Infrared saunas + saunas and detox safe?

The only reason I ask about the detox is I have recently visited a naturapath

Yeah, stop there. Don't go to a "naturopath" for advice on medical issues or diet. They are not trained or educated for that. They are not trained or educated for much of anything, really. The term "naturopath" is not regulated and doesn't actually mean anything.

The advice this person is giving you is bad. Period. I'm sorry. Megadoses of vitamins will do nothing, and a "detox kit" and "detox diet" are simply scams.

And stop referring to this person as a "doctor." (S)he is not a doctor.

Believe me I'm not one to reach for the naturopath easily..I have have doubts of their effectiveness..BUT unless you can suggest another type of therapy or treatment that is going to help keep my endometriosis from worsening and keeping me out of surgery then I feel this advise is not helpful. I'm not trying to be rude but I've been to the traditional gyno doctors and tried more birth control pills, progesterone etc..then I can count and none of that has helped. I'm two years from my last surgery and my pain is back. Gyno's suggestions...IUD (no thank you..way too many scary things going on with them), a male hormone that may cause me to grow facial hair, a lupron shot that will put me in menopause (and at my age to stay on that long term has disadvantages), a hysterectomy( which isn't proven to keep my pain away for good) etc.. It's a gamble to try the naturopath but at this point I don't feel i have anything to loose.

Well losing money for nothing in return is still losing. Your physician (I don't consider a "naturopath" a physician) gave you plenty of options and no treatment is without risks. There's always a benefit to risk ratio.

Hi all,
I was watching a program the other day and they mentioned that one of the methods the biggest loser contestant used in her final months was an infrared sauna to help speed up her metabolism. I'd never heard of it before. Anyone try it? Also, is it safe to use a sauna if you are doing a detox?

I never know what someone means when they talk about a detox. It's really a vague term, if you think about it. Usually, these things are really harsh. I have often talked with people about these things, usually in the form of a PM. Not that I am against it, just that without more specifics, it's hard to discuss it. Also lots of reactive people in the discussion thread.

The detox that was recommended to me was basically made of three components..You add 30drops of each to a litre of water and sip throughout the day slowly. It isn't like a colon cleanse. It's suppose to target specific organs. It's the detox kit by heel. It not suppose to create multiple bowel movements etc... I am eating throughout as I would normally do.

If you enjoy a sauna, then take one. But IMO anything you do that ends up being harsh is unnecessary. Especially if you are already logging your food and exercising.

I've not the type of person to believe that I can loose weight doing crazy stuff like taking pills etc.. I've lost my weight thus far with hard work and eating right. I do enjoy the heat of the sauna. My joints feel so much better afterwards. I was honestly just curious if something was proven with saunas that i hadn't heard about. Thank you for your honest and non judgemental opinion about the naturopath. I honestly wish i didn't have to try the naturopath but again i feel my options are limited at this point. I will try a few of his recommendations and see if it decreases my pain. If it doesn't I won't waste any further money. I just feel i need to give it a try. I don't want another surgery. ;( I'm not doing the crazy detox diet..I'm not going to start another unhealthy relationship with food when i'm just making gains with what i'm doing..eating healthy and exercising

That's great you have had success with your weight loss!! One more input from me is, I hate to say this but I really don't like male doctors for me. I may really like the doctor and think he's a good doctor and a nice person. But as for having a male doctor, they always leave me rather infuriated. A male doctor is just not the right choice for me, ever. Perhaps going to a woman would make the difference.

I currently reside in Australia and of the opinion there are no doubt capable naturopaths who are well versed in science, nutrition, medicine etc but it is an issue of doing your research and finding a reputable one who goes beyond anecdotal science and personal bias...like there are many people on mfp who are much more knowledgeable about nutrition than a lot of GPs I have meet but have no credentials as such.

The problem in my country is there is no real regulation when it comes to the competency of people who call themselves naturopaths.

The last naturopathic workforce survey found that 10 per cent of naturopaths had no qualifications whatsoever. This is where the quackery really comes from.

And this doesn’t just mean training in naturopathy but in basic health sciences as well.

One of the largest risks from naturopathy comes not from what practitioners will do to you, but rather what they don’t do – namely referring to another practitioner when the condition is serious, beyond their scope or they are not getting results. Recognizing these red flag situations requires minimum standards of education.

