Infrared Sauna and Healing Inflammation

Infrared Sauna is gaining popularity as a supplementary treatment for conditions such as inflammation, chronic fatigue and rheumatoid diseases which seems to be common among women with Breast Implant Illness. Inflammation is often the common denominator behind many conditions So, reducing inflammation in your body is important especially when you are trying to heal before or after explanting.

What is Inflammation?

Pathogens like bacteria, viruses, fungi, external injuries, foreign objects (for example Breast Implants), toxic heavy metals, mold or radiation cause inflammation, which is the body’s natural way of defending itself against tissue damage, as well as against invaders. It’s a defensive response governed by the immune system, which releases white blood cells to the affected areas, resulting in symptoms such as swelling, redness, pain or even elevated fever. But, there are two types of inflammation — acute and chronic.

Chronic inflammation

Chronic inflammation can be sneaky, and in many cases discovered once you develop an autoimmune disorder, like arthritis, lupus or Crohn’s disease, because inflammation is the telltale sign. And, it can show up with various symptoms (much like breast implant illness) including balance issues, fatigue, fever, joint and muscle pain, depression and even brain fog. In the case of breast implant illness, the body’s response to the foreign device is very often a silent inflammation that builds up over time until it reaches a threshold wherein these symptoms can no longer be ignored.

Effective ways to reduce inflammation include an anti- inflammatory diet, supplements and IV drip with higher dosage of vitamins. But if we want to accelerate the healing process, then stimulating the detoxification pathways is crucial for healing. Heat and lymphatic massage are two therapies that help mobilize the toxins out of the body. Infrared Sauna is a beneficial therapy that induces sweating through the skin. The average person will pour out 1/2 liter of sweat during a short stint in a sauna. The pulse rate jumps by 30% or more, allowing the heart to nearly double the amount of blood it pumps each minute. Studies confirm that the release of prespiration includes toxic heavy metals.

What is an Infrared Sauna?

Both Saunas (regular and infrared (IR) induce sweating and have some powerful health benefits. However, according to Hippocartes’s wellness center in West Palm Beach, Florida, infrared sauna is a better way to help remove chemicals and pathogens from the body.

Dr. Brian Clement, founder of Hippocrates says that unlike a regular sauna, infrared saunas use infrared lamps and electromagnetic magic to create warmth. The process allows infrared saunas to operate at a lower temperature while still providing therapeutic benefits. In addition, numerous clinical studies have shown that utilizing an infrared/steam sauna is able to remove many toxins through sweat; these include but are not limited to, heavy metals, phthalates, flame retardants, Bisphenol A, pesticides and PCBs.

How safe is an Infrared Sauna if you have Breast implants?

Here is a fact you may not be aware of – Silicone can melt once the temperature reaches 392°F (200°C), Saline implants will burst at a lower temperature of 200°F (93.33°C), Of course, no one would submit themselves to an oven-like environment, but

what if at lower temperatures the silicone particles start to break down before reaching the melting point?

Luckily, the Infrared Sauna can effectively operate at a lower temperature (usually between 120˚F and 160˚F) than a traditional sauna (150˚F – 180˚F) which eliminates such risk, especially because you can monitor the temperature to as low as 130˚F and still have the benefits. However it is still recommended to use your own discretion before using a sauna or exposing your breast implants to higher temperatures.

Health benefits of Infrared Sauna

Detoxification

A recent study was designed to assess the concentration of various toxic elements in three body fluids: blood, urine and sweat. Many toxic elements appeared to be excreted through sweat. Presumably stored in tissues, some toxic elements readily identified in the perspiration of some participants were not found in their blood. Induced sweating appears to be a potential method for elimination of many toxic elements from the human body. Another study showed that Mercury levels normalized with repeated saunas in a case report. Through tissue dilation, increased blood flow, and elevated tissue temperatures, some fat-stored toxins are mobilized during the sauna session and flushed from the adipose tissues. Much of this material is then excreted through the skin, although some is eliminated through the kidneys and bowels.

Cardiovascular Benefits

The surge in blood flow is accompanied by heightened metabolism. Although we are relaxed in the sauna, we still receive many of the metabolic and cardiovascular benefits of fairly vigorous exercise. A saunas’ dry heat (which can get as high as 185° F) has profound effects on the body. Skin temperature soars to about 104° F within minutes. The average person will pour out ½ liter of sweat during a short stint in a sauna. The pulse rate jumps by 30% or more, allowing the heart to nearly double the amount of blood it pumps each minute.

Increasing Oxygen flow – While exposed to the heat the peripheral blood vessels dilate to accommodate the sudden increase in load. This mild surge in blood flow facilitates waste removal from tissues and improves the delivery of oxygen and vital nutrients to the cells.

Healing Inflammation

Additionally, the mild hyperthermia effects of any sauna can be lethal to some bacteria and viruses, thereby benefiting the immune system. We have heard encouraging reports of Lyme disease patients responding well in saunas. Dr. Brian Clement, founder of Hippocrates wellness center in West Palm Beach, Florida says: “When we searched for the ideal sauna for our patients, we discovered the unique, chemically-safe saunas built by Heavenly Heat. These saunas have both traditional Finnish heating, along with several ceramic far-infrared (FIR) heaters. These saunas are built with low-allergen white poplar wood without the use of plywood, laminates, or wood glue-all of which can outgas into, and contaminate, the air of a sauna. When saunas are used clinically, or to treat specific ailments, a full regime is implemented that includes patient monitoring, along with supplementation of fluids, electrolyte minerals, and particular vegetable oils, etc. One should not use a sauna for any medical purpose without appropriate guidance by a physician”.

Dementia and Brain fog

Repeated heat exposure (9-12 times per month) like sauna bathing is suggested to beneficially affect against Dementia development. The epidemiological evidence is, however, scarce. Therefore, we studied the association between heat exposure during sauna bathing (i.e., the frequency of sauna bathing, frequency of heat sessions, length of stay in heat, sauna temperature) and the subsequent risk of dementia.

Mold

According to Mayo clinic, the use of a sauna may improve clinical symptoms in patients exposed to mold. Thus, sauna bathing may be a potential strategy to help eliminate toxins from the body. Studies done back in 2010 showed that Induced sweating is a potential method for elimination of many toxic elements from the human body. Using sauna (e.g steam or infrared) as the method to induce sweating,was a very good way to help eliminate the heavy metals cadmium, lead, and aluminum from the body;which are commonly found in breast implants but also in our everyday environment.

Caution

Some conditions may increase your risk for adverse effects.

These include:

Unstable coronary artery disease
Ischemic heart failure
Orthostatic hypotension
Heart valve disease

It is recommended to avoid sauna use during pregnancy. “In general, if you’re taking medication, have implanted medical devices, or have a medical condition — whether acute or long-term — it’s best to proceed with caution,” says founder of Organic Edge Spa in Southampton, New york

How often should you do an Infrared sauna?

As long as your body is hydrated properly, you should use the IR sauna 3-5 times, especially when you are in a detoxification phase. This will give you a better chance to remove harmful toxins from the body, and ultimately Heal.

List of studies and Sources

1. Blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study: monitoring and elimination of bioaccumulated toxic elements

2. What is an infrared sauna? Does it have health benefits?.

3. Are Infrared Saunas Safe?

4. Detox-Sauna Detox

5. Infrared Sauna Exposure and Breast Implants.

6. Association Between Sauna Bathing and Fatal Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality Events

7. Heavy-Metal Sweat

8. Science-Backed Ways to Treat Chronic Inflammation

9. The effects of repeated thermal therapy for patients with chronic pain

10. How Inflammation Affects your Health

11. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in sweat: a systematic review