In recent weeks, we have been receiving more questions about the health-promoting effects of Infrared sauna than ever before. That is why we are pleased that Prof. Karl-Ludwig Resch from the German Institute for Health Research in Bad Elster was available to answer questions to KLAFS about how Infrared sauna heat can be effective against the coronavirus. In recent weeks, he has been researching extensively on the SARS-CoV-2 viruses and finding ways to reduce these viruses as quickly and as easily as possible.
The novel coronavirus, now usually referred to as ‘SARS-CoV-2’, is a type of virus that, so far, primarily affects the respiratory tract and causes damage there. A lot can currently only be presumed based on the assumption that SARS-CoV-2 behaves the same way as other viruses that cause acute respiratory diseases.
So-called droplet infection is likely the most important type of transmission. This would also explain why the SARS-CoV-2 virus typically first spreads in the nasopharynx (upper part connected with nasal cavity). While aerosols consist of tiny droplets and are therefore inhaled deep into the lungs, larger droplets and particles are often already trapped in the nose or are deposited in this area. Any virus particles contained in the droplets use special ‘arms’ to dock to the mucous membrane cells in a sophisticated way. By the way, these arms gave the virus its name: corona, Latin for ‘crown’, which describes the spherical outer shape with the ‘contact arms’. Once the virus has succeeded in docking on a cell that is suitable for it, it penetrates the cell and forces it to produce copies of the virus in large quantities and to emit these. This greatly damages these captured cells, and they die. This damage explains the painful symptoms, such as sore throats or coughing.
The beginning defensive activities of the body’s own immune system are the main cause for the accompanying fever that sets in. Once the virus manages to establish itself deep in the lungs, the associated cell damage has very different consequences. In the lungs, where the exchange of oxygen takes place, there is only a thin layer of cells between ‘the inside and the outside. If this is damaged, a barn door opens, through which the pathogens can make their way into the body.
SAUNA AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS?
One of the few findings that can certainly be assumed about the SARS-CoV-2 virus is that it usually initially lodges in the nasopharynx. Now we also know that coronaviruses generally – and also the new SARS-CoV-2 virus - are quite sensitive to heat, and we know this about the Infrared sauna: ‘the hot air and IR rays in the Infrared sauna acts on the skin and the respiratory tracts’. Anyone who has experienced a ‘proper’ infusion ritual can confirm this. So it is very conceivable that viruses in the upper respiratory tracts are inactivated with every breath in every Infrared sauna session.
The strong heat stimulation and also the usually significant cold stimulation after every sauna bath have reliable and immediate effects on the part of our immune system that is currently particularly important.
After few months of taking sauna baths regularly, the susceptibility to colds, cough & virus attacks can drop by up to 50%
Prof. Dr. med. Karl-Ludwig Resch
Infrared Sauna , Coronavirus , covid-19
