In service of country, young men and women sacrifice their lives to protect the peace of their homeland. Sadly, this sacrifice does not begin and end with deployment. Rather, the long lasting effects of active duty can consume entire lives not only on the battlefield but also at home.
The extent of the damage imposed upon our military is unconscionable. Veterans are left to fight for their own lives at home even after fighting for the lives of nameless and faceless fellow citizens while deployed. For many service members the most challenging days occur once they are home and are faced with a dysregulated nervous system, injuries, and sleepless nights, as well as the long lasting impact of grief.
Veterans face challenges that range from physical injury, poisoned bodies from exposure to weaponry, to Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD), potentially ensuing drug and alcohol abuse, sleepless nights, and bouts of deep depression, to name just a few. Often feeling discarded after years of service, the men and women who have served their country deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and honor as the heroes that they are.
Ultimately, a multi-tiered approach to treating veterans is necessary including cognitive behavioral therapy, adequate medical care, support groups, somatic healing, and much more. Also included in this multi pronged approach should be sauna therapy.
A 2019 study revealed that saunas were effectively able to treat ‘Gulf War Iilness’ due to its powerful ability to detoxify the body from harmful substances. Further research has demonstrated that saunas are an effective tool in regulating cortisol, in the treatment of PTSD, drug and alcohol withdrawal/recovery, as well as major depression, and for the improvement of sleep.
Saunas are not the only tool that veterans should have available for them once they return from deployment. However, saunas are so effective in improving the nervous system’s equilibrium and for the detoxification of the body that they should certainly be considered as one of many tools available for veterans.
Research Demonstrates Sauna Treatment to Effectively Detoxify From Substances Handled During Active Duty
Many personnel returning from the Gulf war in the early 1990s demonstrated a variety of symptoms that led to the diagnosis of ‘Gulf War Illness’. It is believed that this disease was developed from exposure to chemical warfare, pesticides, as well as a variety of other substances while deployed during the Gulf war from 1990-1991. (1)
A research team was established to determine what was affecting these veterans after their return home. Eventually a paper was published in the National Library of Medicine entitled ‘A Detoxification Intervention for Gulf War Illness: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial’ (1) that examined veterans living with Gulf war illness and how they would respond to specific sauna treatments. The results from this study were very positive, and lend themselves to the potentiality of all veterans engaging in sauna protocol after deployment as a means of detoxification from harmful substances while abroad.
The objective of the study was to find a treatment that affected approximately 200,000 men and women living with Gulf War Illness. Here is what the authors of the study write.
“Approximately 30% of the 700,000 US veterans of the 1990–1991 Persian Gulf War developed multiple persistent symptoms called Gulf War illness. While the etiology is uncertain, several toxic exposures including pesticides and chemical warfare agents have shown associations. There is no effective medical treatment.” (1)
The study involved daily protocol interventions that lasted for a total of six weeks. The daily protocol for the participants consisted of sauna-induced sweating, exercise, crystalline nicotinic acid, and other supplements. (1)
Here are the details of the protocol intervention for the veterans participating in the study.
“Each session started with drinking the specific dose of powdered crystalline niacin (immediate release) dissolved in a glass of water, followed by 20–30 minutes on a treadmill, exercise bike or elliptical machine at a moderate aerobic level as tolerated. Often the expected niacin flush would begin during the exercise time frame. The next two to four hours were spent in the low temperature (60–80 °C), well-ventilated, Finnish sauna with cool-off breaks, showers, fluids, electrolytes and food as needed, overseen by the supervisor. The niacin flush and any other symptoms would peak during the sauna phase and then dissipate.” (1)
(Please note that 60-80 degrees Celsius is equal to 140-176 degrees Fahrenheit)
It is important to point out that the use of a sauna was not the only aspect of the protocol, and also the participants were supplied with nutrient rich foods, nutritional supplements, electrolytes, and adequate hydration. The particular method of sauna use used for this protocol was the Hubbard regimen which involves an aggressive dosage sauna use (sometimes 2 hours daily) with the specific intention of detoxifying the body through passive sweating (sweat without the use of exercise).
The researchers mention that the same sauna protocol was used to treat first responders after the World Trade Center Collapse in 2001.\
“Respiratory symptoms improved after the Hubbard regimen in first responders at the World Trade Center fires and collapse exposures, similar to some GW veterans exposed to oil well fires with respiratory symptoms and disease” (1,2)
The participants of the veteran study, similar to the first responders who survived the world trade center collapse, responded very positively to the intervention protocols both in subjective surveys that were taken as well as with objective bio-markers.
