May is lyme disease awareness month and it's time I brought my story to light. So many people are suffering with undiagnosed lyme disease, or told they will never heal and it's devestating. Here is my story. 

I grew up in the panhandle of Texas where we often went camping in Palo Duro Canyon, rode motorcycles at the motorcycle lease, played in rivers and were basically outside all the time. It was completely normal to find ticks on us, light a match and "burn them out" or paint them with fingernail polish to "smother" them. We had never heard of lyme disease so we didn't think ticks were anything more than annoying. 

In the fall of my senior year of high school, 2001 we went on our annual camping trip with some of my dads work friends. Per usual, I got several ticks and pulled them out and moved on with my life. I was an ambitious 17 year old and would go to school in the morning and work in the afternoon to save money and get ahead.  After that camping trip I started to experience symptoms that I never had before. I found myself calling into my afternoon job that I had worked so hard to get, just so I could take a nap. That was literally my only reason. I was dead tired and had to sleep. I wasn't calling in to play hookey, I was literally so fatigued I couldn't make it through the day, as a 17 year old. 

I told my parents that I was beyond exhausted, that I felt like my grandmother had more energy than me so my mom took me to the doctor. They ran basic blood work and wanted to check my blood sugar after eating so I did for a couple of weeks and everything was normal. The doctors told me it was probably just me worrying about college and upcoming life changes. I didn't know any better so I accepted that. For a while. 

Pretty quickly my symptoms progressed to much more than fatigue. I began having daily intense headaches/migraines, brain fog so bad that I couldn't drive sometimes, random flu like sensations that would come and go, feeling like my brain was inflamed all the time, panic attacks, heart palpitations and derealization. We went to more doctors- ENT's, neurologists, specialists, heart doctors and normal MD's. Always me, crying in their office and them telling me blood work is fine and it's all in my head- here is an anti-depressant. Not one of them ever mentioned lyme disease or tested me for it. I lived that way from 2001-2016, just assuming I was a wimp compared to normal people and that something was seriously wrong with me but it would never be found. I got my masters and business and continued on as a Human Resources Business partner for many years. Eventually moving from TX to SC for my career, all while being super sick. I was stuck in a vicious cycle of trudging through my day at work, collapsing at home for a few hours, then getting up to eat and spend a few minutes with my daughter. I’d crawl into bed at 8:00 pm usually too exhausted ot brush my teeth, and then repeat the same routine the next day.

My body just could not repair itself. I was barely existing, and certainly not living.

Lyme Signs and Diagnosis

Lyme is caused by a tick infected with the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted to humans through a tick bite. The diagnosis is usually confirmed through a combination of lab tests and symptoms, including:

• Butterfly or bull’s eye rash following a tick bite, between 3 to 30 days after a bite (note: not everyone develops a rash and I never had one) 
• Fatigue
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Headaches
• Fever
• Chills
• Neck stiffness
• Neurological problems

Even with advancements in diagnosis, confirming the presence of Lyme disease can still be difficult, in part because one of Borrelia’s strategies is to suppress immune function. 

My Journey continued and I finally got answers...

Thankfully, the move to SC led me to a holistic doctors office in Charleston SC that took cases that were "unsolvable" and they were the first one to ever run a full lyme panel on me. It came back off the charts positive, as did mold and multiple co-infections. The doctor there taught me that lyme disease is an immune system issue, and mold was hindering my immune system making it basically impossible for my body to heal. I will write a seperate post in the future on mold, but for this post I will focus on Lyme disease. The doctor that diagnosed me was an amazing doctor who is now retired unfortunately, but the same test she used to diagnose me can be done through The Crunchy Club, without needing to see a doctor. I paid thousand of dollars to get diagnosed, and it's one of the biggest reasons I started The Crunchy Club so that if you don't have the funds you can test yourself. The test that she utilized and that is available to members at practitioner cost is the Vibrant Wellness Lyme and Co-Infection test panel. 

She was the doctor that told me that since my original infection was (At that time) over 15 years prior that the lyme was now considered "chronic" and antibiotic treatments would not help. She instead had me use herbs, tinctures, purchase a sauna, and open up my detox pathways. She was the inspiration that I needed to switch from western to eastern treatments and become a clinical herbalist myself. 

Herbalist Stephen Harrod Buhner, is a pioneer in the use of plant medicine for Lyme disease and has developed a botanical protocol that many people have used with great success, myself included. The protocol is centered around several herbs, including Cat's Claw, Japanese Knotweed, and Andrographis. Botanicals that can be added to the core protocol, based on the patient’s needs, include Astragalus and Smilax; Buhner recommends Astragalus as a preventative measure for those who live in Lyme endemic areas. The protocol I did was very comprehensive and more than I can write about in a blog post. You can learn more about the exact protocol I did, step by step guides, which sauna I used, etc...in The Crunchy Club membership. If you want a discount to the crunchy club for only $27/month instead of $47 then use this link HERE. 

