Sleep and wake patterns are regulated by two other elements- light and dark/day and night. This is the simple part, right? We can all understand the Latin based Circadian (through out the day) Rhythm as the regulatory process which controls functions such as mood, appetite and also Sleep. Instead of the millions and millions of dollars which results from the temporary fixes of sleeping pills you might be surprised to find out that something as simple and affordable as a Rainforest Steam Shower which offers light therapy or an Infrared Sauna which stimulates the production of chemicals to regulate sleep.
Right now ANY television program which draws at least TEN viewers will have between 1 to 3 television commercials trumpeting the latest weapon in the pharmaceutical industry’s arsenal against insomnia. Why only ten viewers? Well, with over 70,000,000 Americans afflicted there’s a good chance they’ll reach at least a few people who are afflicted by the “if only I could have a nightmare, nightmarish affliction” and thereby get a few more people swallowing the latest of their pills.
If it could be as simple light and dark and our body’s reaction to each of the elements as we encounter them with the rotation of the earth why couldn’t we “reprogram” our body’s internal clock to respond correctly to each of the stimuli and thereby be healed of insomnia? I think this is a wonderful question. And there are a few answers which don’t include accepting the risk of drug dependence or any of the frightening side effects which comes along with taking sedatives or sleeping pills of any sort- including the now widely prescribed Anti-Depressants.
Light therapy has proven to be very effective in combating Insomnia and is offered in certain models of the Rainforest Steam Shower series, can be used to both stimulate the mind in the morning and to relax the mind at night. Your body/mind on a larger scale interprets, feels, senses the natural rising and setting of the sun and acts accordingly. However, due to chemical or hormonal changes it becomes difficult for some to keep a regular sleep pattern. While the light therapy is interesting and effective; I believe the implications of using Far Infrared Saunas for insomnia is by far the most fascinating of any of the technologies which My Bath specializes in developing and selling.
The Far Infrared waves emitted inside an Infrared Sauna have the ability to penetrate human skin and soft tissue up to 1- 1 ½ inches which means it can also reach and stimulate certain glands- such as the Hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is integral in this particular affliction because it is the Hypothalamus which secretes the hormones which “naturally” regulate the body’s sleep/wake cycles instead of the popular and massively prescribed sleep medicines.
It is not my wish to seem as though I am biased against pharmaceutical intervention with certain illnesses. On the contrary I myself rely on medication for affected aspects of my life for which I cannot find alternative treatments. I simply think if it is possible to stimulate the natural production of chemicals which we regularly rely on medications to pass themselves off as- much like opiates bind to opiate receptors meant for out own natural pain killing chemicals –then we should go with the least invasive therapies and treatments which introduce the least amount of foreign chemicals (drugs) into our bodies.
This is where the Far Infrared Sauna comes into play, literally to manipulate the Hypothalamus and stimulate it into releasing melatonin via the Pineal gland which will bring about the ability to remain calm, relaxed and eventually bring about sleep. Under ideal circumstances the neurochemical pathways between the retina and the Pineal and Pituitary glands (the two master glands in the Endocrine system) detect and relay the absence of external light which results in the release of Melatonin with the express purpose of bringing about sleep. Our bodies are actually programmed chemically to sleep at night and operate during the day. While the sleep cycle can be manipulated, reset and sometimes altered completely to be reversed it will not change the natural desire of the body to follow its circadian rhythm.
The endocrine system regulates more than just the chemicals responsible for producing sleep. The Far Infrared Saunas’ ability to stimulate the endocrine system offers us amazing possibilities to deal with everything from controlling mood disorders- offering effective therapy for depression, S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) chronic pain and the list of any and all maladies which could be effectively treated by regular Far Infrared Sauna use builds with each study and each individual patients’ experience.
Far Infrared Saunas are truly miraculous machines when it comes to providing relief to millions of people suffering from more conditions than could be counted or named in 100 blog entries. We at My Bath are extremely happy that this therapeutic technology is having some serious scientific light shown on its endless list of benefits. That it’s a piece of technology which you may bring into your own home makes it all the more powerful. It is the availability of medical treatment which means the difference between effective and ineffective in a lot of situations.
I myself have a very screwed up sleep schedule due to my odd hrs. at work. I have had many sleepless nights after my crazy hrs. The problems with my sleep are still around. They are however not as prominent after infared sauna use. I don't know if I'm just tired or if this really does help my hypothalamus produce more melatonin. Whatever it is I like it. I also like the cleansing it does with my pores. My skin is softer and clearer after using the sauna.
Posted by: Kelli | Nov 13, 2008 at 07:11 PM