Re: Thaddeus, proper use of a FIR sauna.

Hi Thaddeus,

I am empathetic to your misconceptions about FIR (Far-Infrared-Sauna) saunas. I'm sure there are many dissatisfied customers, and I am one to fully research and understand a technology if I am to recommend it to others.

I have recently completed the design of a detox protocol that I worked on with another practitioner to help those with substance abuse problems.

My protocol has taken the foundation of L.Ron Hubbard's Purificiation Program that was initiated in 1978 and improved it. Thanks to 25 added years of research on the internal dynamics associated with the liver's orchestration of the biochemical pathways necessary for detoxification, we have been able to dramatically improve the safety and efficiency of this process.

We have incorporated FIR (Far-Infrared-Sauna) technology to catalyze this process versus a conventional convection-heated sauna. Yes, it is true that there are very few clinically-based, double-blind, trials that can be confidently drawn from to base the efficacy of this technology. But I can tell you that there is also very little instruction to consumers in the proper way to utilize this technology.

The temperature and exposure time in a FIR (Far-Infrared-Sauna) sauna may vary widely based on the objective of the user. Let me explain. If one's objective is to lose weight,not just water weight, then the followings criteria should be addressed:

1. An increase in metabolism is mandatory to initiate an energy demand.

2. Lipolysis must be initiated by the liver to liberate fat back into the bloodstream that has been stored in the form of tryglycerides.

3. Respiration needs to be maintained at a comfortable level to ensure that enough oxygen is being inhaled into the lungs in relation to exhaled carbon-dioxide. If you have experienced the use of a stationary bicycle in the gym, you'll note that the target pulse rate for max efficiency is around 70-75% of the maximum recommended rate based on age and/or weight.

Resting metabolic rates, as well as exercise metabolic rates, can vary widely from person to person. But the key issues are (1) how much oxygen is present in the blood to burn fat for energy? (2) Is the pH of the blood at the optimal level for oxygen to cross the cell membrane and get into the mitochgondria to carry out the Kreb's cycle process of ATP creation? (3) Are blood Sugar levels normalized or below normal levels to warrant initiation of lipolysis?

These are the basics to think about when using a FIR sauna if weight loss is the objective. If the unit is too hot, emulating a sympathetic nervoius system "fight or flight" response to increase cardiovascular workloads for the purpose of cooloing down body tissues, then pulmonary ventilation will increase. This induced hyper-ventilation will cause the lungs to blow off more carbon-dioxide during exhalation than the amount of oxygen taken in during inhalation. The result is a decreaed EMR (exercise metabolic rate) because blood pH has slightly decreased to become more acidic and less oxygen is now available to help burn fat. The ideal average temperature in a FIR sauna for burning calories and weight reduction is 104 degrees F, based on my experiences testing the RMR's of various participants during my research. It is a misconception that one needs to sweat perfusely to burn calories. That is simply just not true.

As for detoxification in the FIR units, the same conditions apply, as 99% of what the industry calls a toxin are oil-based and stored up in fat cells. Lipolysis must be initiated to release stored triglycerides into circulation and accompanying toxins will also be liberated.

That simply gets those toxins into the bloodstream. The liver must now deal with these toxins and initiate phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification pathways. Hydration levels, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, biomodulators, EFA's, EPO, and more are all involved in these processes so that your body can convert and then eliminate the waste metabolites and unconverted free radicals through urine, fecal matter, oily secretions on the skin of the sebacious glands, sweat, and exhalation.

In addition to these considerations, there is a drastic underestimation of the amount of sodium that needs to be replenished into the body on a daily level. Research has been done and estimates that 3,000 to 5,000 mg of sodium are lost on average per day. A good deal of research has been done as to the gradual loss of cellular hydration over the years of one's life. A 20 year old holds an average of 70% water in the cells of his body versus 30-35% water in the cells of an 80 year old. The amount of sodium in the extracellular fluids will increase water retention to the point of hydrostatically forcing water back into dehydrated cells of the body. This is taught in medical physiology books by the gold standard Guyton himself. We have lost sight of the concept that cellular function decreases as cellular hydration decreases. Hydrolysis, hydro-electric forces, nutrient transport, electrochemical gradients, cellular membrane perfusion, etc. are on dependent on hydration levels. All life eminated in the ocean and there would be no life force with water and salt. It seems ironic that the first thing done to a hospitalized patient is to intravenously induce a saline solution and/or sugar-saline solution to increase hydration levels. This is the basis for all function to then resume and move toward more homeostatic levels.

I recommend increasing sodium levels for all who seek a state of optimum health and especially those inducing sweat loss.

These are just issues to consider and research for yourself. I would not expect any modality to produce life changing results if my internal physiology was not maintaining an environment for these catalysts to be fully utilized.

I hope this has shed more light into some of the complextites than overshadow these issues with FIR saunas.

I hope to help a nation consumed by drug addiction to help purify their bodies. Equally important, I hope to help educate and provide a means of detox that prevents those that would have moved toward addiction by maintaining a healthier physiology. Spiritual beings having a human experience need not consume illegal or pharmacological agents to achieve a state of well-being. Although, if they do, optimal physiology can be achieved rather quickly if given the proper detox protocol. Raw materials and a homeostatic internal environment is encouraged through pH regulation, intracellular hydration, normalized blood-sugar levels, oxygenation, anti-oxidation, etc.

Best Regards

RJB
San Jose, CA Tweet