Detoxing - Far Infrared Sauna (FIRS)
From DoctorMyhill
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Recently we have seen a flurry of extremely well done medical studies which have looked at the chemical burden in our environment and also our bodies. We are being increasingly exposed to a whole range of new chemicals - indeed in the last fifty years it has been estimated that 5 million new chemicals have been created by man, of which 75,000 are in regular everyday use, of which less than 10% have had any sort of toxicity testing. These chemicals are now ubiquitously present in the environment, they are well absorbed through food, water, by inhalation and through our skins. Many of them are very fat soluble and bio-accumulate in our bodies. It is now becoming very clear that internal environment of our bodies reflects our external environment. Furthermore, because we are at the top of the food chain and because we live for many years, chemical burden is increasing each year. Studies done by the World Wildlife Fund and other such scientific bodies show that we all carry a heavy burden of chemicals, they are present in our fat in mg/kg (this would be similar to the sort of levels in blood if we were taking a therapeutic drug), they persist for many years and their effects are unpredictable. Most of these chemicals are known toxins, cause cancer, birth defects, damage to nerves and the immune system, to the liver and bone marrow, etc. Furthermore, we now know that cocktails of chemicals have much more serious effects than chemicals in isolation. Furthermore, low dose chemicals may be very much more toxic than we ever anticipated, partly because many of them mimic our own hormones and thereby disrupt the delicate hormonal balance within all of us.
I am coming to the view that everyone should undergo regular detox, even people who are well. I have yet to do a fat biopsy on any patient and find that they are completely free from chemicals. We all carry a chemical load because of our polluted environment - we cannot avoid this, but can try to keep it as low as possible by a combination of avoiding chemicals where possible, detoxing with good micronutrient supplements and through sweating regimes.
In multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), sufferers' reactions are often triggered by overwhelming exposures to chemicals such as pesticides, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, toxic gases (carbon monoxide, NOX, SOX) etc. I now suspect that many patients with CFS and MCS not only react to chemicals outside the body, but may also be reacting to chemicals within their own fat. If they can unload their bodies sufficiently, they can reduce their own sensitivity and tolerate inadvertent exposures to chemicals when they stray outside their own safe environment.
Chemicals are detoxified through the liver (and this is helped by good micronutrient status - see my Nutritional Supplements page), they can also be excreted directly through the skin and by exhalation. This occurs when the body gets hot when chemicals are literally boiled off and passed out through the sweat. The most physiological way of doing this is exercise, but many of my patients are not well enough to exercise.
Time honoured methods of detox include saunas, Turkish baths and spa therapies and I recommend all these treatments to my patients. However, the problem with these treatments is that not only do they warm up the skin and subcutaneous tissues, but the whole body is warmed up. This means that chemicals are mobilised from the fat (which largely speaking lies underneath the skin), they get into the blood stream and causes acute poisoning. Many of my patients are unable to tolerate these sweating therapies as a result.
So this is why I became particularly interested in a new technique described in Dr Sherry Rogers' book "Detoxify or Die" (available from Amazon www.amazon.co.uk). She advocates a technique called far infra red saunas. Far infra red is the main energy source that comes from the sun and is responsible for warming our skin when we sit in direct sunshine. The rays penetrate several centimetres through the skin and heat up subcutaneous tissues. With enough sun on the skin the skin will sweat, chemicals from subcutaneous tissues will be mobilised and pass out through sweat. The sunshine does this without heating up the core temperature (although if you lie in the sun for long enough then the core temperature will eventually rise) therefore chemicals can be mobilised and excreted without causing systemic poisoning. Indeed, Dr Rogers describes many case histories in her book of patients who, for example, have severe heart disease who would certainly not tolerate a sauna, who can tolerate FIRS very comfortably.
How to use a Far Infrared Sauna properly
Most chemicals come out in the first few minutes of saunaing so you do not have to boil yourself for hours to get a result! The best results are achieved from many short sessions (e.g. one daily just to the point of sweating, but you may want to start with two sessions a week and build up).
Once you have a covering of sweat, this means chemicals will have been mobilized from the subcutaneous tissues onto the skin. At this point shower off at once - if you do not wash them off, the chemicals will simply be reabsorbed. After 24 hours, chemicals then redistribute from deeper tissues into the superficial layers and the process is repeated. This way after some weeks of saunaing, chemicals will gradually be drawn out even from deeper layers. It is very likely that massage will help by physically mobilising chemicals stuck in fat.
The key point to remember is that sweat does not just contain the bad things, but it also contains the good minerals. This is because sweat is blood without the protein and cellular content. So it is important to rehydrate with my physiological mix of minerals - I suggest one gram of MMM in a glass of juice/water following a sweat.
Far infra red does not damage the skin (it is the sun's ultra-violet light which is at the other end of the spectrum which does that), so have no fears on this count. Indeed, primitive man evolved running naked under the African sun and so to have far infra red playing on the skin and warming it is an entirely natural process. I have now seen several patients who have had fat biopsies done before and after sauna detox regimes. So far everyone has been able to substantially reduce their chemical load. So the sweating techniques are clearly effective - one patient saw his chemical load reduce to 25% after a daily sauna for 3 weeks.
And so to sum up the important points:
- short sessions in the FIR sauna
- shower after each session
- rehydrating with the mineral mix
Where to get your FIR sauna from
Below I have listed a few possible suppliers of FIR saunas. You may find others through the internet. I trust you will appreciate that it is impossible for me to guarantee the prices quoted below and keep them constantly updated. When contacting suppliers, please, make sure you obtain up to date prices.
- Firzone is a UK supplier of portable saunas. Their price (October 09) is £169. For details see FirZone Portable Infrared Sauna.
- The Ultimate Sauna sell portable saunas for £297 at present (October 2009). Product information on Ultimate Wellness Small Portable Sauna.
- Get Fitt Ltd is another company offering portable saunas. Below is the company's introduction to their style of work and products.
- Get Fitt Ltd offer a personalised treatment programme and telephone support for one month and there is a charge of £75 for that service. However, the information here should address all your questions.
- Get Fitt Ltd specialise in formulating, monitoring and supporting detoxification programmes using the latest Far Infrared Technology. Patients include people suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, M.E, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and other debilitating conditions. The Company creates personalized programmes ensuring the most gentle and efficient detoxification. Each client is monitored and receives telephone support during their programme. Currently Get Fitt Ltd works closely with Doctors, Health Practitioners, Nutritionists, and Clinics in the Uni ted Kingdom and throughout Europe. Far Infrared equipment is available for home use or use in clinics and can be hired or purchased.
- Three types of unit are currently available: a FIR portable Sauna, a FIR Dome, and a FIR Blanket. Contact Get Fitt Limited directly to find out the latest hire charges and purchase prices as these prices are subject to change and it is impossible to ensure that this page will always quote current prices; as at April 2007, these are as follows:-
- Far Infrared Portable Sauna suitable for MCS sufferers (Includes extra large FIR Heating panels); Price £250.00 Includes VAT (not including shipping).
- Far Infrared Blanket £385.00 Includes VAT (not including shipping). This is particularly recommended for MS sufferers and patients in wheelchairs who cannot sit in the "sit-in" unit. Also, this provides full 360 degree Far Infrared coverage.
- Far Infrared Dome- Price upon Application.
- For more information contact:
- Get Fitt Limited - Mark Givert
Telephone: +44 208 445 5412
Mobile: +44 785 9904142
Email: mark@get-fitt.com
Website: www.get-fitt.com
- Get Fitt Limited - Mark Givert
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