 

There is also emerging research that supports the efficacy of the botanicals in the above mentioned protocols for the treatment of Lyme disease and coinfections. A recent study published in Frontiers in Medicine has added to the growing body of evidence that certain botanicals can effectively target B. burgdorferi and coinfections.² 

Some of the botanicals with anti-Borrelia activity include:

• Cryptolepis sanguinolenta
• Scutellaria baicalensis (Skullcap)
• Artemisia annua and artemisinin, a concentrated extract from the Artemisia plant
• Black walnut (Juglans nigra)
• Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa)
• Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
• Oregano oil
• Cinnamon bark essential oil
• Clove essential oil

Of note, this is one of the first studies to show that Cryptolepis has activity against the Lyme spirochete. This herb has a long history of use in Africa for malaria, and has been used in the Lyme community to help treat the co-infection Babesia.

Antibiotics 

In some cases, prescription antibiotics can be a central component of Lyme disease treatment. However, while they are essentially the only treatment for Lyme offered in the conventional medical model, they are but one antimicrobial treatment option in the functional medicine model.

The International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS), a medical society dedicated to the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Lyme disease and other tick borne infections, has created a helpful set of Lyme treatment guidelines outlining evidence-based guidelines around the antibiotic treatment of the disease.⁴ For acute Lyme disease, ILADS recommends a 4-6 week course of the antibiotics doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime.⁵ On the other hand, antibiotics used in the treatment of chronic Lyme disease may include doxycycline, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, rifampin, and tinidazole. The ILADS approach also advocates combining different antibiotics as needed to effectively target Borrelia and it’s different forms, as well as to target co-infection organisms. 

Many functional medicine doctors combine antibiotics with botanical medicines, discussed next, as several botanicals appear to have synergistic antimicrobial effects in the management of Lyme disease and coinfections.

Some doctors who treat Lyme disease hand patients a prescription for an antibiotic (or two or three) and leave it at that; however, antibiotic treatment is but one piece of the puzzle. Antibiotics are powerful tools that can make a significant difference, but they are best utilized as part of a comprehensive treatment approach, not as a sole treatment. A comprehensive treatment approach may include antibiotics with probiotics, which may attenuate the microbiome-disrupting effects of the antibiotics, diet and lifestyle changes, and interventions that support detoxification, decrease systemic inflammation, and boost your body's immune function, among other interventions.  If these areas are left unaddressed, response to treatment can be incomplete, and there is greater risk of relapse after treatment.

Dapsone

Dapsone, an antibiotic historically used for the treatment of leprosy, is another emerging treatment for Lyme disease. Leprosy is a chronic but curable skin infection caused by a “persister” bacteria, a variant of a bacteria that is highly tolerant to antibiotics, called Mycobacterium leprae. Dr. Richard Horowitz, a pioneer in the treatment of Lyme disease, theorized that the antimicrobial effects of dapsone against this M. leprae persisters might carry over to the treatment of other persister bacteria, including B. burgdorferi persisters in Lyme disease. Subsequent clinical research conducted by Dr. Horowitz suggests that dapsone is active against the “persister” form of Borrelia burgdorferi and associated tick-borne coinfections such as Babesia.⁹ A minimum of 12 months of dapsone treatment may be needed to produce significant improvements in symptoms and prevent relapse.¹⁰ 

Like disulfiram and antibiotics, dapsone is not without side effects. It can cause anemia, a condition in which the body lacks sufficient red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues, so patients must be monitored closely during treatment.

Disulfiram

Disulfiram is an interesting new option in the treatment of Lyme disease and certain Lyme coinfections. Disulfiram, also known by the generic name “Antabuse,” is a drug conventionally used for the treatment of alcoholism. It treats problem drinking by triggering nausea and vomiting when alcohol is ingested. However, in recent years, disulfiram has emerged as an effective treatment option for a completely different condition – Lyme disease.

How exactly has an anti-alcoholism drug come to be used in Lyme disease treatment? In 2016, in work funded by the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, researcher Jayakumar Rajadas was screening an array of pharmaceutical drugs for potential anti-Borrelia activity. During this process, referred to as "high-throughput screening" in the scientific community, he identified disulfiram as a candidate drug with anti-Borrelia activity.⁶ Subsequent in vitro research revealed that disulfiram is exceptionally effective at killing all forms of Borrelia burgdorferi, including the stubborn “persister” form that is highly resistant to antibiotics.⁷ 

While disulfiram is lauded by many as a breakthrough drug for Lyme disease, it is not without side effects. Emerging research indicates that disulfiram may trigger undesirable effects, including neuropathy, headaches, pain, and fatigue in some patients.⁸ Patients need to be monitored carefully while on the disulfiram protocol and much can be done with functional medicine to help patients better tolerate treatment. If you are interested in learning more, sign up for our email list; we are working on developing a comprehensive support program for individuals who want to use disulfiram for tick borne illness treatment using an innovative combination of disulfiram and functional medicine interventions.  

Methylene Blue 

Methylene blue is a pharmaceutical drug new to the Lyme disease market. Traditionally used for the treatment of methemoglobinemia, a condition in which the blood cannot carry oxygen properly, methylene blue has also been found to exert antimicrobial effects against the “persister” form of Borrelia burgdorferi, which is notoriously resistant to antibiotic treatment.¹¹ It may also target Bartonella henselae, a common Lyme coinfection.¹² 

There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Antimicrobial Treatment for Lyme Disease

Overall, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to the antimicrobial treatment of Lyme disease and it might take some trial and error. 

What I would have done differently...

