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Recreational Sauna Use VS Sauna Therapy

Is there a difference between recreational sauna use and sauna therapy? Yes. 

You may step inside your sauna for pleasure, socializing, and wellness benefits. This constitutes recreational sauna use. And many cultures use saunas recreationally stemming from ancient traditions. Recreational sauna use is popular in Asia, Europe, and gaining popularity in the United States.

Physicians prescribe Sauna Therapy for a specific duration of time depending on your health, illness, and other circumstances. You may benefit from Sauna Therapy, if you struggle with chronic conditions like digestive disorders, musculoskeletal conditions, or poor circulation. Before beginning Sauna Therapy for one of these or other conditions, please check with your Physician first.

Have You Seen the Irish Sweathouse?

Reviewing Sweathouses, we have studied Russian, Native American, and Finnish Sweathouses (steam saunas). We have also studied ancient Sweathouse culture dating back to early Greece and Rome. Each Sweathouse culture is rooted in tradition, yet discusses similar benefits.

One area of difference among Sweathouses is construction materials. Can anyone guess what materials Irish Sweathouses are constructed of? If you have been to Ireland you would jump up and say, "stones." And you would be right. Ireland has so many stones it was necessary to build all those stone walls, castles, and Sweathouses so they could harvest potatoes. We'll take on the stones discussion another day.

Irish Sweathouses built on more than folklore were small beehive shaped stone structures with an open hole on top. Sod and dirt was packed between stones to enclose Irish Sweat houses. Due to the small size, only about three to four participants could take part. Once participants crawled inside the Sweathouse, they covered the small entrance.

Irish Sweathouses and their techniques, traditions, and cures are not as well documented as in other countries. However, one report by Reverend Robert Gage reveals the Irish Sweathouse process. He reports, participants first lit a fire letting it burn down and out before stepped inside to reap the sweating cures. The sweathouse was often followed by a jump in cool water. This is similar to other traditions and contrast bathing science.

As for sweating cures, Irish Sweathouse stores handed down through the generations discuss assistance for skin purification, arthritis, and various pains. Not much is documented on Sweathouse cures compared to other cultures like Finnish.

The Irish Sweathouse is not presumed to have the spiritual significance other traditions like the Native Americans have placed on this tradition. Although Irish Sweathouse reports are few, there are archeological studies confirming this tradition in Ireland.

To learn more, click on Irish Sweathouses OR Irish Sweathouse photos to view more pictures. (Sources)

The photo used in this entry is an ancient Irish house similar in look to Irish Sweathouses.

5 Weight Loss Tips

You can spend a lot of money each year on weight loss, gym, and spa memberships. Not to mention the time and energy driving across town to those facilities. How exhausting. I feel drained just thinking about it.

With a family, I like to make things simple. To that end, here are 5 easy weight loss tips that work for a lot of people. I lost around 50 pounds 8 years ago and have kept it off using these same tips.

1.    Drink plenty of water. Increasing water consumption flushes waste out and helps your body metabolize fat. (source: Dian Dincin Buchman, the complete book of water healing)

2.    Find a partner. People are more successful when teamed up with a friend to share the voyage. Together you can establish mutual goals, exchange healthy recipes, exercise, and more. 

3.    Use Infrared Sauna Therapy. This is fun and simple. You can socialize, detoxify your body, and burn around 600 calories in 30-45 minutes.

4.    Eat a variety of whole foods. Learning new eating habits was my toughest challenge. What I find most helpful is having a variety of quick and health snacks available at all times. O and yes, I got rid of my secret junk food box too.

5.    Exercise. There’s no way around it. To lose weight you have to incorporate some form of exercise. I have a stationary bike at home to save time, which is important as a parent.

Set your weight loss goals. Hang up your favorite pair of jeans for focus. And make it happen. 2008 is the year and you can do!

Two Studies Find Sauna Therapy Improves Cardiovascular Health

Heart Disease claims 700,000 US lives each year. And is the leading cause of death for men and women. You’ll be interested to learn, Sauna Therapy can lower the risk of heart disease.

