5 Interesting Facts about Sauna Use

Sauna use improves the health of our brains.
A 20-year study of more than 2,300 participants was conducted by Dr. Jari Laukkanen and his colleagues at the University of Eastern Finland. This study found that regular sauna use (4 to 7 times per week) at 176 degrees Fahrenheit for 19 minutes lowered the patients’ risk for both Alzheimer’s and Dementia. 

Saunas help with pain management.
Enveloped in a sauna’s high heat, our bodies will release endorphins. These endorphins produce a mild, enjoyable “tranquilizing effect,” and enable us to minimize the pain caused by joint and muscle soreness. Whether you’re an athlete in training or someone who suffers from arthritis, it’s worth checking in with your naturopathic physician to find out if you can take advantage of the sauna’s soothing relief.

Saunas improve sleep.
Research shows that a deeper, more relaxed sleep occurs in patients who utilize the sauna before turning in for the evening. Both endorphins and body temperatures tend to become elevated in the late evening and then begin to decline around bedtime. This slow, relaxing decline is key in facilitating sleep.

Saunas can help fight off illness.
Medically-related sauna research in Germany shows that sauna use significantly reduced the incidence of colds and influenza among participants. As our bodies are exposed to the heat of a sauna and steam (in the case of traditional saunas), they produce white blood cells more rapidly, thus helping our bodies to kill viruses and fend off illness.

Saunas help us to rid our bodies of unwanted waste.
Sweat, which is composed of 99% water, is primarily designed to cool the body. However, deep sweating in a sauna can help reduce our bodies’ levels of lead, nickel, mercury, and chemicals—all of which are toxins commonly absorbed from daily interaction with our environments. There is no shortage of books written by doctors and practitioners which describe the benefits of regular body detoxification.