Heat Therapy and Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome

Various types of heat therapy, such as saunas (small wooden rooms or facilities designed to relax their occupants through sweating with heat), have been used by many cultures for thousands of years as a therapeutic measure of everyday health.

Northern Europe, in particular, has popularized this in recent years. Saunas are now available in most spas, health clubs, gyms, and homes.

Using a sauna is safe for heat therapy and is a powerful eliminator of toxic metals from the body, including minerals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, aluminum, fluoride, and arsenic. In addition, it promotes relaxation and provides a forum for social interaction and spiritual development. Many people meditate in the quiet solitude of the sauna room. Saunas can affect a rebalancing of the body's neuroendocrine system; heat is a powerful healing force. Reported health conditions that have been relieved include chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, cancer, adrenal fatigue, and chronic infection, among others.

Sauna Temperature

The key to a proper therapeutic sauna starts with the right apparatus and temperature. There are three general types of dry sauna: traditional Finnish sauna using rocks, Far-Infrared sauna using heating elements such as ceramics, and Near-Infrared sauna using infrared lamps in clusters. The sauna temperature will vary according to the type of sauna you desire; as a result, the therapeutic result will vary.

The chart below shows the differences in maximum heat and pre-heat times between conventional Finnish saunas and far-infrared saunas for heat therapy.

*The maximum temperature allowed in the United States and Canada is 194°F (90°C).

Tools for Heat Therapy: Conventional Sauna vs. Far-Infrared Sauna

Traditional saunas (Finnish saunas) heat the bather by moving hot air. Rocks are placed on top of electric coil heaters; they are the most popular and clean. Bathers can sprinkle water on top of the rocks to produce steam. The traditional saunas are the saunas you commonly see in health clubs.

Recently, a new form of sauna emerged that uses far infrared heat. A far-infrared sauna (FIR) is heated by the radiant method. Ceramic or metallic elements emit a narrow energy band, usually between about four and forty microns. It is highly efficient, requires less electricity, and little if any, preheating. It penetrates the skin and heats from the inside and on the skin. This helps the heat reach deeper tissues in the body. The air within the chamber is not heated as much, and the ambient temperature remains lower and more comfortable for the bather. The heating elements are usually built into several walls and floors of the sauna. To maximize the advantage of a Far-Infrared sauna, proper seating is key; always sit directly in the path of the radiant energy so the rays strike all body parts for direct radiant heating; most home units use FIR. One drawback is that they can produce significant disruptive electromagnetic fields (EMF). Those who are sensitive to EMF may not tolerate this type of sauna.

Another type of infrared sauna uses infrared heat lamps to heat the occupant. They emit mostly near-infrared energy, although some middle infrared and a small amount of far-infrared energy are also emitted. This type of energy penetrates the body the deepest, and it is good for localized use to give intense heat. Also, these produce no detectable electromagnetic fields (EMF).

A typical traditional sauna bath will last about fifteen to thirty minutes with a cool-down interval, followed by a second and possibly third sauna session. The relative humidity and high temperature will vary for a dry sauna when the rocks are splashed with water to create steam. Depending on the amount of water splashed on the rocks, the spike in temperature is very brief. A Far-Infrared sauna session generally lasts about thirty to forty-five minutes because the temperature is much lower and therefore more tolerable.

Not everyone can tolerate heat therapy well; death has been reported. The cardiovascular system collapses at extremely high temperatures, so if one is not careful, prolonged intense use in any single session could cause problems. Those who are elderly, have pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, neuroendocrine dysfunction (such as  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome), and those with impaired or sub-optimal body temperature regulation must proceed with care and preferably with close supervision.

Because the therapeutic effect of sauna is directly related to the session length, professional guidance should be considered for those who are weak. Session length can range from a few minutes to an hour.

Sauna therapy works through two separate but overlapping mechanisms within a single sauna therapy session. As a result, the effects of saunas occur in two phases physiologically. This distinction is important as one can maximize the beneficial part of each phase separately.

Phase 1 Sauna Therapy

In the first phase of the heat therapy, the body temperature remains approximately at a base level (before the sauna has begun), and the sweating is light, relatively speaking. This usually happens during each sauna session's first ten to fifteen minutes. Although tissue heating occurs and heat gradually increases, the body can dissipate the extra heat by increasing circulation, moving more blood to the skin from internal organs as the skin pore size increases, and sweating is increased but only slightly. As a result, the body temperature remains steady and does not rise significantly. One remains quite comfortable during this phase inside the sauna with a sense of embracing warmth, also called the relaxation phase.

Phase 1 Sauna and  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome

Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome consists of four stages. Those with early  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (stages 1 and 2) can generally tolerate sauna heat therapy well in its entirety. Those with advanced  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, however, usually are quite fragile. Using sauna heat therapy may not be appropriate and may worsen matters. Many people, especially those with advanced  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, have overstimulated and decompensated sympathetic nervous systems. Common symptoms of  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome include fatigue, hypoglycemia, anxiety, poor circulation, impaired immune system, poor digestion, constipation, temperature intolerance, insomnia, depression, and low libido. Many of these symptoms are associated with and the result of a high sympathetic nervous system tone (SNS). To balance the SNS, focus should be placed on enhancing the opposing parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) function. Strengthening the parasympathetic nervous system also relieves blood stagnation and chronic sympathetic stimulation due to stress, forcing more blood into the internal organs as part of the fight or flight response. When blood stagnates in these systems, internal metabolites build up, impaired circulation is the norm, and the new tissue of the organs becomes compromised. Phase 1 sauna is, therefore, particularly suitable for those with advanced Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome.