Kagoshima University in Japan posted two studies on repeated Sauna Therapy improving heart functioning. One study found repeated sauna therapy improves ventricular arrhythmias problems in patients with Chronic Heart Failure as well as their overall prognosis. The second study found repeated sauna therapy improves impaired vascular endothelial functioning for patients with coronary risk factors. 

Sauna therapy is especially helpful for those at risk for heart disease currently struggling with exercise. It can help work your heart the same as a 10 kilometer run. You can’t beat that!

Click here to purchase your Sauna and start benefiting today!

Emerging Research on Saunas Fighting Cancer

Cancer Cell

Do you know someone who struggles with Cancer? More than likely you do or will at some point as 24 or so Cancer types effect over 10,146,000 Americans at any given time. The numbers are staggering and fortunately going down. Thanks to medical research, patient education, and holistic approaches.

Dr. Lawrence Wilson reports saunas are a good tool for those either with or trying to prevent cancer and chronic infections. Reportedly, saunas promote harmful toxin elimination, oxygenate blood, strengthen immune system functioning, and decrease body radiation burden.

Dr. John Cline reports heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and biological toxins are contaminating our environment. These toxins, he reports, are increasing the number of chronic degenerative diseases we see in healthcare today. In fact, these toxins account for 90% of the chronic diseases in the world.

“Saunas not only help remove radioactive particles, but can kill cells mutated by radiation that otherwise reproduce and eventually lead to cancer”, says Dr. Wilson. A combination of mechanisms acting simultaneously is how saunas aid cancer patients. Dr. Wilson lists 11 sauna secrets for cancer in a recent article, which in brief include:

1.      Heating the body

2.      Inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system

3.      Improving circulation

4.      Decongesting the internal organs

5.      Producing heat shock protein

6.      Enhancing activity of the skin.

7.      Color therapy

8.      Infrared decouples toxins from water molecules

9.      Enhancing oxygenation

10.   Balancing the pH. Saunas help balance both excessively acid and alkaline body chemistries

11.   Enhancing the activity of water molecules in the body

To read Dr. Wilson’s full article on saunas and cancer, please click on his name underlined above.

For the latest in sauna technology order a My Bath FAR Infrared Sauna Today!

Disclaimer

All information contained on this website is intended for educational and informational purposes only. My Bath does not provide medical advice, treatment, or services. Please consult with a physician about your ailments before undertaking any new medical treatment program(s) and purchasing a sauna. Please contact your physician immediately with any health problems, questions, or concerns. My Bath does not take responsibility or liability for person’s injury, damages, or losses in regard to information provided on this website or on the My Bath free health information blog.

Discover the Russian Bania

“What is the Russian Bania?” I asked this same question when I ran across an article about this historically influential steam bath. We hear about the Finnish Sauna regularly when we look into the health benefits of sweating. But not often the Russian Bania. So I found it interesting to learn the Russian Bania was developed around the same time as the Finnish Sauna without any collaboration between these two cultures.

A 1914 Finnish Museum Society paper reports Russians having more interest and sauna records than Finland. In fact, between 1877 and 1911, Russia’s medical community published over 30 papers describing the Bania’s cure-all healing effect. This attitude continues today in many villages throughout Russia.

The Bania would likely be an American household name today, rather than the Finnish Sauna, if it were not for the politics of the early 1900’s. The Russian curtain kept culture, tradition, and folklore concealed. To discover more about the Russian Bania click here.

You can receive the health benefits of saunas and steam baths today! Click here to order now.

Sacred Native American Sweat Lodge Ceremonies

          

Many Native American tribes hold healing as a purification process of the mind, body, emotions, and spirit embraced in sacred rituals including sweat lodge ceremonies. This ceremony is an age-old tradition having many practices and varying from tribe to tribe. The focus of a sweat lodge ceremony is on prayer, meditation, learning, and healing with the purpose of purifying, cleansing, dying to/release negative emotions/energy, and a rebirth of sorts. The low circular half-dome lodge nestled on the earth’s surface is a safe, dark, hot, and moist environment representing a mother’s womb and a return to childhood innocence.

