Seasonal Allergies & Infrared Sauna
BREATHE EASY: THE BENEFITS OF INFRARED SAUNA ON SEASONAL ALLERGIES
What Causes Seasonal Allergies?
Seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever, are allergic reactions that occur at specific times of the year. These allergies are triggered by allergens, typically airborne particles such as pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds. When individuals with seasonal allergies come into contact with these allergens, their immune system overreacts, releasing histamines and causing inflammation. This immune response leads to various symptoms such as sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, and itching in the throat or ears. The severity and specific symptoms of seasonal allergies can vary depending on both the individual and the type of allergen. Genetic factors, exposure levels, immune sensitivity, overall health, age, hormonal influences, and individual differences contribute to variations in how the immune system responds to seasonal allergies.
How Does Infrared Sauna Help with Seasonal Allergies?
Inflammatory processes begin with a signal from the immune system to produce antibodies known as immunoglobulins. An overactive immune response can lead to an excessive production of these immunoglobulins, resulting in inflammation. This inflammation causes changes in blood vessel walls, including increased permeability and weakening.
Blood vessels are lined with special cells called endothelial cells. These cells guard the bloodstream, regulating what comes in and goes out. When these cells work better, they maintain a more appropriate and controlled wall permeability. Studies indicate that the improved function of these cells mitigates inflammation and allergy symptoms. Far infrared therapy has been shown to assist and strengthen these endothelial cells to function more effectively.
Studies Support Infrared Sauna for Seasonal Allergies
A clinical study investigated the effects of far infrared (FIR) therapy on 31 patients with allergic rhinitis over seven days. Daily FIR therapy significantly improved symptoms like eye itching, nasal itching, nasal stuffiness, runny nose, and sneezing. Smell impairment improved after the last treatment. The study concluded that FIR therapy reduced allergy symptoms.
Another study examined sauna therapy in general and found that several sauna sessions a week significantly decreased symptoms of allergic rhinitis, including nasal congestion, coughing, and wheezing.
Three Ways Infrared Sauna Helps Relieve Seasonal Allergies Naturally:
Calms Immune Response:
An allergic response stems from an overactive autonomic nervous system reacting to harmless particles like pollen. Infrared sauna treatments have been shown to calm this overactivity, reducing triggered responses, particularly those associated with nasal congestion and discharge.
Opens Airways:
Sauna sessions achieve what antihistamines and allergy medicine often cannot. Regular sauna use has proven to enhance nasal airflow and clear passages, diminishing congestion and stuffiness.
Raising your core temperature significantly impacts your respiratory system, improving airflow through nasal passages.
A study using peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) measured the sauna’s impact on airflow, revealing a significant increase in air movement through the nasal passages.
Strengthens Lungs:
Mayo Clinic published a study showcasing enhanced lung strength and capacity through sauna sessions, attributed to improved bronchial smooth muscle endurance from heat exposure. This allows for deeper breaths with less exertion.
If you’re suffering the discomfort of seasonal allergies, experiencing the benefits of infrared therapy at Cultivating Minds and Bodies.
Salt Therapy & Pregnancy
Salt Therapy for expecting moms: relieving symptoms naturally.
Updated: Dec 30, 2019
Over the course of the past year, we have had many people ask if Salt Therapy is safe for pregnant women. Many times we see a mom that is suffering from allergies who doesn't want to (or can't) take any medication. We also see pregnant women who are swollen that want a more natural solution than over-the-counter medication.
Here is all you need to know about pregnancy and Salt Therapy...
Salt Therapy is safe for pregnant women.
It's true! Salt Therapy is 100% all natural and thus makes it safe during pregnancy. Spending 45 minutes in a Salt Room is the equivalent of spending 3 days in the salt air at the beach. If you would spend time there while pregnant, you can spend time in our Salt Room.
Salt Therapy can help with sinuses and allergies.