First and foremost, I would have had a tick kit with me and bug spray that was effective at repelling ticks so I didn't get lyme disease in the first place, but I was clueless back then. I wrote a blog post HERE all about my Tick Kit and Bug Away Spray. 

The Dr. I worked with had me tackle the lyme and mold while boosting my immune system. That is actually how my product, elderberry and honey tonic was created because it included almost every herb/root/fruit that she wanted me to take and I couldn't find that blend on the market. So I began drinking 1 oz of the tonic 2x a day, plus daily sauna use (read my sauna blog post HERE), worked on lymphatic drainage daily and took an extensive herbal protocol as outlined in The Crunchy Club. 

I got about 80% better with the above protocol and I was thrilled with that. I was told that I wouldn't be able to get rid of my chronic lyme, just manage it, so I accepted that. Then, I learned about parasites and how they feed off of and THRIVE in a body that has lyme, mold, toxins, and/or heavy metals and that they can hold 10x their weight in all of those toxins and then recirculate it in my system and a light bulb went off. 

I got a stool analysis test for parasites and it was negative but I decided to do a parasite cleanse anyway. And man, I am so glad that I did. I passed over 150 parasites and my remaining 20% symptoms disappeared along with them and haven't returned. So if I had it to do all over again, I would do a parasite cleanse first, then tackle the lyme/mold/heavy metals with phase 4 of the Cell Core Protocol.

I would have gotten 100% better, 100% faster.

My preferrred method for tackling lyme after treating for parasites (we all have them, check out my blog post HERE) is via Cell Core. You can only order Cellcore products through a physician, nutritionist, certified herbalist, etc....

You can use my practitioner code:  Kp69EfqJ  to order the Phase 4A Kit from Cell Core. 

Cellcore's Comprehensive Protocol is for you if you are affected by any chronic health issue. This is commonly used when people are affected by Lyme, mold toxicity, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, gut issues and many more.

What's included in the Phase 4A kit

1. BC-ATP adds highly charged molecules to support your metabolism and ATP (energy) production. This formula is well tolerated by most sensitive people and can help the other formulas be more efficient.
2. HM-ET Binder seeks out heavy metals and environmental toxins (like glyphosate) to bind and expel.
3. KL Support is a collection of herbs that support your most basic detoxification organs, your liver and kidneys. Your liver is where your body breaks down toxins and hormones and sends them to bile or the kidneys for elimination. They need support starting yesterday, that's why KL Support is in Phase 1.
4. Para 4 is the newest powerhouse herbal blend to blast parasites and fungus. 
5. CT-Biotic contains 11 strains of bacteria; spore forming and non-spore forming. These strains will help break down toxins in the gut to help with detoxification and improve digestion.

 

This kit, Phase 4, is not recommended to take as a stand alone. You want to do the first three phases and it is all outlined for you in the Parasite Cleansing Course. You can save thousands of dollars by taking the course instead of working with someone one on one like I did. There is an free intro course and parasite quiz that you can take HERE. 

The main point of this blog post is to let you know that if I healed from chronic lyme, you can too. Our bodies were designed to heal if we give it everything we need to do so. So, don't live in fear of the forrests, just be prepared with knowledge and faith that you can overcome anything. 

As always, this is not to be taken as personal medical advice. Please see your physician with any questions regarding potential lyme disease. 

References

1. Lyme disease treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed December 17, 2019. Accessed September 12, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/treatment/index.html.
2. Feng J, et al. Evaluation of natural and botanical medicines for activity against growing and non-growing forms of B. burgdorferi. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020; 7(6). doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.00006.
3. Feng J, et al. Selective essential oils from spice or culinary herbs have high activity against stationary phase and biofilm Borrelia burgdorferi. Front Med. 2017; https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2017.00169.
4. ILADS Lyme disease treatment guidelines. LymeDisease.org. https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/resources/ilads-lyme-disease-treatment-guidelines/. Accessed September 12, 2020.
5. Cameron DJ, et al. Evidence assessments and guideline recommendations in Lyme disease: The clinical management of known tick bites, erythema migrans rashes and persistent disease. International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. Accessed September 12, 2020. https://www.ilads.org/patient-care/ilads-treatment-guidelines/.
6. Pothineni VR, et al. Identification of new drug candidates against Borrelia burgdorferi using high-throughput screening. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2016; 10: 1307-1322. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S101486.
7. Hari-Hara SK, et al. Repurposing disulfiram (Tetraethylthiuram Disulfide) as a potential drug candidate against Borrelia burgdorferi in vitro and in vivo. Bio Rxiv. 2019; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/842286.
8. Trautmann A, et al. Potential patient-reported toxicities with disulfiram treatment in late disseminated Lyme disease. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020; 7: 133. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.00133. eCollection 2020.
9. Horowitz R and Freeman PR. The use of Dapsone as a novel “persister” drug in the treatment of Chronic Lyme Disease/Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome. J Clin Exp Dermatol Res. 2016; 7(3): DOI: 10.4172/2155-9554.1000345.
10. Leland DK. Touched by Lyme: Leprosy drug shows promise for Lyme treatment. LymeDisease.org. Published May 8, 2016. Accessed September 12, 2020. https://www.lymedisease.org/touched-by-lyme-dapsone/.
11. Feng J, et al. Identification of additional anti-persister activity against Borrelia burgdorferi from an FDA drug library. Antibiotics (Basel). 2015; 4(3): 397-410.
12. Li T, et al. Identification of FDA-approved drugs with activity against stationary phase Bartonella henselae. Antibiotics (Basel). 2019; 8(2): 50.

