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Interesting article that informs us about the benefits of photobiomodulation in health. According to information from Dr. Mercola, saunas include better cardiovascular fitness and fewer cases of all-cause mortality, lower blood pressure, reduced risk of dementia, more optimal mental health, better immune function, greater athletic endurance, less inflammation , stem cell activation, increased insulin sensitivity, and fewer stress hormones

In this review, we present evidence showing that near-infrared light, both present in sunlight, could explain associations between sunlight exposure and better health. Body irradiation with red and near infrared light or photobiomodulation (PBM), has shown beneficial effects in chronic diseases.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163720302245 (2020)

PBM is gaining more recognition in the medical field for the treatment of diseases from arthritis to Parkinson's with its ability to repair and stimulate regeneration mechanisms, based on stem cell properties such as self-renewal and multilineage differentiation capacity .

The photobiomodulator (PBM) in cells and tissues, contributing to a targeted modulation of cell behaviors, improving tissue repair processes can induce cell proliferation and improve stem cell differentiation to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, in parallel to the improvement of healing and tissue repair processes. The application of these properties was used and observed in the treatment of various diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, brain damage, spinal cord damage, dermatological conditions, oral irritation and in different areas of dentistry.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7356229/ (2020)

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I've used a red light therapy device for a couple of years (has both near infrared and red light spectrum). There are many high-powered devices, but I found the least expensive, but very high-powered one was at this company redtherapy.co/.../redrush-360-light

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Dr. Mercola said you can swap out a 15 amp breaker for a 20 amp breaker. Yes, you can, but if the 15 amp breaker is running 14 ga wire, you can burn your house down. Be careful what you say about residential electrical circuits. 20 amp breakers need 12 ga wire to handle the load.

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I was intrigued by the EMF connection, so I got an EMF detector. I've had fun around the house and neighborhood finding emitters. But as a long time fan of sauna benefits, I go to my gym for a workout and about 20 minute session in their sauna 3 or 4 times every week. So I took my tester to the gym and measured it. Short version -- low EMF at my gym.

Sauna is 10 ft by 15 ft, with a heater behind a wooden fence in one corner, about 2 feet cube. Benches L shaped from the heater fence around to the opposite wall from the heater. Thermometer near the ceiling measures steady 180F. EMF readings showed 0.00 E field and H field throughout the room except very near the heater fence showing 1 or 2 volts per meter (E) and 0 (H) at waist level and above, but rising much higher approaching the floor. Goes back to 0 when I back away a foot or two.

I'm guessing the metal structure shields the occupants from most of the EMF likely generated by this powerful toaster.

Your sauna might be different, so it's worth asking your provider, or do your own test. I got a simple tester from Amazon for about $40. Seems to work well at low frequencies in household and gym appliances.

Sauna has many benefits and no one should avoid what's available for unconfirmed to risks. I like Dr Mercola's discussions of it, but I wrote about it in my substack last winter. Not that being first matters, but I showed a different perspective.

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Dr. Mercola does not pronounce Sauna properly, with our Finish, but that's okay. The traditional Finish sauna has over a century of experience - though not near-infrared the users were out in the fields daily for sun. My experience was joyful - getting the toxins out at 170+F degrees of air temp - and the muscle relaxation. None the less I'm likely to convert my FAR soon.

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What about if we are in a smaller home and don't have room for a sauna? What about the small incandescent Infrared lamps you see on Amazon etc.. Are they helpful when shown on the body?

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Read this article, thinking about buying one of the saunaspace complete IR sauna. There is a 15% sale today only... Dr M says that the area of improvement that needs to happen to this EMF free wonderful solution, is for them to increase the internal temperature of the space, and shares that they could do that adding via a 3 more of the same IR lamps from Saunaspace into the enclosure. I just talked to Saunaspace and they confirmed that the air temp, at chest level sitting down reaches 130 degrees. That being far short of the approx 170 F degree in Finish saunas that provide the heat shock effect. And they confirmed that the extra 3 bulbs would boost it up to 170 or more degrees. The saunaspace person today said that the internal temperature of a person in a Finish sauna at 175 degrees would increase by 2-3 degrees. And they said that although their existing Saunaspace only climbed to a temperature to 130 degrees, internally the user would, via the Near IR, experience the same 2-3 increase in internal temperature. Thus attaining the same effect. I then found what looks to be a credible source of Finnish sauna users internal increase in temperature and it also said they measured 2-3 degrees increase in internal temperature. This information would indicate to me that the standard 4 bulbs in a saunaspace enclosure would be sufficient to get the heat shock effect. ( plus the Near-IR photobiomodulation effect). I'd love Dr M's insight on this.

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Dec 16, 2022·edited Dec 16, 2022

Just when I'd decided I was going to buy a Full Spectrum sauna, I watch this!! I've been sold on sauna for several years, but didn't know which one to buy...so was holding off on buying one until I knew for sure which would be best. I'd gotten this interview on a Mercola email, a few months ago, but hadn't watched the whole thing. I also watched his interview with Dr. Rhonda Patrick (if I remember correctly, he interviewed her). Again, didn't watch the whole thing. I had recently watched a sauna webinar that Robyn Openshaw (Green Smoothie Girl) did, & became sold on the Full Spectrum by Sunlighten -- the Amplify models which reach 170 degrees. And while I trust Robyn's opinions & advice (I take her liquid Ultimate Minerals 2x day, & can tell they've helped me!), I also trust Dr. Mercola's opinions & advice (& have taken some of his supps for years)!

So now I'm likely to do a 180 & go with THIS type of sauna! I'm 67, & have some arthritis in my hips, hands, disc degeneration in my neck...things that I believe sauna can help with. I haven't cleaned up my diet as I should, so also need to do that. I saved the .pdf of the transcript, so will read back through parts of it to make sure I really understand. Will also read from the Sauna Space site's info.

Am REALLY glad I took the time to watch this interview!

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Mercola mentions drinking water half an hour before....containing electrolytes, glycine, and hydroxybuterate? Did anyone else hear what he said, and where this supplement can be found?

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Aug 22, 2023·edited Dec 8, 2023

I realize we are an exclusive group that reads these pieces on Substack. I thought I would add my experience about using two light panels for a total of 7 bulbs.

I used the non-EMF-blocking Luminati sauna with the 4-light panel for a 30 minute session, broken out across twelve 2 and 1/2 minute rotations (90-degree turns). (So that's three full rotations). I didn't start really sweating until the third rotation. I would not call the session a heavy sweat, but a definite sweat.

I just added an additional 3-light panel, for a total of 7 lights. I am presently doing a 16-minute session, broken out across eight 2-minute rotations, with a 50-second warmup to get situated and to "seal" the enclosure. At the end I am drenched in sweat. Those last four minutes are bit of a challenge, but well worth it!

I don't even know yet whether I am going to increase the length of each 90-degree rotation. I'm not sure it is necessary. I feel like I'm getting the therapeutic effect at 16 minutes. Definitely worth adding the additional 3-light panel. (And I think I'm one of the only people who isn't getting some sort of compensation to write this). I hate the expense, but I do think they delivered on the feedback Dr. Mercola gave them about getting it hotter.

*update* - I used an oven thermometer today. With the two-panel 7-bulb setup, the Saunaspace temperature is 172 degrees after 12 minutes in a room with ambient temperature of 70 degrees. No wonder I'm dripping in sweat after 16 and 1/2 minutes!

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