During pregnancy, the female body tends to make more mucous. Because of this, women usually notice they either begin to have allergies and sinus issues, or those issues worsen. Salt Therapy is recommended by many doctors because it is an all natural way to help clear up those symptoms without the use of medication.
Salt Therapy can help with swelling.
Many women become swollen their last few months of pregnancy and as all moms know, it ca be very painful. Salt is a natural anti inflammatory meaning spending time in our Salt Room can actually help those ankles and feet. Not to mention, burying sore achy legs and feet in the salt feels very therapeutic.
Salt Therapy can help with stress and anxiety.
It seems there would be a little stress and anxiety for moms, especially new ones. Thinking about those final days and how much life is about to change is a happy thought, but can also be somewhat scary. Salt Therapy promotes relaxation and actually relieves stress in the brain.
Salt Therapy is wonderful for pregnant women who don't want to rely on over-the-counter medication. It is an all natural way to significantly help issues such as allergies, sinus, respiratory issues, swelling, pain and much more. Salt Therapy will also help boost the immune system which is a wonderful thing for pregnant women.
AS ALWAYS, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS!
Spring is almost here and so are the allergies that come with it…
5 Ways Salt Therapy Helps with Allergies
Allergies could be very discomforting, with the constant runny nose, sneezes, itchy teary eyes, and recurrent cough that come with the condition, you could have a bad day without treatment.
An allergy is an exaggerated immune response to certain triggers which are called allergens. Examples of these allergens include foods such as nuts, milk, and eggs, pollen, insect bites, mold, animal fur, dust mite, pet dander, and cold air. Exposure to these agents in some individuals who are “hypersensitive” to them results in release of certain a chemical called histamine which results in the symptoms.
Salt therapy or halotherapy is a natural treatment which reduces the symptoms and frequency of episodes of these allergies.
Here are some ways halotherapy helps with allergies:
1. Reduces Inflammation in the airways
Our salt rooms are dry, around 50% humidity. This allows the dry salt particles to travel deep into your sinuses and respiratory system. These particles help reduce the migration of inflammatory cells to the area, lowering your symptoms.
2. Antibacterial
Bacteria may trigger or complicate an allergy. The microscopic dry salt particles reduce bacterial growth and multiplication. In addition, salt particles also absorb bacteria, clearing them off the airway.
3. Promotes adequate airflow and sleep
The salt particles break up the mucus plugs in your airways and sinuses, allowing more space for air to flow through. In addition, this results in less sleep disturbance as air tends to flow freely during sleep.
4. Flushes out Triggers for Allergy
Salt therapy soothes your airways and absorbs the irritants and allergens lining your airways, therefore, lowering the immune response and inflammation, lowering your symptoms.
5. Relieves Discomfort
With sinusitis, comes headaches and facial pain, as well as runny nose. Headaches and facial pain in sinusitis are caused by mucus collection in the sinuses. Distension of these sinuses, as a result of mucus accumulation, result in pain. Salt therapy causes break down of mucus and clearance from your airway, resolving the symptoms.
BioAcoustic Mat
Vibroacoustic therapy (VAT) is a therapeutic approach that utilizes sound and vibration to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. It involves the use of specialized equipment that emits low-frequency vibrations and soothing music or sounds. These vibrations are transmitted through a mat, such as the BioAcoustic Mat from Richway, allowing the individual to experience a gentle massage-like sensation.
Vibro-Acoustic therapy is often accompanied by calming music that is specifically composed to harmonize with the frequencies of the vibrations. These frequencies have been discovered by therapists and medical professionals to be beneficial in treating various ailments and conditions. By utilizing sound or lights, they can stimulate the brain and induce specific states that aid in the healing process.
The vibrations used in vibroacoustic therapy are believed to stimulate the body's natural relaxation response, promoting the release of endorphins and reducing muscle tension. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals experiencing chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, or other stress-related conditions.
