A Difficult, But Necessary, Conversation

We need to have a serious conversation and tackle one of the most common, fear-based questions I hear: Does using an infrared sauna spread cancer?

I get this question all the time, and I want to address it directly, with honesty and with science. When you or a loved one are facing a difficult diagnosis, the last thing you need is more fear. You need clarity.

Before we dive in, my most important piece of advice is always this: listen to your body. Your symptoms are not random; they are a language. How they express themselves should always guide your approach to wellness. With that in mind, let's deconstruct this fear.

Debunking the Myth: Does Infrared Heat Spread Cancer?

Let’s address the argument I hear from critics and concerned customers. The logic goes something like this: “Cancer spreads through metastasizing cells. An infrared sauna increases blood flow. Therefore, using a sauna will spread my cancer faster.”

I’ve heard the paranoia in people’s thinking: “If my cancer is growing, and I increase my blood flow by 15 or 20 percent, am I just going to spread that cancer at a 15 or 20 percent higher rate?”

Let’s be blunt: that is simply not true. It’s based on fuzzy logic. A cell won’t multiply faster than its own biology destines it to multiply. The programming of the cell dictates its replication rate, not the speed of your circulation.

Frankly, I think a lot of this fear is manufactured. When it comes to natural and inexpensive therapies that support the body, there isn't a lot of money to be made. Sometimes, the easiest way to slow the momentum of something that works is to create fear and doubt. My goal is to replace that fear with facts.

What Science Says About Heat Therapy and Cancer

So let’s look at the facts. Far from being a risk, heat is a well-established tool used to fight cancer in clinical settings.

The National Cancer Institute states on its official fact sheet that hyperthermia, or heat therapy, can make cancer cells more sensitive and vulnerable to traditional treatments like radiation and chemotherapy.

So, while the critic’s argument is that heat spreads cancer, the clinical reality is that heat is being used to help destroy it. The increased circulation from a sauna is much like the circulation from light exercise—which studies have shown helps activate the body's own cancer-fighting cells.

A Better Question: The Power of Detoxification

If we shouldn’t be afraid of heat, what should we be focusing on?

For me, the first and most important step for anyone who is unwell is, generally speaking, to start detoxifying. Your body will always function better and feel better if you lower its toxic burden. Why? Because toxicity causes inflammation, and inflammation is what causes symptoms.

So, let's talk about the right way to do it. This has to be a sequential process, and it always depends on the person’s current condition.

A Step-by-Step Protocol for Supporting Detox

Here is the supportive, step-by-step approach I recommend for gently encouraging the body's natural detoxification processes.

1. Start with Binders (If Weak or Stagnant): If a person is very weak, I would start them on a gentle binder, like bentonite clay and charcoal. These act like sponges to soak up the toxins that are already circulating in the body.

2. Encourage Gentle Movement: Your lymphatic system is the "sewer system" of your body, and it only works when you move. Taking a binder to soak up poisons without a way to eliminate them doesn’t help. Gentle movement is key to getting the system flowing.

3. Introduce Infrared Sauna: Once binders are in use and gentle movement is possible, the infrared sauna becomes the perfect tool. The sauna is the exit route. It helps the body get rid of the toxins that have been bound up by promoting a deep, cleansing sweat.

A Crucial Warning: This gentle binding process is very different from aggressive chelation. A harsh chelator can cause your cells to purge toxins all at once. If you pull all those poisons out without a way to get them out of the body immediately, you can just create more toxicity and a bigger burden. It must be a lock-step process: pull, bind, and then get it out.

Our Commitment: Education, Support, and Transparency

I want to be perfectly clear about our role at Therasage. We are here to educate on wellness and how to support the body's incredible, natural functions. We do not treat, cure, or prevent cancer.

This information is designed to help you make informed decisions, but the most important relationship you have is with your own body and your healthcare team. For complex health questions like this, the best thing to do is connect with our specialists. We have a Healthy Hotline on our website, and you can even get in touch with me directly through my Calendly.

We also have to be transparent about contraindications. For certain conditions, like lymphedema, medical experts recommend avoiding saunas. We echo that advice. Always put safety first.

The goal here is to empower you, not to scare you. Listen to your body, work with your trusted practitioners, and focus on supporting your system in every way you can.

← Previous Post Next Post →