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infrared sauna beneficial for those who don't sweat?

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Posted 6/18/2013 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

Ever since I was a little kid, I have had a hard time sweating. I am the typical "I don't sweat, I perspire" girl.

I go to the sauna at the gym and can sit there for 20 minutes and not work up any sweat. I will have a bead of perspiration, but no real 'sweat'. If I am lucky, I will have ONE bead of sweat roll down my face. I would do cardio for 90 minutes straight and still no sweat. I get really red in the face when I exercise though. I figure that is because my body has such a hard time sweating and so it cools down in this way rather than sweating.

Has anyone else had this problem? Do you know if infrared saunas help you sweat even if you traditionally have had a hard time sweating?

I am considering buying a portable one. But, I don't want to do that if it isn't going to help.
Posted 6/18/2013 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
i HAVE puchased a  infrared suana.  I havn't recieved it yet but you can

buy some stuff to put on you to help you sweat. They talk about how

beneficial they are.  Should be getting mine anytime. 

Posted 6/18/2013 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
You should really consider finding out if you have any MTHFR or other genetic polymorphisms effecting your ability to detox. I never sweat. In saunas, in 100 degree weather.. But now that I know about and am addressing my polymorphisms I sweat tons.
Posted 6/18/2013 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
I have always had this problem of never sweating too. I do have a gene mutation...is this why? I too am curious about the sauna being effective and what can be done to correct.
Posted 6/18/2013 12:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Pathogenkiller,

Can you tell me how to go about getting tested for the MTHFR and other genetic polymorphisms? I wonder if this is something that my LLND would know about,

Also, can you share what you have done that have helped you address them so that you can finally sweat?


Hi moon,

Can you tell me more about this product that you can use to help you sweat?


Thank you everyone for the replies.
Posted 6/18/2013 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't gotten my sauna yet.  But go to this website it talks about

the sauna and some kind cream you put on and go into the sauna to

help you sweat.  www.sunlighten.com I'm not in anyway connected to this company....

Posted 6/18/2013 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
Heather, likely a piece of it. We rarely just have one important polymorphism so additional testing would help you illiminate problems in your detox pathways.

Thrive, my MD tested me for MTHFR a1298c and MTHFR c677t. I have one bad copy of each (compound heterozygous). That makes me unable to use folic acid, except in it's bioavailable form, l-methyltetrahydrofolate and need more b12. I'm sure I have some additional polymorphisms in other areas of my methylation cycle and am waiting for my test results from 23andme.com . It cost 99.00 and I'll spend an additional 20.00 to run it through the app on mthfrsupport.com to help me make sense of it.

Adding b12 in the right form as well as the l-mthf allowed me to start sweating. Not only did I sweat but I SMELLED. I smelled in the shower. Lol. I also broke out horribly. I've never had acne issues, even as a teenager, so this was surprising at 35. It went on for 3 months and now my skin has cleared. I stopped smelling after about 9 weeks. I now sweat when I should. In addition, this cleared up my brain fog, anxiety and depression.

Post Edited (PathogenKiller) : 6/18/2013 11:39:19 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/18/2013 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
I would suggest that you talk to your doctor about whether or not a sauna would be okay to use if you don't sweat much at all. No need to end up in a terrible way just because of not asking a simple question!
Posted 6/18/2013 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you moon, I will look into that.

Thank you PathogenKiller. I'll talk to the LLND about it. I must say though, I would not look forward to smelling or having acne!! The things we do to heal...

Thank you Traveler. I will take your advice too. I see my LLND on Friday and I will ask her about these things at that time.
Posted 6/18/2013 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Consider yourself lucky! Hah. I wish I was one of those "my face only turns red" people! sad

I sweat more than anyone I've ever met. It's quite annoying. I need a towel with me whenever I'm doing anything active. I get absolutely drenched.

Enjoy it haha.
Posted 6/18/2013 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
skBM, I'm the same way - I have never perspired!! LOL! Girls aren't 'supposed to' sweat heavily!! Oh well, my goats don't mind!! turn LOL!!
Posted 6/18/2013 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
In talking with the manufacturer of our near infrared sauna (still being built), I mentioned that it was to help my 11 year old daughter's recovery from lyme/bart. He told me to be careful with her as younger children (before puberty) do not sweat much. Because of this inability to disperse heat through sweating, they are in more danger of overheating. He suggested my taking her temperature at intervals.

I imagine if you don't sweat much, you might not find the sauna as useful for detoxing, as the excreation of toxins through the skin would be reduced. Although it could aid circulation, and therefore perhaps the removal of toxins via the usual pathways (kidney, liver, bowel, lungs). There is also the body's fever reaction which stimulates the immune system.

You can find some information on 23andme genetic testing kits ($99) on this forum posting:

http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=20767

The links are very informative as well. Especially this page if you can make your way through it (I can't):

http://www.heartfixer.com/AMRI-Nutrigenomics.htm

Our daughter has the genetic deletion listed below. Our LLMD started her on methylB12, methylfolate and P-5-P even before I even knew there was a methylation cycle (well I remembered a little from university, but not much). We haven't done the 23andme. It makes me a little uneasy - TMI in my mind.
Posted 6/20/2013 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you RowingMom. I'll review the links.