Brainwaves serve as the foundation for all thoughts and emotions, acting as electrical signals that enable communication among neurons. The condition of your brain and the course of your day are closely intertwined, with studies indicating that irregular brainwaves are linked to various emotional and neurological disorders. Our brainwaves exist in a limited number of states, each state evoking distinct sensations, ranging from profound meditative states to intense information processing.
VAT has been found to have a range of potential benefits, including improved sleep quality, reduced anxiety and depression symptoms, enhanced mood, and increased relaxation. It can also help to alleviate symptoms associated with conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, and Parkinson's disease.
Vibroacoustic therapy is a non-invasive and safe treatment option that can be used alone or in conjunction with other therapeutic interventions. It is often utilized in wellness centers, spas, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities. The soothing vibrations and sounds create a calming and immersive experience, helping individuals to achieve a state of deep relaxation and mental clarity.
Brainwaves are the foundation of all thoughts and emotions, electrical pulses that facilitate communication between neurons. The state your brain is in and how you feel are tied together. Research shows that irregular brainwaves are linked to emotional and neurological distress. Vibroacoustic therapy works to bring your brainwaves into healthy states. Studies show that low-frequency sound pulsations and music that entrains brainwaves have improved health and can help anxiety, and sleep.
HOW DOES A BIOACOUSTIC™ MAT WORK?
By combining the power of differing sound frequencies and binaural beats with therapeutic entrainment music, Richway offers an effective solution for relaxation and stress relief as well as the only vibroacoustic mat of its kind available.
Therapeutic Sound Generation
The BioAcoustic Mat from Richway & Fuji Bio utilizes advanced sound generation technology to provide a unique and immersive experience. This innovative sound therapy mat combines the power of music therapy and vibrational healing to promote relaxation and overall well-being. The mat produces a wide range of soothing sounds, including nature sounds, musical tones, and binaural beats, which work together to create a harmonious environment for the mind and body. With customizable settings and a user-friendly interface, the BioAcoustic Mat allows individuals to tailor their sound experience to their preferences, helping them to achieve a state of deep relaxation, rejuvenation and mental well-being.
The BioAcoustic Mat™ has state-of-the-art low-frequency, powerful speakers and transducers that generate an acoustic massage on the cellular level. Lower frequencies (30-68 Hz) are used to massage larger muscles, while high frequencies (52-88 Hz) are generated to massage small muscles. The high-fidelity upper speakers bring another level of sound therapy while the bass low-frequency speaker has been shown to relax muscle tissue by stimulating auditory nerves. A one-of-a-kind experience, vibroacoustic relaxation is finally getting the recognition it deserves in the scientific community.
Entrainment
The applications of sounds from the mat are the result of a lot of research. They are specifically designed and developed sounds to synchronize with the therapeutic frequencies produced by the speakers and produce vibrations that activate the nerves in the spinal cord, brain stem, and limbic system that control emotional response with cellular stimulation. The vibrations also activate the auditory nerves embedded in your muscle tissue and, using the low frequencies produced by the bass system put them in a state of tranquility. All the while, neural activity is leveled out and balanced in what can be referred to as a cellular massage.
Merriam-Webster defines entitlement as "the adjustment or moderation of one behavior either to synchronize or be in rhythm with another behavior."
We've all caught ourselves tapping our feet to the music, unaware that we were doing so. In physics, less energy is needed when one system falls in line with another. The human brain is a super complex system and its largest task is to send and receive signals. When there are too many signals, the brain becomes "overloaded" and we become stressed. These signals are rhythmic by nature even if we can't hear them. However, when the brain becomes entrained with music and those signals fall in line with the music, we become relaxed, just like we are when we catch ourselves tapping our feet. Neural activity is synchronized to the music and in doing so, coaxed back into a natural, healthy, balanced state.
