May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, not that anyone needs to remind us here at Sunlighten about the devastating effect that Lyme disease has on so many people across the world. We work very regularly with “Lymies”, helping them add infrared sauna therapy to their treatment regimen.

Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each year, more than 30,000 Americans contract Lyme disease, an illness that can have lifelong debilitating effects such as arthritis, fatigue and even neurological deficits. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged or deer ticks.

If you are not affected by Lyme disease, here are a few tips to keep it that way:

1. Reduce your tick exposure by clearing out areas where lawn and tree debris gathers. Ticks thrive in moist, shady areas and tend to die in sunny, dry areas. Locate compost piles away from play areas or high traffic. Separate them with wood chips or gravel. Don’t position playground equipment, decks and patios near treed areas.
2. Select plants and shrubs that are not attractive to deer and/or install physical barriers to keep deer out of your yard.
3. Check your fences, brick walls and patio retaining walls regularly for ticks.
4. Keep your pets protected with tick collars and sprays (as directed by your vet).
5. Consider barrier sprays in your yard that can kill live ticks on the spot.
6. Wear long-sleeved, long-legged, light-colored clothing when in a tick-potential situation outdoors. Tuck pant legs into socks to refuse ticks an entry point. Spray clothing and any exposed skin with a product containing 20% DEET.
7. Check carefully for ticks after being outdoors.

In general, the current therapy for Lyme Disease consists of IV or oral antibiotics, often combined with an anti-protozoal medication. Because pharmaceutical therapy is often not entirely effective and/or not covered by insurance, many Lyme sufferers seek out alternative treatments as well. These include supplements, probiotics and infrared sauna therapy

Sweating in the infrared sauna flushes fat-soluble toxins (including heavy metals) out of the body via the skin. This detoxification which occurs at the lower heat available in an infrared sauna assists the immune system and the healing process while increasing circulation, invigorating the body and allowing the meds to reach all parts of the body in a more efficient manner. Infrared sauna therapy also relaxes the muscles and joints, giving the patient some relief from their pain.

Some researchers and health care providers feel that near infrared heat is better suited to treat Lyme disease symptoms; others prefer the effects of far infrared heat. With Sunlighten’s exclusive custom full spectrum infrared sauna, the mPulse, Lyme disease sufferers can set up a regimen to take advantage of BOTH near infrared AND far infrared in the same unit. Call one of our representatives to learn more about the benefits of our full spectrum offering.

It is important to have the guidance of a doctor who is familiar with Lyme Disease. To find a doctor in your area that is “Lyme literate,” call the Lyme Disease Association’s toll free information line at 888-366-6611 or check out their website at www.lymediseaseassociation.org. Another good site for Lyme info is the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society at www.ilads.org.

See Also These Great Posts on Lyme Disease and Infrared Saunas:

• Study Suggests Elevated Body Temperature Aids Antibiotics Against Lyme Disease
• Diana’s Lyme Disease and Infrared Sauna

You may be wondering what the heck fibromyalgia, stroke and high blood pressure have in common. The answer is the month of May!

May is American Stroke and High Blood Pressure Awareness Month as well as Fibromyalgia Awareness Month. All three conditions are on our radar here at Sunlighten because all people who suffer from each of these conditions seek our help on a regular basis. For very different reasons, regular infrared sauna use can help those who suffer with fibromyalgia as well as those at risk for stroke and high blood pressure.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is chronic condition which affects the entire body. It is estimated that fibromyalgia affects as many as 6 million Americans with most sufferers being women.
The illness can cause fatigue, stiffness, insomnia, and headaches, as well as a litany of related emotional problems. Painfully sore joints, tendons and muscles cause fibromyalgia sufferers to spend their days and nights looking for relief from these relentless symptoms.

Typically, fibro sufferers treat their symptoms with analgesic pain relievers like ibuprofen and naproxen. Not only are these drugs inefficient at controlling fibro-related pain, they also have negative side effects of their own with long-term use. Popular prescription medications have their own set of reported problems and side effects.

More and more chronic pain sufferers are now looking to non-pharmaceutical ways to achieve pain relief. One of the most popular alternatives to medicine for the chronic pain, swelling and discomfort that comes with fibromyalgia is regular infrared sauna use.