As one begins a sauna program, congestion and inactivity of the skin can impair sweating. After weeks, or perhaps up to a few months of repeated sauna use, the skin becomes more active, and sweating increases exponentially. This causes decreased concentration of sodium chloride in the sweat, which allows progressively better conservation of minerals. Most of this effect is caused by increased secretion of aldosterone. When one begins a sauna program, sweating may only occur in some areas of the body. As the program progresses, more skin sweats relative to other body parts. The sauna therapy also includes oxygenation by the body’s attempt to reduce this temperature; therefore allowing more blood flow to the lungs and skin, where the blood picks up more oxygen. (as the pulse increases with the strong volume, the cardiac output rises, and tissue oxygenation increases)

Those in advanced stages of  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome may find this phase of heat therapy most revitalizing. Because most sufferers of advanced  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (stage 3 and beyond) are in a state of sympathetic dominance, the body tends to be flooded in a sea of epinephrine and norepinephrine.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is invariably imbalanced as  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome progresses. The more advanced the state of Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, the higher the sympathetic tone is at baseline. The resting heart rate is usually above 80 beats per minute (normal is 72-76). In addition, many people are presented with unpleasant symptoms such as postural hypotension, dizziness, and heart palpitation with slight exposure to stress that can be physical or emotional; a sense of anxiety is also common. Phase 1 of sauna therapy often leads to a sense of calm and tranquility, provided that the duration is acceptable to the body.

Along with adrenal breathing to increase the opposing parasympathetic tone, the body’s neuroendocrine system can achieve homeostasis quickly, leading to a sustained recovery from  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome. It is important to remember that not everyone with advanced Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome benefits from this phase of sauna therapy. If the body’s nutritional reserve is low or weak, even gentle phase 1 sauna therapy can trigger adrenal crashes. Proper timing is key. Those who are weak and constantly fatigued should avoid using the sauna as a way to increase energy for such therapy. When done at the wrong time, this can backfire, triggering adrenal crashes.

Phase 2

In phase two, which usually happens about 10-30 minutes after one goes into the sauna, the body can no longer dissipate the heat of the sauna without calling for extra help. The body temperature will rise gradually during heat therapy. The rise in body temperature can go up from one to four degrees Fahrenheit. Blood is more forcefully sent to the surface of the skin. The heart rate increases as the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is called into action. It is at this time that someone may feel sluggish and uncomfortable. The longer one stays in the sauna, the more the sympathetic nervous system may be stimulated. In phase two, some effects include increased body temperature and hastening the death of weaker cells. The increase in heart rate and circulation can also lead to disabling of pathogenic micro-organisms. Phase 2 may begin as little as ten minutes after starting the sauna therapy. The harder the SNS has to work, the more sweating will occur, and the more uncomfortable one will be.

Phase 2 sauna therapy is generally more beneficial for those who are healthy and strong. If you have  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, be very careful with prolonged Phase 2 sauna activity. While it can improve circulation and enhance immune system activity, it is not for everyone. Those who are weak or have  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome should be careful not to be engaged in this phase of sauna therapy for a prolonged period as it can trigger adrenal crashes.

After the Sauna

After a sauna session ends, the body temperature may remain elevated for up to fifteen minutes; then, it may suddenly drop to the base level. At this point, one may often feel fatigued or light-headed. Rest to ensure that the body is hydrated fully for ten to fifteen minutes after the sauna session is important because it will give the body a better ability to restore normal functioning.

Many like to have a cold shower or bath immediately after using the sauna. This is not recommended for those with advanced  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome. The sudden drop in temperature may be hard for those who are already weak and unable to tolerate fluctuations in temperature. When the body is out of its comfort range of temperature, a range of undesirable neuroendocrine responses, including dizziness, fainting, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, and fatigue, can ensue. Simply rinsing off with warm-temperature water is best.

Germanium as a Source of Far Infrared

Another way of getting low-dose therapeutic effects of heat therapy without a far infrared sauna is using apparel, wraps, or braces made out of germanium, an element found in nature. The human body emits infrared rays at a wavelength of about nine microns. Germanium emits far infrared rays measuring around 4 to 14 microns in very small amounts. When both emit the same nine-micron wavelength rays, the overlap may help water molecules in the body to warp up and, as a result, improve blood circulation. Bear in mind that the potency of this approach is very small but can be detectable, especially by sensitive people. This increasing circulation approach can be effective in reducing inflammation. Those with joint or muscle pain of unknown origin may find this effective.

Conclusion: Heat Therapy and Adrenal Fatigue

Heat therapy using conventional or Far-Infrared sauna has its place within the  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome recovery protocol. The effect of sauna occurs in two phases. Phase 1 sauna therapy, in particular, is most suitable because of its parasympathetic nervous system enhancement effect. Unfortunately, improper and indiscriminate use of sauna therapy can trigger adrenal crashes and worsen existing conditions, especially if one engages in excessive Phase 2 sauna therapy where the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated. Sufferers of  Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome should only embark on sauna therapy when closely supervised.

Interested in exploring heat therapy for adrenal fatigue syndrome? Call us today at +1 (626) 571-1234 for personalized advice and treatment options. Our experts are here to guide you towards effective and soothing solutions tailored to your needs. Take the first step towards better health and vitality—call now to schedule your consultation!