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by Lawrence Wilson, MD

If I were to single out one method to combat cancer, it is the sauna. In particular, the electric light infrared sauna is extremely helpful. This type is heated by three 250-watt red infrared heat lamps. It assists removal of chemical toxins and heavy metals, increases oxygenation, enhances the immune system and reduces the radiation burden in the body. (1)

Saunas not only help remove radioactive particles, but can kill cells mutated by radiation that otherwise reproduce and eventually lead to cancer. In this sense, saunas have genetic effects that improve the overall quality of the body’s DNA. Genetics researchers often forget that nutrients turn on genes and toxins alter or block genetic expression.

Infrared sauna therapy is also the most powerful method I have found for uncovering and healing chronic infections. Endo- and exo-toxins from chronic infections often contribute to the development of cancer.

What is Cancer?

In 1902, Dr. John Beard published a paper in The Lancet on the trophoblastic theory of cancer. (2) It. is quite simple and has never been disproven. In fact, it recently received strong confirmation by scientists at the University of Michigan. (3) Dr. Beard showed that a normal tissue of the body, the trophobiast, exhibits characteristics identical to cancer. It is invasive, metastatic, forms new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and has the same specific markers and chemical composition as cancer cells.

The trophoblast is a totipotent or stem cell that grows around the developing fetus during the first eight to twelve weeks of pregnancy. The word trophoblast means ‘nourishing the baby.’ It burrows into the lining of the mother’s uterus and supplies the fetus with blood until the placenta forms. It is essential for life.

The trophoblast normally disappears between 8 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. If it overgrows, the result is a very virulent form of cancer, choriocarcinoma. It usually kills both mother and fetus within a few weeks.

One may say, if the trophoblast only develops during pregnancy, how can it explain all other cancers? Dr. Beard found that the stem cells that form the trophoblast are present all over the body in small numbers. Given the right stimulus, they begin to grow. A key to understanding cancer is to understand what makes these cells grow.

Estrogen, The Primary Carcinogen

The primary stimulus for the growth of the trophoblast is high estrogen, as occurs during pregnancy. Estrogen is associated with cell proliferation. One may ask why so much cancer occurs in men and in post-menopausal women who do not produce much estrogen. The answer is, everyone’s adrenal glands produce estrogens, in both sexes and at all ages.

Normal estrogen production by the adrenals or ovaries is not a problem. The liver converts the estrogen to a harmless form. However, when the liver is toxic or otherwise compromised, it cannot detoxify estrogen properly. There are three common estrogens–estriol, estradiol and estrone. Estrone is the most harmful. When the liver becomes toxic, estrone increases and the stage is set for cancer. Liver toxicity today is the rule rather than the exception. Causes for liver toxicity include:

* Toxins in the food supply. These include toxic metals, pesticide residues, preservatives and thousands of other additives used in prepared foods. Some pesticides and other chemicals mimic the effects of estrogen by occupying estrogen binding sites. This may cause more estrogens to circulate freely in the body. An interesting new study found that cadmium mimics the effects of estrogen. (4)

* Thousands of organic chemicals and toxic metals in the environment. Besides food, sources of toxins include contaminated air, dental materials, especially silver amalgam fillings, and skin contact with toxins in solvents, detergents, skin care products, chlorinated and fluoridated water and other household and industrial chemicals. Building materials, carpets, plastics and office machinery may also outgas toxic chemicals.

* Radiation exposure damages the liver. Everyone is exposed to radiation today from bomb fallout, nuclear plant accidents, medical and other uses of radiation.

* Prescription, over-the-counter and other remedies. All pharmaceuticals are synthetic chemicals that must be detoxified and excreted, primarily by the liver. Vaccines are preserved with toxic metals. Many herbs are toxic as well, though much less than most drugs. Vitamin products that contain sea minerals and land-based mineral deposits often contain toxic metals. A portion of any ingested drug or chemical remains in the body, often for years. These will build up and can be an important source of liver toxicity.

* Adrenal exhaustion. This is an indirect cause. Adrenal weakness contributes to a slow oxidation rate and sluggish liver activity. Also, the body compensates for adrenal depletion by accumulating toxic levels of copper, iron, chromium, selenium, manganese, aluminum, cadmium and lead that are toxic to the liver.

