THERAPY PRODUCTS | THERAPEUTIC BODYWORK | ERGONOMIC FURNITURE | CONDITIONS & SOLUTIONS
Sunlight Saunas
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THE NEED TO SWEAT |
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WHY INFRARED IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN STEAM OR DRY HEAT SAUNAS |
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Back and Body Solutions is proud to carry the Sunlight Sauna product line. After carefully and thoroughly researching all of the major sauna manufacturers, we have found that Sunlight Saunas offer the best combination of construction, features and warranty – more than any other sauna company can offer. They also have a fantastic web site that shows their entire product line and descriptions of their many exclusive features. Please click on www.sunlightsaunas.com
So why should you consider buying a sauna from Back and Body Solutions? First of all, this company is owned and staffed by practicing therapists with advanced training in the naturopathic approaches to wellness. We are practicing bodywork therapists who have had years of hands-on experience treating clients with chronic pain and illness. We have received education and training from naturopathic and allopathic doctors, chiropractors and university clinical researchers and educators in the field of pain management and nutrition.
You have many choices in sauna manufacturers and sauna dealers to choose from, whose main goal to try to sell you their sauna. Unfortunately, they are mainly in the business to sell you a sauna but lack the knowledge to properly help you with your health issues and teach you how to use sauna therapy safely and effectively. As with any competitive business, there are many sauna manufacturer and dealer web sites that are providing misleading claims and information about their saunas. Our “How to Buy a Sauna” page will help you become an informed shopper.
Our goal at Back and Body Solutions is to first help you find out if sauna therapy is right for you. We feel so confident about our Sunlight Sauna line that we will never try to “sell” you a sauna. We feel that once you come into our facility and experience a session or two in our Sunlight Sauna, you will know if owning and using a sauna is right for you. This is why we have built a private sauna room where you can have a session in a Sunlight Sauna, just like you would do at home. We even provide the towels and a private shower afterwards so you won’t leave all sweaty. There is no charge to come in and try our Sunlight Sauna – all you have to do is call and schedule an appointment and we will reserve our sauna room exclusively for your use.
In creating our web site on sauna therapy, we wanted to stay away from providing the same information that you usually find on other sauna web sites. After several years of meeting people at shows and in our clinic, we wanted to build a site that would answer the questions and concerns that are commonly asked of us about how saunas work and what saunas can to for them. You may be hesitant to make such an expensive purchase so please consider this: toxic overload is one of our leading causes of disease and illness and a sauna is cheap compared to the lifetime cost of having chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, heart disease, chemical sensitivities, cancer, chronic pain and so many other health problems.
We would
like to thank Dr. Nenah Sylver for her permission i
Thank you for taking the time to read all of this. We hope you enjoy the journey. Wayne Franson, NCTMB - Owner, Back and Body Solutions It is a fact of human nature that we are afraid of what we don’t know. It is sometimes a challenge for me to explain to someone that infrared saunas use infrared radiation without them getting the impression it is going to cook their insides. So, here is the science and physics behind how infrared saunas work. Without infrared radiation from the sun, life as we know would cease to exist. The energy from the sun’s rays, photons, control vital processes in both plants and people. In humans, photons are the catalyst for the production of sugars, fats and proteins. Photons stimulate the endocrine system, metabolic processes and enzyme reactions as well as activities in the brain. Solar
energy or “radiation” from the sun covers a broad range including
infrared, visible light, ultra-violet, x-rays and gamma rays. 80% of the energy
from the sun is in the infrared range and these are divided into three segments
by wave frequencies and wave lengths. It is the narrow spectrum between 5 to 15
microns, mostly in the far-infrared spectrum, that is the safest and most
beneficial to all living beings.
Radiant heat is simply a form of energy that heats objects directly through a process called conversion, without having to heat the air in between. Anything that can be heated absorbs and emits far infrared (FIR) waves. All humans send and receive FIR waves. The range of infrared waves generated by the body is 3 to 50 microns with the greatest output around 9.4 microns. Your palms emit FIR at 8 to 14 microns. Our planet emits FIR waves at around 10 microns as do most organic substances. Know that luxurious warm feeling you get from the sand at the beach? It is FIR heat from the sun you are feeling. Now that you are no longer afraid of getting your innards cooked, you might be wondering how an infrared sauna works. All FIR saunas use heaters to produce the same type of beneficial heat the sun provides for your body but without the dangerous spectrums of radiation. They are so safe that they are used to keep newborn babies constantly warm in incubators. NASA used FIR radiant heaters to keep astronauts warm in space. Even though most of the companies that market FIR saunas and products are fairly new, the technology is not. Whole-body infrared therapy, with different technologies, has been used for over eighty years by German physicians. Over one million infrared thermal systems have been sold in the Orient for whole-body therapy. Most people are really not aware of the health benefits of sweating and of using saunas for improving their health. Many people use saunas for a variety of reasons and we will comment on those later on this page. For now, let’s go over one of the most important benefits of sauna therapy – the elimination of toxins from our body.
