Here at Coastal Detox, we offer a vast variety of holistic treatments and therapies. We work to provide our clients with soothing, holistic options as they detox from substance abuse. One of the detox approaches we utilize is the infrared sauna detox method.
The Far Infrared Sauna is a safe and relaxing treatment that produces near, mid, and far-infrared waves to assist and speed the detoxification process from the outer skin layer down to the core, deep-tissues. The far infrared sauna urges every organ of the body into action.
While outwardly relaxed, your inner organs are as active as though you were jogging or manually mowing the lawn. At the same time, you are being cleansed from inside out by your body’s largest organ – your skin. Studies have shown that 20 minutes in the infrared sauna equals 24 hours of work by the kidneys to detoxify them.
What is Substance Abuse Detoxification?
Detoxification is often the first step in substance abuse treatment. Detox occurs when the body rids itself of toxins accrued during drug or alcohol abuse. The detox process can be very unpleasant, especially if not done under the supervision of a licensed professional. Withdrawal symptoms can be extremely painful and uncomfortable and can begin within hours of termination of using a substance.
Symptoms of withdrawal can range from headaches to nausea, to severe sweating. They can persist for hours or days-in extreme cases, if left untreated, they can persist for weeks. As the body begins to process the last dose of a drug that was taken, it begins to crave more of the drug, and if one doesn’t take more, they begin to experience withdrawal symptoms such as muscle cramps and inflammation, which can get progressively worse.
Detoxification for General Well-Being
Detoxification is a healthy and necessary option for people who do not struggle with substance addiction, as well. The body ingests toxins every day, no matter how hard a person tries to avoid them. Toxins reside in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. These toxins include cholesterol, nicotine, alcohol, ammonia, sulfuric acids, mercury, aluminum, and other environmental toxins and heavy metals. While the effects of these toxins often go unnoticed, over time, they can lead to mild and severe health issues.
Anything foreign that enters our body has the chance to affect our balance or homeostasis. If left unchecked, this loss of homeostasis can cause the body to develop all kinds of issues. Some of these toxins have been known to cause cancer, liver disease, infertility, and various neurological disorders.
The buildup of toxins indicates how important it is continually “flush” the body’s system in order to maintain homeostasis. While basic steps, such as drinking proper amounts of water, are helpful, regular, intentional detoxification can work wonders for our body. Infrared sauna detox has proven effective in doing just that.
Some of the noticeable benefits of detox can include:
- Increased energy
- Improved mental clarity
- Healthier internal organs
- Improved immune system
- Weight loss and management
What is Infrared?
Infrared light (also known as infrared radiation) is a type of energy that is largely invisible but can be felt through heat. Infrared radiation is a type of electromagnetic energy with waves that occur at frequencies above those of microwaves but lower than those of visible light.
Most objects in the universe, including the sun, give off some infrared radiation at various levels. Even man-made objects, such as household appliances, exude this type of radiation in small doses. Household appliances that use infrared radiation include toasters, heat lamps, and remote controls. In an infrared sauna, this energy is used to achieve the effect of a normal sauna without some of the harmful effects of higher frequency energy.
What is an Infrared Sauna?
An infrared sauna uses infrared heat lamps to directly heat the body, whereas traditional saunas heat the air inside a small, controlled room. Infrared saunas use special infrared panels instead of conventional heat. These panels direct the radiation, or heat, directly onto a person rather than heating the air. Infrared saunas are able to operate at lower temperatures (120F-140F) than traditional saunas and thus spare the patient from the dangers of high-temperature exposure.
Infrared saunas are particularly beneficial for those who do not like the high humidity and temperate of normal saunas. Experts say that infrared saunas may allow the heat to seep more deeply into the skin and muscles than traditional saunas, thus allowing more sweat (detoxification) to be produced at lower temperatures.
Infrared saunas typically increase the body temperature 2-3 degrees, allowing the body to heat up more quickly, without feeling overwhelmingly hot from the surrounding air. As a result, most will be able to stay in an infrared sauna longer than a traditional sauna.