The researchers assessed the participants using the Veterans Rand Corporation 36 item Health Survey (VR-36), a subjective individual report and questionnaire.
In support of the Hubbard method the authors of the article write.
“Our study provides preliminary evidence of sustained improvement in a number of measures of human health and function in GWI veterans after application of the Hubbard detoxification program.” (1)
Researchers believed that their findings from this study that looked to heal veterans from the Gulf war could also be used for other individuals who have been exposed to high toxic loads. Many would add that perhaps all human beings at this point in history, while minor in comparison to that of the veterans, are exposed to toxins daily, and perhaps could consider using some version of the Hubbard Method.
Here is what the authors write in concluding remarks regarding their research.
“The estimated benefits to the GWI veterans in our study suggest potential value to the larger veteran population who may have other deployment exposures such as burn pits, and for civilians with other toxicant exposures. The intervention has the potential to provide benefits with minimal disruption of the lives of individuals.” (1)
Veterans who have served in the Gulf War, or other veterans serving in more recent deployments, may want to consider using the Hubbard Method of detoxification, which involves robust sauna use as a means of detoxification. Whether veterans are currently experiencing menacing illness from toxic exposure while overseas, or simply are looking to detoxify their bodies in the event of existing toxins then sauna therapy has been proven to be an effective, yet unintrusive tool to do so.
Find out exactly what the Hubbard method is and how you can incorporate this protocol from home to detoxify the body.
What is the Hubbard Regimen For Detoxification?
The Hubbard Regimen for detoxification is a robust use of sauna over a specific period of time in collaboration with a steady supply of nutritional supplements to rid the body of harmful toxins. The Hubbard Regimen typically involves several sauna sessions a day at relatively low temperature between 140-180 degrees Fahrenheit in a traditional Finnish sauna. Given the quantity of time spent in the sauna it is important to remember that all users must maintain excellent levels of hydration throughout the days of sauna use.
The Hubbard Regimen has been used in the treatment of individuals coming off of alcohol or drug use, in the treatment of first responders after the Trade Towers collapsed, as well as for veterans living with Gulf War illness.
According to the authors of the publication entitled ‘Use of the Hubbard Sauna Detoxification Regimen to Improve the Health Status of New York City Rescue Workers Exposed to Toxicants’ this is the basic run down of the Hubbard regimen.
“A daily regimen of physical exercise, immediately followed by forced sweating in a sauna at 140-180°F for two-and-a-half to five hours with short breaks for hydration to offset the loss of body fluids and cooling.” (2)
Still another paper published by the National Library of Medicine entitled ‘Safety and tolerability of sauna detoxification for the protracted withdrawal symptoms of substance abuse’ (3) writes this about the Hubbard Regimen.
“The Hubbard detoxification protocol combines exercise, nutrient supplementation and low-temperature sauna to enhance chemical elimination and improve symptoms common to chemical exposures.” (3)
The Hubbard Regimen is well supported by robust scientific research and has been used to successfully treat individuals in high risk positions such as first responders as well as veterans.
If you plan to engage the Hubbard Regimen it is critical to stay well hydrated, and include electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals in your treatment protocol.
Sauna Use to Regulate Cortisol Excretion Once Active Duty is Over
Veterans coming home from deployment have relied upon their body’s ability to produce heightened levels of cortisol to maintain hypervigilance while on duty. The ability of the human body to produce this steroid hormone is incredible and necessary during states of emergency such as those faced during times of war.
While the adrenal glands secrete high levels of cortisol in order to keep the body in states of vigilance, it is important once service members return home to regulate the surges of cortisol. This requires a retraining of cortisol excretion times and to eventually come back to a space where veterans can calm the nervous system down to fall asleep and stay asleep at night.
This clearly must be done in conjunction with other therapies, however it is also possible to use a sauna to help regulate cortisol levels back to a healthy 24 hour cycle. Sauna use at night time can help to reduce baseline levels of cortisol to improve sleep quality. Ultimately in a healthy civilian, not living under the threat of war, cortisol levels should peak in the first 1-2 hours after waking and by the afternoon should begin to slowly reduce in levels by the evening to reach an all time low just before bed. (4)
For many veterans, cortisol levels remain spiked in the evenings and at night preventing necessary sleep from occurring. This is one of many symptoms of PTSD, and should be addressed as soon as possible once deployment has ended.