Raymond Francis, in his article Saunas To The Rescue, states: “Modern living has created a problem the human body was never designed to handle – exposure to excessive amounts of environmental toxins, especially heavy-metal and oil-soluble toxins. Toxicity is one of the two causes of disease, and the overall chemical load to which we are now exposed is unprecedented in human history. Bioaccumulating in our tissues faster than we can get rid of them, these toxic chemicals have created and unprecedented epidemic of chronic disease.” So why sweat? Why invest our valuable time and money to own and use an infrared sauna. Simply, sweating is one of the main ways in which the body removes waste material. There are 5 major elimination organs in the body – kidneys, lungs, intestines/colon, liver and skin. The liver plays a major role in waste purification by producing enzymes that break down harmful chemicals into benign and manageable substances that the body can either eliminate or reuse. However, not enough nutritional support or too many toxins will eventually clog it to the point where it can no longer produce adequate enzymes to neutralize foreign pathogens and other noxious material. The healthier your liver is, the more toxins will be excreted in your sweat and the more you sweat, the less your liver and intestines will be burdened with eliminating waste. From her
book, The Holistic Handbook of Sauna Therapy, author Dr. Nenah Sylver, PhD
states that “elimination through the skin is intricately tied to the
functions of the lymph and circulatory systems, the respiratory and urinary
tracts and the liver. This is why the skin is sometimes called “the
‘third kidney’ as the cleansing of toxins through the skin reduces
the work of the rest of the elimination systems. Toxin removal begins in the
lymphatic system and takes place during an exchange between the venous
capillaries and the lymphatic vessels. After the cells take their nutrition
from this interstitial fluid, they discharge waste products, which are a normal
product of cell metabolism. Normally, this interstitial fluid, which can
contain microbial waste, heavy metals and chemicals, travels to the lymph nodes
where the fluid is cleaned. The treated fluid eventually makes it to the blood
stream and to the kidneys.”
When heating the body with a sauna, you create what is known as “sensible” perspiration. Since waste-laden interstitial fluid is a component of sweat, it is obvious that sweating really does help the body eliminate toxins. Also, fat stores are universally recognized as depositories of toxins that are not easily metabolized as the lipids surround poisons to prevent them from contaminating the rest of the body. As the body is heated, the metabolism is increased so the body breaks down the fatty tissue to use for energy. Through this process, the poisons that were held by the fat cells get dumped into the bloodstream, broken down by the liver and removed through perspiration. It has been noted that during a brief 15-minute sauna session, the skin through sweating can eliminate the same amount of heavy metals as would require 24 hours for the kidneys to excrete.”
Dr.Sylver also cites one of the strongest summaries of the benefits of sweating, presented in a paper presented at the National Conference of Hazardous Wastes and Environmental Emergencies in May of 1985 by medical personnel David E. Root, David B. Katzin, and David W. Schnare. They state in their paper: “A considerable portion (10-15%) of the toxic materials excreted through the body will come out of the sebaceous sweat.”
It has only been the last couple decades that we as a society have become aware of the toxic exposure we are subjected to on a daily basis and the effects of toxins on our environment and our health. This page will present to you information from our government and other researchers and experts. Further documentation can be found in Nenah Sylver’s The Holistic Handbook of Sauna Therapy.
United States Environmental Protection Agency – 1982 National Human Adipose Tissue Study, on the amount of poisons taken from the fat cells of surgery patients and cadavers, reports PCBs in 86%, four out of five dioxins in more than 90%, eight of the nine benzene-related volatile organic compounds in more than 90%, benzene in 96%, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene found in all.
Untied States Environmental Protection Agency – December 1986 National Human Adipose Tissue Survey – 100% of fat samples from Americans contain chlorinated solvents and heavy metals, including aluminum, beryllium, cadmium, lead, and mercury.