* Nutrient deficiencies. These impair the liver’s normal detoxification pathways. Nutrient deficiencies are the result of poor quality diets, poor eating habits and impaired digestion. Stress increases the need for nutrients.

* Impaired digestion. Poor digestion causes the production of toxic substances in the intestines due to fermentation and putrefaction of food. A vicious cycle occurs in which a toxic liver does not produce enough bile and digestive enzymes. As a result, food is poorly digested, which generates toxins that in turn worsen the condition of the liver. This further impairs enzyme production, which in turn results in more toxins in the intestines.

* Improper bowel flora such as candida albicans and other pathogenic organisms. These can produce deadly toxins in the intestines. Candida albicans, for example, produces alcohol and acetaldehyde.

* Chronic infections anywhere in the body. Bacterial and other infections generate endo- and extotoxins. Chronic infections are much more common than imagined. I would estimate most people have a dozen low-grade chronic infections. Common sites are the teeth, eyes, ears, throat, bladder, bronchials, intestines and skin.

* Stress from any cause activates the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn reduces liver activity. Stress also impairs digestion, which leads to more toxin generation in the intestines.

* Fatigue. Fatigue can be an important factor in liver toxicity.

Reduced Pancreatic Enzyme Secretion

At about 12 weeks of pregnancy, the trophoblast mysteriously stops growing and the placenta takes over the function of nourishing the fetus. Dr. Beard found that enzymes produced by the fetal and maternal pancreas stops the growth of the trophoblast.

This is the basis for the pancreatic enzyme treatment of cancer advocated by Dr. William Kelley, DDS and others. (5) Large quantities of pancreatic enzymes are given by mouth which helps stop the growth of malignant cells.

The pancreas plays another role. Pancreatic enzymes are needed for proper digestion. A weakened, toxic or depleted pancreas contributes to a toxic liver by failing to provide adequate enzymes for complete food digestion. Many people do not produce enough pancreatic enzymes or they overeat, exceeding their enzymatic capacity. These enzymes are not the same as “food enzymes” found in raw food. Ideally, excess pancreatic enzymes are secreted so that any cancer that begins to develop will be destroyed.

Causes for deficient pancreatic activity are similar to the causes of liver toxicity. They include stress, poor-quality diets, poor eating habits and toxic exposures.

Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System

An important cause of impaired pancreas and liver activity is excessive activity of the sympathetic nervous system. This branch of the autonomic nervous system is sometimes called the fight-or-flight system. It inhibits the activity of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, intestines and stomach. These are the very organs needed to produce digestive enzymes and the primary organs of detoxification.

Excessive activity of the sympathetic nervous system is extremely common today. Causes include stress, hurried or busy lifestyles, toxic metals, nutrient deficiencies, some toxic chemicals and negative attitudes like fear, worry, anger, resentment and guilt. These factors keep the body in a fight-or-flight or sympathetic state.

Many cancer patients have a sympathetic dominant personality. They have difficulty relaxing and are often hard on themselves and others. They are often fearful, angry, guilty, perfectionistic, resentful or use other mechanisms that cause the body to remain in a sympathetic state much of the time. People who exercise too much, worry a lot, work too hard or are obsessive often overwork the sympathetic nervous system.

Therapies that inhibit the sympathetic nervous system are marvelous for cancer. These include saunas, coffee enemas, colon therapy, pancreatic enzyme therapy and minerals including calcium, magnesium and zinc. Lots of rest, relaxation techniques, meditation, body work, biofeedback and other methods are also helpful.

Sauna Mechanisms for Cancer

The secret of sauna therapy for cancer is a combination of mechanisms that act simultaneously. These include:

1. Heating the body. Hyperthermia is a well-known and underused method of killing cancer cells. Cancer cells are weaker than normal cells and more susceptible to damage from heat. Coley’s toxins (6) is a simple cancer therapy based on inducing a fever by injecting pyrogenic or fever-causing bacteria into the body. Saunas are a safer, gentler and easier to control method of heating the tissues to induce a fever. Infrared saunas are superior for this purpose, as they heat the tissues directly. Far infrared saunas heat to about an inch and a half inside the body. Electric light saunas with three 250-watt lamps heat to about three inches inside the body.

2. Inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system activates the muscles, thyroid and adrenal glands to respond to stress. It also inhibits the activity of the eliminative organs and the immune system.

Excessive activity of the sympathetic nervous system contributes to many cases of cancer. Many toxins activate the sympathetic system. Therapies that inhibit the sympathetic system are very helpful and at times critical for cancer recovery. Saunas are excellent for this purpose.

At least three mechanism, inhibit the sympathetic system. According to Guyton’s Textbook of Medical Physiology, (7) heating the body reduces normal heat production, a sympathetic activity. Saunas draw blood from the center to the periphery of the body, a parasympathetic activity. Saunas also help eliminate from the body toxic metals and chemicals that can keep the body in a sympathetic state. These include copper, iron, manganese, aluminum, cadmium and lead. They also include some pesticides and other toxic chemicals.

3. Improving circulation. Cancer often grows in tissues with poor circulation and thus poor nutrition and oxygenation. Saunas are excellent to enhance overall circulation to bring needed nutrients, hormones, oxygen and other substances to all body tissues.

4. Decongesting the internal organs. Congestion of the liver, kidneys and other internal organs inhibits detoxification of estrogen and elimination of chemicals and toxic metals. Saunas increase circulation and cause blood to move toward the body surface. This helps decongest the internal organs.

5. Producing heat shock protein. Heat shock proteins are a discovery of the past 20-30 years. (8) These interesting substances are produced naturally by the body when it is subjected to certain stressors, among them heat. Heat shock proteins can renature proteins, which means to repair and rebuild damaged cell structures. They are a hot topic in cancer research as they have been found to be potent immune system stimulants. Infrared sauna therapy appears to be a simple and safe way to induce natural production of heat shock proteins.

6. Enhancing activity of the skin. Saunas cleanse the skin from the inside. In most people, the skin, a major eliminative organ, is inactive due to wearing clothing and exposure to hundreds of toxic chemicals in bathing water and skin care products. The skin is also important for oxygenation of the body. Sweating also reduces the burden on the kidneys, assisting them to regenerate.

7. Color therapy. Color therapy is greatly underrated. Red, yellow and orange in the electric light sauna stimulates the lower chakras and the organs of elimination–the liver, kidneys and large intestine. (9) Infrared is also extremely beneficial for the emotional or astral body, sometimes referred to as the aura. It appears to help release emotional traumas. Color therapy can be added to any sauna and is a perfect adjunct to sauna therapy.

8. Infrared decouples toxins from water molecules. This is an enormous benefit of infrared radiation. This occurs most with the electric light sauna, which offers a wide spectrum of near, medium and far infrared energy. Research indicates infrared can remove telomeres from DNA that contribute to aging of the body.

9. Enhancing oxygenation. Oxygen therapies are helpful for cancer and widely used by holistic physicians. Saunas enhance oxygenation several ways. They increase blood flow through the lungs and skin, assisting the blood to pick up more oxygen. They also increase circulation to all body tissues, distributing oxygen to all the tissues. Saunas help remove lead, copper, mercury, arsenic and cyanide that can cause the so-called anemia of chronic disease that reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. According to Japanese research, infrared may also enhance oxygen production within the cells.

10. Balancing the pH. Saunas help balance both excessively acid and alkaline body chemistries. This is due to improved circulation and oxygenation, and correcting the metabolic rate.

11. Enhancing the activity of water molecules in the body. Infrared resonates at the frequency of water and increases the activity of water molecules in the cells. It also reduces the specific gravity of water so that it penetrates cells better, carrying nutrients to the cells and helping remove toxins flour the cells.

Saunas and the Mental State

Maintaining a positive mental attitude is very important for cancer patients. Many patients report that sauna therapy feels good, is relaxing and leaves them refreshed and happier. Some report that the quiet and privacy of the sauna is like a gift to oneself that they cherish. In the sauna, one can shut out the cares of the day. It can also be a spiritual and meditative time one sets aside each day to reaffirm one’s bond with the Creator.

Tumor Necrosis and Saunas

In addition to metal and chemical toxicity, cancer patients must deal with toxicity due to necrosis and disintegration of tumors.

