On Christmas day, 2003 the headline went out across the news service, “Scientists Begin Measuring Pollution in Humans” and the results were disturbing: flame retardants, heavy metals, styrene… a veritable witch’s brew of chemicals were found in every one of the people tested. Many chemicals found were known carcinogens, others were hormone disruptors and the most unsettling fact is that these toxins are accumulating in microscopic amounts in all of our bodies irregardless of lifestyle. Day after day, year after year our bodies are storing these hidden chemicals – until the toxic load reaches a critical point where disease begins.

Because fat is generally inert, it is here that the bulk of your toxins are warehoused. Your body is a brilliantly designed machine and any toxin that cannot be processed out through normal elimination is stored in the safest place possible and where it has the best chance of being expelled - your subcutaneous fat cells. The importance of internal cleansing has been common knowledge among health-conscious people for years but they do nothing to remove the accumulation of toxins from your fat. Now, the technology exists to safely and permanently remove these harmful toxins – the far-infrared sauna.

Hippocrates, the founder of modern medicine said “Give me a fever and I will cure any disease”. While the Finns are credited with inventing the Sauna as we know it (pronounced “sow-nah” as in ‘now’), other cultures have used the sweat lodge for centuries. Outdoor buildings were constructed and the heat – often in excess of 200°F was generated by open fires, later wood-fire stoves were used and in recent years, electric heaters. The extreme high heat meant that not everyone could use the sauna: the elderly, infirmed or weak could not tolerate the stress that the heat placed on their bodies so they could not reap the many health benefits regular sweating provides.

Modern technology has produced a means of creating a deeply satisfying and cleansing sweat quickly and comfortably in the form of the far-infrared sauna. While still made of wood, this is where the similarity to its predecessor ends. Sunlight far-infrared saunas are free-standing structures that can go indoors or outdoors. They have tempered glass doors and windows, built in CD players, assemble in minutes without tools, are completely portable and use less electricity than a hair dryer.

Far-infrared is an invisible part of the light spectrum that heats objects directly without heating the air between. It is far-infrared that is responsible for the heat we feel from the sun and is completely separate from the harmful UV rays that are also a component of sun light. Far-infrared energy is essential to our health and is part of our daily lives as every living organism emits and receives far-infrared energy.

To determine the difference in detoxification is between conventional and far-infrared, Seattle-based neurologist, Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, conducted a study. Lab results showed that the sweat of people using a conventional sauna was 95-97 percent water while the sweat of those using a far-infrared sauna was 80-85 percent water with the non-water portion consisting of cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, heavy metals, sulfuric acid, ammonia and uric acid.

Physicians are excited by the medicinal value of the far-infrared sauna as data confirms regular use has a profoundly beneficial effect on the human body. A 2001 clinical study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reported 25 patients exhibiting an early stage of arteriosclerosis were treated in a far-infrared sauna for 15 minutes once a day for two weeks. The results were impressive: significantly lowered blood pressure, significant weight loss, increased blood flow and lowered cholesterol and triglycerides. The far infrared sauna appeared to be beneficial in preventing hardening of the arteries.

Dr. David Wikenheiser, a Vancouver-based Naturopathic doctor and expert on detoxification has long been an advocate of far-infrared technology, "I have been recommending Solocarbon far-infrared sauna treatments to my patients for years and the results have been impressive. Toxic load is a major health threat for people of all ages and sweating in a Sunlight far-infrared sauna is an effective low risk method for removing toxins from the body. Detoxification normally has many steps, and if any one step is limited your overall health will be limited. Far-infrared sauna treatments allow toxins to leave the body directly through the skin, avoiding complications from a congested lymphatic system, an already stressed liver, and the commonly irritated digestive elimination system. My patients who use sauna treatments report a wide range of health benefits, including clearer thinking, fewer coughs and colds, more restful sleep, less skin irritations, and resolution of nerve pain in their hands and feet."

Currently, there are more than 70,000 chemicals in use world-wide and they are reaching everyone regardless of race, class or geography. According to a study released in January 2007, four top Canadian politicians allowed their blood to be tested. Of 103 pollutants ranging from flame retardants to arsenic and Teflon, a total of 61 were found. Combined, their blood contained a frightening chemical soup, which included 54 carcinogens, 37 hormone disruptors, 16 respiratory toxins, 54 reproductive or developmental toxins and 33 neurotoxins. Fortunately, nature has provided us with a simple solution to our body pollution – sweat.

Naturopathic Physician and author of “The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Breast Cancer” Sat Dharam Kaur relies of far-infrared saunas in her treatment centre. She estimates that it takes 90-100 hours of sweating in a Solocarbon far-infrared sauna to unload your lifetime accumulation of toxins. Once or twice a week after that 100 hour point will continually remove new toxins to keep your body systems operating at peak performance.

A strengthened immune system, radiant skin, better sleep, whole body detoxification and improved cardio-vascular health - the far-infrared sauna can assist in all of these health goals. In his book Never Be Sick Again, Raymond Francis, M.Sc., writes, “Everyone should sauna on a regular basis because the therapeutic value of this practice is absolutely enormous. Taking a regular sauna is not a nicety, but a necessity for those who care about their health.”

Good health is a choice – one that you can make. If you are seeking alternative therapies for existing conditions or preventive solutions to maintain your active lifestyle, consider regular Sunlight far-infrared sauna use as a critical component in achieving optimal health and wellness. An ounce of sweat is truly worth a pound of cure!

Author's Bio: 

Kim Sterling is an expert on detoxification, a preventive health advocate and founder of Soleil Saunas Inc.