1982 article “Evaluation of a Detoxification Regimen for Fat Stored Xenobiotics” – Over four million distinct chemical compounds have been reported in the literature since 1965, with 6000 new compounds added to the list each week….More than 3000 chemicals are deliberately added to food and over 700 have been identified in drinking water….Over 400 chemicals have been identified in human tissues, with some 48 found in adipose [fat], 40 in breast milk, 73 in the liver, and over 250 in blood plasma.
Also excerted from the book The Holistic Handbook of Sauna Therapy by Nenah Sylver, PhD: “The problems caused by these poisonous chemicals are virtually unlimited. For those who think in terms of specific diseases (which are collections of symptom-pictures to which medical personnel can either cause or contribute to), among other conditions, asthma, autism, cancer, environmental illness, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. For those who relate more to symptoms (which describe how different areas of the body are affected), toxic overload can manifest as body odor and bad breath, brittle nails and hair, burning eyes, cardiac problems, coated tongue, constipation, diarrhea, gastrointestinal cramping, headaches, hemorrhoids and ulcers, irritability, pain in muscles and joints, ringing in the ears, sinus infections, sneezing, wheezing and other respiratory problems, and all sorts of skin problems such as boils and rashes. Emotional symptoms include anxiety, irritability, depression, and outright panic attacks. Exposure to just polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) causes cancer, fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, impaired balance, liver malfunction, limb pain, muscle weakness, and impaired mental function such as inability to concentrate, memory loss, mental confusion, and insomnia. Only 1PPB to 2PPB (parts per billion) is required for symptoms to appear.”
Columbia University School of Public Health reports that 95% of cancer is caused by diet and environmental toxicity.
A USA Today article indicates that the average city water contain more than 500 chemicals.
“Air pollution and water pollution are only a small part of the toxicity story. There are thousands of harmful environmental toxins, some of which we’re aware of – such as pesticides, chemicals, household cleaners, fertilizers – and others, which seem perfectly innocent, such as those ubiquitous plastic water bottles, styrene cups, dental fillings, and plastic wrap. These are just a few small examples of the alarming amount of harmful toxins our bodies are absorbing every day” – Dr. Sherry Rogers, Detoxify or Die
“We are all a toxic cesspool of the lifetime accumulation of chemicals from our air, food, and water. U.S.EPA studies of chemicals stored in the fat of humans show that 100% of people had dioxins, PCBs, dichlorobenzene, and xylene while another analysis of the exhaled breath of humans showed carcinogenic benzene in 89% and perchloroethylene in 93%. And these chemical are just the tip of the iceberg. For now we have the proof that it is the steady silent accumulation over a lifetime that produces most diseases, including cancer. But medicine merely sees every disease as a deficiency of some drug or surgery, or tells us there is no known cause or cure.” – Dr. Sherry Rogers, Detoxify or Die
WHY INFRARED IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN STEAM OR DRY HEAT SAUNAS
The use of steam or dry saunas has been going on for centuries. Most people have used them at a gym, spa or health club or at a hotel when traveling. There are some who are “traditionalists” whose culture included the use of a dry sauna and wouldn’t consider using anything but. So let’s look at the difference.
A conventional sauna heats your body through convection; in other words, the air is heated first and then the hot air heats the outside of your body. Convection heat has no power of penetration. This type of sauna is usually heated by a 220 volt electric heater and takes about 45-60 minutes to heat up the air inside the sauna to a very high temperature of 160-220 degrees. A steam sauna also has a steam generator to create the steam. When you first step inside the sauna, the shock of sudden, very high heat has the opposite effect of what’s desired: it shuts down the body’s sweating mechanism. The blood vessels suddenly constrict, the skin tightens, and stiff muscles and joints can become irritated. Only once your body starts to overheat do you start to sweat. Most people cannot handle more than 15 to 20 minutes of this high temperature and therefore will not get a thorough cleanse. So you just spent 60 minutes heating a sauna that you could only use for 20 minutes.
An infrared sauna heats your body directly through a process called conversion, without having to heat the air in between. Instead of just heating the outside of your body, like a conventional steam or dry heat sauna, the far infrared waves go directly into your body between 1.5 inches and 3 inches, depending upon the fat and water content of the body, and the ratio of fat to muscle. So, this type of heat penetrates further into your fat and muscles for far superior detoxification and pain relief. Most people will use their saunas at a significantly lower temperature of 100 to 140 degrees and will be able to stay comfortable inside the sauna for 30 minutes or more.
