Since ancient times, people have sought ways to cleanse and purify themselves. The Romans had their baths, the Native American Indians had purification tepees with steam, and the Scandinavian cultures had dry heat saunas. Different cultures have had all sorts of purification rituals which have included herbs, fasting or special diets, and prayer.
The Toxic Spiral
Toxins are produced by our bodies as a normal part of our metabolic processes and are usually easily excreted. With time, our detoxification pathways can become polluted due to the aging process or diseases affecting our organs, and also due to chronic exposure to the chemically toxic environment we live in. The body tries to “defend itself” by storing toxins it cannot excrete in the fat so that toxic substances do not harm vital organs. This process is called “bioaccumulation” where, over time, the body stores higher and higher amounts of toxins and poisons. Eventually, even the fat stores can become so poisoned and saturated that the system starts to break down. A downward spiral effect can occur where the fat stores start dumping toxins back into the circulation at much higher concentrations than the original exposures. The person’s detoxification pathways are now in “overload.” Exposures to chemicals or substances that do not bother an average person now create significant symptoms such as malignant fatigue, malaise, brain fog, irritability, asthma, depression, low body temperature, fibromyalgia symptoms, gallbladder like symptoms such as nausea with meals, or worsening of other disease states. The person continues to get sicker and sicker and often times lab tests and physical examination are “normal.” Many times these symptoms are written off as “getting older” or “depression,” and the person may even be put on antidepressants, adding to the body’s chemical load.
Detoxification
Detoxification means “to remove toxins or harmful substances” from the body. This is not as simple as it seems. Avoidance of toxins such as foods with preservatives or hormones, insecticides, polluted air or water, toxic work environments, etc are important. Certain foods act to help in detoxification, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, and their juices. Super greens, such as Chlorella or barley green are also very good (some people are allergic to these greens). Fasting with either water or juice will release toxins to a certain extent. Sauna therapy has been scientifically shown to remove a large spectrum of toxins including radiation, especially those stored in the fat that other therapies cannot remove easily.
Drugs and alcohol
These are especially difficult toxins to remove and require a special type of detoxification. Standard 30 day detoxification programs using psychotherapy or chemical drugs such as antidepressants or Methadone do not “cure” drug or alcohol craving, even though a person has stopped putting these substances into their body. The relapse rate with standard drug rehabilitation programs is in the 80%-90% range according to the 1988 Surgeon General’s Report. The problem centers around bioaccumulation of drug and alcohol residuals in the fat and how to effectively get rid of them. These residuals can come out of hiding long after a person stops drinking or using drugs, causing a person to be restimulated into craving more of the substance or even feeling “high” again. A special sauna therapy protocol using specific high dose vitamins and supplements, minerals, cold pressed oils, and therapeutic exercise administered under close supervision has been shown to be over 75% effective. The program at The Preventive Medicine Center is identical except that we treat non-street drug related problems such as certain prescription drugs, people who have accumulated anesthesia from multiple surgeries, or chemical environmental poisoning.
Why Are We Offering This Program?
In the early 1990's Dr. Erickson went in for “minor surgery” to fix a hernia and he had a reaction to the anesthesia. To make a long story short the anesthesia activated a 20 year old dormant parasitic infection picked up during a trip to Mexico in the 1970's. When traditional medical tests couldn’t find what was going on the parasitic infection was found and cured through an alternative medicine doctor, but the symptoms of fatigue, irritability, decreased mental clarity, and intolerance to chemical fumes such as in a mall or car exhaust didn’t go away. Dr. Erickson heard about a sauna detoxification program in California headed by David Root, M.D., an Environmental Medicine and Aerospace Medicine specialist. Taking things on faith, as any new patient must do, Dr. Erickson flew out to the West Coast for 45 days of sauna therapy. During that time he was not only a patient, but studied how the program worked and had the opportunity to talk to and observe dozens of patients both undergoing therapy and those who had completed the program. The results in almost every case were dramatic and exciting. Dr. Erickson felt younger and better than he had in decades. He promised himself that if he opened another medical practice he would offer this sauna detoxification program to his patients in a private, safe, medically supervised environment.
