What length of time should one us a sauna for?
20 mins? or can one be in it longer?

I decided to use the sauna at my local ymca the other day and I thought I could tell a difference. Now I plan on using it everytime I go there. It's just a small room with some kind of metal heater in there (looks like a air conditioner).

btw Russ I was reading the old messages about sauna's and you mentioned you might be getting one (did you ever get one?)

2 years ago~ I remember I paid to have a few treatments using a oxygenation sauna type of thing. Supposedly is really good for you. I didnt notice much but I still had my fillings in at the time so who knows.

It's well-known that sweating is perhaps the best way to eliminate mercury from the body. Saunas are great.

I never did get one because I could not justify the price since I'm mostly recovered from mercury already. I am still considering building my own into my bathroom if I can make it cost effective and have it maintain my home resale value.

Did you know some saunas are made from poplar because...

Poplar absorbs mercury

Interesting.

Like I stated previously; I've been using a dry heat sauna at my local YMCA here. And I feel that perhaps I am noticing a change (although I am not quite sure yet).

This is big for me (if I really am experiencing a change) since I have spent 12 years + working on my breathing condition with no positive lasting changes.

I've read alot of material in the past few days on sauna use; and I have read about infrared saunas; seems like something good to try out. Do they usually have them at spa's or something like that? or tanning places?

I've never used a sauna before; I think I just thought them for 'old' people <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I didnt know that sweating was the best way to eliminate mercury from the body. Honestly if the sauna does end up helping me I wouldn't be totally convinced that I had a major mercury issue ie I read about how saunas can help with detoxing also not just mercury and how after 9/11 in NYC they used some saunas to treat the workers and some people got rid of their asthma.

btw Russ for future reference what sauna were you looking at in getting.

I recently had a sauna and i felt great afterwards, it was an infrared sauna at the local swimming baths. Im going once a week from now on. Dawn.

I was looking at a poplar FAR infared sauna. I don't recall the brand at this time although the paperwork is probably buried on my desk and if I find it, I'll post the information.

Russ and everybody,

Russ, did you happen to find the name of the company that sol the poplar infrared sauna? Has anybody else heard of a good sauna? I am seriously considering getting one--not just for my mercury detox but for a tool for detox for all the other environmental toxins we have to endure. Dr. Sherry Rogers has written a book titled "Detoxify or Die". She extols the virtues of the sauna for metal detox and every other toxin as well. Her premise is that all disease is a result of a toxically overloaded system and that if you can unload the body burden the body will heal itself.
Anyway, I'd love to hear from anyone who has any experience with infrared saunas.
Chelan

Chelan ... how was that book 'Detoxify or Die' ...

I'm very much interested in learning more about infrared saunas also. I've been using a regular sauna at my local YMCA for the past 2 weeks and since then I feel like I started to notice a slight difference in my breathing (although its hard for me to tell) ...

So I wondered if a infrared sauna might be better ... ie where do you go to use one? sun tanning places? whats the typical charge? anyone know

I had been doing alot of research on saunas on the internet recently and I came across a article that talked about how after 9/11 through some organization there was a detox center built and if I remember right they used a infrared sauna alot ... now this center was built to help with the workers of the twin towers aftermath and all the 'stuff' in the air.

But after the treatments at this detox center alot of workers said their asthma etc symptoms that they had for many years started to improve.

I should try to find the article hold on ...

http://www.slate.com/id/2108471/

what do you think

The article just lists sauna ... not infrared so not sure which one is used ... The article also talks about 2 1/2 to 5 hours in a sauna (read more in detail on this - it's spaced out with breaks and lower temperatures 140-180f )... not sure how someone could do that. I heard you are only supposed to be in one for 20 mins?

Actually, we haven't looked up the name yet but we'll try and get to it tonight if possible.

Sorry about that.