Even at the lower temperatures, you will sweat up to 3 times more sweat volume in an infrared sauna compared to conventional sauna. In one study by American researchers, the sweat of people using a conventional sauna was found to be 95% to 97% water with only 3% to 5% toxins. The sweat of those using an infrared sauna was 80% to 85% water with the 15% to 20% non-water portion principally consisting of cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, toxic heavy metals, sulfuric acid, sodium, ammonia, and uric acid. The researches also found that normal exercise did not produce the same amount of toxin release.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF INFRARED SAUNA USE
Many of the people who purchased saunas from us were dealing with health issues that regular sauna use helped improve, sometimes dramatically. Once you understand the physiology and biochemistry of sweating, it is easy to understand how sauna therapy can work for them and for you. Virtually every condition of ill health can be either eliminated or substantially improved by improving organ function through better distribution and assimilation of nutrients, removal of toxins and microbes and balance the pH of the body.
The following is a brief summary, excerpted from the book The Holistic Handbook of Sauna Therapy, of the documented physiological effects of hyperthermia:
Accelerated heart rate and passive cardiovascular conditioning, causing increased circulation. The body responds to this deep-heating effect via hypothalamic-induced increase in heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate.
Coronary Artery Disease Arteriosclerosis, and Hypertension – Finnish researchers, who have long studied the benefits of regular use of conventional saunas, have stated that “there are abundant evidences to suggest that blood vessels of regular sauna-goers remain elastic and pliable longer due to the regular dilation and contraction of blood vessels induced by sauna use” German medical researchers reported that a single whole-body session of infrared-induced hyperthermia lasting over one hour had only beneficial effects on subjects with State I and II essential hypertension. Each subject experienced a rise in core body temperature to a maximum level of 38.5 degrees Celsius (101.3 Fahrenheit). All of the subjects in one experiment had significant decrease in arterial, venous and mean blood pressure that last for at least 24 hours and was linked to a persistent peripheral dilation effect. Another group of similar hypertensive patients was also studied under the same conditions of hyperthermia, with an eye toward more carefully evaluating the circulatory system effects induced by this type of whole-body heating. During each infrared session, there was a significant decrease of blood pressure, cardiac ejection resistance, and total peripheral resistance in every subject. There was also a significant increase of the subjects’ heart rates, stroke volumes, cardiac outputs, and ejection fractions. The researchers cite these last three effects as evidence that the stimulation of the heart during infrared-induced hyperthermia is well compensated, while the prior list of effects show clear detail of the microcirculatory changes leading to the desired result of a lowering blood pressure.
Enhanced lymphatic circulation – extremely beneficial for those in wheelchairs or unable to move or exercise. Helps to reduce edema and decrease pain through increased peripheral circulation.
Increased production of white blood cells – Using a sauna can help boost the immune system to help prevent illnesses. This is why a hot bath, exercise or a sauna at the beginning of a cold or flu can prevent it from escalating, or stop it entirely.
Increased production of enzymes
Relaxation of the muscles – the reduction of muscle spasms is possibly produced by the combined effect of heat on both primary and secondary afferent from spindle cells and from its effects on Golgi tendon organs. Heat increases the extensibility of collagen tissues, which is especially valuable in working with injuries involving ligaments, joint capsules, tendons, fasciae, and synovium that have become scarred, thickened or contracted. Heat has the effect of ultimately lessening the excitability of muscular tissue, thus calming the receptors for pain. Heating of the muscles produces an increased blood flow level similar to that seen during exercise.
Selective stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for the relaxation response).
The killing or disabling of microbes.
These effects in turn lead to the following benefits:
The elimination of stagnant blood and the decongestion of organs, which in turn stimulates better organ function.
Faster metabolism (the rate at which nutrients are assimilated and toxins are removed).
Increase in systemic alkalization – most illnesses and diseases thrive on an acidic pH level in the body. Bringing the body pH towards alkaline reduces the chance for viruses, bacteria and microbes to exist.
Decrease or total elimination of pain in the nerves, muscles and joint in the majority of cases.
Reduction or elimination of disease.
BUT CAN I REALLY LOSE WEIGHT USING AN INFRARED SAUNA?
