Frequently Asked Questions for Far Infrared Sauna (FIR)
Am I toxic?
Studies show that most of us have between 400 and 800 chemical residues stored in our cells. EPA studies reveal that 100% of people tested have dioxins, PCBs, dichlorobenzene, and xylene in their fat cells, and carcinogenic benzene (89%) and percholoethlylene (93%) in their exhaled breath. These are just small examples of an epidemic problem.
Unable to be excreted from the body, chemicals find their way into our liver, and then migrate to fat cells in organs throughout the body where they are stored. When our bodies exceed the limit for toxins we can excrete, those too are stored. Chemicals and heavy metals make up our "total toxic burden". This bioaccumulation compromises our physiological and psychological health and leads to chronic disease. It is clear that body toxins exist and that they must be removed through detoxification.
Early warning signs of toxic overload include headaches, skin conditions, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue, allergies and more.
Why should I detox?
The necessity of body detoxification is now of utmost importance. Our bodies have become virtual dumping grounds for the hundreds of thousands of toxic compounds that invade our air, water, and even the soil that nurtures our food.
Environmental toxicity has never been more rampant than now with more than 77,000 chemicals are in active production in North America. More than 3,000 chemicals are added to our food supply; and more than 10,000 chemicals in the form of solvents, emulsifiers, and preservatives are used in food processing, packaging, wrapping, and storage.
Every day, all of us ingest tiny amounts of these chemicals. The EPA estimates there are more than 20,000 chemicals that our bodies cannot metabolize. Chemicals not metabolized are stored in the fat cells throughout our bodies where they continue to accumulate.
We must detox our bodies because as these chemicals build up, they alter our metabolism, cause enzyme dysfunction and nutritional deficiencies, create hormonal imbalances, damage brain chemistry, and cause cancer. Because the chemicals accumulate in different parts of the body and at different rates and in different combinations, there is a disturbingly large variety of different chronic illnesses that can result
What type of chemicals am I exposed to daily?
Common everyday chemicals can include things like phthalates, dioxin, styrene, benzene, aldehyde, endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, xenobiotics, hydrocarbons, pesticides, bio accumulators, volatile organic compounds, toluene, solvents, just to name a few… These items can be found in new carpet, furniture, and buildings, personal care products, food packaging, auto exhaust, construction materials, plastic items, clothing, computer hardware, household cleaners, etc…
Is there anything I need to do before the session?
Patients should download, fill out and bring their initial paperwork to the clinic with them to their first appointment. The forms can be found here.
What should I expect during a detox session?
We start all of our detox sessions with time on the Chi Machine to get the lymphatic system moving and get more oxygen to the cells. Once this is done, instructions are given along with some mineral water to drink before the sauna session. Towels are provided to sit on and several hand towels are provided to use during the sauna to wipe the sweat off your body during the sessions. Underwear or a swimsuit needs to be worn in the sauna. During the sauna you can relax with your favorite book, meditate, or listen to music. We don’t recommend working during a sauna. After the sauna is over a wet towel is provided to wipe off any residual sweat to ensure its all off the skin before getting dressed. It’s a very relaxing process.
We offer a liposomal glutathione supplement after the treatment and recommend people take a binder before coming in for a session.
How long am I in the sauna?
Initially a sauna session is about 15 to 20 minutes for someone who has never tried a sauna. Normal sessions are are typically around 35 minutes. The time varies depending on the client’s needs at the time.
What if I don’t sweat?
Many people don’t sweat regularly. We start those people out slowly as the body will need to learn how to sweat again. This can take several sessions, but people do sweating again and a detox can happen.
How long do I need to detox?
Everyone is different. Most people need to come in a few times a week for 3 months to a year.
Do you offer packages?
Yes, we offer packages of 10 or 20 sessions. Single sessions are also available. A single session can be a great way to try out the sauna and see what you think.
How does the body detox?
The body can detox through the urine, stool, lungs and sweat. All systems need to be working to detox the body. Each person’s detoxification system is different based on their history and some people do not detox as well as others.