Dulak,
I'm not finished the book yet but so far it has been both disturbing and hopeful. Dr. Rogers very clearly show the amount of toxins we are exposed to every single day of our lives--even if we try to minimize them. There is no escaping them. Her hope lies in the fact that we can detox them out of our bodies on a regular basis through diet, supplements and the infrared sauna. She says sweat is the best way to detox environmental toxins --including heavy metals!
Anyway, you can look her work up on the net just by typing in her name--Dr. Sherry Rogers.
I haven't used a sauna yet and I'm trying to find one locally that I can try out. I might use a regular steam sauna to see if that makes any difference if I can't find an infrared one. She also gives a "detox cocktail" that consists of Vit. C, lipoic acid and glutathione. I haven't tried that yet either as I don't have any glutathione right now. I'll let you know if I try it and what happens.

Chelan

I read the reviews of Sherry's book and L ron Hubbards clear body clear mind (at amazon). Both looked very good and had to do with sauna usage.

So I spluged today and went out and bought both of them ... they both look good. I read a little info already on what Sherry wrote on saunas. Sounds like some good info.

I think I'm going to work out a treatment plan for myself (develope it as I read both books etc ...)

ATM I am just using regular sauna's (YMCA)

Dulak

Hi all,

I've just found this forum and thought I'd send a post to help answer some of the infrared sauna questions.

I purchased an infrared sauna about 3 months ago. It is a 'Detox Box' by High Tech Health. I use the sauna generally 2 times a week for about 15-30 minutes a time. I find if I use more frequently I get very fatigued etc.. etc.. (I assume I am detoxing too fast). One of my main reasons initially for using the sauna was to relieve full body joint pain, which it does VERY well whilst I am in the sauna.

Prior to purchasing the sauna I used to use the regular steam sauna down at my local pool. The heat again definitely helped but my research led me to believe the infrared saunas were better for detox.

I am following the detox plan set out in Sherry Roger's 'Detox or Die' book. It is a book I can highly recommend.

As for hiring the saunas, I tested one out at a Beauty Salon. The cost was $30 for half an hour (note that I am in Australia and am referring to Aussie dollars!).

As an aside, I have just tried a magnetic clay bath and am now suffering my symptoms strongly again. I thought I took it easy on the first bath to alleviate the fast detox ..doh!

I am also getting my fillings replaced in a couple of weeks time .. wish me luck!

Happy to answer any other questions about my sauna experiences ...

Good health to everyone ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Karen

Karen I want to wish you well for your amalgam removal appointment. I'll be doing the same next month.

I have never tried infrared sauna -- but the integrated holistic practice where my dentist is actually offers them. They offer hyperbaric oxygen treatments and oxygen/ozone sauna too.

What I have tried is Oxygen/Ozone Sauna. I did about 6 treatments overall. I honestly don't know whether it helped or not. Surely the sweating did me good. I had so many other health issues going on at the time. I noticed that it really cleared my sinuses and I felt more mental clarity. When the sauna was finished, the towels that I used during the sauna had black streaks. The sauna guy says everyone gets that -- it's the toxins being excreted.

I still had metal in my mouth -- so maybe that's why I didn't otherwise notice a huge difference.

I know a woman who recently had her amalgams removed and also saw a holistic M.D. for detox and she is almost well now. She did "Poor Woman's Saunas." She got in her car (she lives in Florida) with a huge bottle of water and just sat there and let herself sweat. LOL!!! I think I might try that.

SomedaySoon (Sharon)

Thank you for the information Karen. I'm surprised that you're suffering symptoms when detoxing via the skin with a sauna or bath. I would love to find out why this happens.

Best of luck with your amalgam removal. I hope you're having the removal done by a dentist that is trained in safe mercury removal and that he takes all the precautions necessary to protect your health.

Please let us know how it goes.

I was looking for infrared sauna places nearby, when I found that they had portable far infrared saunas on ebay. They pop up just like a tent and are very affordable (I just ordered one for $200 including shipping, it should be here around Wednesday). It has an adjustable temp of 130-150F.

