The blogosphere has been buzzing with talk about the the possible dangers of saunas, sweat lodges, and steam rooms. This has led to people doubting whether or not sweating is a valid method to get a good detox. For years saunas have been regarded as a reliable way to detox. Now people are left wondering if something has changed?

Most of the confusion surrounding the safe use of saunas came about as a result of a tragic accident that took place in the fall of 2009 at a “Spiritual Warrior” retreat in Arizona. Eighteen people were hospitalized and three died because of the drastic over use of the sweat lodge at the retreat. Dehydration was the main cause of the deaths.

Portable Far Infrared Ray (FIR) Sauna

Understandably, people have started questioning the safety of sweat lodges and the other type of sweat detox therapy. What most people don’t know is that of all the many types of workouts, diets and detox methods, using a sauna is one of the easiest and safest. Infrared saunas in particular are a quick and easy way to induce healthy sweating to stimulate the cardiovascular system. The American Medical Association explains that “many of us who run do so to place a demand on our cardiovascular system, not to build big leg muscles. Regular use of indoor saunas may impact a similar stress on the cardiovascular system, and its regular use may be as effective, as a means of cardiovascular conditioning and burning of calories, as regular exercise.”

Many people are unaware that using a sauna for a cardio workout, detox or a diet is one of the safest and easiest ways to go about it. Infrared saunas are especially a good sauna for stimulating detox through sweating. The American Medical Association (AMA) explained that “many of us who run do so to place a demand on our cardiovascular system, not to build big leg muscles. Regular use of indoor saunas may impact a similar stress on the cardiovascular system, and its regular use may be as effective, as a means of cardiovascular conditioning and burning of calories, as regular exercise.”

One of the main factors to keep in mind when using an infrared sauna is to stay hydrated. Drinking a glass of water before and after a 15-30 minute session will keep you appropriately hydrated, and thus able to detox.

In addition to staying hydrated, another important factor to be considered when regularly detoxing in a sauna is using a quality mineral supplement. In addition to all of the heavy metals that are secreted from the body, also some good minerals are lost and should be replaced by adding mineral drops to your water before or after your sauna sessions.

There is no need for confusion when it comes to infrared saunas, sweat lodges and detox. The ease of use and effectiveness of a sauna certainly outweighs the sight risk of overuse and dehydration. Hopefully people will better understand that now.