Blood is the life enduring fluid that animates the physical body. The life force of your body in both religious and scientific terms is your blood. The quality and quantity of your blood will determine your ability to survive and even thrive. Many individuals wait until they or a loved one are very ill before considering the quality of their blood, but what if you didn’t wait to improve your blood?
What if there were easy non-intrusive ways to augment the quality of your blood without adding or subtracting any substances to your body? Well, the answer to that question has been answered through reputable studies that demonstrate infrared sauna use can in fact improve critical aspects that determine the health of your blood within just six weeks.
Instead of waiting for a health crisis you can spend time in the soothing warmth of an infrared sauna to enhance critical biomarkers for healthy blood. Improving the quality of your blood, including stem cells, does not necessarily mean going to a state-of-the-art clinic or crossing borders. In fact an effective means of upgrading your blood could simply be sitting in an infrared sauna for 30 minutes.
Research published in the reputable journal Science Direct found that infrared sauna use increased CD34+ Cells by twofold after just six weeks of use. Find out what CD34+ Cells are, why they are important for your health, and furthermore understand all of the details of the research behind the discovery that infrared saunas can actually improve the presence of CD34+ Cells.
You have the power to augment the fluid that maintains your life by spending time in the warm glow of an infrared sauna. The time that you spend under the rays of infrared light will augment stem cells as well as their availability in the blood by drawing them out of the bone marrow naturally. If you or someone you love is living with cardiovascular diseases such as Peripheral Artery Disease, or other severe illnesses, it becomes even more important to enhance the quality of your blood. Rather than waiting for a health crisis, take action now to optimize your blood in case you need to give it to a loved one in a time of need.
What is CD34+ Cells and Why is it Important for Your Health
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Myocardial and Peripheral Ischaemia
- Heart Failure
- Coronary Microvascular Disease
As an adult you may have anywhere from 4-6 liters of blood in your body at any given time. Your body is constantly generating more blood cells, upgrading the quality of your blood, transferring nourishment around the body in the blood, as well as ridding wasted from the body via your blood. So, however you look at it, your blood matters… a lot!
CD34+cells are a critical aspect of healthy blood, and increasing their presence is very important for patients with critical illnesses as well as for healthy individuals. Johns Hopkins Medicine published an article entitled ‘Facts About Blood: Blood and Bone Marrow’ (1) and the author’s description of the relation between blood and where it is made in the marrow is very succinct.
“Blood is the life-maintaining fluid that flows through the body’s blood vessels…Blood cells formed in the bone marrow start out as a stem cell. A stem cell is the first phase of all blood cells. As the stem cell matures, several distinct cells evolve. These include the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.” (1)
Understanding that all blood begins as stem cells in the bone will lead to a greater understanding of CD34+ cells. Often CD34+ cells are used in the treatment of a variety of cardiovascular diseases including, but not limited to Peripheral Artery Disease, Myocardial and Peripheral Ischaemia, Heart Failure, Coronary Microvascular Disease. (2)
CD34+ cells are used therapeutically in these patients by transplanting their location from one region of the body to another, or autologously, which simply means that the therapy uses the patient’s own resources. So, what exactly are CD34+cells?
CD34 is a protein that is present and is a biomarker that exists on the membrane of specific cells that identifies them as hemoglobin stem cells. According to a publication by the journal Akadeum Life Sciences entitled ‘Human CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem Cells’ (3) CD34 is explained in this way.
“CD34 is also known as a human hematopoietic progenitor cell antigen and is predominantly used to identify hematopoietic stem cells.” (3)
The same publication goes on to further explain the role that CD34+ cells play in the creation of new blood cells, or ‘hematopoietic stem cells.
“CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, or HSCs, possess a trait termed multipotency, which means they can produce a variety of mature blood cells. HSCs can produce leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets.” (3)
The stem cells that are attached to CD34 can be used in transplants in order to repair damaged blood cells.
“CD34+ lymphohematopoietic stem cells are known for their ability to reconstitute blood cells in the hematopoietic system. This property allows CD34+ stem cells to be used in treating humans with ischemic conditions. Ischemia occurs when oxygen and blood flow are restricted in some parts of the body. While the function of CD34 remains unclear, the stem cells they are attached to can be used in transplants to repair and replace damaged blood cells.”
Even if you are not sick, increasing the health of our blood, repairing damaged blood cells and increasing the bioavailability of blood stem cells will increase overall vitality. In the event that you need to donate blood to either a stranger or a loved one, having blood that is high in CD34+ could save or positively alter a life. Amazingly, no pharmacological interventions are needed, simply time spent in the luxury of an infrared sauna.
Increase CD34+ Cell With Infrared Sauna Therapy: The Details and Results of the Research
Infrared sauna therapy is interchangeably described as Waon therapy as it is used and studied widely across Japan. Infrared saunas rely on the radiant heat of infrared light to warm the body up from the inside out. Infrared light travels out of the heaters as wavelengths through the space of the cabin structure and enters into the body. Once the light has entered the body it is dispersed as particles and absorbed throughout the entirety of the body. This process creates a positive catalyst of biological activity to upregulate many aspects of health.
This ground breaking publication entitled ‘Waon therapy mobilizes CD34+ cells and improves peripheral arterial disease’ (4) in the widely regarded journal Science Direct differentiates infrared or Waon therapy from traditional sauna use when the authors write.