Heating the body up before bed with a sauna can be used as one of many tools to reduce cortisol levels in the evening and at night time. (4)
Sauna Use As an Intervention For Potential Drug and Alcohol Use Withdrawal
Sadly, many veterans turn to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate after deployment. Without appropriate treatments it is very difficult to heal after active duty. It makes sense as to why someone would turn to alcohol or drugs to find relief from physical, emotional, and mental pain. Unfortunately, this method only prolongs the suffering. While many different approaches are necessary such as therapy, medical treatments, support groups, and much more, saunas can provide some assistance during the time period when veterans are ready to eliminate drug and alcohol use.
According to the publication from the National Library of Medicine entitled ‘Safety and tolerability of sauna detoxification for the protracted withdrawal symptoms of substance abuse’, sauna use has become widespread in treatment centers across the nation, and has been demonstrated to improve withdrawal symptoms in statistically significant ways (3).
“Statistically significant improvements were seen in both mental and physical SF-36 scores at regimen completion, as well as in Addiction Severity Index and Global Appraisal of Individual Needs Short Screener change scores at rehabilitation program discharge, compared with enrollment.” (3)
*** “The Short Form 36 (SF-36) was standardized in 1990 as a self-report measure of functional health and well-being.” (5)
If you are a veteran, or a family member of a veteran who is trying to move through the withdrawal period of drug use, then consider finding a treatment facility that includes sauna use.
This same study states that sauna use has many other additional benefits to health that would be relevant for veterans including the lowering of anti-oxidant stress.
“Interestingly, sauna therapy and exercise both lower NO levels by upregulating tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) production in vascular tissues as well as through a heat-shock protein-mediated (Hsp90) pathway that slows BH4 degradation. Increased availability of BH4 leads to lower NO levels.” (3)
Ameliorated Heat Shock Protein (HSP) production has a wide range of positive health outcomes including the improvement of insulin sensitivity.
Additionally, saunas may help with PTSD, Major Depression, as well as sleep. These are some of many illnesses and challenges that face our veterans. Saunas, however, are not the only solution when it comes to providing adequate care for our nation’s heroes.
A Multi-Tiered, Bilateral Approach to Healing Our Veterans May Include Sauna Use
In 2023 America was home to 15.8 million courageous veterans who served their country. Unfortunately, many of these men and women will suffer higher levels of physical, mental, and emotional illness than the average civilian. Discussion of a bilateral approach to healing our veterans is far beyond the scope of this article; however, sauna use could be considered among many treatment methods for those returning home after deployment.
There is specific research to suggest that a robust approach to sauna use can detoxify the body from tremendously harmful substances. Positive results were found when this protocol was used in the treatment of Gulf War Illness, as well as in the treatment of first responders after the Trade Towers collapsed in 2001. Sauna use as a means of detoxification has been demonstrated through a plethora of reputable studies and published in peer reviewed journals.
Special notice should also be taken to the need for veterans to return to a sustainable 24 hour cortisol secretion cycle. This cycle will be disrupted, and necessarily so, during times of deployment but special attention should be taken to returning cortisol secretion to a normal cycle once active duty is over. A sauna is one tool among many to help return an individual’s cortisol cycle back to normal.
Finally, in the unfortunate event that a veteran has turned to drugs and alcohol use, saunas can be helpful during the withdrawal period once drug or alcohol use has ceased. Saunas may also help in the treatment of PTSD, Major Depression as well as in improving sleep.
There is no way to ever thank the millions of men and women who risk their lives while in service to their country, but at the very least there should be a well rounded pool of resources available upon their return. Sauna use is a small drop in the bucket, but it is a protocol that has reputable scientific research to justify its use in the treatment of many conditions affecting veterans.
Sauna use is not for everyone and a medical practitioner should be consulted before beginning a sauna protocol.
Saunas.org would like to extend a huge thank you to veterans everywhere for their selfless service.
Sources Cited
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6862571/
- https://www.narcononcalifornia.com/Hubbard_Sauna_Detox_with_rescue_workers.pdf
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6259397/
- https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/how-to-control-your-cortisol-overcome-burnout
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/short-form-36
- https://www.fortunejournals.com/articles/evaluate-effectiveness-of-hubbard-purification-rundown-process-for-victims-of-dioxinagent-orange-and-related-strengths-challenges.htm
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30117179/