  

 

Have you ever wondered if you have parasites? Or maybe you don't even want to consider that you could have parasites because it grosses you out too much. Take the free parasite quiz and find out if they could be your root cause. 

The first time someone suggested that my symptoms could be related to parasites, I laughed. I refused to believe that I had parasites so I went about my merry way treating my lyme disease and mold symptoms for another year. 

I didn't have any of the typical (or what I thought was typical at the time) symptoms of parasites: abdominal pain, gastrointestional issues like constipation or diarrhea, etc... I thought all symptoms of parasites would be gut related, but boy was I wrong.

Years ago I  didn't realize there were three main categories of parasites as shown in the image below. Then there are multiple subcategories of parasites underneath those main three, and they can all cause different symptoms. 

My symptoms started when I was 18 and lasted for over 18 years. Half of my life. Not one doctor ever mentioned parasites to me and I went to at least 30 different doctors, had three MRI's done, tons of lab work, and gave them thousands of dollars to "treat me". 

🤦‍♀️ Chronic Daily Headaches and weekly migraines. The headaches would intensify after eating food, so I didn't eat very often. 

👩‍🦽 Fatigue so bad that I felt like I was 120 years old, also known as chronic fatigue, which I was officially diagnosed with. My fatigue was extreme after eating, no matter what I ate. 

😬 Horrible TMJ that caused the muscles of my jaws to be constantly tight and I would grind my teeth I slept. 

🍦 Intense sugar and carb cravings. 

🥴 Brain fog so bad that when I had it I couldn't drive. I actually called it drunk brain because it felt more like I had drank alcohol when I had not had a drop. Again, this symtpom was more intense after eating. 

🤧 Random Flu like symptoms that would come and go without actually being sick with a virus. 

When I was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease and mold toxicity at the age of 34 I was estatic that I finally had answers. What I didn't know at the time was that parasites feed off of lyme, mold, heavy metals and other bacteria and can actually hold those within their own bodies. Up to 10 x their own weight in fact! Meaning, I could never fully heal from Lyme and mold until I got rid of the parasites. A few years ago I decided to do a parasite cleanse for four months. I passed over 150 parasites (not even including the microscopic ones I couldn't see) and my chronic symptons listed above all 👏 went👏 away. For good. and they haven't returned. I am 100% healed and a "normal" person now. I never thought I would fully heal, but I did. I waited a couple of years to share this with all of you to make sure it would stick, and it has. 🙏🙌 I would have never guessed parasites were to blame. 

If I had it to do all over again, I would have gone after parasites first and then treated my lyme and mold. It would have saved me thousands of dollars to do it that way, because I was truly spinning my wheels. And to be honest, doctors aren't taught much about parasites other than the really dangerous ones you can pick up from third world countries. Other than that, it's pretty basic so it flies under the radar and millions of us stay sick.

This brings me to the top 6 parasite myths that I compiled:

Each one of these myths are a little lengthy to explain in a blog post so I made a short 5 minute video that you can watch HERE.

The video linked above is day 1 of my FREE Parasites 101 online course, you can sign up for the free course HERE.

Within the free course you will have access to:

✨ 6 video lessons all about parasites

✨ Discounts to my practitioner account on fullscript

✨ A starting guide on what to eat while killing parasites

✨ Lengthy 40+ parasite quiz to see where you land on symptoms. This isn't your typical parasite quiz, it is clinical, in depth and will help you see if you pass or fail when it comes to parasitic symptoms. 

JOIN THE FREE PARASITE'S 101 COURSE HERE

Be sure to watch the welcome video to get an understanding of how the course works! In the future this mini-course will be $47 so hop on the free train while you can! 

 

 

 

 

Five years ago, I had seen doctor after doctor.  Some of them helped push me in the right direction, but I still had a lot of health issues lingering from my chronic lyme. One holistic health practitioner recommended purchasing a sauna to help my body heal and detox (I have MTHFR gene).

I was told that a sauna could be amazing for some of the symptoms I was living with. Headaches, cold all the time, inflammation, inability to detox, overall fatigue and more.  

So, I tried one at my local gym. And after just one use...I felt worse, not better. I was determined to figure out WHY that sauna made me feel worse. I brought it up at my next holistic doctor appointment and she asked me what type of sauna I used. 

I told her it was a steam sauna and she said "oh that's why it made you feel worse". Steam saunas are notorious for mold spores. Since I already had high mold in my blood she said it "stirred up" the mold in my body. She recommended a specific brand and a specific type of infrared sauna that didn't use steam.   

I found a local spa that had the type of sauna my doctor recommended. I wanted to be sure it wouldn't make me feel worse. So, I sat in it for 40 minutes.  

 

Much to my surprise, I felt relaxed in the sauna. Afterwards I felt energized and then I slept great that night which had not happened in years. More importantly it did not flare up any of my symptoms.

I was so excited to finally find a sauna I could tolerate! So, I started digging into the research and details of why this particular sauna worked. And why I reacted to all the others.

