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by:Garrett Swetlikoff

Hyperthermia is heat treatment, which has been used in medicine for thousands of years in a variety of forms. In all hyperthermia methods, the temperature of the tissue/body is elevated artificially to receive therapeutic benefits ranging from speeding soft tissue recovery and detoxification to complementary cancer treatment.

Heat therapy can be delivered externally using hot saunas or baths, heating rods, microwaves, radio frequencies, ultrasound, thermal blankets, or lasers. It can also be administered internally using substances called pyrogens, which induce fever. Hyperthermia is usually classified as local, regional, or whole body.

One form of heat therapy is infrared hyperthermia, a method of supplying thermal energy to the body without actually touching it. Infrared hyperthermia stores heat energy initially in the body’s periphery tissues and organs, and subsequently in the body centre as well. This treatment produces febrile (fever-like) temperatures that can be increased or decreased in the entire organism. Temperature duration can be varied as required.

Infrared hyperthermia can be performed in simple infrared saunas, which can be purchased for home use, or in more medically designed clinic units such as the Heckel tent. The infrared radiation used has a high proportion of short wavelengths (infrared A) close to the range of light, and is radiated along with light. Significant portions of this radiation penetrate the epidermis (skin) to a depth where the blood can absorb the heat and thus release and distribute it throughout the body.

Hyperthermia practitioners consider the controlled elevation of body temperature as simulating the evolutionary reaction of living organisms to harmful factors. Consequently, the therapy is deliberately restricted to temperatures in the natural range of febrile reaction to infections. Core temperature and pulse rate can be monitored and recorded electronically without disruption. EKG and other measurements are easily conducted while treatment is in progress, and the patient can receive an intravenous drip and oxygen.

Elevating temperature above the norm has diverse and far-reaching effects in all parts of the body.

• thermally accelerates the entire body’s biochemical metabolic processes and increases detoxification significantly
• increases permeability of cell membranes to water, oxygen, nutrients, and drugs
• supports reparative and regenerative processes
• increases overall circulation, promotes blood circulation of tissues and organs, and opens clogged collateral vessels
• relieves the tonus of striated and smooth musculature, causing muscle relaxation
• increases the velocity of nerve conduction
• activates sub-acute and chronic inflammation processes by way of promoting their cure
• influences the immunological system profoundly
• at sufficiently high temperatures, restricts the propagation of micro-organisms and viruses and malignant cell division.

The physiological effects of hyperthermia therapy may make it beneficial in cases of:

• muscular dystonia, soft tissue rheumatism, arthrosis, fibromyalgia, trauma
• bronchial asthma, chronic respiratory diseases, emphysema
• chronic inflammatory processes of all types (e.g. colitis, sinusitis, arthritis, lupus)
• detoxification programs
• trial treatment for illnesses that fail to respond to other therapies, especially allergies and dermatoses (e.g. chronic eczema, psoriasis, acne) and
• adjuvant treatment in oncology with or without conventional cancer treatment.

As with all modalities, patients must be screened and monitored appropriately during and after therapy.

Dr. Gerrett Swetlikoff is a naturopathic physician who lives and practises in Kelowna, BC. He focused on progressive and international natural medicine. He can be reached at 25-0868-2205 or gswetlikoff@shaw.ca

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