Want to Eliminate Toxins? No Sweat.

Our largest organ, the skin eliminates waste via perspiration. Heat causes toxins to be released from our cells into the lymphatic fluid. Because sweat is manufactured from lymphatic fluid, the toxins from the lymph are released when the body perspires.

Sweating occurs naturally during strenuous activity (such as exercise), exposure to the sun, or being in a warm environment. Saunas (dry heat) or steam baths (wet heat) create sweat intentionally for therapeutic purposes. So-called sweat therapy (or hyperthermic therapy) not only releases toxins from the skin but also relaxes the muscles, easing aches and pains. Releasing toxins via the skin through perspiration removes the load from the kidneys and liver, so those with impaired liver or kidney function may safely detoxify in this manner.

Using hyperthermic therapy to raise the core temperature of the body has been shown to have a favorable impact upon the immune system. It is one of the few known ways to stimulate increased production of growth hormone, which helps the body shed fat and maintain lean muscle mass. Hyperthermic therapy also helps to restore autonomic nervous system function. This system governs muscle tension, sweating, blood pressure, digestion and balance. People who suffer from chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia often have a dysfunctional nervous system and can benefit from using one of two types of sauna therapies, conventional saunas or infrared saunas.

A conventional sauna heats the air either electrically or by burning wood. The skin perspires as a result of direct contact with the hot air. Typically, temperatures of 180 to 235 degrees Fahrenheit are used to induce sweating. These high temperatures increase cardiac load in the same way that aerobic exercise does.

Unlike conventional saunas, infrared saunas do not heat the air. An infrared sauna usually consists of a wooden structure containing several infrared heaters that emit Far-Infrared Ray radiation to create a sauna atmosphere.