A recent Japanese study showed that chronic pain patients experienced a significant reduction in pain levels (nearly 70%) after the first session of infrared sauna therapy. Pain scores also decreased significantly and remained low throughout the observation period. Researchers concluded that infrared heat therapy is effective for chronic pain treatment.

Additionally, in a NASA study done with near-infrared heat, determined that LED technology allows for deep penetration of tissue and increased cell growth from the inside.

Finally, a 2003 study showed that use of near-infrared heat therapy helped the production of white blood cells to alleviate inflammation and reduce swelling, two key factors in easing bodily pain.

Sunlighten’s mPulse series–with its proprietary Solocarbon® Custom Spectrum™ heating technology–is the only sauna on the market that offers LED-based near infrared heat at this proven level.

Stroke & High Blood Pressure

One of the most notable risk factors for stroke is high blood pressure. And only Sunlighten saunas are backed by clinical research that shows a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Both are key factors in maintaining a healthy heart.

In a 2005 clinical study by the University of Missouri Kansas City, Sunlighten’s Solocarbon heaters were shown to lower blood pressure through a program of 30 minute infrared sauna session three times per week.

Two other stroke risk factors can also be addressed by adding infrared heat therapy to your course of action – artery disease and obesity.

A scientific study has shown that infrared saunas help improve the function of impaired vascular endothelial cells in patients who are at risk for coronary artery disease. The infrared heat of the sauna opens capillaries to improve blood flow. Fifteen minutes in an infrared sauna each day for 14 days improved the function of the endothelial cells lining the arteries by 40%.

And results from a 2009 study indicated that Sunlighten saunas are beneficial for lowering weight and waist circumference in just a 3-month period. For those who are sedentary due to medical conditions such as osteoarthritis, cardiovascular or respiratory problems, results were even more profound.

If you believe you may be at risk for stroke, talk with your doctor immediately. When creating a plan to combat those risks, consider regular infrared sauna therapy to support your other wellness efforts.

We first wrote about EMF (electromagnetic fields) in our infrared saunas here in this blog last year. We still get questions about the EMF subject – so we thought we’d share the information again.

EMF, usually in relation to mobile phones, has been a fairly hot topic in the media for a while now. And, from time to time, we get a question about whether Sunlighten infrared saunas (or infrared saunas in general) produce high EMF levels. The short answer is no but the EMF question is certainly worth talking about here.

Infrared saunas heat your body directly (as opposed to the air around you) by emitting infrared radiant heat. The waves, similar to those produced by the sun, penetrate and heat your body. The infrared waves are safe – used even to warm newborn babies at the hospital.

But what about EMF? Despite extensive research over the past 20 years, the health risk caused by EMF exposure generally remains an open question. Two national research organizations (the National Research Council and the National Institute of Health) have looked at the studies and have concluded that there is not strong evidence that EMF exposures pose a health risk. However, other studies suggest otherwise.

Although the current scientific evidence provides no definitive answers regarding EMF, there is enough uncertainty that some people want to reduce their exposure to EMF.

EMF is everywhere in our homes and offices. The electrical appliances we use (even an electric can opener at close range emits substantial EMFs), computers, monitors, keyboards and mice, wireless modems, cordless phones, clock radios, hair dryers, mobile phones, microwave ovens and more – all produce EMFs. Those who live near high-voltage power lines have an even higher potential exposure.

The EMF (electromagnetic field) levels of Sunlighten saunas are well below the levels generally believed to be unsafe, and in fact, our infrared saunas produce less EMF than a standard hair dryer. The EMF attributable to a hair dryer at 6″ away is about 300 mG. Our saunas have been measured between 0 and 10 mG. (EMFs are measured in units called milligauss (mG).)

If you are concerned at all about EMF, the EMF-cancelling technology found in our mPulse saunas reduces EMF to our lowest level yet. Our Select models have also tested at extremely safe levels due to steel conduit electrical shielding.

See the links below for additional information about EMF:

• US Center for Disease Control Fact Sheet about EMF
• US Environmental Protection Agency

Should you have any questions at all about EMF and Sunlighten infrared saunas, please give us a call. One of our team members would be happy to discuss all of this further with you!
See also:

• Infrared Sauna FAQs

• Infrared Sauna FAQs: Part II
  

Sunlighten is proud to announce Matt Burnett, DC, a leading chiropractic and sports medicine professional and trainer of numerous NFL players and teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers, has joined our nationwide roster of partners to promote Sunlighten saunas.

