Hot tubs, Saunas and Beating Cancer

When I was being treated at Sloan Kettering, they recommended I use a hot tub. I didn’t know why at the time but, I thought, why not try it. I lived in New Jersey, and God knows, Honey, it gets cold outside. I purchased the smallest one they made but the best as far as ozone and safety features, the amount of jets and where they were positioned.

Well, I loved it. I kept the temperature at 104°F, and when I opened the top, steam would just hit me in the face. As I slowly stepped in and positioned myself, I would set the timer for 10 to 20 minutes, depending on my mood. With the heat of the hot tub, the sound of the jets, the steam in my face, my mp3 player on, looking up into the sky, how much fun is this? I get comfortable, I listen to my music, and I go into a meditative state. Hey, this was better than drugs. I was detoxifying my body, I was calm and relaxed, and I loved every minute of it. I decided to research the benefits of a hot tub.

Hot water healing is nothing new. As early as 2,000 B.C., Egyptians used hot baths to ease pain and invoke relaxation by placing sizzling rocks into water. In Ancient Greece, elaborate structures were built around natural hot springs as early-day hospitals and meeting places; there, the father of medicine himself–Hippocrates–prescribed these soothing soaks as treatment for conditions ranging from jaundice to rheumatism. In fact, the word spa comes from the Latin term suanas per aquam–meaning health through water–coined because battle-weary Roman soldiers routinely used hot wells to recover from their physical and emotional wounds. Today, medical research confirms the traditional belief that putting yourself in hot water, literally, may keep you healthy.

Next:  The sauna experience. Temperature set at 185ºF (average), the smell of the cedar, steam when you would put water on the hot stones; this is also good to control the humidity so the sauna won’t become too dry. WOW, love this. Sweat poring all over. I actually would go into the sauna fully clothed to absorb the sweat. 15 minutes was always my limit. Going outside afterwards in 30ºF or lower temperature, I didn’t even feel the cold. The cold air was refreshing, and on a snowy day, rolling in the snow was fun.  And I drank a lot, too. I would fill a water bottle and add liquid vitamins and I would drink 16 ounces like it was nothing. And talk about sleeping good!

I decided to research the benefits of saunas. Saunas help maintain clear, healthy skin and provide an afterglow and rosy complexion. They also promote a wonderful feeling of well being by reducing stress and a total body experience that no bath can duplicate.

How nice it would be if medical insurance would recognize these alternative treatments and pay for them as wellness care.  What am I thinking?  The U.S. health care system is a mess; it’s difficult to even get proper affordable medical insurance for illness let alone wellness care.

But all is good…The cancer is still gone.