Sauna

http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/mycology/mycology-1.htm

Mammalian cells do not contain the enzymes which will degrade the cell wall polysaccharides of fungi. Therefore, these pathogens are difficult to eradicate by the animal host defense mechanisms. Because mammals and fungi are both eukaryotic, the cellular milieu is biochemically similar in both. The cell membranes of all eukaryotic cells contain sterols; ergosterol in the fungal cell membrane and cholesterol in the mammalian cell membrane. Thus, most substances which may impair the invading fungus will usually have serious side effects on the host. Although one of the first chemotherapeutic agents (oral iodides) was an anti-mycotic used in 1903, the further development of such agents has been left far behind the development of anti-bacterial agents. The selective toxicity necessary to inhibit the invading organism with minimal damage to the host has been difficult to establish within eukaryotic cells.
Ergosterol (ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol), a sterol, is the biological precursor to Vitamin D2. It is turned into viosterol by ultraviolet light, and is then converted into ergocalciferol, which is a form of Vitamin D.

Ergosterol is a component of fungal cell walls, serving the same function that cholesterol serves in animal cells. The presence of ergosterol in fungal cell walls coupled with its absence in animal cell walls makes it a useful target for antifungal drugs.

Candida albicans
Candida albicans may form a budding yeast, pseudohyphae, germ tubes, true hyphae, and chlamydospores. A number of investigators are interested in germ tube formation because it represents a transition between a yeast and a mold. Generally, either low temperature or pH favors the development of a budding yeast. Other substances such as biotin, cysteine, serum transferrin, and zinc stimulate dimorphism in this yeast.

http://gsbs.utmb.edu/microbook/intomyco.htm

Dimorphism-The ability to change into invasive form.


Hey Tom, hope you are well. saw the title of your post, and just wanted to add that I am building my own sauna right now. its great fun. 5x6.5x7, traditional, electric heat with rocks, all wood interior. i can't to get this thing fired up to chase the winter chills away. excellent for overall health.

John, I've been using a small bathroom for my sauna, can only get the temp up to 140, its on my to do list to build an outside structure for this. I have a lot of down trees from Katrina and thinking about building a cordwood with 16 inch walls with shower. I think I'll try a cast Iron wood heater and see how that works, have plenty of fuel for it. BTW, I did another liver cleanse a few days ago and no stones, no chaff. I've been able to tolerate coffee since the first cleanses and been drinking it on an empty stomach in the morning, I know coffee increases bile flow, maybe this is the reason for no stones.
I have improved greatly in the last year and the SAMe has turned out to be a magic bullet for me. I still have the mycelia in my skin but it seems to be receding or at least not expanding, if I could get rid of this I think I could say I was totally recovered.

good to hear Tom. the cordwood sauna sounds great. I favor the real thing too, no far infrared here. just heat and steam.

peppermint oil ups bile too, taking a teaspoon or two of high quality oil at bedtime helps as well.

John


The point about vs. Finnish is that works at a far lower temperature, so is well tolerated by people who's autonomous nervous system isn't working properly i.e they don't sweat much. In addition, due to its very long wavelength and directed energy, is thought to activate toxins in the subcutaneous adipose tissue, thereby increasing excretion rate. saunas are used in most of the main Environmental Medicine Clinics in the UK, Germany and the US (at least those I am aware of).


if you dig deeper, you will see that the purported benefits of fir are questionable. people like cutler claim they may be outright harmful. i for one am suspicious of fir, and decided just to play it safe. for me the heat of a real sauna is ok, and quite relaxing. can't say really about fir, except that it just doesn't seem natural at all to me.