Sauna

 Sauna

A sauna is a small room or building designed for dry or wet heat sessions, commonly known as sauna baths. Saunas have been used for thousands of years for relaxation, health benefits, and social purposes. Saunas involve dry heat.

There are several types of saunas, each differing in how the heat is produced and the level of humidity: Traditional Finnish Sauna – This is a wood-lined room with a heater that warms stones. Water can be poured over the stones to create steam, briefly increasing humidity. Infrared Sauna – Instead of heating the air, it uses infrared lamps to heat the body directly. These saunas operate at lower temperatures, making them more tolerable.

A sauna bath typically involves spending 10–20 minutes in the hot room, followed by a cooling phase such as a cold shower, plunge into cold water, or resting in fresh air. This cycle may be repeated multiple times. The process stimulates circulation, opens pores, and promotes sweating, which is believed to help detoxify the body.

During the session, users sit or lie on benches arranged at different levels. The higher the bench, the hotter the temperature. Many incorporate aromatherapies by adding essential oils (like eucalyptus or birch) to the water thrown on hot stones.

Sauna bathing offers various health and wellness benefits:

• Improved circulation due to the heat-induced expansion of blood vessels.
• Muscle relaxation and relief from joint or muscle pain.
• Stress reduction, as the heat promotes endorphin release and reduces cortisol levels.
• Skin cleansing, as sweating, helps clear pores.
• Detoxification, through increased perspiration which helps eliminate toxins.
• Improved sleep, with many users reporting better rest post-sauna.

Some studies suggest regular sauna use may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, improve immune function, and support mental health.

Sauna is more than just a health treatment—it is a key part of social life and tradition. Families and friends gather in the sauna to relax and converse. In Japan, Russia, Turkey, and Native American cultures, similar practices exist, each with unique rituals and meanings.

The sauna and sauna bath experience combines physical wellness, mental relaxation, and cultural significance. Whether for health purposes or simply unwinding after a long day, the sauna continues to be a popular and revered tradition around the world.

As microplastics show up in human blood, lungs, and even brain tissue, eliminate them. From lymphatic drainage massages to charcoal supplements to high-end IV drips, a growing list of protocols promises to help the body remove environmental toxins. One of the most widely used tools? Saunas.

Sweating plays a vital role in regulating body temperature. It also helps the body release some waste products, but it’s not the body’s primary detox system. That job belongs to the liver, kidneys, and digestive tract, which are far more efficient at filtering and eliminating most environmental toxins.

When it comes to microplastics, there is currently no evidence that sweat removes solid microplastic particles from the body. These particles are structurally complex, often embedded in tissues, and are not known to exit the body via sweat glands.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in plastics that is known to act as an endocrine disruptor. Sweat may support the excretion of some plastic-related compounds, even when other systems do not. Sweat might help with some compounds, just not the solid plastic particles themselves.

What Saunas Are Good For

Even if they don’t remove microplastics, saunas can be a powerful wellness tool. They’ve been shown to support circulation, reduce stress, improve sleep, and promote cardiovascular health.

Sauna bathing is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, lower blood pressure, and improved vascular function. Regular sauna improves sleep quality, possibly due to endorphin release, heat-induced muscle relaxation, and the meditative qualities of sauna itself, including quiet, time away from technology, and even the social rituals around it.

Many sauna users also report a general sense of clarity and well-being. And that counts. That doesn’t mean they don’t support your long-game health; it just reframes how to think about their role.

A Smarter Detox Strategy

The most effective way to support detoxification is by helping the body’s built-in systems do what they are designed to do. These practices help reduce exposure and support elimination.

·      Eat fibre-rich, plant-based foods. Vegetables, fruits, and whole grains support the gut’s ability to bind and remove toxins.

·      Move consistently. Gentle, regular movement supports the lymphatic system and circulation, which helps remove waste from the body.

· Prioritise sleep. Deep, consistent sleep activates the glymphatic system, which helps clear waste from the brain.

·      Reduce indoor dust. 

Saunas can be a valuable part of  longevity