Therasage Blog

Brains, Delivery, and Heart: The Story of the TheraPlex

It Started With a Question

Today I want to share something truly special with you. It’s called the TheraPlex, and I genuinely believe this is a game-changer for how we approach pain, recovery, and overall wellness.

But this isn't just another gadget. For me, this is personal. My journey into this world didn’t start in a lab or a boardroom. It started in my own home, as a father trying to find real answers for my daughter when conventional options just weren’t enough.

That search taught me something fundamental: our bodies are designed to heal. They speak a language we’ve started to forget – the language of energy, frequency, and light. This is the story of how we learned to listen to that language.

The Origin of TheraPlex: A Story of Two Technologies

To understand the TheraPlex, you first need to understand two foundational pillars of energy medicine.

• Pillar 1 Light Therapy: Think of specific wavelengths of light as a nutrient. Our bodies absorb red and near-infrared light on a cellular level, acting like a charger for our cells' tiny batteries, the mitochondria. This boosts circulation, reduces inflammation, and gives your cells the raw energy they need to repair themselves.

• Pillar 2 Bio-Electric Communication (Microcurrent): Your entire nervous system runs on tiny electrical signals. What if, instead of just blocking pain, we could speak the body’s native language? Using subtle microcurrents to soothe nerves, re-educate muscles, and tell the body exactly where to focus its healing.

For years, these two powerful therapies existed in separate worlds. I knew if we could combine them, we could unlock something special. My search led me to a company called Avazzia and its brilliant owner, Tim Smith. This man was one of the senior minds at Texas Instruments, his factories made the microchips for the satellites orbiting the Earth right now. He understands frequency on a level few others do.

I got a meeting. I shared my vision: to merge the foundational energy of my Therasage Tri-Lite Panel with the targeted communication of their incredible microcurrent devices.

They listened, thanked me, and showed me the door. I honestly thought that was it.

But as I was walking to my car, Tim came rushing out. He said, "I didn't want to talk business up there, but I love this idea." He pulled out a pen, grabbed a napkin, and right there in the parking lot, he scratched out a design for an interface that could connect his device to mine.

That napkin was the beginning. I took it, I ran with it, and the TheraPlex was born.

How TheraPlex Combines Microcurrent and Light Therapy

So, how does this system born from a napkin sketch actually work? It's a team of three parts working in perfect synergy.

1. The Avazzia Microcurrent Handheld: This is the brains of the operation. It generates the precise, adaptive frequencies that speak your body's language.

2. The Tri-Lite Panel: This is your delivery system. It emits both red and near-infrared light that penetrates deep into your tissue to reduce inflammation and charge your cells.

3. The Interface Box: This is the heart of the system. It flawlessly combines the two, infusing the microcurrent signal from the handheld directly into the light panel.

Now, that flexible panel is delivering both the healing power of light AND the targeted instructions of microcurrent, directly to your body, at the same time. You get foundational energy and targeted communication in one session. It’s like putting your healing on fast-forward.

Beyond Recovery: The Philosophy of "Incremental Health"

This technology isn’t just for fixing yourself when you're broken. It’s about a philosophy I call "incremental health."

So many of us wait until the pain becomes a scream before we act. My approach is to listen to the whispers your body sends you every day and act on them preventatively.

• Struggle with chronic pain? Daily use can help the nervous system reset and calm those overactive pain signals.

• Recovering from an injury? You're not just waiting around; you're actively giving your body the energy and instructions to rebuild.

• Interested in skin health? Certain frequencies combined with red light can enhance blood flow and collagen production.

This is about daily maintenance. It’s about being proactive.

Your Body Knows Best

If there’s one message I want to leave you with, it's this: for years, we’ve been taught "no pain, no gain." I’m here to tell you to reject that idea. Your body is not your enemy; it’s your wisest partner. It has a quiet voice, and it always tells you what it needs. The real healing always happens when you learn to be quiet and listen.

The future of medicine is energy. The TheraPlex is more than a product to me; it's the culmination of that philosophy. It's about giving your body the energy it needs, and the instructions to use it.

Infrared Saunas and Cancer Concerns: Deconstructing the Fear

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.

Are You Asking the Right Questions About Your Health? How To Test

Are You Searching for a Magic Bullet?

Today, let's talk about a topic surrounded by a lot of hope and a lot of confusion: health testing.

So many people are searching for that one single root cause of their problems, believing that one magic test will finally give them the answer. But I’m going to start with a crucial caution: the idea that one test will be your panacea, your be-all, end-all solution, is flawed. And frankly, for a lot of people advocating for constant tests, it’s a huge moneymaking event.

The most important question isn't "which test should I take?" The first question, the most elementary piece of information, is always: "How is your body expressing itself these days?"