The lodge is made of natural materials available in the area often including willow sapling, aspen, or other supple wood for the frame and raw hide, blankets, and/or tarps to completely cover the frame. The entrance faces the east where the sun rises and a new day begins. Neighboring the lodge is a fire pit used to heat the rocks (normally lava) also known as “grandfathers”. The hot rocks are placed in the center of the lodge where participates are gathered and water is poured over the rocks to produce steam.

Traditionally, between the lodge entrance and the fire pit is an alter to prevent participants from falling into the fire upon leaving the sweat lodge ceremony. The alter is normally a rock pile with a staff placed in the center and a buffalo skull or other skull placed on top. Participants often place scared objects including feathers, sage, and so forth on the alter when entering the sweat lodge ceremony as a sacrifice.

                To prepare for a sweat, participants are encouraged to fast or eat lightly as well as refrain from alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, recreational drugs, and sugar 24 hours before the sweat lodge ceremony to enhance the purification process. Women who are menstruating and those with high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, and other major health concerns are not recommended to enter a sweat. Always check with your doctor if you have health concern questions before entering a sweat lodge.

                Prior to entering the lodge, participants are commonly smudged with sage, sweet grass, or cedar smoke for ritual cleanliness. The sweat lodge ceremony begins with participants entering the lodge on their hands and knees in an act of humility and reverence crawling clockwise around the stone pit to a seat. Once the last person enters the lodge, the door flap is closed and water and herbs are poured over the hot rocks to generate steam.

There are four sessions or rounds lasting between 15 and 40 minutes where participants sweat and suffer the heat releasing toxins and transforming them. At the end the end of each session, the door flap is raised letting some cool air in and providing participants the opportunity for some water and to step out of the lodge if necessary.

During each session participants pray, chant, share stories, release emotions, and ask for guidance. A talking stick is passed around so each person has an uninterrupted opportunity to contribute. Each session is devoted to the four directions north, south, east, and west recognizing and symbolizing the spirit, ancestral wisdom, relationships, courage, healing, transformation, growth, rebirth, and new beginnings. I found different traditions as highlighted on various websites attribute different meanings to the four directions, but all traditions recognize them. The sweat lodge ceremony experience is a spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical cleansing, healing, and growth-oriented encounter requiring a return to yourself.

                Mybath.biz recognizes the ancient wisdom of the Native American sweat lodge ceremony in releasing harmful toxins from your body in an effort to purify your whole system. Thank you and check back soon for new blogs.

Reference: Dunn, Samantha, Rituals of Healing-Native Intelligence-Native American Sweat Lodges, Natural Health, 2004

Understanding Deep Vein Thrombosis

There is a common and preventable problem involving your circulatory system which claims more lives than Aids and Breast Cancer combined each year, According to DVT.net, and you may be at risk.  Deep veins inside the calf or thigh utilize the strength of the muscles surrounding them to pump blood rapidly back to the heart.  However, when blood flow is stagnate or allowed to pool due to inactivity which could be as simple as sitting for too long on a plane or car ride or sitting at a desk during the day and being sedentary at night.  Injury to blood vessels or injuries which lead to immobility and/or hospitalization may be equally lethal. 

Other risk factors include obesity, smoking, cancer, inherited blood clot disorders as well as inflections and inflammatory diseases. While most cases of death from DVT happens to persons 60 years and older it can strike anyone at any age if any of the above risk factors are included in a personal or medical history.

Regular Infrared Sauna Therapy not only promotes a healthy immune system but also penetrates and manipulates soft tissue keeping blood flowing through out the entire body.  While enjoying all the other benefits offered by Far Infrared Saunas you may also significantly reduce your chances of encountering DVT during your lifetime.   

            For a complete and informative list of symptoms and signs of DVT please visit www.dvt.net to check to see if you’re at risk.  While upwards of 50% of all cases of Deep Vein Thrombosis go without warning symptoms completely or simply not enough to make the person take notice and seek medical advice, it is still possible to safe-guard yourself from DVT by taking measures to make sure you are constantly keeping your circulation, circulating.   

