Sauna and Steam – A Healthy Detoxification Combination (press release)

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Dr. John R. Christopher of herbalism fame during the mid 20th century promoted the process of diaphoretic perspiration as a means of influencing the peripheral sensory nerves, which relax and dilate the superficial capillaries and vessels.

He, as well as many natural healers (Like Dr. Nowell) believed that the sweat glands, when stimulated, can help heal the body. The old herbal practitioners were successful because they sought to equalize the circulation. They made the vapor bath famous, along with herbal diaphoretics; to treat fevers, inflammation, colds and congestions of many kinds.

Diaphoretic herbs primarily influence the surface circulation and then the whole circulation, and perspiration is a result of the increased blood flow. Herbs and therapies providing this action are cayenne, mustard, lobelia, ipecac, etc., also vapor baths, Turkish baths, wet packs, cold sheet treatments and the like.

In fact, Dr. Nowell states: “In a condition where the system is hot and the skin dry, with a pulse that is full and frequent, a relaxing diaphoretic should be used; but if the heart impulse were weak, and the skin cold, we should use a stimulating diaphoretic working from the center to maintain the heart.”

Sebaceous or oil glands work in conjunction with the sudoriferous glands. These give pliancy and softness to the skin. When these glands are not functioning properly the skin becomes hard and chafed. Here we need to do more than produce perspiration; the sebaceous glands must also be stimulated. Conditions requiring this action include most viral fevers and eczema. The seeds of burdock (Arctium lappa) and of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) were used for this purpose as a hot infusion.

By combining diaphoretic herbs or therapeutic essential oils to whole-body steam therapy, diaphoresis, or sweating, can help restore health in many cases; for when the millions of pores in the skin are closed, the bloodstream can become “impure”, poisoning the whole system. In the past, when people could not afford a physician, it was common knowledge that they could induce perspiration to help cure their sick.

Diaphoresis was used in cases where general circulation was involved such as inflammation of the lungs, pleurisy, peritonitis, inflammation in the stomach, spleen, bowels, kidneys, bladder, uterus or brain. Old natural practitioners would equalize circulation and maintain a frequent outward flow of blood, never reaching the point of patient exhaustion causing oppressed breathing and tremulous pulse.

Sudorifics stimulate the sudoriferous or sweat glands, producing profuse and visible sweating that stand as beads upon the surface of the skin when taken hot; and they act beneficially as tonics when taken cold.

Modern technology has combined the old herbal and essential oil methods with whole body steam to produce a relaxation of the sweat glands and the increase of perspiration. This aromatherapy steam process opens the pores thereby freely allowing for the emission of body poisons and keeping the blood more clean.

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