A test without context is just data without a story. While diagnostics like MRIs and blood tests absolutely have their place, they are just one type of information, not the whole picture.

A Smarter Way to Test: Creating Your Health Story

So, what is a better approach to testing? It's about shifting your mindset from looking for a single snapshot to creating a health story over time. One test tells you a little, but it doesn't tell you the whole story of your health evolution.

The best method is to build a trendline.

Every couple of years, you get a full blood analysis. After four, five, or six years, you suddenly have a picture. You can see the trend. You get a test and see your cholesterol is starting to creep up in your thirties. You can say, "Wow, I don't want a circulation challenge in my sixties that I could have taken care of right now by changing my diet or lifestyle." You are using information to proactively shape your future. That is the power of strategic testing.

Understanding Your Body's Intricate Balancing Act

To understand why one test isn't enough, you have to appreciate how incredibly complex your body is. I use a simple metaphor to explain it.

Imagine your health is a seesaw. On one side is your healthy body, and on the other are all the toxins you’re exposed to. You keep loading up the toxin side, and eventually, the seesaw gets imbalanced and you become symptomatic. The problem is, you can't just take the toxins off and expect it to go right back into balance. By the time it's tipped that far, too many of your body's systems have already changed in response.

Your brain acts like a master chemist, constantly analyzing trillions of influences, light, sound, temperature, blood chemistry, to keep you in balance. A single blood test is just looking at one small piece of that puzzle.

Which Tests Are Actually Important for the Long Haul?

While any specific test should be guided by your symptoms, there are a few foundational ones I believe are valuable for building that long-term health picture.

• Genetic Testing: This is incredibly important, and you only do it once. It’s your body’s blueprint and shows your tendencies. For instance, knowing if you have a variation on the MTHFR gene can provide valuable information about how well your body detoxifies. 

• Hormone Testing: I often recommend the DUTCH test for a comprehensive look at your hormones. This is increasingly important even for younger people in our modern, toxic world.

• Blood Testing: A full blood count is a staple. But I always tell people to make sure you get a panel for your Vitamin D3 level. It’s that important.

A Warning: How to Be a Smart Consumer in the Testing Industry

Even when you do get these tests, you have to be an informed consumer. There are issues within the industry you need to be aware of.

One is what I call the "doctor-hopping" problem. You go to a doctor, get a full panel of tests, and he gives you a protocol. It works for a bit, then stops. So you go to another doctor, and the first thing they say is, "We need to do new tests with my labs." Often, this is just a way to get more money from you.

The second, and this is crucial, is the "different baselines" problem. Every lab uses different reference ranges based on the "norm" of the population they test. A lab might tell you everything is normal, but if you are still feeling symptoms, you have to question if their "normal" is your optimal.

The Ultimate Diagnostic Tool: Your Own Body

This brings me back to the most important point. All the tests in the world are just one form of information. The most important data, the most accurate diagnostic tool you will ever have, is your own body.

Your skin is a barometer for the chemistry of your blood. Your energy levels tell a story. Your sleep tells a story. I don't need a blood test to understand a symptom, but the symptom can guide us to what the test might confirm.

So, while we gather this valuable data from labs and reports, never forget to ask yourself that fundamental question: "How is my body expressing itself today?"

Listen to that. That is the true root cause. That is where healing begins.

Is 'Electric Pollution' Harming Your Health?

The Invisible Stressor in Our Modern World

We live in a world surrounded by technology we love, our phones, our Wi-Fi, our smart devices. They connect us and make our lives easier. But have you ever stopped to ask: what is this invisible environment of “electric pollution” doing to our biology?

Most people don’t realize how disruptive these man-made frequencies can be. They oscillate at a rate that is dozens of times higher than our own body's natural frequency. When we're immersed in that, it pulls our own "body electric" out of whack.

Think of it like any other unnatural stressor. If you’re constantly taking in man-made chemicals, over time, your body’s immune system gets weakened. EMF is no different. It’s an environmental stressor that can compromise your body's functions, making your brain less efficient and suppressing your immune system.

The Big Debate: Are Low-Level EMFs Really a Threat?

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. “But Robby, government agencies and the World Health Organization say these devices are safe as long as they're below the official limits.”

And that is the official stance. I’m not here to debate it, but I am here to add a crucial piece of context that often gets left out.

In 2011, the WHO’s own International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) did a major review. They classified radiofrequency EMF, the kind from cell phones, as a “Group 2B Agent,” which means it is “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

So, while the official line says the risk isn’t fully proven, the world’s leading cancer agency is on record saying the link is credible enough to warrant this classification. My philosophy has always been: if there is a credible risk, we should take proactive steps to protect ourselves, rather than waiting years for the science to catch up.