The type of sauna that worked so well for me was an Infrared Sauna. 

Infrared saunas are very different from other type of saunas (dry sauna, steam sauna, heated rocks, etc...). Unlike steam, there is no moisture with an infrared sauna. That means ZERO mold spores. 

And unlike other types of saunas, infrared saunas can be used effectively at lower temperatures. This can be helpful for people with mold symptoms and histamine issues.

Let’s talk about what an infrared sauna is and how it works. 

(Jump to the discount info here if you don't want to read the full article)

Infrared Sauna: How It Works + Health Benefits  

Infrared light is felt as an internal heat. The soothing, natural warmth from the sun is infrared heat. But unlike the sun, the infrared light here doesn’t have UV rays that can cause sunburn or aging.  

In fact, you can be exposed to infrared light for hours without any risk of burning.    

Infrared light therapy is 100% safe 

I find this gentle heat so relaxing and comforting. It reminds me of being on a beach, soaking up the sun on a warm summer day.

Research on infrared saunas has shown the below health benefits: 

• Helps with wound healing and muscle recovery
• Immune support
• Boosts metabolism 
• Helps remove toxins from the body (detoxification) – i.e. mold toxins, chemicals, metals.
• Inflammation-lowering effects 
• Acts similarly to antioxidant nutrients 
• Activates the cell healing cycles 
• May help to potentially lower dementia/alzheimer's risk 

Not all infrared saunas are created equal though. In fact the best infrared saunas provide 3 different bands of infrared wavelengths:  

1. Near Infrared 
2. Mid Infrared 
3. Far Infrared 

Each of these wavelengths provides different benefits.  

Near Infrared reaches the skin’s outermost layer. It energizes and regenerates cells. Benefits include:  

• Cell Health/Immunity Boost 
• Faster Wound Healing 
• Skin Rejuvenation 
• Muscle Recovery 

Mid Infrared wavelengths reach the body’s soft tissue. This is where inflammation occurs. Benefits include:  

• Pain Relief 
• Improved Circulation 
• Muscle Recovery  

Far Infrared reaches deepest into the body. It can reach deep into the tissues where toxins are often stored. Benefits include:  

• Weight Loss 
• Detoxification 
• Relaxation 
• Immune Support

My Recommendation for a Safe Infrared Sauna– 

When I recommend something, I do a lot of research on that product. I take a lot into consideration and I try it for myself first. 

In the research I did, I learned that not all infrared saunas are equal. In fact, they can be very different in terms of EMFs, chemical off-gassing, and need for high heat temperatures.   

So, which sauna was it that has worked so well for myself and many friends and family?

The sauna I settled on is from Sunlighten. 

Here is what allowed me to tolerate Sunlighten Sauna when I couldn’t tolerate other saunas. 

These are the 5 major reasons why I went with Sunlighten Sauna: 

1. Has all 3 infrared wavelengths: near, mid, and far 
2. Can get the health benefits at lower temperatures for shorter times 
3. Low EMF (with 3rd party testing validation) 
4. No chemical off-gassing 
5. Sustainable materials used (better for the environment) 

My favorite of Sunlighten’s sauna has a patented infrared technology with all 3 wavelengths. These wavelengths deliver those gentle, warming infrared waves directly into the body.  

Delivering the infrared waves directly into your body is what can allow you to detox without high temperatures and in a shorter period of time than other saunas.  

With some saunas, only the air is heated. That means only your outer skin is getting hot which means you won’t have much detox happening – so what’s the point?  

But infrared waves penetrate your body deeper. These waves reach those deeper tissues where toxins are stored. Particularly reaching the fat-soluble toxins like mold toxins. 

Another reason I like Sunlighten is the low EMF factor. 

One of the reasons I had trouble with so many saunas is that most emit a lot of EMFs. And there is clear, solid evidence showing how EMFs trigger inflammation.

So, you don’t want a sauna with high EMFs, look for 3rd party testing for EMFs by an independent testing company.  

You don’t want to just go by the company’s own evaluation, though. It’s too easy for a company to skew their own results if it’s not 3rd party tested. 

Sunlighten Saunas were 3rd party EMF tested in 2020 and 2021. This testing showed EMF levels in Sunlighten Saunas were lower than 95 percent of common household devices like hair dryers or vacuum cleaners!   

Of course, I still tested with my own EMF meter as well. And I found the EMF levels in my sauna to be very low.  

And some people (like me) can be triggered by off-gassing of toxic chemicals. This is another reason I had trouble with other saunas in the past. 

Sunlighten doesn’t purchase saunas from a large, mass-production sauna factory. They source all raw materials from PEFC-certified and FSC-certified woods. These are certifications for socially and environmentally responsible wood sourcing.  

They have also done extensive third-party testing to ensure their saunas are made with safe, non-toxic materials. So, no weird chemical smell, and no off-gassing! 

The sauna I picked is made with hypoallergenic basswood. This is the wood I’d recommend if you have any chemical sensitivities or allergies.

There are a lot of great health benefits and there have been many clinical studies done to back up the claims. Below is just a snippet of some of my favorites but if you scroll down to the bottom of this post there are a ton of studies under references. 

