Sauna Benefits

Are there any real
health benefits of saunas?

According to many health professionals, sauna benefits include...

• a strengthened immune system

• improved blood circulation

• enhanced detoxification processes

• deep skin cleansing and rejuvenation

• tension and stress relief

And if you believe what many sauna sellers have to say, taking saunas is also the ultimate way to lose weight without lifting a finger. Oh, and they can cure every health issue known to man as well.

Yeah, right.

While the latter claims are greatly exaggerated, there does appear to be some convincing evidence and mounting research that substantiates many claims.

(Later I'll show you where you can read a few clinical study results)

So, are you wondering how an extra large ‘hot box’ made of wood can provide any true health benefits?

Well, read on...

How Does a Sauna Help You Detoxify?

Raising your body's temperature helps it kill bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses.

Dr. Lawrence Wilson has done a lot of research and testing with saunas. In his book Sauna Therapy, he wrote:

“Heating the body several degrees causes greatly increased

circulation as the body attempts to maintain its basal

temperature. This helps to dislodge toxins, especially from

hard-to-reach areas such as teeth, bones and sinuses.”

Liver and kidney function may also improve by taking saunas.

For more on this, read saunas and detoxification.

A Sauna Benefits Your Immune System...

By causing a ‘fever’. No, this doesn't mean that a sauna makes you sick. It sounds strange, but one way a sauna helps your immune system is by creating an artificial fever.

This sends a sort of wake-up call to your immune system, resulting in increased production of white blood cells and other disease fighting allies.

How a Sauna Benefits Blood Circulation

As your body increases sweat production to keep cool, your heart works harder pumping more blood at a greater rate. This actually provides many of the conditioning benefits of aerobic exercise.

Please note that I didn't say saunas can replace exercise, but the heat does provide an environment that causes a profound cardiovascular response.

Dr. Andrew Weil is a highly respected holistic practitioner and true expert in health and wellness. Here's an excerpt from a comment he made about the sauna effect:

"When you take a sauna, the heat pumps up blood circulation

near the skin and stimulates sweating. The Finns say a

proper sauna elicits about a quart of sweat per hour. I

generally encourage sweating. It helps the body rid itself

of unwanted materials and improves general circulation."

Good blood circulation helps...

transport nutrients throughout your body

eliminate toxins

improve heart, liver, and kidney function

improve virtually every function in your body

Good circulation is obviously crucial for us to stay healthy, right?

A Sauna May Promote Glowing, Healthy Skin

Shortly after my very first 15 minute long "bake" session, I knew that I did something good for my skin. I felt very fresh, alive and tingly all over.

That feeling was different from taking a shower or bath.

While a shower rinses dirt off your body’s surface, the sweating created in a sauna rinses out your pores.

A heavy sauna induced sweat really helps cleanse and rejuvenate your
skin - much more than just a bath or shower alone.

And I don't believe any of those 'miracle' creams you see advertised can cleanse your pores as deeply as a sauna either.

Tip: For really healthy skin, try combining sweat bathing and brushing with a loofa or rough brush. This removes flakes of dried skin cells that accumulate on the epidermis. If allowed to remain, they can clog sweat pores and oil passages and result in dry, flaky skin.

For a few more details, see the article on saunas and skin care.

There Are Skeptics

There's also skepticism about the true benefits of saunas. For instance, here's a quote from an article by Craig Horswill, Ph.D:

"Contrary to popular belief, sweating does not "purify" the

body of contaminants; rather it is the liver and kidneys

that do that dirty work. The only purpose for sweating is

to cool the body."

The article is pretty long, but if you're interested you can read it here.

I'm a believer...

After spending many hours reading about this, I personally became convinced that saunas can help you do more than just "take a load off". It appears that the extreme heat and heavy sweating created in a sauna can help create a healthier inner "you".

(Please note that I said saunas can "help" create better health. It may effectively do this along with regular exercise, drinking lots of water and eating healthy foods most of the time)

I'm sure there are more doctors that agree with Dr. Horswill, but there are also doctors and health practitioners who would strongly disagree.

Sherry Rogers, M.D., along with Dr. Lawrence Wilson, are just two of those doctors that are very strong advocates for sauna usage. They feel that nearly everyone could and should make sauna a regular part of their lives.

WARNING: For certain health issues, your doctor should be consulted with first before making sauna bathing a regular part of life.

The Hype

Unfortunately, there are many dealers that make exaggerated claims about sauna benefits.

One of these claims is that saunas help you lose weight.

I see things like "lose X number of pounds per week without doing any exercise."

It bothers me to read things like that.

Yes, taking a sauna does increase your metabolism and help burn calories, but a sauna is absolutely, positively not a replacement for good nutrition and exercise!

Nevertheless, there appears to be strong proof that most people really can benefit from regular sauna use.

What benefits have you noticed from taking saunas? Take a second and share your comment here.

Related:

If detoxification is one of your main goals, you may want to check out 12 Steps To A Complete Body Detox in addition to using a sauna.

Home Saunas - an explanation of residential sauna options

Sauna Medical Research - sauna research results

Sauna Health Benefits - a deeper look at how a sauna can impact your health

Detox In The Sauna - excellent article written by Lawrence Wilson, MD

Sweat Your Way To Health - a long article written by Susan Smith Jones, Ph.D.

Infrared Sauna Benefits - better than a regular sauna?

Infrared Sauna Benefits - an aid for mercury removal?

General Sauna Information - types, benefits, and disadvantages

Are you curious about sauna health benefits, or...

Are you a sauna user?

If so, what benefits do you enjoy from taking saunas?

If not, what made you read up on the benefits of saunas?

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Disclaimer

This information is provided for informational purposes only. If you have any health conditions, take any medications, or If you feel uncomfortable in a sauna, you should check with your physician.

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