One needs to be aware of this and monitor therapy carefully, especially at the beginning of sauna therapy. Extra coffee enemas are extremely helpful and at times life-saving if symptoms of detoxification become severe.

Other Considerations

The choice of saunas. While any sauna is helpful, for cancer I strongly recommend using an electric light sauna. This is the most powerful type with the deepest tissue penetration. It also offers color therapy and much wider spectrum infrared therapy.

In many cases, one can easily convert a hot air sauna or far infrared sauna to the electric light type. One does this by adding infrared lamps to the sauna. If the space is too large to heat up using the lamps alone, one may need to turn on the original heaters at a low setting to help heat the space. Plans are available free of charge for the electric light sauna at www.drlwilson.com.

The main impediment to conversion is often the seating arrangement. With an electric light sauna, one must rotate the body. Other types of saunas have benches on one side that do not lend themselves to rotating the body. Large saunas often have room to place a small seat or bench in the middle of the sauna. In smaller saunas, the benches are often removable and can be replaced by a small chair or bench placed in the center of the sauna.

Preheating the sauna. To produce the maximum heat shock proteins for immune stimulation, I suggest preheating far infrared and electric light saunas for 20 minutes so the sauna will be hotter during the session. Allow a hot air sauna to reach 200[degrees] and a far infrared sauna to reach 130[degrees]F. Allow an electric light infrared sauna to reach 120[degrees]F. Hotter is not necessary or helpful.

Sauna protocol. It is important to be relaxed during sauna sessions to obtain the maximum benefit. For this reason, the best times for saunas are first thing in the morning and last thing at night. A third sauna session may be in late morning. Do coffee enemas after sauna sessions.

Rest 15-20 minutes after a sauna session to achieve the maximum benefit. Adding kelp granules or tablets to one’s nutritional regimen is usually all that is required to replace electrolytes lost during sweating. Fancy electrolyte drinks and high-dose vitamin C will interfere with sauna effects. They are yin or cold in Chinese medical terminology and sauna therapy is a yang therapy.

Showering after each sauna session is important. Some people do not want to take the time to shower. However, one will reabsorb some toxins if they remain on the skin too long. Use a skin brush each time one showers and reduce soap and shampoo use as much as possible.

Frequency of sauna use. In cases of cancer it is best to use a sauna three times a day, rather than the usual once or twice a day. Each session may need to be shorter, such as 20-30 minutes, especially if one is debilitated.

Duration of sauna therapy. On average, at least two years of continuous sauna therapy are recommended for cancer cases. One will often feel better much sooner. However, since cancer is an end-stage illness, two years are best to prevent a recurrence. After two years, assuming health has returned and tests are normal, I recommend maintenance therapy with one to three sauna sessions per week.

Cleaning the sauna. More frequent cleaning of the sauna may be required for a cancer patient. Place a towel on the floor and wash as needed in the washing machine. Walls of a wooden enclosure can be washed with Oxi-clean or another non-toxic cleaner. If one is using a frame enclosure covered with blankets or fabric, wash the covering and frame once a month or more.

More information about sauna therapy is found in the Manual of Sauna Therapy. (10)

References

1. Yamazaki, T., Infrared Therapy, Man and History Co., Tokyo, 1987.

2. Beard, J., Embriological aspects and etiology of carcinoma, The Lancet, 1902;1:1758

3. The Townsend Letter, #240, July 2003, pp. 34-35.

4. Nature, August 2003.

5. Kelley, W.D., One Answer To Cancer 1975.

6. Coley, W.B., A Preliminary Note on the Treatment of Inoperable Sarcoma by the Toxic Product of Erysipelas, Post-Graduate Medicine, 8:278-86, 1893.

7. Guyton, A., Textbook of Medical Physiology, 6th edition, W.B. Saunders Company, 1981, p.892.

8. Kukreja, R.C., ed, Heat Shock Proteins in Myocardial Protection, Landes Bioscience, 2000. Also see Verlag, S., Heat Shock, 1991.

9. Dennis, C., Colorology, Rainbows Unlimited, Clearwater, Florida, 1994.

10. Wilson, L, Manual of Sauna Therapy, 2003.

Visit http://www.drlwilson.com/ for books, and audio tapes from Dr. Wilson.

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