8 Sauna Bathing Facts
1. Sauna Bathing Promotes Chemical and Toxic Metal Cleansing
Pollution has infiltrated our environment, leading to widespread contamination with synthetic chemicals. Virtually everyone has detectable levels of man-made chemicals in their bodies, which are mostly fat-soluble and persist within the body, accessing all organs, including the blood-brain and placental barriers. Sweating through sauna bathing can aid in detoxifying the body by eliminating toxins like arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, copper, nickel, manganese, sodium, chloride, ammonia, and urea.
In 1978, L. Ron Hubbard developed a protocol to facilitate the elimination of chemicals from the body, incorporating exercise, sauna bathing, and nutritional support. This regimen has been adopted by medical practices in over 20 countries. Furthermore, the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona, has reported that regular sauna use helps to mobilize fat-soluble toxins.
For those skeptical of Hubbard’s methods, consider the findings from the University of Southern California School of Medicine. Researchers there observed firemen exposed to PCBs who suffered neurobehavioral impairments. After undergoing a three-week detoxification protocol that included a specific diet, exercise, and sauna use, these firemen showed significant improvement. Similarly, the St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto reported on a patient exposed to toxic solvents for over twenty years. As part of her therapy, sauna bathing helped stabilize her condition, allowing her to discontinue all previously prescribed medications.
2. Sauna Bathing Should Not Be Mixed With Medication or Chemicals
While sauna bathing offers numerous benefits, it also exerts stress on the body. Therefore, it’s best not to combine it with other stressors like alcohol or drugs, a risky practice that is unfortunately common. Certain medications, such as those for blood pressure, may lead to low blood pressure post-bathing. However, the primary concern often lies with the combination of alcohol and sauna use, which has been linked to high blood pressure, arrhythmia, and sudden death. Middle-aged men are particularly at risk, as they may drink in the sauna, pass out, and suffer burns or fatal consequences.
3. Sauna Bathing Promotes Mental Health
Many sauna users appreciate how relaxing the experience is both mentally and physically. Research supports these claims. The Tampere University Hospital in Finland indicates that sauna use may help reduce stress. This is corroborated by Japanese researchers who found that sauna bathing improves tension, mood, anger, fatigue, and confusion.
4. Sauna Bathing May Not Boost Athletic Performance
If you’re preparing for a desert marathon, don’t rely on the sauna to help you acclimate to the heat. The Finnish Defense Forces advise against using the sauna to enhance athletic performance. However, they do suggest it as an excellent way for athletes to cleanse their bodies, refresh their minds, and relax. Other studies have shown negative effects immediately following sauna use. For instance, the University of Granada’s Department of Physiology found that sauna-induced dehydration significantly decreased leg strength in women. Similarly, a 2002 study at the University of Sydney revealed that muscular endurance in male athletes significantly dropped after sauna exposure. These studies suggest that the temporary fatigue induced by sauna bathing is similar to that caused by exercise.
5. Sauna Bathing May Boost Athletic Performance
Conversely, a study by the University of Otago in New Zealand found that male distance runners who engaged in three weeks of post-training sauna bathing experienced an increase in run time to exhaustion. This improvement was likely due to an increase in blood and plasma volume resulting from sauna use.
6. Sauna Bathing May Offer Support for Certain Health Conditions
Exposure to heat during sauna bathing helps blood vessels to widen and open up, which can benefit several health conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, congestive heart failure, and fibromyalgia.
7. Sauna Bathing May Offer Nothing to Some Health Issues
Sauna bathing is not a cure-all for every ailment. For instance, in Finland, it was traditionally believed that saunas should be avoided after surgery while sutures were still in place. However, a 2003 Finnish study of 79 patients with fresh surgical sutures found that sauna use had no effect on wound healing. Additionally, a 1983 German study of 213 male psoriasis patients reported that, after sauna use, 10% showed improvement, 1% worsened, and 89% experienced no change in their condition.
8. It’s Best to Use the Sauna Sensibly
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute Prevention and Rehabilitation Centre advises that sauna bathing is generally safe if done sensibly. This means not staying in the sauna for excessively long periods and avoiding extreme temperatures to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
