The sweat lodge has been used by the indigenous population of the Americas all the way from the Eskimos south to the Mayans. Sweat lodges were used for everything from cure for illness and aching muscles to ridding oneself of evil spirits. In Europe the Romans used a more elaborate system of saunas while the Scandinavians used a simpler seat lodge similar to the Native Americans. These European cultures realized the diverse benefits of making the body sweat to release toxins. In Finland where the sauna has been a mainstay for over 1,000 years it is estimated that there is one sauna for every seven people! Making the body sweat using dry saunas helps rid the body of toxic metals that exist in our environment assisting the kidneys in detoxifying the entire body. The sauna is also better to use if weight loss is desired due to the fact that it is harder on the body and burns additional calories. In fact, a 20 minutes sauna session may burn as many calories as a two or three miles jog! Remember that you are rapidly losing fluids when using a sauna and you need to replenish during and after to avoid any heart rhythm disruption as well as fatigue. Sweating in a dry sauna also speeds up the metabolism and inhibits the development of bacteria and viruses. It also creates a reaction similar to fever that kills viruses and enhances the immune system. Another huge benefit of dry saunas is that they have been shown to lower blood pressure over time as well. Dr. Andre Lwoff, a French scientist who specialized in studying viruses showed that high temperatures in times of infection fought off viruses. A German physical education specialist by the name of Ernst found that marathon runners had no incidence of cancer which he attributed to their sweating out heavy metals that can cause cancer. The benefits of using saunas to help your body release toxins on a daily basis have been proven over and over. You will see improved blood circulation, release of heavy metals and other toxins, weight loss, clearer skin and improved immune system response. Like anything that is taxing on the body you should consult your physician to be sure that it is safe for you to use saunas especially if you are over 60 years old or have a family history of heart disease.
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