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Posted 7/11/2011 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all. I haven't been here for a while. I've been up and down.

I've been looking into infrared saunas, but I don't know anything about brands. Does anyone have any recommendations? I'm looking for a good, reliable brand that also has safety features. I'd be using this at home alone.

I think that these are out of my price range, but I thought I'd check anyway. I've been having a bad relapse over the past month (I always get worse during the summer), and I'm looking for a way to feel better. I'm having heavy neurological symptoms, which if I'm not mistaken, have more to do with the toxic substances that Lyme produces rather than the infection itself.

Most detoxifying methods don't work on me. My problem seems to be that I have poorer circulation than most people. My body seems to be good at detoxifying itself, but my poor circulation allows the toxins to build up too much. I get great results from cardio exercises, but I can only do so much before I run out of energy or become overexerted.

I'm sorry to post and run, but I'm feeling particularly horrible right now. I would search through the forum to see if this topic has already been covered, but my brain isn't working too well right now. It took me forever just to make my breakfast this morning.
Posted 7/11/2011 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
Here are some old threads that might help:

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=1256839

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=1487483

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=1825589

Hope that helps!
Posted 7/11/2011 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
I have terrible circulation as well, and my ND has me buying some pills at $150/month. But the portable FIR sauna was only $300 and I am very glad I bought mine. I have started both FIR sauna daily as well as IV vitamins 2x/week. So I don't know which one helps more, but one of them or both is making a slow but steady difference.

Buy a "far infrared sauna", also seen as FIR. You can get some reviews and prices on Amazon. The same companies are also on eBay.
Posted 7/12/2011 7:56 AM (GMT 0)
 

Can anyone comment on this:

I would like to try the FAR infrared sauna because I've heard good things about it, but I'm hesitant to do so because of my sensitivity to radiation of late.  Has anyone else with radiation sensitivity had success with FAR infrared saunas?

 

Posted 7/13/2011 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
We purchased a "Far North Sauna" and love it.  I am very sensitive and have had nothing but good from the sauna.
Posted 7/13/2011 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for the replies. I'm sorry for not posting back sooner, but it's been a rough week. I'm trying everything I can to make sure this isn't a really bad relapse.

Miss Cranberry: Sorry that I can't be more help right now. My symptoms have always been very neurological, more so than having pain or other symptoms. I have very bad problems with memory and cognition when my symptoms flare up. I can't say there is anything in particular that I regret. I was just misdiagnosed for a very long time, and my infection became very bad. I think that I've had bartonella for over a decade. I've probably had babesia for close to 8 or 10 years. I was infected with Lyme in 2006, and that's when my health completely collapse. Antibiotics only do so much good. Cardio exercises help a lot, but I can only do so much of that.

Allieann: Did you get one of the portable units or one of the bigger ones. The larger units often require a dedicated circuit, which is an additional expense.

I'm probably not going to get one, but I may try one at a salon or something. I am a little worried about using one of these by myself. I have very low blood pressure, and saunas lower blood pressure even more. If I'm at the gym using the steam sauna, at least someone would be around to call an ambulance if my blood pressure dropped too much and I fell over.
Posted 7/13/2011 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
We purchased a sauna that holds 2 people.  It is not on a dedicated circut, however, we make sure everything is off except the sauna when we operate it.  I would also be concerned about your low BP and being alone.  It would be a good idea for you to talk to the Sauna owner about that problem and or your Doctor.

When my son (lyme and coinfections for 18 years) got the sauna it did help and when he added a rife/coil machine it started him back on the road to recovery. We finally, after so many years, have hope!

Posted 7/13/2011 7:13 PM (GMT 0)

allieann, I have been following your posts regarding the rife machines with much interest. As far as the sauna is concerned, we have one here at our gym at work - it's the old fashioned kind with heating coils/rocks, not FIR, but it will do in a pinch. When I crank that thing up, it is very hard to stay in that thing for even 10 minutes.! I sweat like crazy!

Now, the other thing - I am an electrical engineer who works for NASA and the idea of the Rife machine intrigues me. On one hand, my right-brain thinks that there is no way that such a thing could provide a cure or remission but the other side of my brain sees where it could indeed help! What type of machine did you get and how did you arrive at your purchase decision? I have done some brief looks on-line and see where these things can run as much as $5000 all the way down to like $300. I assume frequency range is important as is power but, what are the other bells and whistles required (freq scanning, method of application [hand electrodes or patches or whatever], etc.) . I have seen listings for the GP4000, the PERL, doug machine, etc. and wonder how these all compare. Can you provide some thoughts on your experience and decision process for your choice of machine?  With my background, I might even be able to construct one of these things! Thanks!