>>> A 2016 study compared to people who used the sauna once per week, those who used it 2-3 times per week and 4-7 times per week had a 21% and 66% lower risk for dementia, respectively. For Alzheimer's disease specifically, the risk was 20% and 65% lower, respectively.

>>> A 2013 study (see references below) concluded that repeated sauna may help people with allergic rhinitis. This is a kind of nasal swelling and congestion often associates with histamine issues, mold, allergies and mast cell activation.

>>> A case study that was published in 2014 showed that sauna was helpful for severe chronic itching that didn’t respond to antihistamines.

>>> Further, there are studies showing how sauna can support the nervous system and relaxation. 

>>> A 2013 study looked at the effects of just a single 15-minute sauna session. The study showed that sauna improved the white blood cell profiles. 

>>> Sauna use has also been shown in studies to help the skin in people with psoriasis and eczema. 

>>> Finally, there are numerous studies showing how sauna supports removal of toxins in the body. This includes mold toxins and was my main reason for purchasing one.

I think the most important reason to own a sauna right now is the clinical data backing the fact that infrared saunas can drastically boost your immune system. When we feel like we are coming down with something we get in the sauna, which can induce a rise in basal body temperature, and viruses do NOT like heat. At first sign of illness we combine sauna treatment, elderberry tonic every two hours, high dose vitamin C/D and we are usually good to go within a day or two. 

How Infrared Saunas Can Boost Your Immune System During Cold and Flu Season

The cold and flu season is upon us. It is far better to strengthen the immune system so that you reduce the chance of getting sick in the first place. After all, viruses can only make you sick if your immune system allows it.

How a Fever Improves Immune Function 

When you have an infection, your immune system induces fever in order to stimulate immune function and make the body less habitable for pathogens [1]. Generally, fevers under 104oF (40oC) help the body fight off pathogens without the risk of febrile seizures. In addition, people infected with rhinovirus (a type of cold virus) who use anti-fever medications experienced reduced immune response — they experienced worsened symptoms, took longer to recover from the cold, and were more infectious than those who didn’t use medications [2]. 

According to the American College of Critical Care Medicine, fever is defined as a core temperature of 100.9°F (38.3°C) or higher, i.e. just above the upper limit of an average human temperature, irrespective of the cause [3]. Sunlighten infrared saunas can penetrate deep into tissues and raise core body temperature to approximately 102°F (39°C). Although the sauna heats you up differently than a fever does, the increased body temperature can provide many benefits of fever, such as improving immune functions and preparing your body for the cold and flu season.

1) Making antiviral and antibacterial immune responses more efficient

Many aspects of immune function are heat-sensitive and are designed to be mobilized in response to a fever. Specifically, fever-range body temperature causes the body to favor anti-viral and anti-bacterial immune response (Th1) over the antiparasitic or allergic (Th2) immune response. In addition, fever-range temperature helps the immune system better remember germs that you are exposed to, so that the next time you encounter them pathogens, your body can fight them off better [4]

In addition to heating the body, near-infrared light also stimulates white blood cells and increases antibodies against germs by increasing cellular energy production [5].

2) Hormesis

The term “hormesis” refers to a small amount of stress that trains the body to get stronger. For example, exercise is a type of hormesis. Many health benefits of saunas are due to hormesis. 

Using the sauna generates heat stress and oxidative stress at the low levels that help the body better deal with these stressors. The heat exposures trigger the production of heat-shock proteins, which help other protein molecules fold correctly. In addition, heat-shock proteins also help the immune system fight off viruses [6]. 

Too much oxidative stress can damage tissues and immune cells, which reduces your ability to fight infections. The sauna generates small amounts of oxidative stress that increases your cell’s antioxidant capacity, which reduces your risk of getting sick [7]. 

3) Anti-aging for the immune system

The immune system, which is continually replenished by immune stem cells in the bone marrow and thymus, is one of the most sensitive systems to aging. This is why the elderly (>65 years old) are more likely to get sick and develop complications from cold and flu. 

As people age, their immune stem cells have a declining ability to regenerate more white blood cells. Interestingly, photobiomodulation, especially from the near-infrared spectrum, may stimulate the mitochondria of these stem cells and help mitigate age-related immune decline [8].

4) Reducing Stress 

Stress significantly increases the incidences of colds by reducing the antiviral immune system, partly because cortisol suppresses the immune responses [9, 10, 11]. Exposure to far-infrared sauna significantly reduces post-exercise cortisol, which may mitigate the immune-suppression effects of stress [12, 13]. In addition, you can use Sunlighten infrared saunas, along with Acoustic Resonance Therapy technology to help you get into a relaxed state, which may further help reduce the risk of getting sick from stress. I personally like to meditate and use my sauna time as "me time", I look at it as a huge stress reliever and my time to check out. 

5) Normalizing the Circadian Rhythm and Improving Sleep

Not all sleep is created equal. Deep sleep helps build your antiviral immune system, so you want to increase deep sleep in the winter [14]. 

During colder months, when the days are shorter and sunlight is dimmer, your sleep could get thrown off. You may hardly notice it because you are still going to work and sleep on the same schedule, but you may experience changes in mood, fatigue, and more frequent colds partly because you are not sleeping as deeply.

