Detoxifying with a sauna

Detoxification in all of its forms is something that gets a lot of exposure in the health sector and one way of detoxifying is to expel used, unnecessary and unwanted chemicals through sweating. Sweating occurs naturally all the time, but an effective way of accelerating the sweating process is to heat up the body.

Sitting in the sun on a warm day can encourage sweating, firstly through the ambient heat of the air and secondly through the radiated warmth of the sun on the skin. When the air is dry (i.e. has a low humidity) it is easier to sweat, so warm dry environments promote sweating. This is why we sweat when sunbathing on a beach.

Based on the above, a sauna creates an artificial enclosed environment where the air temperature and humidity can be controlled. This is done by using a heater to increase the air temperature whilst maintaining a low humidity. The result is a hot dry heat that makes it easy for the body to sweat and the skin to detoxify and expel unwanted chemicals. By doing this the sauna speeds up the natural sweating and detoxification process.

Infrared saunas work in a different way

In the case of an infrared sauna, the heat is applied directly to the skin using infrared lamps and the air temperature remains unaltered. This is like having the skin warmed by the sun on a day where the air temperature feels neutral. The skin gets hot and the sweating process begins, even though the ambient temperature in only moderate.

In addition to helping the body expel sweat and clean the pores, the sauna experience is also a very pleasant and highly relaxing one. The result of this is that the muscles find it very easy to relax and recover from the rigours of the day and the body as a whole feels refreshed and rejuvenated after a sauna (at least when followed by a shower).

The final step in taking a sauna is to wash the body, either in a shower or a bath. This removes the sweat and gives the skin an opportunity to replace its protective chemicals and to re-hydrate naturally. The sensation that follows is normally one of feeling invigorated, clean and relaxed.

Further benefits of regular sauna use can include weight loss and improved general health. Because the heat of a sauna not only causes sweat, but also increases the heart rate, it is possible to lose weight by regularly taking a sauna.

Relaxation in the sauna can be helped further by using different relaxing aromas. There are many naturally derived aromas that can create or help change a person’s mood. These aromas vary from the scents of tree bark to essential oils derived from herbs, flowers and fruits. In some cases they can be applied to the hot rocks of a sauna heater (e.g. if the heater uses electricity, oil, gas, coal or wood), or they can be dispensed into the air through natural evaporation from a diffuser. Different people like different aromas and different aromas will set different moods.

The opportunity to benefit from sauna use will be largely dependent on the availability of a sauna, or a health spa offering sauna use. The other option is of course to build a home sauna or sauna room using either a material based sauna kit or one of the semi prefabricated sauna kits. In both cases this solution make a sauna and its health benefits available at any time.

For information concerning using a sauna for injuries please see this Can a sauna be used with injuries page.

A healthy sauna is a clean sauna and it may, for any number of reasons, be necessary to clean your sauna, or parts of it, from time to time. To find out more see this page Cleaning a sauna.