Posted 7/13/2011 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
I can't comment on the blood pressure aspect, but the temperature of the portable units is much lower than a steam sauna. My unit's temp starts at 120 degrees. You also can keep your head out of it, so that helps keep the body stay breathing.
Posted 7/14/2011 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Yazzer, Sounds like you will be able to construct your own rife machine as our Son did. He also built us one to help with husbands toe nail fungus. If you will send me your email (mine is posted) I will send you pictures and more info.
Posted 7/14/2011 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
sent you the e-mail allieann. Do you have any favorite pre-built Rife machine models? Also, and I had just posted a note coincidentally on this, how is it working for the toenail fungus. Being a runner, I am constantly battling this and do not like the idea of taking oral Lamisil.
Posted 7/14/2011 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Yazzer, Your comment on using the old fashioned hot rock Sauna's jogged my memory as to why we chose the infrared Brand of Sauna we ended up purchasing. We have had it now for 3-4 years and started trying to get info. on them for 3 years prior to that. It was so confusing with so much conflicting info. out there. The infrared type saunas that are correctly programmed to the right kind of infrared that is beneficial to the body are hard to find. You have to make sure the company you are getting info. from will supply you with the proper testing and documentation done on their brand. We originally thought we wanted one that would automatically keep the temp. on whatever you programmed it for. Then we learned that when you do that the Sauna shuts down and you will not be receiving any infrared at that time. We just turn ours on and when it gets too hot we just open the door slightly. It is my understanding that the proper kind of infrared Sauna is able to penetrate very deep into the tissues to remove the toxins whereas most other kinds of Saunas cannot do that and is why they have become so popular. You must also make sure you get the Sauna in a non allergic material.
Posted 7/14/2011 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I think I get it with regard to the old fashioned kind versus the FIR. It is my understanding that the FIR is more beneficial, for sure, but, if folks do not have access to one, the old fashioned kind still provide some detoxing benefits, no? Also, isn't there more precautions to take with the FIR versus the old "hot rocks" kind of sauna? I have not looke dinto it too much but I thought I remembered seeing something along those lines. Nothing of alarm, just extra precautions...I'll have to check around and see if any gyms or spas in my area have an FIR sauna - do you think the benefit obtained by yours justified the cost? Just wondering as most here do not have a lot of disposable income so that enters into the purchase decision equation.

I imagine the old style saunas just provide surface-level detoxing - similar to a detox bath - opening the pores and sweating out surface toxins. I think I get more benefit from my running as I sweat profusely when I run and it is also stirring up my innards!
Posted 7/14/2011 7:13 PM (GMT 0)

Yazzer, I totally agree with you in that anything that makes you sweat is beneficial and since you can still run that is a great way to eliminate toxins. I know so many suffering from lyme etc.. just don't have the funds to spend on all these things.  I remember back when our son got lyme that we tried everything under the sun to try to help him.  At that time he had excellent insurance and going from Doc. to Doc. didn't cost that much in actual money.  It was just the confusion that he didn't have lyme and then he did have lyme and then was supposed to have been cured with 1 whole year of antibiotics.

 

 I kept finding things for him to try as  most of the people are doing on this site and looking for the magic bullet.  I just couldn't comprehend that with our sophisticated medical system that there just didn't seem to be any help out there for this illness. You feel so all alone with this huge problem.  I had him change his diet and to eliminate sugar and alcohol and to juice veggies and eat a lot of raw foods, add minerals and supplements, many of the new herbs that are supposed to help, take colloidal silver etc. etc. and while all seemed to help a little, nothing could stop the slow growing lyme and its coinfections. 

 

 Seems like everyone is selling you something that is supposed to cure these diseases and find ways for you to part with the little money you have left. Certainly, he would have times when it seemed in remission but it always managed to come back and getting worse all the time. The drugs and supplements just served to cause the lyme bacteria to go into a dormant/cyst state.  During the past year of riffing he was off most supplements and no drugs. When lyme goes into a cyst state, we have been told that they loose the charge that they have to have for the rife to work effectively. So many people have different microorganisms growing in their bodies caused from all the drugs taken for long periods of time and it makes it so much more difficult to treat with a rife machine because you just don't know what frequencies they need to use in addition to lyme and its coinfections and in what order to treat.