According to board-certified sleep psychologist Dr. Micheal Breus, the steep drop in body temperature in the evening helps cue your body that it is time to sleep. Using the infrared sauna in the afternoon to help you relax before allowing your body temperature to drop naturally will improve your sleep quality. 

Using the Sauna Reduce Incidences of Common Cold

In an Austrian study, 25 healthy subjects who regularly used saunas had significantly fewer episodes of common colds than those who did not [15]. This benefit becomes more significant, especially after 14 weeks of consecutive sauna use. Therefore, in order to fully experience the immune-strengthening benefits of sauna use, you want to use it regularly, at least twice a week throughout the year.

And now that I’ve found a safe sauna option, it’s one of the key steps I recommend for almost everyone to include in their healthy lifestyle.

Remember, as I have said before, not all infrared saunas are worth your money. This is worth repeating if you are serious about purchasing a sauna.  

The really nice thing about the type of sauna I share with you below is that you don’t have to heat it very hot to get the benefits. In fact, you can start with fairly low temperatures.  

You don’t even have to sweat to be able to get the benefits from the sauna I picked. This is really nice for people who are still having trouble sweating or can’t do high heat. 

My favorite of Sunlighten’s saunas has a patented infrared technology with all 3 wavelengths. These wavelengths deliver those gentle, warming infrared waves directly into the body.  

Delivering the infrared waves directly into your body is what can allow you to detox without high temperatures and in a shorter period of time than other saunas.  

With some saunas, only the air is heated. That means only your outer skin is getting hot which means you won’t have much detox happening – so what’s the point?  

But infrared waves penetrate your body deeper. These waves reach those deeper tissues where toxins are stored. Particularly reaching the fat-soluble toxins like mold.

With Sunlighten, I’m finally able to get all the benefits of a sauna without experiencing any flares!  

Sunlighten saunas have good research behind them and have been proven to 95-99% effective.  

And as a bonus, it’s super easy to use.   

Adding an infrared sauna to your home is affordable and easier than you may think. 

When I first tried the Sunlighten Sauna at the spa, I felt so great, I knew I’d want to come back again and again. I just felt so good afterward. 

Even beyond detoxing, I already knew the research on infrared sauna use and longevity was solid. So, I figured now that I’d found a sauna I could use, I’d want it to become part of my regular health routine for the long term. 

I looked at some numbers, next. The cost of going to this spa 2-3 times a week for the long term was going to get expensive quickly.  

When I added what it would cost me to get 3 sauna sessions per week for a year, it was going to cost me more than just buying a home sauna!  

Since I knew I’d use it frequently…and because it was a great investment in my health…it just made sense to get a sauna I could use at home. 

It certainly isn’t the cheapest thing I’ve done for my health. But, they had financing options, a great warranty, and a return period. I knew if it could help me through my mold detox and with my muscle and joint pain, it would definitely be worth it. And it really has been, we absolutely LOVE our sauna. And even better, I wouldn’t have to worry about other people’s germs and sweat. 

If you are thinking about getting a home sauna for yourself, you’ll want to know about the different model options. This can save you some time. 

Sunlighten has 4 models: 

1. mPulse 
2. Solo 
3. Amplify 
4. Signature 

Let’s start with the mPulse. This is the one I want in the future but it was out of my budget four years ago so we started with the Signature.   

mPulse Sauna Model:

 

The mPulse offers all 3 infrared wavelengths: near, mid, and far.  

The near infrared has been shown to be very helpful for cell rejuvenation and anti-aging.  

And the construction has something called an emissive coating. This allows the sauna to produce more infrared per square inch than any other heater on the market. That translates to more health benefits with lower temperatures and shorter amounts of time in the sauna. 

It comes with a built-in Android control panel. The control panel can be used in airplane mode to keep the EMFs down. 

I also like that it has 6 preset Wellness Programs. Each program uses a different combination of wavelengths: 

Cardio 

Anti-Aging 

Relaxation 

Pain Relief 

Weight loss 

Detox 

Custom program options – this is where you can create your own programs. 

The mPulse does need a little space in your home and also needs a dedicated outlet (meaning nothing else runs off that circuit). 

We are saving up our money to purchase this unit in the future, but for now we are still very happy with our signature 2. 

But what if you don’t have the space or budget for a walk-in unit?  

Solo Sauna Model:

For those that don’t have the space for the larger sauna or don’t want to spend the money on the walk-in options, Sunlighten also has a portable infrared sauna called the Solo System.   

The Solo can be a great option if you don’t have space for a larger sauna or need a more budget-friendly option.   

It differs from the mPulse because it isn’t a walk-in model.  

Instead, you recline and are cocooned in it, but your head remains outside the unit. This can be good for some people who are extremely heat sensitive for any reason. 

The Solo model doesn’t have all 3 infrared wavelengths. It just has far infrared, but this is still great for detoxifying and immune support. 

The Solo model doesn’t need a dedicated circuit, either.  

What about the other 2 units? 

Amplify Sauna Model:

The Amplify Sauna has 2 ceramic heaters at the front for people who like a hotter sauna. This sauna technically provides all 3 wavelengths, as the extra heaters are full spectrum.  They don’t provide the same, quality, precise wavelengths as the mPulse. 

Signature Sauna Model:

The Signature Sauna also offers far infrared only. It can be a good choice if you want a cabin unit and are only interested in the detoxification benefits. This is the one that we purchased because we felt it was the best bang for our buck and at the time I mainly needed detox benefits. 