How EMF Directly Impacts Your Sleep Quality

So where do we feel the effects of this electric pollution most acutely? The first question I often ask people who are facing health challenges is, "How did you sleep?"

The answer is almost always, "Not well."

When you sleep near your Wi-Fi router, or with your phone on by your bed, those wavelengths disrupt your brain's ability to get into the deep, restorative REM and delta wave sleep. This is the stage of sleep where your body truly repairs itself. One hour of that deep sleep is equivalent to two or three hours of light sleep.

If you don't get that deep sleep, you don’t repair. Your cleansing organs and detox pathways can't keep up. Now, compound that with any existing health challenge—Lyme, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and it becomes extra hard for your body to recover, day after day.

Your Action Plan: Creating an EMF Protection Sanctuary

We can’t escape EMF completely, but we can build a sanctuary where our body can rest, repair, and recover. Since so many of us are home more often, every little bit you do on the positive side makes a difference.

That’s why we developed our EMF-protection sleep products.

• The Therasage Weighted Blanket: This blanket has a protective silver lining to block EMF, but it also does more. It’s filled with grounding gemstones, so as it’s weighing you down, it’s also generating healthy, calming frequencies. That gentle weight also helps you stay in the deep sleep cycle longer by preventing tossing and turning.

• The Therasage Eye Mask: This is one of my favorite products. It’s also weighted with a silver lining, but its most important job is to create complete darkness. This is crucial because your pineal gland needs total darkness to produce the maximum amount of melatonin—the hormone that keeps you in a deep, relaxed sleep state.

The Takeaway: Proactive Protection in a Modern World

The world isn’t getting any less electric. The key is not to live in fear, but to live with awareness. Understand that your body is constantly under stress from the environment, and take simple, powerful steps to protect it where it matters most.

You can’t control the outside world, but you can control your bedroom. By creating a protected sanctuary for sleep, you give your body the fighting chance it needs to repair, regenerate, and stay resilient.

Why Are My HRV Scores So Different? A Founder's Guide to True HRV

Today, let’s talk about one of the most popular and misunderstood metrics in health and wellness: Heart Rate Variability, or HRV.

Maybe this sounds familiar: you wake up, check your wearable ring or watch, and it gives you an HRV score. Later that day, you use a different monitor and get a completely different number. You're left wondering, "What's going on? Which one is right?"

The confusion is understandable because not all HRV measurements are created equal. It comes down to a simple analogy I use all the time: are you looking at a snapshot, or are you shooting a movie?

Snapshot vs. Movie: The Big Difference in HRV Tracking

Most wearables are designed to take periodic snapshots of your heart's activity throughout the day or night. They then piece those snapshots together to give you a numeric value.

Our clinical approach is different. For six full minutes, we are shooting a movie. Our sensors are continuously tracking your heart's fluctuations, capturing significantly more data points to give you a much truer, more accurate picture of your nervous system in that moment.

The Big Question: "Is My Wearable Wrong?"

Now, I want to address the big question: does this mean your wearable is wrong? No, not at all. And let's be clear, those tools are valid. If you use a WHOOP or an Oura Ring every day, you can get a great baseline for your personal trends over time.

But, and this is crucial, you cannot compare the numbers directly. It’s apples and oranges.

The statistical analysis is different because our clinical approach is gathering exponentially more data points in its short window. So, while your wearable is great for seeing your long-term sleep and recovery trends, our monitor is designed to perform a short, clinical-grade "stress test" on your nervous system to see how it's functioning right now. They are two different, but equally valid, approaches.

How to Use HRV as a "Lie Detector" for Your Body

So how do we use this "movie" of your nervous system?

I like to think of HRV as a built-in lie detector. It gives you an objective, unbiased look at what's really going on inside your nervous system. This allows us to do a very simple and powerful "before and after" protocol.

I’ll do a baseline HRV test with someone to see their normal state. Then, I’ll have them use the Therasage Sauna or the TheraPro for a session and immediately do another test. We can then objectively see the change from the "nervous person" to the "calm person" right there in the data. It proves the calming effect of our therapies in a way you can see with your own eyes.

From Data to Wisdom

Ultimately, the goal isn't just to chase a high number. It's to use this incredible tool to understand what affects you, what calms you, and what makes you more resilient. It's about turning data into wisdom. We've even seen it used by companies to test supplement formulations and by high-performance trainers in the UFC to monitor their athletes.

The beauty of HRV is that if you ask the nervous system the right questions, you get clear answers.

Is Your Mouthwash Making You Sick?

Is Your Mouthwash Making You Sick? The Biodentistry Guide to Rebuilding Your Oral Microbiome

For decades, we’ve been taught the same script for oral health: brush with fluoride toothpaste, and rinse with a strong, antiseptic mouthwash for fresh breath. We’ve come to associate that "clean" burning sensation with a healthy mouth.