You mentioned about toenail fungus and while the machine helps, you really have to keep at it if you have a severe case as does my husband.  He has had it all his life. The rife machine seems to kill a lot of the foot fungus and he grinds off the dead skin with an attachment on the end of his cordeless screw driver. If you have a mild case the rife machine will probably get rid of it. The good thing about lyme bacteria is that it is the size and shape that responds well to the correct frequencies if the rife machine is strong enough and many are not. I remember back about 5 years ago when all the new herbs were coming out that were supposed to cure lyme that I asked a respected professional about using a rife machine and he told me that they were not as good as the herbs and to stick with them. Its so hard to figure what is true and what is not.

 

I am going to be sending you info. on "how to build a coil machine" etc. etc..

 

Posted 7/14/2011 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a runner too, and running definitely makes me feel better. Running can also make me feel sicker if I do it the wrong way. It's complicated, and it takes a little bit of guess work.

Sweating may help, but my low blood pressure makes sitting in a sauna a problem. I have to be very careful. In fact, just about anything I can do to relieve my symptoms can also cause my blood pressure to drop. It's very frustrating.

I am in the same boat as many other people. I feel better for a while, but then I have a sudden relapse. Sometimes, I can trace the relapse to an occurrence, like losing too much sleep for too long. Other times, it seems to be a mystery.

The antibiotics and the other things I do only seem to help keep the infection in check. Any number of things can bring it back. There doesn't seem to be any cure at this point. Some people may be able to fight off the infection, but I don't seem to be able to.
Posted 7/14/2011 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
From what I understand, the "far infrared" part of a FIR sauna penetrates a few inches into the skin, thus giving it a much greater detox effect vs a regular sauna, or even a normal infrared one. My ND was pretty clear that if I was going to get one, it ought to be FIR.

As for cost, a visit to somewhere with one of these was going to be $30 a pop, so I decided if I was going to try it, even a 1-2 month trial would justify the purchase. I could even charge my neighbours a couple dollars to borrow it and get money back that way. ;)

As to whether it works, I have felt better the last week or two. I've been using it less than 3 weeks, but I've also made other changes (IV vitamin C, increased doxy) that could be why I feel better.

I bought the sauna because I was having a very hard time tolerating the abx, and my ND and I believe that the abx were killing bugs much faster than I could get rid of them. Hence, the sauna and other changes. So for me, I wasn't expecting that the sauna would help me feel better, but it is a tool to help me tolerate the doxy (which I hope will help me feel better). And for the past 3 weeks I have been able to tolerate the increased drugs with much less liver/gut pain, so something is helping me detox quite effectively. And for that, I'm glad I have the sauna and use it most every day.
Posted 7/14/2011 8:31 PM (GMT 0)

IH8ticks, Your post reminds me of an experience our older son had years ago.  Back in 1985, he went pig hunting down by King City, Ca and caught some hogs and he told me the ticks came flying off the ones they shot. He didn't think anything about it and just squashed the ticks with his fingernails.  Several months after that I got a call and he told me of the strange symptoms he was having and that the Doctors didn't know what was wrong with him. Lyme in California was almost unknown at that time. He had always been a very healthy person but his health took a sudden decline.  He stayed away from us during that time so as not to alarm us.  He eventually could not hold anything down but liquids and became so thin that his friends called him "Mr. Death".  During the remainder of the year he was convinced that he had some kind of terminal cancer and was dying.  At this stage he thought that he would hurry things along to stop the suffering and he began to work out at the IBM gym.  At first he could only do a small amt. of exercise and then, to his surprise, he didn't die and he seemed to get better and better and could exercise more and more until in about 2 years time his health returned and he has had no further problems. 

 

He married and moved to Spokane, Wa and when his brother got married he made the trip down from Spokane to Calif. to attend his wedding. This younger brother was suffering from lyme at this time and when the older son saw him and was told of his symptoms he exclaimed "why mom, those are all the symptoms I was having back in 1985".  This gave me hope that if this son could get over lyme disease that maybe the younger one could also.  I even learned at this time that the older son even had the classic bull's-eye rash, something the younger brother never had. Now, why do both boys act so differently with the same disease?  I am thinking that the older son might have had the non-bio-weaponized version of lyme and that perhaps he did not have any of the coinfections that seem, these days, to go along with lyme disease or did all the exercise the older boy did make the difference? So not sure that people who continue to have problems with lyme do not necessarily have a bad immune system but that there may be other issues involved. Such a complex problem we are being faced with today.

