Saunas and cancer

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, June, 2004 by Lawrence Wilson

If I were to single out one method to combat cancer, it is the sauna. In particular, the electric light infrared sauna is extremely helpful. This type is heated by three 250-watt red infrared heat lamps. It assists removal of chemical toxins and heavy metals, increases oxygenation, enhances the immune system and reduces the radiation burden in the body. (1)

Saunas not only help remove radioactive particles, but can kill cells mutated by radiation that otherwise reproduce and eventually lead to cancer. In this sense, saunas have genetic effects that improve the overall quality of the body's DNA. Genetics researchers often forget that nutrients turn on genes and toxins alter or block genetic expression.

Infrared sauna therapy is also the most powerful method I have found for uncovering and healing chronic infections. Endo- and exo-toxins from chronic infections often contribute to the development of cancer.

What is Cancer?

In 1902, Dr. John Beard published a paper in The Lancet on the trophoblastic theory of cancer. (2) It. is quite simple and has never been disproven. In fact, it recently received strong confirmation by scientists at the University of Michigan. (3) Dr. Beard showed that a normal tissue of the body, the trophobiast, exhibits characteristics identical to cancer. It is invasive, metastatic, forms new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and has the same specific markers and chemical composition as cancer cells.

The trophoblast is a totipotent or stem cell that grows around the developing fetus during the first eight to twelve weeks of pregnancy. The word trophoblast means 'nourishing the baby.' It burrows into the lining of the mother's uterus and supplies the fetus with blood until the placenta forms. It is essential for life.

The trophoblast normally disappears between 8 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. If it overgrows, the result is a very virulent form of cancer, choriocarcinoma. It usually kills both mother and fetus within a few weeks.

One may say, if the trophoblast only develops during pregnancy, how can it explain all other cancers? Dr. Beard found that the stem cells that form the trophoblast are present all over the body in small numbers. Given the right stimulus, they begin to grow. A key to understanding cancer is to understand what makes these cells grow.

Estrogen, The Primary Carcinogen

The primary stimulus for the growth of the trophoblast is high estrogen, as occurs during pregnancy. Estrogen is associated with cell proliferation. One may ask why so much cancer occurs in men and in post-menopausal women who do not produce much estrogen. The answer is, everyone's adrenal glands produce estrogens, in both sexes and at all ages.

Normal estrogen production by the adrenals or ovaries is not a problem. The liver converts the estrogen to a harmless form. However, when the liver is toxic or otherwise compromised, it cannot detoxify estrogen properly. There are three common estrogens--estriol, estradiol and estrone. Estrone is the most harmful. When the liver becomes toxic, estrone increases and the stage is set for cancer. Liver toxicity today is the rule rather than the exception. Causes for liver toxicity include:

* Toxins in the food supply. These include toxic metals, pesticide residues, preservatives and thousands of other additives used in prepared foods. Some pesticides and other chemicals mimic the effects of estrogen by occupying estrogen binding sites. This may cause more estrogens to circulate freely in the body. An interesting new study found that cadmium mimics the effects of estrogen. (4)

* Thousands of organic chemicals and toxic metals in the environment. Besides food, sources of toxins include contaminated air, dental materials, especially silver amalgam fillings, and skin contact with toxins in solvents, detergents, skin care products, chlorinated and fluoridated water and other household and industrial chemicals. Building materials, carpets, plastics and office machinery may also outgas toxic chemicals.

* Radiation exposure damages the liver. Everyone is exposed to radiation today from bomb fallout, nuclear plant accidents, medical and other uses of radiation.

* Prescription, over-the-counter and other remedies. All pharmaceuticals are synthetic chemicals that must be detoxified and excreted, primarily by the liver. Vaccines are preserved with toxic metals. Many herbs are toxic as well, though much less than most drugs. Vitamin products that contain sea minerals and land-based mineral deposits often contain toxic metals. A portion of any ingested drug or chemical remains in the body, often for years. These will build up and can be an important source of liver toxicity.

* Adrenal exhaustion. This is an indirect cause. Adrenal weakness contributes to a slow oxidation rate and sluggish liver activity. Also, the body compensates for adrenal depletion by accumulating toxic levels of copper, iron, chromium, selenium, manganese, aluminum, cadmium and lead that are toxic to the liver.

* Nutrient deficiencies. These impair the liver's normal detoxification pathways. Nutrient deficiencies are the result of poor quality diets, poor eating habits and impaired digestion. Stress increases the need for nutrients.