But what if that sensation is actually the sound of your body's first line of defense being destroyed? What if our modern hygiene habits are the very things inviting cavities, gum disease, and imbalance?

This is the central idea of biodentistry, a holistic approach that views your mouth not as a set of teeth to be sterilized, but as the gateway to your entire digestive tract—a complex, vital ecosystem that needs to be balanced, not destroyed.

Your Mouth: The Gateway to Your Gut (and Health)

Your digestive tract begins in your mouth, which is home to a complex ecosystem of over 60,000 types of bacteria. Most of these organisms are beneficial. They live in harmony, protecting your gums and teeth and beginning the process of digestion.

Here’s the problem: when you rinse with a harsh, alcohol based mouthwash, it’s like dropping a bomb on this ecosystem. It doesn’t just kill the "bad" bacteria; it destroys all the beautiful families of organisms that have been protecting you.

You may get temporarily fresh breath, but you've just destroyed nature's balance. With your natural protectors gone, harmful bacteria, parasites, and fungi can now thrive, leading to the very cavities and gum issues you were trying to prevent. It's a process that can keep you unhealthy.

The Real Problem: Sterility vs. Balance

For years, Western science has dismissed holistic approaches. Anything that talks about your body's "natural terrain" or "microbiome balance" has often been labeled as "woo woo" or unscientific. The conventional model is based on a simple, chemical, cause-and-effect: "Germs are bad. Kill the germs."

But what's truly unscientific is ignoring the fact that your mouth is a complex ecosystem. It's not a sterile lab; it's a living garden. You don't help a garden grow by spraying it with bleach—that kills everything. You help a garden thrive by strategically removing the weeds and then nourishing the soil with compost and beneficial organisms.

This is the biodentistry model. It’s not "woo woo"; it's ecology.

The Holistic Solution: A Two Step "Reset and Rebuild"

True oral health is not about achieving sterility; it’s about restoring balance. This is a two part process. You must first clear out the overgrowth of harmful organisms (the weeds) and then, just as importantly, repopulate the good ones (the compost).

Step 1: Reset (Sterilize) the Environment with Ozone Before you can rebuild, you need to "reset" the terrain. The most effective and natural way to do this is with ozonated water. Ozone (O₃) is a powerful sterilizer that specifically targets anaerobic organisms—the "bad" bacteria and fungi that thrive in low oxygen environments [1].

• The Therasage Solution: By bubbling ozone from a device like the TheraO3 Bubbler into water, you can create a powerful, healing mouth rinse. Using this ozonated water in a water pick is the best way to cleanse the gum beds and hard to reach areas, targeting the non beneficial bacteria that cause dysbiosis.

• A Note of Caution: Ozone is a non selective sterilizer, meaning it will clear out both good and bad bacteria. This is why it's the perfect "reset," but it is absolutely essential that you follow it up with Step 2.

• Bonus Tip: You can also use ozonated water to sterilize your toothbrush, which often collects harmful bacteria from the bathroom environment.

Step 2: Rebuild (Repopulate) Your Natural Defenses Now that you have a clean slate, you must reintroduce the beneficial bacteria. This is the most critical step, and how you do it matters.

• The Best Way: The most diverse and powerful microbiome you can access is your local one. Get outside, breathe the fresh air, and immerse yourself in your local flora. This helps your body attune to and adopt the beneficial bacteria native to your environment.

• The Next Best Way: Eat local, fermented foods. Sauerkraut, kombucha, kimchi, and plain yogurts contain live, active cultures of beneficial bacteria that are generic to your area. This is the best way to "reseed" your gut.

• The Probiotic Option: Probiotic supplements can help, but they have a limitation. They typically only contain a few "small families" of bacteria. This is helpful, but it doesn't compare to the thousands of diverse strains you get from your natural environment and fermented foods.

Accelerating Healing with Light Therapy

What about existing issues like inflammation or cavitations? While you reset and rebuild your biome, you can simultaneously support your body’s healing process with light.

• The Therasage Solution: Using a red light device like the Tri-Lite over your face on the affected area can help expedite healing. The red and near infrared light wavelengths penetrate deep into the tissue, helping to reduce inflammation and support cellular repair [2]. For a specific issue, you can use it for 30 minutes, up to twice a day.

Ultimately, this new approach is about working with your body, not against it. By ditching the harsh chemicals and embracing the "reset and rebuild" model, you can restore your mouth's natural balance and support the foundation of your entire body's health.

References:

[1] Saini, H. (2011). Ozone therapy in dentistry: A strategic review. Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine, 2(2), 151–153. [2] Dompe, C., et al. (2020). Photobiomodulation-Underlying Mechanism and Clinical Applications. Journal of clinical medicine, 9(6), 1724.