A Description of the Program
The Preventive Medicine Center Sauna detoxification program is an intensive daily program intended for individuals who wish to cleanse and purify themselves of harmful accumulated toxins. The program consists of between 3 - 4 hours of daily sauna time , and total program time of 4 - 5 hours a day. All supplements, salt replacements, fluid replacements with juices and filtered water, and sauna use are under medical supervision and patients are checked by Dr. Erickson as to their progress and medical status throughout the program. Treatment is 7 days a week until completed as each day’s treatment builds upon the previous days treatment. The full program takes, on average, 30 -45 days to complete, depending upon the rate at which an individual detoxifies.
Exactly How Does the Program Work?
A person first does 20-30 minutes of aerobic exercise to increase the circulation, and is then given a specific mixture of certain vitamins, the main one being active nicotinic acid (vitamin B3) in high doses up to 5000mg daily, along with other supplements, electrolyte salts and cold pressed oils, all of which when used together with sauna therapy and exercise serve to cause the fat to release the stored toxins through the sweat or into the circulation to be excreted by the kidneys or bowels. Frequent showers between sauna exposures are needed to rinse toxins off the skin so that they are not reabsorbed.
A special infra-red sauna is used which allows a person to sweat at much lower temperatures (140-150 degree range) than a lava rock sauna (180+ degree range). This is the same type of heat used in new-born nurseries to warm infants.
This process is repeated daily, with progressively increasing amounts of vitamins until the person is clear of toxins.
Who Is Eligible and Who Is Not?
All patients must be cleared by Dr. Erickson to participate in a safe manner in this program by undergoing a Comprehensive Physical Exam, lab work, hair analysis, baseline EKG prior to starting the program. A baseline IQ and personality profile may be required at the beginning and at the completion of the program as well in some cases.
Persons with certain disease states and conditions such as seizure disorder, heart disease, hypertension, pregnancy, claustrophobia, hard drug use, use of lithium, inability to sweat, renal disease, liver disease including hepatitis (even if inactive), HIV, chronic disease states or physical restrictions with inability to exercise cannot safely undergo the program and are excluded. There is no fixed age restriction, but in general, patients below the age of 8 years are not accepted.
Can’t I Just Go Use the Health Club Sauna?
Due to the intensity of this type of program, the participant’s must be monitored closely for dehydration or electrolyte depletion, or from adverse affects from excreted toxins causing a reaction. Also, the rate at which the supplements and vitamins are administered is critical This cannot be safely done by someone who has not been trained to administer this program.
Program Costs
This program is a major commitment of your time and ours. You must be cleared by Dr. Erickson before acceptance into the sauna program. We can only accept 4 patients monthly and if we are full, you will be put on a waiting list. The cost of the pre-screening physical exam, EKG, and hair analysis is $650. In addition, certain lab tests will be required. If you have insurance, the lab will bill your insurance carrier directly. If you do not have insurance you will pay the lab directly and should call them about the costs involved.
The cost of the Full Sauna Detoxification Program is $7150 for the first 30 days, and is pro-rated at $242/day if it runs past this length of time up to a maximum of 45 days, after which no additional charges will be incurred. This fee is all-inclusive and covers physicians services, all supplements, electrolyte salts, facility use, sauna, snacks, juices and program materials. It does not cover medical expenses unrelated to the sauna program, prescription drugs, IV therapies including IV Glutathione or IV Vitamin C, housing or meals. Basically, all you need to bring is a lunch. We even provide unscented or hypoallergenic soaps, shampoos, etc.
All fees must be paid in full prior to acceptance and scheduling into the programs. Please understand that if for any reason you decide to stop the program prior to its completion we do not issue refunds.
Would I Benefit From the Program?
Each person is looked at on an individual basis. From past experience we can generally tell if someone would benefit from the program. Please feel free to call the center and discuss your case with our staff in charge of the Sauna program.
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