your detoxification session with 20 minutes of exercise. You may have to gradually build up your exercise time if you have previously been sedentary. Light cardiovascular exercise, such as a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill as tolerated, is helpful as is rebounding (jumping on a trampoline) for 3 to 5 minutes a day. Rebounding stimulates lymph flow, which helps remove toxins. Drink at least two 8-ounce glasses of water during your exercise period. Go into the sauna when you finish exercising. If you are fairly healthy, and heat tolerant, begin your sauna time with 10 minutes. If you are heat intolerant or have multiple chemical sensitivities or a chronic illness, begin with 5 minutes and increase by 5 minutes daily. The maximum sauna time should be 30 to 45 minutes to allow for ample sweating and the accompanying release of toxins. The temperature should be kept between 140°F and 150°F for environmentally ill people and people with a heavy load of toxins. While sweating in the sauna, be sure to replace the fluids lost, with a minimum of 8-ounces of water for every 15 minutes you are in the sauna. Continue to drink extra water afterward, as it will help your kidneys flush toxins. A cleansing shower after your sauna washes off the toxins excreted in the sauna and prevents them from being reabsorbed. Be sure to wash your hair also. It is important to pay attention to body odor during a detoxification program. Toxins that are excreted in the sweat can cause other people in the sauna or exercise room to react. Immediately remove and launder towels used in the sauna or after the shower in hot water; they will be impregnated with excreted toxins. After the shower, have massage or another type of bodywork to relax the muscles and increase blood circulation, which aids in cleansing. Manual lymph drainage or deep tissue massage particularly helps to mobilize toxins. After completing a sauna program session, allow a period of rest. The body needs a quiet time to adjust and rebalance. Nutritional supplements aid in sauna cleansing, particularly antioxidants. Oils taken orally help to bind toxins as the liver and bile remove them from the body. The help of a healthcare practitioner is invaluable in helping to determine the proper balance of supplements. However, if a healthcare practitioner is not available to help you, take the following supplements each day:
If you are able to have a healthcare professional supervise your detoxification program and your schedule will allow it, sauna daily for 6 to 8 weeks. You will then need to follow a maintenance program of a sauna once or twice a week in order to prevent new bioaccumulation of toxins. If you have no professional supervision for your detoxification program, sauna no more than three times a week. Some people experience skin reactions during their detoxification program. These may vary from burning and itching to eczema, small abscesses, and urticaria (hives). They may also suffer headaches, fatigue, mental confusion, nausea, insomnia, irritable bowel, and anxiety and panic attacks caused by released xenobiotics (foreign chemicals). Many people report symptoms like those experienced with the original exposure to the xenobiotic. These detoxification reactions can usually be treated successfully with buffered vitamin C. While uncomfortable, these reactions are an indication that you are making progress.
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