I will let you guys know how it works, as I do agree with Russ that this may be the best way to clean our systems of mercury and other toxins.

E-Bay. Great idea.

Yes, please let us know how it goes and I may just have to get one.

Thanks.

Hi Rus & Everyone,

I expect I still suffer my symptoms after a sauna as I am placing an extra general stress on my body. I get the same result if I try to do too much physical work during the day. My health is very poor at the moment sometimes just sitting up is too much.

The sauna is absolutely fantastic, I would recommend it to anyone, but caution that it does place additional stresses on the body (heat, sweating, detoxing etc..). My comment to anyone starting out with saunas is to take it slow and steady and listen to your body's responses. If you start to feel 'not right' in the sauna, get out and try again in a few days time. There is no competition to see who can stay in the longest at the highest temperature!

Also, be sure to replenish your body with lots of water, salts and minerals that will inevitably be lost with all that sweating (along with lots of toxins hopefully too). There are some good books available on this subject.

Cheers,
Karen <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Actually, my specialist that removed my amalgams gave me a paper and a natural bristly body brush. The instructions were to once a week dry brush my arms and legs in an upward motion and then my stomach and back in a downward motion then to use the sauna for 10-15 minutes followed by a soapy shower and clean clothes. This is in addition to using the sauna without the brushing a few times a week. So there main way to detox me slowly, and naturally is with the sauna. I am taking an herbal mix to support/assist the body to but nothing to "chelate" yet.

I am thinking of getting an infared sauna, as those sound pretty good. But, taking the side of caution, while I know they are supposed to be really good for detox, are there any side effects? Is there any danger to using a far infared sauna? Remember, we all thought that mercury amalgams were just fine until we all started getting sick. How long have infared saunas been around - ie: have they been around long enough for us to know if there is any bad, as well as the good? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Infrared rays are the same as the rays from the sun that make your body feel very very warm. Infrared saunas are like going out in very very hot sun without getting any visible spectrum or damaging UV rays (though we do need UV rays to make vitamin D).

Also, I don't think many of use would have thought our fillings were safe if we knew that they contained 50% mercury. There is a reason why dentists call them silver fillings and not mercury amalgams.

Yeah, right! They sure put one over on us. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Doesn't Cutler say not to use infrared saunas?

I just looked up "infared" and "saunas" in the index of Cutler's book and didn't find anything.

Also, I don't remember seeing anything in the book on the subject but I haven't read it cover to cover so I can't be sure.

I had also heard that Andy Cutler doesn't like infrared saunas through a post on Cure Zone. Just found the original link again:

Andy Cutler on Infrared Saunas

I have also been thinking about buying one of the cheap portable FIR saunas. My only concern is that it is made of synthetic materials. I would be interested in hearing any experiences people have with these saunas. I know for myself that sweating definitely helps, unfortunately in winter it is difficult to generate much sweat when exercising.

Ya the portable ones would be a big no-no for people with Chemical Sensitivities.

Andy, like his experiences with chlorella, probably just encountered a few very sick people desperate to get better and got worse from the stress of all the heat in the sauna and possibly the synthetic materials that it is made out of.

I think its one of those things...its just not for everybody and especially for those people in very weakened states.

I got my sauna today, and set it up and turned it on and let it air out for an hour while it was hot(smelled too 'new').

I then got a classical music cd, put headphones on, and went in for 30 minutes on the highest setting. Sweat was pouring off me but I felt fantastic, so I added on 10 more minutes at the end.

Showered immediately after and I think this is really gonna help me recover even faster. It felt incredibly good with no symptom flare ups. Puddles of sweat were at the bottom.

All you have to do is wipe it out with a dry towel and it was clean.

I will keep you updated.

edited to add: I went for a 45 minute walk afterwards and felt quite euphoric!

G Dawson is this one of those portable saunas that you got?
ie one that you sit in and has a tent like thing around you with your head sticking out?