Four years ago my husband and I decided that for our Christmas present (for years…ha)  to each other we would invest in a sauna, and it has been worth every single penny. 

After owning and testing out my sunlighten sauna for four years I decided to reach out to them to see if I could get my community a discount, and they said YES! I really wish I would have had this discount when I purchased. 

If you’re ready for a sauna, it can be a great investment in your health. I get in my sauna 3-4 times per week! My husband gets in almost everyday and it has dramatically helped his chronic back pain.

I tend to feel cold a lot. And when the weather turns cooler, it feels so good to hop in there to warm up! 

While these aren’t the least expensive sauna units, they are, in my opinion, the best and highest quality on the market.

I love being able to share new products with you that I’ve found helpful. But I know cost can be a concern for those of us with so many health expenses. I have lived that after spending thousands and thousands on doctors that didn’t help me.

Sunlighten is offering my Roots and Leaves community a *HUGE* discount:

UP TO $600 (Either $500 or $600 depending on the model)

OR

$250 off a solo unit 

Two different ways to access the discount:

# 1 - Use this link directly to order online. The discount will be applied as long as you don't navigate away from the direct link.  

# 2 - Call Sunlighten at 877.292.0020 x1  and tell them you’d like the "Roots and Leaves Discount"

You can also learn more about Sunlighten Sauna here:

>>> Learn more about Sunlighten Sauna

As passionate as I am about this sauna, there are those who might not be ready for it, though.  

Who Shouldn’t Use Sauna?  

When considering if sauna is safe for you, there are a few other situations where you should definitely talk to your licensed medical provider first: 

Pregnancy 

Metal implants 

Multiple Sclerosis, Central Nervous System Tumors, and Diabetes with Neuropathy 

Hemophilia 

Recovering from surgery 

Pacemakers  

If none of the above describes you though, then you can do further reading and exploration on saunas and you might consider giving Sunlighten Sauna a try! My body thanks me every time I use mine! 

Enjoy the discount friends and let me know if you end up purchasing one and how you like it (I know you will!).

Xoxo,

Haley 

References:

• References: 

  1. A Sahib Mehdi El-Radhi. Fever management: Evidence vs current practice.  World Journal of Pediatrics. 2012 Dec 8; 1(4): 29–33.
  2. Department of Community Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia. Adverse effects of aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen on immune function, viral shedding, and clinical status in rhinovirus-infected volunteers.  The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1990 Dec;162(6):1277-82.
  3. Edward James Walter. The pathophysiological basis and consequences of fever. Critical Care. 2016; 20: 200
  4. Sharon S. Evans, Elizabeth A. Repasky, and Daniel T. Fisher. Fever and the thermal regulation of immunity: the immune system feels the heat. Nature Reviews Immunology. Volume15, pages 335–349 (2015)
  5. Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Keio University. Possible application of the laser in immunobiology. Keio Journal of Medicine. 1993 Dec;42(4):180-2.
  6. Gabriele Multhoff. Heat shock proteins in immunity. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology. 2006;(172):279-304.
  7. Shabnam Hajian. Positive effect of antioxidants on immune system. Immunopathol Persa. 2015;1(1):e02
  8. Denis Odinokov and Michael R Hamblin. Aging of lymphoid organs: Can photobiomodulation reverse age-associated thymic involution via stimulation of extrapineal melatonin synthesis and bone marrow stem cells? J Biophotonics. 2018 Aug; 11(8): e201700282.
  9. Stone AA1, Bovbjerg DH, Neale JM, Napoli A, Valdimarsdottir H, Cox D, Hayden FG, Gwaltney JM Jr. Development of common cold symptoms following experimental rhinovirus infection is related to prior stressful life events. Behavioral Medicine. 1992 Fall;18(3):115-20.
  10. Cohen S1, Tyrrell DA, Smith AP. Psychological stress and susceptibility to the common cold. The New England Journal of Medicine. 1991 Aug 29;325(9):606-12.
  11. Areej M. Assaf,⁎ Reem Al-Abbassi, and Maysaa Al-Binni. Academic stress-induced changes in Th1- and Th2-cytokine response. Saudi Pharm J. 2017 Dec; 25(8): 1237–1247.
  12. Antti Mero, Jaakko Tornberg, Mari Mäntykoski, and Risto Puurtinen. Effects of far-infrared sauna bathing on recovery from strength and endurance training sessions in men. Springerplus. 2015; 4: 321.
  13. Shanshan Shui, Xia Wang, John Y Chiang, and Lei Zheng. Far-infrared therapy for cardiovascular, autoimmune, and other chronic health problems: A systematic review. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2015 Oct; 240(10): 1257–1265.
  14. Dimitrov S1, Lange T, Tieken S, Fehm HL, Born J. Sleep associated regulation of T helper 1/T helper 2 cytokine balance in humans. Brain Behav Immun. 2004 Jul;18(4):341-8.
  15. Ernst E, Pecho E, Wirz P, Saradeth T. Regular sauna bathing and the incidence of common colds. Ann Med. 1990;22(4):225-7.

 

**as always this does not constitute as medical advice, this is just my personal experience with using infrared saunas.