Health Benefits of Infrared Light and Infrared Sauna Use
Both light and heat are emitted by infrared radiation, and because both are necessary for life, infrared light is an important part of our body’s health. The heat emitted in an infrared sauna warms the body. Infrared light, consisting of two types of radiation (near and far infrared), emits small amounts of various colored light. These colors (yellow, red, orange) help the light penetrate soft tissue, causing vasodilation. Vasodilation occurs when the body temperature goes up and blood vessels open, helping to increase blood flow and lower blood pressure.
Traditional and infrared saunas both offer numerous health benefits. While many have not been researched extensively, many people swear by sauna use as a means to relax and detoxify. While most users will not see all of these benefits, many users will see at least one or more. Some of the most commonly noted benefits of infrared sauna use are as follows:
- Pain relief
- Relaxation
- Weight loss
- Clearer skin
- Detoxification
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved sleep quality
- Improved mental health
- Joint and muscle pain relief
Using an Infrared Sauna
Most infrared saunas look very similar to traditional steam saunas. They generally consist of a small wooden room that can fit one or more persons. Many gyms, health clubs, or doctors’ offices may make use of infrared saunas and they can be purchased for private use as well. More and more rehabilitation centers are beginning to use them as well. While every location might be different, there are a few tips that applied universally.
It is important to drink plenty of water before, during, and after using any kind of sauna. The point of sauna use is to sweat out toxins, thus enforcing the need to stay well hydrated. It is important to regulate the sauna temperature in a comfortable range and begin at a lower temperature and increase gradually. Be mindful of time spent in the sauna, especially if it is your first session. Saunas of all types can provide great health benefits if some simple rules are followed.
About Infrared Sauna Detox
Infrared saunas can help with three important aspects of detoxification; improving circulation, removal of some negative withdrawal symptoms, and increased removal of toxins from the body.
Alcohol and drug abuse can cause severe health problems, including heart issues, nervous system delays, and circulation problems. The heat in an infrared sauna can help repair circulation and increase blood flow to necessary areas and pushing blood closer to the surface of the skin. It then begins a process called “lipolysis which breaks down fat tissues and spurs the release of long-held toxins into the bloodstream and out the surface of the skin.
Though many of these toxins are excreted through the skin, others are sent to the kidneys and liver. Sauna therapy raises the level of toxins through increased sweating. Increased hydration along with sauna therapy forces toxins out in urine as well.
The use of infrared saunas can also become part of a self-care routine post-treatment for those who are undergoing substance abuse recovery. If anything, visiting an infrared sauna can help to relax, soothe the body and mind, and make you feel rejuvenated.
Precautions to Consider
Although saunas are largely safe, there are small segments of the population that should not use them and precautions everyone should take before use. Alcohol and drug use do not mix well with sauna use. Alcohol dehydrates the body and hydration is extremely important when using a sauna.
Those who may be sick, or running even a low-grade fever should not use a sauna. Anyone prone to dehydration or sensitive to heat should not use a sauna. Anyone with a history of stroke or fatigue issues should avoid sauna use as well. Although saunas are relatively safe, there are a few precautions to take and circumstances under which one should not be using a sauna.
Infrared sauna detox will be seemingly routine for most people, but there can be side-effects. It is important to consult your doctor before use and, if using for medical detox, only do so under the supervision of a trained professional.
Because body temperature is increasing, there is some risk of becoming overheated, dehydrated, or dizzy. This can generally be addressed by drinking enough water before and after a sauna session. Pregnant women, especially after the first trimester, should avoid sauna use.
Begin Your Journey to Healing Today!
In general, infrared saunas are quite safe, have very few side-effects, and have been used to promote better health for centuries. While infrared sauna use for medical detoxification is a relatively new arena, it is showing great promise as another tool in the box of therapists and treatment centers!
Here at Coastal Detox, we believe in the value of the infrared sauna detox approach. We understand the importance of holistic treatment therapies for those suffering from addiction. It is our goal to evaluate and properly address the needs of our clients. So, we offer nothing less than the very best of care.
If you or someone you love are in need of a unique approach to detoxification, the infrared sauna treatments at Coastal Detox may be for you. Our trained professionals are on-call to help guide you through medically-supervised detoxification and our infrared saunas are state-of-the-art. Contact us today to begin treatment.