With obesity and dieting a common condition in a majority of Americans, sauna manufacturers love to claim that sauna use causes weight loss. Many people feel that any weight lost during a sauna session is from water loss rather than fat, and that once the water is replenished, the weight will come back. In his letter to the editor in the August 7, 1981 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, cited in The Holistic Handbook of Sauna Therapy, Major Ward Dean wrote what might be the most concise claim regarding why one could lose weight by using a sauna. Part of the letter states:
The fact overlooked by most people who attempt to debunk saunas and other devices that cause enhanced sweating is that the water does not just “leak out” of the body. Sweating is a part of a complex thermoregulatory process of the body involving substantial increases in heart rate, cardiac output, and metabolic rate, and consumes considerable energy. In a sauna…the only means of maintaining body temperatures in the normal range is by evaporation of sweat, a process that consumes approximately 0.586 kcal per gram of water lost. A moderately conditioned person can easily “sweat off” 500 grams in a sauna, consuming nearly 300 kcal [calories] – the equivalent of running 2 to 3 miles. A heat-conditioned person can easily sweat off 600 to 800 kcal with no adverse effects. While the weight of the water lost can be regained by rehydration with water, the calories consumed will not be…Regular use of a sauna may impart a similar stress on the cardiovascular system [as running] – and its regular use may well be as effective a means of cardiovascular conditioning and burning of calories as regular exercise. [For the source of information on calories lost during body heating, the writer cites Guyton’s Textbook of Medical Physiology, 4th Edition, 1971, pp. 833-834.]
The Holistic Handbook of Sauna Therapy also states that “some increase in metabolism does occur in the body when it is subjected to high heat. We already know that the metabolic rate rises about six percent for every degree Fahrenheit rise in the body temperature. With the adipose (fat) cells heated at high enough rates to cause substantial molecular friction, the enzymes and hormones will break them down and transport them through the bloodstream for the body to use as energy. The more energy burned, the more weight the person loses.”
CANCER THERAPY – A NEW FRONTIER
Artificially induced hyperthermia is now being studied and tested by American medical researchers. These trials are using mainly other forms of heat other than infrared, however, researchers in Japan have used infrared heat in their studies. It is known that high heat kills tumors – cancer cells die at temperatures form 104 to 107 degrees. Dr. Jeffrey Freeman, founder of the Europa Institute of Integrated Medicine, explains the mechanism of this process:
“Researchers have found that the blood vessels in normal tissue actually open up (dilate) when heat is applied, in an effort to flush out the heat and cool the cell environment down. Because a tumor is a more tightly packed group of cells, blood circulation is restrictive and sluggish. When heat is applied to the tumor…temperature continues to rise to destructive levels. This process continues over a period of time even after the treatment…The tumor cells are now extremely susceptible to destruction by radiation or by additional heating.”
Currently, the only approved treatments of cancer are surgery, drug therapy, chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy is essentially poisoning the body with hope that the cancer dies before the patient, though recent research is testing drugs that are more site-specific. Many cancer patients suffer lost-lasting side effects from these treatments and have turned to using infrared saunas in an effort to flush these toxins from their body. It is highly recommended that a cancer patient consult their treating physician before engaging in sauna therapy.
In addition, some alternative physicians use far-infrared saunas to reduce biochemical cancer markers in their patients. Beneficial results, similar to expensive European hyperthermic cancer treatments, have been obtained.
There is a wonderful testimonial from a breast cancer survivor’s husband who purchased a sauna from us for this purpose. Please read it on our testimonial page.
For more information on the cancer trials, go to www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ and http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/7_3.htm
Another great article to read is in Alternative Magazine, Issue 37, “Too Hot for Cancer”
Before you use a sauna:
If you have a chronic or serious illness or are taking prescription medication, please consult a doctor who is knowledgeable about sauna therapy to make sure that you can safely use this modality. We will be happy to consult with you and your doctor on how to use a sauna safely and we highly recommend reading Chapter 6 of The Holistic Handbook of Sauna Therapy by Nenah Sylver, PhD to learn more of how sauna therapy applies in your situation. The following is excerpted and condensed from her book which provides more in-depth information:
Don’t eat a large meal or consume alcohol at least two hours before using the sauna.
Shower and exfoliate your skin if possible before using the sauna.
It is best not to wear any clothing and remove all jewelry first. Clothes restrict the removal of sweat and toxins from your skin so if you are uncomfortable or unable to be totally nude during your sauna, wrap yourself in an absorbent towel.