In a nut shell, there are two phases that occur when the body naturally detoxes through the liver:
Phase I is dependent on different enzymes within the body. These enzymes are mineral dependent so its problematic if someone is mineral deficient, it will impair Phase I detox. Enzyme function is affected by a variety of factors such as diet, genetics, supplements, heavy metals, etc. After the enzymes have broken down some of the substances, some very toxic end products (metabolites) remain and they must quickly be shunted to the Phase II pathway in order to make them safer for the body to use. Electrons are shifted around on the chemical during Phase I to prepare it for Phase II as well, so antioxidants are extremely important. Other nutrients that can help with Phase I are Vitamin C, Antioxidants, B vitamins, Vitamin E, lipoic acid, glycine, etc. Phase I is a breaking down phase or subtraction phase of metabolism, where the body is trying to break down the chemical/toxin into smaller pieces for phase II.
Phase II is the Addition or Conjugation phase of metabolism. This is where substances are added to the toxin and metabolites produced in Phase I, to make it easier and more stable to transport them out of the body. So, heavy detoxifiers are attached to the chemical sites prepared in Phase I. Many specific amino acids are added, such as glycine, glutamine, choline and taurine as well as other substances such as glutathione and sulfates. Sulfur containing amino acids are wonderful to support Phase II detox and can be found in cruciferous veggies, garlic, and certain dark leafy greens.
As an example, an extremely important detoxifier is glutathione. Glutathione can attach to hundreds of different environmental chemicals and drag them out of the blood and to the liver, then into the gut to be eventually flushed down the toilet. So, with every chemical that is removed, a molecule of glutathione is lost. If we are not making enough glutathione to keep up with the toxin level, we are not able to detox properly. This is why eating healthy and supplementing with proper nutrients is so important. We need fundamental ingredients on a regular basis so the body can do its job and make what it needs to detox us properly and keep us healthy.
What type of sauna do you use at the clinic?
We use a far infrared sauna from High Tech Health located in Boulder, Colorado. We chose this Sauna for many reasons:
1. It is made from 100% Poplar wood. This is an eco-friendly wood that is sustainably sourced and doesn’t have the strong odors of cedar, spruce or hemlock so perfect for allergy sufferers.
2. No plywood, partial board or fiber board is used in the manufacture of the sauna, so it will not off-gas any formaldehyde. This can be an issue with some other saunas.
3. It only uses Bio-Resonance heaters, which have complete EMF and Magnetic Field mitigation. There are no DC or static magnetic fields. The heaters are double shielded so even the outside of the sauna is shielded from electric fields. This is the only sauna with a patent on this technology, making it perfect for anyone sensitive to EMFs as there are NO EMFs emitted.
Why do you use Far Infrared instead of Near infrared Saunas?
Using near infrared saunas and “full-spectrum” saunas (which also output near infrared) can cause accelerated aging of the skin. The cumulative research to date shows that near infrared causes production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the skin which must be detoxified consuming the body’s usually-over-taxed antioxidant resources. That ROS also causes the activation of 599 genes, in particular one that causes production of the matrix metalloproteinase-1 enzyme, which damages the skin resulting in accelerated aging of the skin. 11 or more of those genes relate to how the body protects itself from genetic damage. Several papers show that near infrared decreases protection from genetic damage, and that all of that gene activation has the potential for promoting cancer. These risks and downsides far outweigh potential benefits.
Do I need to do anything else to help detox?
Yes! Make sure that only the cleanest ingredients/components are used in your food, cosmetics, personal care products, etc. every day! This is so important! As much as possible, decrease the amount of chemicals that you are exposed to in your home and work environment and ensure that your body is able to detox properly by supporting the elimination and digestion within the body with proper nutrition, binders and supplementation ... and of course, support your gut health for healthy overall function.
Do you offer any extra support before or after a sauna session?
Yes. We provide trace mineral water before and after the sauna. We also provide a liposomal Glutathione supplement after the sauna.
Should I take anything before I come into the clinic or after I leave?
A few hours before your sauna, we suggest taking a GI binder like charcoal, chlorella or our favorite binder - GI Detox from Biocidin. These can help bind toxins that are released into the digestive system so they are eliminated from the body after the detox in the sauna.
We recommend taking a whole food based multi-vitamin and mineral supplement about 2 to 4 hours after the sauna.