However, in the eyes of the public these practitioners are already legitimate. They simply enjoy this legitimacy without any responsibility or accountability. Refusing to regulate them on principle is just dangerous.

It is undeniable that there is a lot of quackery in naturopathy – as there is in any unregulated profession. But there are in fact a number of therapies utilised by naturopaths that have a growing and promising evidence base. The real problem is training. Although some four-year degree programs exist in naturopathy, there is no actual barrier to practise. That means that you could hang up a shingle as a naturopath and begin seeing patients tomorrow.

ETA: Sorry to derail your thread OP.:flowerforyou:

Well all i know is after sitting in the sauna for a three or 4, 20mins sessions and a swim in between i feel great. Nothing better on a lazy day sometimes than to visit the gym, ignore every treadmill, workout machine and just sit in the sauna

Helps me lose loads of weight for about a hr until get back home and drink a entire lake to replenish the fluids.

I have used an infrared FIR sauna many times..not for weight loss but for other health reasons. I always felt better for having used it, and have often thought about buying one but figure it would just become a hidey hole for the junk around the house.

Most turn up the temp too high, only needs to go to about 35 or 36 degs.

I would have thought that any weight loss would be very temporary as it would only be fluid loss and weight would be regained on rehydration.

I have experienced PROFOUND, Immediate and long lasting effects from combining sauna (electric rock) sessions with ocean pool swims. If your sauna is not next to an ocean pool a swim or bath in cold water can have similar results. I continue to have such sessions on a regular basis but as my general health has much improved since the first time I tried this combo the effects are no longer as profoundly noticeable.

The sauna I go to is by an ocean 50 metre pool. There are many Russians (some of whom even wear a woolly cap while in the sauna!), many quite older folk(70's-80's), as well as a few local football heroes (a sight for sore eyes!) that are regulars. Also we have many Scandinavian tourists during the summer months. All these people are robust and healthy. A friend of mine who suffered heavy metal and other toxic poisoning due to her volunteering in clearing the 9/11 site had to undergo saunas to help detox her body. Thankfully she has regained her mental faculties after a few years of such and other detox therapy.

In my own case I was going through a protracted and very stressful time. It was summer and the days were averaging between 35-40 degrees Celsius. However the ocean was particularly cold as the currents were coming from the south (pole) and furthermore, iceberg chunks were migrating up the coast, which is most unusual. The end result was that lifesavers were kept busy dragging people out of the ocean due to swimmers suffering cramps brought on by the extreme cold water temperature. To avoid being frozen and not wishing to take forever to warm up after a dip I decided to go to the local ocean pool which had a sauna so that I could thaw after my swim. I did the sauna first before daring to plunge into the icy water of the pool and started swimming for all I was worth.

Well, I cannot begin to describe how magnificent it felt plunging into icy cold water straight out of a sauna. It felt like I had a million acupuncture needles attack every nerve of my body. It felt AMAZING as my body's sauna fired heat give way to the cold and then feeling my own body heat pump up again as I swam, fervently, before the water temperature, after a few laps, meant I needed to head straight back into the sauna in order to thaw. I felt TOTALLY relaxed. My minor muscle aches left me, as did my anxiety, as did my capacity to string sentences together... It was like I was floating for the next few days, and sleeping like a baby.

The stressful time in my life has since passed but I continue with my sauna and ocean swim combo once a week. While at the sauna I also take the time to treat my hair with a mask before my final rinse in the showers. There are seasons when I do ocean pool swims (and without a wetsuit) throughout the year, though I cannot stay in the pool for as many laps in winter due to the windchill factor. The effects on my nervous system is not as it happened the first time as continuous practise means that my overall health, stress levels and immunity have much improved. I am a strong believer in the therapeutic effects of a sauna particularly when it is combined with a cold dip. I think a fair few of us must either be insane or else gain great benefit combining saunas with ice cold swims as there is standing room only in winter in the sauna, between braving a few laps.

Saunas, if nothing else relax your muscles and speed the healing of physical injuries. Their capacity to reduce stress and anxiety means that your cortisol levels are kept in check. That alone means you are less prone to belly fat.