How about the smell?

It is a portable one where your head sticks out.

The smell didn't bother me, though it did smell funny right out of the plastic as anything new would, but after leaving it on high and unzipped with a fan on in the room it aired out pretty fast and the smell wasn't noticeable by me anymore.

I seriously felt so good, I was worried cause the chair wasn't that comfy (better than a lot of chairs though) but my tension in my muscles just melted away regardless of the chair.

Seems like the best $200 I spent so far in my life, I'm not kidding, it was that enjoyable. I think its a wonderful thing to have in todays polluted world and feel great about getting it. I really do believe in the power of sweating for purification and this was convenient and affordable.

In Finland, using a sauna is part of national culture (many business have saunas at their place of work for employees). It would be interesting to find out if the Finns have lower incidences of mercury poisoning

Well I think it would be hard to figure out if they have a lower case of mercury poisoning ie I know in the US here most people still believe you still cant get mercury poisoning from 'vaccines' and 'silver' fillings.

G dawson

hows the portable sauna still? working great? and the smell?

I have multiple chemical sensitivity (to a moderate degree); so I'm wondering if I could handle the smell.

I'm tempted to get one of these portable models; I know I'd really like a larger wood model but atm the cost and space for one isnt convenent. So it could be awhile before I get one.

I've been using a dry sauna at my local ymca and while I think it's helpful I think alot of what Sherry Rogers talks about in her book in regards to dry saunas is a factor ...
ie She talks about how people can get heat stroke and suffer issues from the high heat; so while you get benefits from sweating you also get issues from the high heat.

I get some wierd symptoms ie face and other parts really red (not from niacin flush) and sometimes fainty, dizziness and sometimes I feel like heart palpatations. And I have been taking precautions ie all the minerals and stuff.

So I'm thinking I might get more benefit from using a lower temp IFR sauna and the portable one might be an option...

I'm still doing it everyday, for 30 minutes after I start sweating heavily. It smells fine, but I do add a few drops of organic rosemary oil to the inside to keep it smelling fresh and it smells really good while it is running.

Its strange, the sweat from infrared saunas doesn't seem to stink like the sweat from exercise. I am guessing because exercise creates a lot of smelly metabolic toxin from muscles tearing etc...

I am getting some reactions like I am dumping a lot of toxins. I personally believe that the symptoms are because I sweated out a lot of toxins and I think that causes toxins to diffuse out from concentrated stores such as organs etc...

But my irritibility and anger issues have not flared up, so even though I am not feeling super great (I still have been going for hikes and walking for hours every day) I still feel pretty darn good and am sleeping good as well. I do have small bouts of anxiety but its been tolerable and I do think the sauna therapy is helping.

Since starting I have noticed I have been more comfortable sitting down. I haven't felt very comfortable sitting down for like a year, my lower back (kidneys) just doesn't feel good when I sit down, no matter what the posture. I am fine when I am standing or laying down...and luckily I am starting to feel more comfortable sitting.

a few more questions if you dont mind ...

1. Is there any kind of problem of having the sauna on carpet? ie with sweat and the heat etc?

2. -a strange question- I'm 6'3" and have a breathing condition where I dont like any pressure on my shoulders chest etc; do you think I would have enough room when I sit in the sauna and not feel any weight on my shoulders or chest area? (I know they sell a extra large model and this one is the one I would get if I got one).

thanks for your help

If you get the XL model you should be fine. I am 5'11" and fit ok into the average size model fine, but the chair isn't that great though it is very usable. These things aren't pretty but they get the job done, I can sweat nearly a liter (thats a guess) after being in it for 30 minutes, and I don't feel exhausted or anything afterwards.

There is no weight on my shoulders or chest while using it, so I think you would be fine the the XL model. I usually am very uncomfortable with things around my neck but that hasn't even bothered me (the one piece velcros around your neck).

Goodluck Dulak!