Introduction
It has long been known that sweating can help detoxify the body. The Romans used baths for health, as do Europeans to this day. During the Spanish empire, where mercury was mined and transported, affected workers were sent to warmer climates. There they drank alcohol, which ameliorates some of the damage of mercury, and to sweat out the toxins and improve.
Sweating is not merely a leaking of plasma (the watery component of blood) but is actually controlled excretion of many toxic elements via the skin.
Lactic acid, which makes our muscles sore, is excreted by sweat glands Zinc, a good mineral, is retained after prolonged sweating.
Emergency workers after 9/11 were found to have increased organic toxins excreted in their sweat.
Bisphenol A, a well known chemical toxin in common plastics, is preferentially excreted in sweat.
Sweating via a sauna is often recommended for its positive health impacts, particularly in regard to heavy metals.
Individuals with a higher toxic burden will excrete more toxins by sweating than normal people.
Arsenic dermal excretion was several fold higher in arsenic-exposed individuals than in unexposed controls.
Cadmium was more concentrated in sweat than in blood plasma.
Sweat lead was associated with high-molecular-weight molecules, and in an interventional study, levels were higher with endurance compared with intensive exercise.
Mercury levels normalized with repeated saunas in a case report.
Saunas have an effect beyond heavy metals with multiples studies demonstrating positive health benefits.
Athletes had higher plasma volume.
Participants report a global increase in wellness.
Cholesterol levels have been shown to drop, especially LDL, which is the bad cholesterol.
How effective is sauna?
Sweating has multiple effects on the body. The nature and magnitude of this effect differ amongst different people, based on underlying health and physiology. It is not apparent yet the exact magnitude of effect.
Who should be careful about going into a sauna?
A sauna is generally well tolerated after gentle exposure, even for children. Some conditions may warrant a medical review or supervision:
- Unstable angina pectoris or chest pain,
- Recent heart attack
- Severe aortic stenosis
- High-risk pregnancy
References
Dahlgren J, Cecchini M, Takhar H, Paepke O. Persistent organic pollutants in 9/11 world trade center rescue workers: reduction following
detoxification. Chemosphere . 2007;69(8):1320-1325. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.05.127
Genuis SJ, Beesoon S, Birkholz D, Lobo RA. Human excretion of bisphenol A: blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:185731. doi:10.1155/2012/185731
Hussain J, Cohen M. Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018;2018:1857413. Published 2018 Apr 24. doi:10.1155/2018/1857413
Sears ME, Kerr KJ, Bray RI. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in sweat: a systematic review. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:184745. doi:10.1155/2012/184745
