Most of you have read and experienced the delights of a quick 20-minute session in an infrared session. But it’s not always peachy. Today, we will take a look at why sometimes you feel worse after using an infrared sauna.
When you hop into an IR sauna, you are thinking about relieving stress and feeling fresh and rejuvenated. But there are a few scenarios where it does not lead to a happy ending. You come out wondering why the hot box that was supposed to make all the stress go away has added to your problems.
What Really Happened in There
This is usually because of a couple of things that you did not take into account. You may not have any health issues that you are aware of. And when you decided to start using an IR sauna, no one educated you about some of these plausible causes.
One of the most common reasons behind most individuals feeling sick after an infrared sauna session experience is because of dehydration. This results in a lack of sweating. Instead of refusing to acknowledge it, understand that you are pushing your body’s heat tolerance beyond its limits by overdoing sauna sessions.
It is very likely that there are a lot more toxins in your body than it can process. That is because you are putting them into your body faster than it can flush them out.
You are not using detox binders. These are insoluble particles that go through your gut and are left unabsorbed. They attract and bind toxins (hence the name). It could also be because you have a leaky gut.
Many companies claim that you can sweat out these toxins. But what is happening under the surface of your skin is that your lymphatic fluid is being mobilized and the fat cells in your body start releasing the stored toxins. But contrary to popular belief, these don’t get out of your body through your skin. Your (leaky) gut is allowing these toxins to re-circulate inside your body.
Another scenario where this happens is if your blood-brain barrier has been compromised. This means the foreign particles in your body are trying to relocate and it leads to fatigue, vertigo, dizziness, anxiety and depression, among other problems.
All of this indicates one systematic problem. There is a lack of understanding of the gap between what some companies claim and what is backed by science. Whether you use a traditional sauna or an infrared one or a portable model, it isn’t the sauna’s fault. What you are experiencing is the result of lack of research on credible information. So instead of looking at the possible faults of the machine, try to look at why your body is responding to it, the way it is. Although you must avoid using saunas with high electromagnetic frequency (EMF) levels in the long run.
How to Fix It?
If you keep some dos and don’ts in mind, you can avoid the trauma of a bad sauna experience.
- Start by avoiding alcohol. Entering a sauna intoxicated increases the risk of dehydration, hypotension, arrhythmia and sometimes even sudden death. However, there’s no need for alarm. Studies have shown that only 1.8% of the cases using a sauna within the time frame of three to 24 hours resulted in sudden death.
- Do not spend more than 20 minutes at a time in a sauna, whichever model you use. If you are using it for the first time, keep it limited to 5 to 10 minutes and take baby steps once you get used to it. This is like hitting the gym after a long time. You need to build your tolerance over a period of time. Allow your body that small courtesy.
- Drinking water after a session is not optional. When you sweat, your body loses valuable minerals which must be replenished right away. This is not a way to lose weight. Drink two to four glasses of water after a session. This also means that you should not do too many sessions in a very short period of time.
- Do not enter a sauna if you are unwell. Step in only after you have recovered. The same logic applies to those who are pregnant or have pre-existing medical conditions. Consult your physician if you are good to go.
- Children from the age of six and above can use a sauna but must be supervised by an able adult. They should not be in there for more than 15 minutes at a time.
- You don’t need to preheat a sauna. Especially if you are using an infrared model.
- Hotter is not better. So don’t fix the temperature at its maximum. The benefits are the same whether it is at 130 degrees Fahrenheit or 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use a sauna with good detox binders. This is very important. If you have Lyme disease of amalgams, it makes a big difference.
You can try any of these.
- Medi-Clay Bentonite Clay Detox Capsules: https://amzn.to/3kDxOkV
- Organic Activated Charcoal: https://amzn.to/2E2wuar
- Ultra Binder by Quicksilver Scientific: https://amzn.to/3fMhT08
- Quicksilver Scientific Ultra Binder: https://amzn.to/3ah6aFO
- Enterosgel: https://amzn.to/33OW9yq
- Chitosan: https://amzn.to/2XSIoeo
- Pectosol: https://amzn.to/33UDLUE
Bottom Line
Understand that processing toxins is a key function of the GI tract, not the skin (through sweating). If your gut wall is compromised, you are extremely likely to have a bad experience. Use Enterosgel, Bentonite Clay and Activated Charcoal if you want to mix it up a bit. While some of these are not inexpensive, they are totally worth every penny, especially if you have the above-mentioned health issues.
All you need to do is take two capsules half an hour before a session in the sauna and two capsules after the session. If you don’t sweat enough, make sure your body has enough electrolytes. It might have gone into conservation mode to protect you from disastrous consequences. Consult your physician without ignoring the problem and going back for another session.