“However, the therapy we developed to treat cardiovascular diseases is quite different in that it consists of systemic soothing warmth that comfortably refreshes the mind and body. Therefore, we have changed the name from thermal to Waon therapy, since “Waon” in Japanese means soothing warmth…Waon therapy, a form of thermal therapy that uses a far infrared-ray dry sauna at 60 °C and differs from the traditional sauna in that it has no hydration pressure” (4)
Waon therapy uses infrared heaters that maintain the cabin structure at 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Individuals are encouraged to rest between sauna sessions during which time they are wrapped in blankets.
The study mentioned previously used human subjects, a total of 21 who were divided into two groups. Those who did the Waon therapy and those who took conventional medicine. All of the participants were Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) patients. Eleven of the participants engaged in infrared sauna therapy every day for a total of 6 weeks.
The patients took an infrared sauna for 15 minutes at 140 degrees Fahrenheit and then rested while wrapped in blankets for 30 minutes. The participants did this every day for 6 weeks.
The results showed that those who took an infrared sauna daily increased their CD34+cells by twofold! This means that they doubled the bioavailability of CD34+Cells with infrared sauna. (4)
CD34 increased twofold in the group that used infrared saunas every day for 6 weeks.
The results from this study in the most technical of terms and in the words of the authors.
“It is widely known that granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) can mobilize a large number of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells from the bone marrow, which can be easily detected by flow cytometry. Nonetheless, we speculated that progenitor mobilization by our Waon therapy might be much weaker than that with G-CSF administration. To detect the change in circulating CD34+ cells with higher sensitivity, we developed a quantitative real-time PCR for CD34 mRNA using the GAPDH gene as an internal control, and found that circulating CD34+ cells were mobilized by repeated Waon therapy in patients with PAD.” (4)
In addition to increasing the presence of CD34+ cells other biomarkers for healthy blood were also positively improved.
“NO is a mediator of angiogenesis and plays a key role in angiogenesis induced by Waon therapy. Repeated Waon therapy increases cardiac output, shear stress of the vessel wall, and, ultimately, eNOS expression.” (4)
eNOS Stands For: “Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays a critical role in regulating and maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.”(5)
“In the present study, Waon therapy increased NO and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), which suggests that this therapy may mobilize EPC through an eNOS-dependent mechanism.” (4)
EPC Stands For: “Endothelial progenitor cell (or EPC) is a term that has been applied to multiple different cell types that play roles in the regeneration of the endothelial lining of blood vessels.” (6)
As can be perceived from this study, the changes in specific and key blood biomarkers from infrared sauna use alone is remarkable. While this study focused on those living with cardiovascular diseases such as PAD, it does not mean that improving the quality of one’s blood must be limited to those who are suffering from disease. In fact, it could be surmised that improving blood quality before illness occurs could be both preventative and useful for regenerative medicine.
All humans rely on a healthy blood supply, and given how easy and comfortable an infrared sauna actually is, it makes sense to upregulate the quality of blood on a regular basis.
Improve the Quality of Your Blood From Home Using an Infrared Sauna: A Breakdown of the Method
There may be a time and a place for a very hot traditional sauna, but when it comes to improving blood biomarkers, make no mistake about it. Infrared light produces unequivocable results. The Waon method uses a far infrared sauna, though it appears that the inclusion of near infrared light would not detract from the experience as seen in a full spectrum infrared sauna.
Use either a full spectrum infrared sauna or a far infrared sauna either at home, in a spa, or a local gym, although this could pose problems for the resting portion. You should have a space prepared for yourself where you can wrap yourself in blankets for 30 minutes after you sauna. The temperature should be set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, or 60 degrees Celsius. You can stay in the sauna for 15 minutes.
The Recipe to Improve Blood Quality With an Infrared Sauna:
- Have access to a far infrared sauna or a full spectrum (includes both far and near infrared heating panels)
- Set the temperature to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celcius)
- Do not enter until the desired temperature has been reached
- Set the timer for 17 or 18 minutes (this will allow you time to settle into the sauna)
- Lay down on your back or simply sit upright, but try to find a comfortable position
- After fifteen minutes exit the sauna
- Find your resting position, swaddle or wrap yourself in blankets gently wiping the sweat off with a towel beforehand
- Set your timer for 30 minutes
- Rest while listening to soothing music, a meditation, or perhaps a yoga nidra
- Gently rise up and take a lukewarm shower
You do not need to take an aggressive high heat sauna to change the quality of your blood, but rather enjoy the soothing warmth of an infrared sauna instead.
Furthermore, infrared sauna use is not a replacement for medical treatment, diagnosis, or assessment. If you are living with a cardiovascular disease or any other illness please consult your medical provider before taking a sauna.
Please maintain excellent hydration at all times when using an infrared sauna. Your fluid intake should include electrolytes and essential minerals. After all, healthy blood relies upon excellent hydration!
While saunas can improve the quality of your blood you will also lose fluid during your sauna session and this must be replaced. So, if you sauna to improve the quality of your blood ensure that you are replacing any and all lost fluid with diligent hydration strategies as well as nourishing meals.
Sources Cited
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/facts-about-blood
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32022845/
- https://www.akadeum.com/t-cell/cd34-cells/?cn-reloaded=1
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0914508710001711
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8774925/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endothelial_progenitor_cell