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 internal cleanses do not remove the accumulation of toxins from your fat tissue. 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.

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.  It 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.

Toxic load is a major health threat for people of all ages and sweating in a far-infrared sauna is an effective low risk method for removing toxins from the body. 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. 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.

It is estimated that it takes 90-100 hours of sweating in a far-infrared sauna to unload your lifetime accumulation of toxins. Once or twice a week after that will continually remove new toxins and keep your body systems operating at peak performance.

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 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!