Burnett uses Sunlighten’s mPulse full-spectrum infrared sauna as a vital part of pain management, weight control, and critical healing programs for both NFL players and patients of all ages in his popular clinics outside of Pittsburgh.

“Whether you are a professional football player or a total non-athlete, Sunlighten is the best infrared sauna for exertion recovery, daily use, and healing,” said Burnett. “I enthusiastically recommend Sunlighten saunas because of their dedication to wellness, product quality, and customer service.”

Sunlighten mPulse is marketed as the only full-spectrum infrared sauna on the market and, in addition to use by the Steelers, is currently also used by the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars as well as current and former players from teams throughout the League.

“We are excited and honored to join with an exceptional wellness and sports performance professional like Dr. Burnett to continue to promote the benefits of Sunlighten infrared saunas for recovery, weight loss, detoxification and pain management,” said Connie Zack, owner of Sunlighten Inc. “Dr. Burnett’s work clearly demonstrates that using Sunlighten Saunas produces tangible wellness benefits and you don’t have to be a professional athlete to realize those positive results.”

The mPulse allows users to control the heater’s setting, ranging from near-infrared light that aids in pain and muscle relief, to mid-infrared light that assists in fat burning and weight loss, to far-infrared light that deepens the core sweat and is whole-body detoxifying. Sunlighten saunas are also said to aid pain relief, heart, and skin health. If you’re interested in learning more, please call a Sunlighten representative at 877-292-0020.

We receive regular calls and inquiries from parents asking about the use of infrared sauna for children, especially those on the autism spectrum. As many believe that there are environmental components to many neurological and behavioral health conditions, the detoxification benefits of infrared sauna use are often sought after by both parents and health care providers of children on the spectrum.

Dr. Rachel West, a long-time partner of Sunlighten and supporter of our mission to empower wellness, is nationally regarded for her work with children who have attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders including Asperger’s syndrome. Dr. West treats patients with childhood autism nationwide and is recognized as a certified Defeat Autism Now! Practitioner. She combines many therapies and modalities together with diet and nutrition—and she frequently uses infrared sauna as part of her healthy child programs.

Dr. West considers viruses, heavy metals, preservatives and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from plastics as top environmental influences. In a recent magazine article, she notes:

And special-needs kids invariably benefit when their body’s elimination pathways are working optimally. Indeed, some of the most recent research suggests that the environment plays a powerful role in causing or exacerbating these health challenges that involve behavioral, neurological and physical symptoms.

She feels strongly that Sunlighten™ infrared sauna therapy is a non-toxic, no side-effect way of ridding the body of harmful pollutants, especially heavy metals.

The nice thing is that far infrared actually penetrates at cellular levels so it will help clean out organ tissues and disconnect cells from toxins that may be blocking pathways and at very low heat, which is safe for children.

Other research supports the position that these environmental influences have some correlation with social and neurological development. For example, in a 2010 paper in the journal Neuro-Toxicology, Dr. Amir Miodovnik, a pediatrician at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and his colleagues showed that children who had been exposed to high levels of phthalates prenatally were more likely to show social impairments at seven to nine years of age.

Dr. West also finds the infrared sauna helpful for kids to relax.

More from Dr. West:

“The lactic acid [that builds up in kids' muscles] makes kids feel like they want a massage, and the saunas feel great on their joints and muscles,” she says. “And keep in mind it isn’t the heat that counts, but the penetration and the benefits of infrared sauna that can occur at low heat. We see oxygenation of cells and better sleep,” she says. “Since sauna restores and calms the nervous system and heat is nurturing, many parents have their kids take a sauna in preparation for bedtime or before their evening bath or shower.”

Remember, the infrared sauna is used with an entire health program. Dr. West says taking a sauna three times a week, for 20 minutes to start, is a good regimen for kids.

Dr. West uses Sunlighten saunas with children young as 3 but Sunlighten recommends that you consult your child’s physician before beginning infrared sauna therapy.