That’s right, I’m in my hot tub and the water is steaming at 104F, basking in the moonlight in 32F temperature outside, creating what I call a “fever” therapy!
During this pandemic, one of the ways to perk up the immune system is to create a fever in this way. This type of hydrotherapy will mobilize the circulation, the lymphatics, and the immune system to be on high alert. I feel this helps to fight and ward off any kind of infection waiting to happen.
If you want to try this, and you do not have a hot tub on your deck, try your bathtub. Make sure the temperature is hot enough for you to handle (do not burn yourself!). Soak for 20 minutes, drink at least 16-20 oz water (no alcohol) and rinse off with a cool/tepid shower. Do this every night. And you will sleep amazingly well.
I have been doing this every winter for the past 20 years. Now you know why. And so far, (knock on wood) I have been feeling GREAT! For more information drop me an email.
Bath/Sauna Research Summary
Sauna and bathing additionally enhance mental wellness and induce a parasympathetic (feed & breed) state required for healing. Sauna also speeds exercise recovery and improves sleep.
A single Finnish sauna session was shown to normalize blood cortisol (stress hormone) levels and raise White Blood Cell count by 7% in non-athletes and 14% in athletes. The expression of the endotoxin receptor CD14 and the complement receptor CD11b increased after a single hot water bath (P < 0.05), whereas the expression of the Selectin CD62L, which mediates the initial attachment of leukocytes at the endothelium during inflammation, was down-regulated after hyperthermia (P < 0.05). Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs: Hsp60), Hsp70, Hsp90, and gp96, are reported to present antigens (i.e., viral fragments) to help activate macrophages and lymphocytes, and help mature dendritic cells.