The BioAcoustic Mat’s music produces specific frequencies that encourage our mind into states of therapeutic rhythm. The tracks you receive with the BioAcoustic Mat put your brain activity into those rhythms by limiting the number of sounds it hears per second and by producing a slightly different pitch in each ear. The result is our minds becoming entrained with the music's rhythm and spending less energy, thus becoming relaxed, refreshed, rejuvenated, or energized, depending on the track that's playing. This is called entrancing music.
Specially Designed Music Tracks
Vibroacoustic therapy is typically accompanied by comforting music. If done right, the music works with the frequencies of the vibrations. The sounds, vibrations, and music chosen for vibroacoustic therapy do not happen by circumstance, but as a matter of scientific research, and have been proven to treat different health issues, and they all work together to bring your mind into specific states of healing, creating therapeutic effects.
The BioAcoustic Mat from Richway is designed to have a positive impact on brain waves, specifically theta, beta, alpha, and delta wavelengths. Theta brainwaves are associated with deep relaxation and meditation, and the BioAcoustic™ helps to induce a calming sense of tranquility, promoting the production of theta waves. Beta waves are related to concentration and alertness, and the mat can help enhance focus and mental clarity by stimulating beta wave activity. Alpha brainwaves are linked to relaxation and creativity, and the mat encourages alpha wave production, promoting a sense of relaxation and creative thinking. Finally, deep sleep delta brainwaves are associated with healing and rest, and the mat aids in promoting delta wave activity, facilitating a restful and rejuvenating sleep experience.
The BioAcoustic™ Mat comes with 12 therapeutic music tracks that fall into four categories: Relax, Stress-Relief, Energize, and Sleep. These beautiful music pieces were composed by Dr. Lee Bartel, a vibroacoustic sound expert, and were produced in the Delta, Gamma, Theta, Alpha, or Beta wavelengths.
ENERGIZE
Guitar, piano, digital sound, bass.
Mono and binaural high alpha and beta entrainment.
ENERGIZE - TRACK 1
(Total track length - 5:18)
Low pitch 41 Hz - 73 Hz
Peak wavelength 41Hz
ENERGIZE - TRACK 2
(Total track length - 4:40)
Low pitch 36 Hz - 61 Hz
Peak wavelength 41Hz
ENERGIZE - TRACK 3
(Total track length - 5:55)
Low pitch 36 Hz - 65 Hz
RELAX
Digital ocean, surf and nature sounds.
RELAX - TRACK 1
(Total track length - 5:15)
Low pitches centered around 40
Hz, 52 Hz and 68 Hz (34 Hz)
Mono and binaural alpha and
theta entrainment (5 Hz - 8 Hz)
RELAX - TRACK 2
(Total track length - 4:40)
Low pitch – 36 Hz
Binaural alpha and theta
entrainment
RELAX - TRACK 3
(Total track length - 5:35)
Low pitch – 32 Hz
Binaural alpha and theta
entrainment
SLEEP
Mono and binaural delta entrainment.
SLEEP - TRACK 1
(Total track length - 4:58)
Digital sound
Low pitch – 32 Hz
SLEEP - TRACK 2
(Total track length - 5:00)
Digital sound
Low pitch – multiple between
27.5 – 44 Hz
SLEEP - TRACK 3
(Total track length - 6:05)
Digital sound
Low pitch – multiple between
34 – 52 Hz
STRESS RELIEF
Piano, flute, and digital sound.
STRESS RELIEF - TRACK 1
(Total track length - 3:30)
Low frequencies – 36 Hz – 41 Hz
Mono and binaural theta
entrainment
4 Hz – 6 Hz
STRESS RELIEF - TRACK 2
(Total track length - 3:00)
Low frequencies – 32 Hz – 65 Hz
Mono and binaural theta
entrainment
4 Hz – 6 Hz
STRESS RELIEF - TRACK 3
(Total track length - 3:40)
Low frequencies – 27.5 Hz – 55 Hz
Mono entrainment at delta, theta,
and alpha
Binaural theta entrainment 4 Hz – 6 Hz