Sauna for Detox

Toxins are the invisible cause of countless health problems such as inflammation, hormone disruption, organ and tissue damage, cell membrane damage, and in extreme cases, even trigger changes to our DNA.

In today’s world, we’re sorry to say it, but toxins are unavoidable. They’re in the food we eat, the products we use, and the air we breathe. It’s a societal issue and not one that is going away.

If detox is your goal, the sauna is a great place to start. But you want be sure that you’re maximising - and not compromising - the process.

Take a read of these tips to amp up your next sauna session and supercharge detox.

OPENING UP A POROUS PATHWAY

Sauna’ing makes you sweat. Sweating is primarily a cooling mechanism, but its also a key detox pathway where toxins are carried out the body in our sweat.

At the same time, that porous pathway allows new toxins to enter the body.

What you wear matters.

Nylon, polyester, and spandex are synthetic plastic. Wearing synthetic fabrics in a sauna means you’re sweating out microplastics, yet absorbing new ones at the same time.

Wear cotton – or nothing at all.

What you wear ON YOUR SKIN matters.

Most makeup, sunscreen, moisturiser, perfume, and other products contain chemicals. When you sweat, any product on your skin will be absorbed.

Even products branded ‘natural’ contain ingredients that don’t belong INSIDE the body.

Our complemtary towels matter.

Wipe away sweat and remove excreted toxins during your session to avoid re-absorbtion.

Controversial opinion: Wait to shower until your body has naturally cooled down, so you reap the full physiological effects and benefits.

How you replenish matters.

Drink mineral-rich water during and after your session to stay hydrated and replenish the body.

Our water is filtered through charcoal to remove impurities whilst retaining vital minerals, and we add a pinch of magnesium salt to replace that lost through sweat.

You could also consider drinking electrolytes before, during or after your session. We love Hyro and offer sachets as an add-on at the time of booking. Hydro is 100% natural, no added sugar, gluten-free and vegan-friendly.

TRIGGERING A METABOLIC REACTION

Sauna therapy stimulates physiological reactions that mimic moderate exercise: increased cardiovascular rate, blood circulation, and metabolism – key processes that mobilise body-fat cells.

Body-fat cells store more than just fat. Environmental toxins, pollutants, pesticides and heavy metals are soluble compounds stored in fat. By increasing blood and lymphatic flow, these compounds are released and moved to the liver and kindeys for processing or excreted via sweat.

The body needs to clear these waste compounds efficiently or toxins simply end up re-entering storage and continue to make us feel crap.

Sauna therapy initiates the process and can help remove water-soluable toxins via sweat, but if you want to get serious, the following tips will help supercharge your detox.

Take a binder (+ water) before your session.

Whilst moving through the gut, binders attract and attach to toxins and heavy metals due to their positive charge and porous structure, when then get flushed out of the body via the bowel.

We are loving Wilder Health’s Fossil Shell Flour, also known as diatomaceous earth, made from 100% pure fossilised diatoms.

Dry body brushing during your session.

Sauna heat ignites the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems. Body brushing accellerates the movement of lymphatic fluid and circulation to better support detox (and reduce fluid retention!)

Start from the bottom of your body. Brush upward towards your heart. Target areas rich in lymph nodes such as behind the knees and under the arms.

We offer a beautiful artisan-made teak and coconut fibre dry body brush as an add-on at the time of booking. Give it a go the next time you’re in the studio.

Lying flat, feet up, does more than you think.

It helps drain stagnant blood and lymphatic fluid from the feet and legs, and back to the heart and gut, aiding circulaiton and digestion which helps flush out toxins.

Trust us: lying flat on your back with your feet up the wall is the ultimate way to sauna. If you’re yet to try it, we’re sorry you’ve missed out.

Finding your rhythm

If detox is your goal, choose infrared over traditional sauna, as infrared wavelengths work on a celluar level to activate and accelerate the process.

Aim for 30-45 minutes at 50-60ºC, and repeat 3 times per week, to best support the body's natural detoxification pathways.

Got questions? Drop us an email at info@solthaus.com