Drink plenty of water before, during and after your sauna session.
During your sauna session:
Start with lower temperatures and don’t overdo the amount of time you spend in the sauna if you are new to using saunas or have a chronic illness. You may want to have someone check on you periodically just in case you experience any negative reaction and need help.
You don’t have to wait for an infrared sauna to get to maximum temperature before you get in it. FIR heat will still penetrate your body deeply even at low temperatures so get in at 100 to 110 degrees and let your body heat up with the sauna.
Leave immediately if you feel uncomfortable, dizzy or nauseous
Have plenty of drinking water
Have plenty of towels – put one on the floor and one on the bench to sit on. Always wash the towels soon after you are finished – never reuse them until after they are washed.
After your sauna session:
Replenish the water, vitamins and mineral lost through perspiration.
Immediately take a shower to wash the toxic sweat of your body before it is reabsorbed.
Rest for awhile to allow your body to normalize – you just had a great workout.
Remove and wash the towels in your sauna and leave the door open to dry out the wood if necessary.
PLEASE NOTE: It is very possible for someone to feel ill after using a sauna, especially if they are dealing with a chronic toxic condition. We have met people with severe heavy metal, pesticide and mercury poisoning who have experienced this. Your cells may release more toxins than you are able to eliminate and they are swimming around in your bloodstream. It may be best to start with short sessions at a lower temperature with a break of a day or two in between. Drink plenty of water to help flush the toxins out of your system and rest
Researching which infrared sauna to purchase can intimidating as there are now quite a few companies that sell them. Even before we became dealers, we spent years researching the effectiveness and learning about how they actually work. What we also found out is that many manufacturers put misleading and false information in their literature and internet site or totally leave out pertinent information. Without naming any specific manufacturer, we want to educate you about the components of an infrared sauna so you will be able to ask the right questions of the companies whose sauna you are considering.
The two major components of an infrared sauna are the wood cabinet and the heaters. The woods typically used by sauna builders are cedar, pine, poplar and aspen, mostly cedar. Some companies use a lighter colored wood such as basswood or spruce to make the sauna “hypo-allergenic”. The darker the color of the wood or the more fragrant or aromatic the wood is due to the natural oils that the tree produces to repel fungus and insects and repel moisture. These turpines contain unsaturated, aliphatic cyclic hydrocarbons that can cause allergic or toxic reactions in sensitive people, especially with cedar. Some people really love the smell of cedar and have absolutely no reaction to the oil so it really is a matter of personal choice. We recommend that you have a session in saunas made from different woods and find out which one you prefer before you buy. For more information on woods, go to www.thewoodbox.com
Some other misconceptions stated by sauna builders:
Cedar wood is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal and that basswood and spruce grow bacteria – It is true that cedar is more anti-bacterial and anti-fungal due to the higher concentration of turpines in the wood, however, we have used and sold basswood and spruce saunas and neither we or any of our sauna owners have ever had a problem. You need to have a constant warm, moist environment for something to grow and it just doesn’t happen in a basswood or spruce sauna. Poplar wood is a favorite among some sauna builders, however, it is exceptionally soft and susceptible to rot and warping. When it comes to the heating elements, there are only two main methods of generating FIR waves. The first method is to coat a metallic or ceramic surface with a special ceramic material that is mixed with mineral oxides such as sand or aluminum. When these surfaces are heated electrically, the surface generates FIR waves. The second method used is to pass electric current through carbon, which then generates FIR waves. Infrared heaters come in various shapes and sizes, from rods to plates to carbon panels. What is most important, and most sauna builders avoid telling you, is the micron range output of the heaters. To explain this, we have to go back to some physics and physiology. There is a mathematical formula that converts the surface temperature of the infrared heater to its corresponding micron output. The relationship between temperature and wavelength is inverse. The higher the surface temperature of the heater, the lower the micron range. Since our body temperature is around 97.7 degrees, our skin radiates far infrared radiation at around 9.36 microns. Our body is about 70% water. The water molecule is a very efficient absorber and emitter of FIR, notably in the 9 to 10 micron range, because it intrinsically resonates within these particular wavelengths. This characteristic is called resonant absorption. When a water molecule is penetrated by FIR wave in this 9 to 10 micron range, it will start to vibrate. There is a mechanical cleavage, and therefore a beneficial chemical separation, of the polluting substances from the water contained in the cells. Once dissociated from the water from the water molecule, the chemicals are managed more easily by the body for removal.