Posted 7/14/2011 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
allieann:

My story is somewhat similar. I started riding a stationary bike, and found to my surprise that it made me feel better. I think that part of it is the increased circulation, which helps both to clear out the toxins and to allow the immune system to travel around and find the infection. Regular exercise also strengthens the immune system. The problem that I've had is that certain exercises seem to weaken me and make the infection surge. It's tricky because the things that weaken me actually change over time. I think that's what happened this week. Last Friday, I when I did my workout, I think I hit the zone that could weaken me. I won't know if that's the case until I do my next fitness test, but I can't do that until I recover.

The flip side is that I've found that stagnation makes me worse. I think it's a combination of things, but I think my poorer circulation plays a big role in that. My heart beats very slowly, my blood pressure is very low, and I have mild hypercoagulation. I think that all of these factors create an environment where the Lyme can hide better. When I exercise, my heart beats faster and my blood pressure goes up. This gives me a temporary circulation boost that makes me feel much better for a while.

I think that everyone is a little bit different, and that's why some of us can't fight the infection completely. That may also be why people have different symptoms. My slow blood flow is hereditary. Normally, it's a good thing because it means I'm at very low risk for heart problems. But when it comes to fighting off an infection like this, it's a disadvantage. At least that's my theory.
Posted 7/15/2011 8:57 AM (GMT 0)
 

Allieann,

Can you email me the info on how to build a coil machine, as well?  I tried to build one a year or so ago, but the Radio Shack kit recommended in Hulda Clark's books is no longer available.  If not for myself, I have family member who could be helped by a Rife machine.

 

Posted 7/15/2011 3:15 PM (GMT 0)

Lyme 14, I don't think Hulda Clark's design would be strong enough to treat lyme anyway.  I will send you information on the coil.

Posted 12/3/2011 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
HI, came across your thread, want to help, but i have a hard time reading the screen very long, so this will be succinct. I decided to get mine from decided to get mine from High Tech Health. Reasons:

- My Dr. Told me about them, that is who he uses, as well as colleagues he knows
- There are several other professionals (like the famous Dr. ATkins who also recommends them)
- I tried to find out a standard to go by, but it seems like a free for all in the marketing world on these.
- Honestly I am not sure which heater type is really best (ceramic vs. carbon), so I just went with the dr. opinion.
-wood used is poplar, apparently important as other types have oils that can interfere with detox.
-they have a full lifetime warranty on all components
- 30 trial period with full refund on returns, regardless of reason (less shipping)
- and the final selling point for me was the lady Jill that I spoke with. She was able to answer a lot of questions and explained they see it as a continued relationship on the health journey, the sale is just the beginning and I feel she meant it. She was very well versed on detox. I am having problems with liver, digestion et.c and am building up toxins so cannot take antibiotics in the meantime and she had some pointers on that. For me that, sealed the deal.

My best recommendation would be to call and have vendors send you info. Much of what is online is out of date....even High Teach health's website is out date according to Jill. I hope this helped. I dont think I have much else I can share that the vendors couldn't explain better, but if you have questions, feel free to email me. I check in about once a week. Happy healing! :)

Post Edited By Moderator (achievinggrace) : 12/3/2011 4:29:11 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/3/2011 11:30 AM (GMT 0)
Reb I went into your post in error. I changed nothing.
Posted 12/5/2011 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
I did a lot of research before buying mine. I couple of things I learned were:

- Don't by cedar...cedar can put off a toxin from the oils in the wood that some people can have a reaction to. Mine is hemlock.

- the Carbon ones are better..they give better overall heating.

I bought mine from West Coast Saunas (East Coast Saunas...same company). The door on it was broken when it was delivered but the company sent out another unit and took back the old one....no questions asked. My husband and son put it together in about two hours (would have gone quicker but some of the screw holes didn't line up so my husband just redrilled them...no big deal).

Anyway, it works great.

I have to tell you, everytime I used that thing, I get a pretty bad herx from it. I haven't been very good at going in it on a regular basis but I keep telling myself, I need to go in it at least three days a week. I'm going in it today.

Costco online seems to keep having sales on them. They usually put the bigger ones on the cover of their phamplets that come out in the mail, but if you look closer, they also have the smaller (1-2 persons) on sale at the same time for like $999. I wish I'd known....I would have bought mine from them instead. Also, I like mine because it's small. I like my time in my sauna by myself to read, etc.

Oh....I just have mine in one of our extra bedrooms and plugged into a regular outlet. I called an electrician and without spending a fortune, I was not able to get a dedicated circuit but it seems to be running fine. I just make sure that other things on the same circuit aren't running at the same time.
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