So, maybe my problem is that I am still a little girl at heart and never grew up! Maybe that's why I don't sweat!! LOL!!

In all honesty, thank you for the info. If my doc does recommend the sauna afterall, I will keep an eye on my temperature. Not sure how I will go about doing that though. I will have to leave the sauna to take my temperature as I don't think bringing the thermomater in with me will work too well!!
Posted 6/20/2013 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
"So, maybe my problem is that I am still a little girl at heart and never grew up! Maybe that's why I don't sweat!! LOL!!"

LOL, Thrive!!! smilewinkgrin

My Mommy told me that I don't ever have to grow up either!!! turn giggle!!
Posted 6/21/2013 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
Woo Hoo!! GIRL POWER!! LOL!!
Posted 6/21/2013 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
A regular lab like labcorp or quest can do the MTHFR tests. But for other methylation cycle genes, need to get that done through Dr. Yasko's lab:

www.holisticheal.com/health-tests/nutrigenomic-testing

I have no financial connections with anything in this post or on any websites posted herein.

Anyway, 23andme.com does not test all the methylation genes.
Posted 6/21/2013 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
I also am not much of a sweater. But like today for example if I go for a walk in the woods my shirt will come back a little wet and with pit stains that make me think "crap - wish I'd brought another shirt to work". If you are thin though, your surface area to volume ratio is much higher then a lot of people...meaning you are able to give off heat much faster - stay cooler. That is my theory anyway why it is hard for me to sweat. The surface area to volume ratio applies to having a higher metabolism...you have to burn more calories then someone with a lower ratio because your body has to try 'harder' to stay warm.
Posted 6/22/2013 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
23andme tests over 100 snps that yasko doesnt for a 1/4 of the price. It tests MTHFR 1298 and 677t.. as well as CBS, COMT, MAO A, VDR, etc.. it will give you everything you need to know.

Plus, when it all comes down to it, yasko is working on theories at this point.. and that is great, but the STUDIES are on MTHFR 1298 and MTHFR 677. Im on many of the methylation forms and people appear to be getting way too caught up in these other mutations that some of them could be missing the big picture.

Im very glad I just knew my MTHFR status and didnt complicate things with additional panels before I did treatment for those two polymorphisms. As I started detoxing I felt much worse before I got better and it lasted for MULTIPLE weeks. I see so many on the forums who start to feel worse and instead of riding it out, they switch things up and try to address some other snp thinking that is the reason they feel bad.. Detox makes you feel bad when you have been battling chronic disease. Its kinda like lyme. You have to pick a treatment plan and stay the course. I cringe as I watch people move around from treatment to treatment.

What is even more interesting is that Ive found that some of these pathogens can actually exploit our genetics so we can run around trying to address various SNPs but if we dont address the pathogens we are fighting a losing battle. Yasko is just starting to address this with her focus on H.pylori. Sadly, there is so much more then just that one bug effecting this stuff. So as she continues to work her theories out, I have no doubt great knowledge will come out of it.. but right now I think the best thing is to address studied polymorphisms. your mileage my obviously vary.
Posted 6/22/2013 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you to all for the additional information.

I spoke to my LLND yesterday about the MTHFR gene and not being able to sweat and "can a sauna really help?".

She said that she had the same problem with difficulty sweating. However, she said that you can 'teach' your body to sweat. She got herself an infrared sauna and starting using it regularly. Says that, after a time, her body is now able to work up a sweat in about 20 minutes.

Her take is that gene mutations do not mean that you WILL have a problem, but rather that your body can have that problem. Not all who have the gene mutation will develop symptoms of that mutation.

All this leads me to say "This sucks." Even lyme experts do not agree on treatments, contributing factors, etc. So much to figure out and so much reading to do. One could drive themselves crazy.

Well, one day at a time I guess. I will still read more about the MTHFR gene mutation because I think it is very useful information that has already helped so many on this forum. I don't want to turn my head from something that may be a missing piece of the puzzle.

Thank you to all for all of the information you have shared. I truly appreciate all of your time and support. You guys are the awesome!

Thrive.
Posted 6/27/2013 6:58 AM (GMT 0)
Thrive, I asked a LLND about people who don't sweat using a sauna and she said "just go in it regularly and you will eventually sweat", but offered no reason. I bought a sauna mainly for my daughter with the hopes of relieving some of her stiffness and pain, but she can't take the heat around her head and it bothers me too, so I'll probably sell it. I'll be getting a Biomat instead. Turns out my doc is selling his, so I'll get it for a better price. I've since seen some that have the heaters 1/2 way up instead of all the way up the sides, so that may be better.

My mother didn't sweat enough until she had a hysterectomy for some reason. I thought it was the hormone change, but I went through natural menopause and still don't sweat enough. If I'm working outside and have a long sleeved shirt on I will sweat more as long as I keep working.

So thanks for bringing this up and giving me a possible answer. I've always wondered why and didn't know anyone else with the problem.
Posted 6/29/2013 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
http://tinyurl.com/pbpvy5e This article mentions another link to not sweating enough, but talk to your doctor before supplementing.
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