The most important question you can ask of the sauna company you are considering is to provide independent proof of the micron output of their saunas. Most will not publish these figures in their literature or their internet site. Saunas that use rod heaters typically run at 400 to 600 degrees and have low micron output. Saunas that use ceramic or aluminum plates or carbon panels run at a lower temperature and have the proper output. All saunas will make you sweat but will not release toxins from the water molecules effectively unless their peak output is in the 9 to 10 micron range. This is a fact of physics and physiology no matter what their marketing hype says. We know for a fact that one of the oldest and largest manufacturer of saunas has been using heaters that only go up to 5.5 microns. For more information in this area, go to www.tempco.com
Many sauna companies advertise heaters warranties from one year to lifetime. The reality of infrared heaters is that they will last over 10,000 hours of use. If you used it one hour a day, it would take over 30 years for that heater to fail.
The efficiency of converting electricity to heat is another factor to consider. Some sauna companies make saunas with a lower efficiency, therefore, their larger models require 220 volt power. This may require an expensive electrical installation and a higher electrical bill. Another reality is that all saunas, no matter what brand, take about the same time to heat up and cost about the same to run, about ten cents per hour depending on your local electrical costs. One company advertises a large carbon panel in the back wall that heats up in two minutes – we tested it and while the panel does get hot in two minutes, it still took 20 minutes for the whole sauna to heat to 110 degrees.
In regards to the size of sauna you need, it depends on where you are going to put it and how you are going to use it. If you have a small space, are going to use it by yourself primarily, and don’t need to lay down, a two-person or four-foot wide model will work. If two people will use it together or you wish to semi-recline, a three-person or five-foot wide model is preferred. If used by a family, in a commercial setting or you wish to lay down flat, a four-person or six-foot wide or larger model is recommended. Another feature to consider in the bench width – some models imported from Japan or Korea have very narrow benches and do not have enough width to lay down on. Also, check out the depth of the sauna as some have less legroom than others.
We recommend you get a copy of their warranty and ask about their return policy if you are not happy with the sauna you purchased. Remember that wood is not a perfect material to work with and your sauna can have some interesting patterns and blemishes in the wood that are not the fault of the manufacturer.
As stated before, we have always had saunas to use in our facility to use for therapeutic and spa services. After becoming aware of infrared saunas and researched their effectiveness over several months, we began to carry a line of saunas. After a year of marketing at home shows and health fairs, we found out that many people wanted features in a sauna that our existing line didn’t have. Once we researched Sunlight Saunas, we realized that Sunlight is the only manufacturer that has the most features of any sauna company – choice of wood cabinet, five different sizes, lifetime warranty, indoor stereo, outdoor cover, wider bench, halogen lighting, etc. Including the SOLO and SOLOPAD, they offer more features and benefits than any other sauna line. We have had several customers sell their existing sauna and buy a Sunlight once they realized the micron range of their previous sauna was inadequate. In less than five years, Sunlight has grown to be a six-million dollar company and is the only sauna company to be recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as one of its “Hot 100” fastest-growing entrepreneurial companies.
Back and Body Solutions always sends a survey and testimonial letter to our customers about 4-6 months after their purchase. Results of the survey and testimonial letters sent back from our customers can be reviewed on our web site at www.backandbodysolutions.com
We recently sent out a letter asking our buyers to tell us why they bought a sauna and what it is doing for them. The following are some testimonials from our buyers, in their own words and unedited. The originals are available for your review.