Detoxification and Medical Treatment Using FAR Infrared Sauna Therapy

Many of us have been diagnosed with various ailments like chronic fatigue, arthritis, heart problems, circulation issues, endometriosis, and other diagnosis resulting in a daily struggle to function at optimal levels.

There is increasing research validating the toxicity of our environment with pesticides, cleaning supplies, plastics, and other chemicals. Unfortunately, mainstream medical practice, media, and educational materials about environmental toxins related to illness are lacking the attention as well as rigorous efforts to treat resulting illness using proven detoxifying methods.

Dr. Sherry Rogers an international speaker, author, and specialist in Environmental Medicine with over 30 years experience as a physician reports in her book Detoxify or Die that Far Infrared Saunas are one of the best ways to rid the human body of these destructive toxins. Her medical associations include being a diplomat with the American Board of Family Practice and the American board of Environmental Medicine as well as a Fellow with the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the American College of Nutrition. She has publications including 12 books, scientific articles, and newsletter articles as well as being the editor for Total Wellness newsletter and environmental editor for Internal Medicine World Report.

In Dr. Rogers’ book Detoxify or Die, she cites 700 scientific medical references validating her position that we all need to detoxify our bodies to heal from accumulated environmental toxins. She further supports the use of Far Infrared Sauna therapy as the way to rid our body of these harmful toxins. Included in her book is a letter to medical insurance carriers in support of Far Infrared Saunas payment for patients as a cheaper alternative to the usual unending conventional medical claims like tests, pills, surgery, and so forth.

Dr. Rogers highlights, reviews, and discusses several medical concerns helped by detoxifying the body using Far Infrared Sauna therapy in her book and the following are two examples.

 

·         Studies at the Mayo Clinic have proven Far Infrared Sauna Therapy helpful and in some cases life saving to heart patients even when all other traditional medical treatment methods have failed.

·         A major cause of endometriosis in women is Dioxin, which is found in many products like coffee filters, diapers, food, toilet paper, tampons, and other goods. Endometriosis often causes sever pelvic pain as well as fertility problems. Dr. Rogers reports the only way to rid the body of Dioxin is through sweating.

Please click here and scroll down to page 10 to obtain a copy of Dr. Rogers letter to medical insurance carriers in support of Far Infrared Saunas’ for medical treatment. You will need to add your medical information before submitting a letter to insurance. It is also important to consult with a medical professional before starting this or any medical treatment program as each person’s body is unique.

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How to Prevent Illnesses Using FAR Infrared Saunas

Dr. Erickson opened The Preventative Medicine Center in Gainesville, Florida in 2000 with a philosophy and focus on preventing illness and promoting healthy lifestyles.

He is Board Certified in Family Practice, Integrated/Alternative Medicine and Natural Health Science, and Clinical Metal Toxicology. Dr. Erickson has also taught at the University Of Florida College Of Medicine and was an assistant Team Physician for the Florida Gator Sports programs. Reporting a 90% success rate, the practice focuses on correcting nutritional deficiencies as his site reports 70% of all health issues are nutritionally related.

Part of Dr. Erickson’s practice includes a Far-Infrared Sauna Therapy Program, which centers on cleansing oneself of harmful accumulated toxins built up overtime causing various ailments. Dr. Erickson himself participated in a Sauna Therapy Program when he became ill and conventional medicine wasn’t working. He felt so much younger after completing the program that he now provides this service as part of his medical practice. Dr. Ericson further discusses on his website the spiraling effect of environmental toxins accumulating in our bodies leading to fatigue, brain fog, malaise, and deterioration of other illnesses and how Far-Infrared Sauna Therapy can help. To learn more about his Far-Infrared Sauna Program click here.

Please consult with a Medical Professional before starting any treatment program.

Mybath.biz offers consumers Far-Infrared Sauna’s at a reasonable price to enable us all to live more healthy lifestyles.