“My wife had recently undergone breast cancer followed by months of chemotherapy. All her treatments had left her a sick empty shell. We bought the sauna on promises that it would help detoxify and help rid herself of the poisons that had been injected into her. It has been 3 months since our purchase, but with religious use, we believe the sauna has helped her back onto her feet and back to her old self much sooner if she would have recovered at all without it.” – Brad Jenkins, Discovery Bay
My sauna has been a true blessing. Since I started using it only wonderful things have occurred like: 1. weight loss, 2. smooth silky skin, 3. no more body aches, 4. no more tense muscles, 5. fall asleep within minutes of going to bed, 6. sense of calm/relaxation. I look forward to many, many years of use and enjoy every minute I spend in it. I wish I had learned about it sooner. Thank you, Wayne.” – Valerie K. Peoples, Stockton
“Sweating isn’t something I especially like doing. But, knowing that toxins are being released through the process makes it more acceptable. I especially like the soft, smooth feel of my skin after a session in the sauna. I prefer the sauna over relaxing in a hot tub. It doesn’t leave me physically exhausted, I’m actually rejuvenated. I don’t have to sit in a body of water which gets scuzzy after awhile. Overall, the sauna experience meets and surpasses my expectations. I’m very pleased we made the purchase.” – Nancy Santos,
“I was suffering with pain in my left shoulder preventing me from lifting my arm, moving my arm rapidly or sleeping on my left side. I have lived with this pain for at least a year. After my first 30 minute session I was able to lift my arm above my head with little pain. After 3 sessions I could move my arm rapidly and after approximately 3 weeks I could lay on my left side again. In less than 3 months I was totally pain free!!” – Chuck Moores, North Highlands
“Deep heat penetration which relieves deep muscle stress and toxins...Quick heating of unit…Feel clean and refreshed when I get out of sauna. I love my sauna!!” – Julie Hayden,
“It is convenient to have a sauna at home, for easy access and easy to use. To relax and enjoy the music. Perspire without exercising and relieve some of the aches and joint pains. Helps me to lower my blood pressure.” – George Kimura, Lodi
“My soreness has disappeared. If I am uptight after a hard day at work, it relaxes me.” – Charles R. Vermette, Sacramento
“I just feel overall healthier after a session in the sauna. I feel like I have cleansed my body internally and externally.” – Lisa Cummings, Folsom
“Less pain when I use it often – I feel it is getting rid of toxins that are harmful to my health.” – Maxine Barnett,
For more information on detoxification, sauna therapy, or how toxins affect our health and our environment, we recommend you read the following books:
The Holistic Handbook of Sauna Therapy, Nenah Sylver, PhD, The Center for Frequency, P.O. Box 952, Stone Ridge, New York, 12484-0952, phone 845-626-5055, www.NenahSylver.com ISBN 0-9672491-7-1
The Handbook of Rife Frequency Healing, also by Nenah Sylver, PhD but under the spelling “Nina Silver”
The above books can be purchased at Back and Body Solutions
Detoxify or Die, Dr. Sherry A. Rogers, M.D., www.prestigepublishing.com
Infrared Thermal System for Whole-Body Regeneration Radiant Therapy by Dr. Aaron M. Flickstein
Never Be Sick Again, Raymond Francis, M.Sc.
Confronting Toxic Contamination In Our Communities, The Women’s Foundation Of California, www.womensfoundca.org |
n allowing us to use several passages from her new book,
The Holistic Handbook of Sauna Therapy. This book is, by far, the most
well-written and most thoroughly researched book on sauna therapy we have read.
We strongly urge to purchase her book if you want to know more than what we can
provide for you here. You can buy the book from us or Dr. Sylver’s contact
information can be found under references.
Virtually all of us suffer from some dysfunction in our
health from our birth to our death. The symptoms of these dysfunctions can be
minor, such as allergies or skin problems, or they can be crippling, such as
arthritis, cancer or chronic fatigue. When we experience symptoms, we typically
seek to find a cause and relief from an allopathic-trained medical doctor.
After being subjected to invasive tests to determine a cause, we are treated,
again invasively, with synthetic drugs or surgery. Rarely is exposure to
chemical toxins ever considered.
A study appearing in the 1995 Proceeding of
the American Public Health Association states: The EPA reports that literally
every American has accumulated measurable levels of some thirty different toxic
chemicals in their tissues. More recent reports set the tally at one hundred
and seventy-seven. Every woman’s breast milk boasts pesticides, [and other
pesticides such as] lindane, chloradane, dieldrin and sixty-five isomers of
PCBs and dioxins. The average man’s semen has thirty-five different forms
of PCBs. The human body has become the final respository, the final toxic waste
dump. Increasing toxic burdens have been associated in the literature with
increasing risks, health effects, and symptomatology. It is not surprising this
chemical plethora is having an adverse effect on the population at
large.Wayne Franson or Claudia Franson
Folsom Showroom - 702 Sutter Street, Suite K, Folsom, CA, 95630
Lodi
Showroom - 404 West Pine Street, Suite 9, Lodi, CA 95240
Mobile:
916-806-8771
By Appointment Only
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