Sauna Research Articles

Far infra-red therapy promotes ischemia-induced angiogenesis in diabetic mice and restores high glucose-suppressed endothelial progenitor cell functions

BackgroundFar infra-red (IFR) therapy was shown to exert beneficial effects in cardiovascular system, but effects of IFR on endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) and EPC-related vasculogenesis remain unclear. We hypothesized that IFR radiation can restore blood flow recovery in ischemic hindlimb in diabetic mice by enhancement of EPCs functions and homing process.Materials and methodsStarting at 4 weeks after the onset of diabetes, unilateral hindlimb ischemia was induced in streptozotocine (STZ)-induced diabetic mice, which were divided into control and IFR therapy groups (n = 6 per group). The latter mice were placed in an IFR dry sauna at 34°C for 30 min once per day for 5 weeks.ResultsDoppler perfusion imaging demonstrated that the ischemic limb/normal side blood perfusion ratio in the thermal therapy group was significantly increased beyond that in controls, and significantly greater capillary density was seen in the IFR therapy group. Flow cytometry analysis showed impaired EPCs (Sca-1+/Flk-1+) mobilization after ischemia surgery in diabetic mice with or without IFR therapy (n = 6 per group). However, as compared to those in the control group, bone marrow-derived EPCs differentiated into endothelial cells defined as GFP+/CD31+ double-positive cells were significantly increased in ischemic tissue around the vessels in diabetic mice that received IFR radiation. In in-vitro studies, cultured EPCs treated with IFR radiation markedly augmented high glucose-impaired EPC functions, inhibited high glucose-induced EPC senescence and reduced H2O2 production. Nude mice received human EPCs treated with IFR in high glucose medium showed a significant improvement in blood flow recovery in ischemic limb compared to those without IFR therapy. IFR therapy promoted blood flow recovery and new vessel formation in STZ-induced diabetic mice.ConclusionsAdministration of IFR therapy promoted collateral flow recovery and new vessel formation in STZ-induced diabetic mice, and these beneficial effects may derive from enhancement of EPC functions and homing process.

Effect of thermal therapy using hot water bottles on brain natriuretic Peptide in chronic hemodialysis patients.

IntroductionThe use of repeated thermal therapy for improving the symptoms of chronic heart failure (CHF) has been recently demonstrated. Usually, thermal therapy requires an infrared dry sauna. However, it is difficult for small clinics to acquire such an expensive and extensive system. The present study assessed the efficacy of its substitution with hot water bottles. Moreover, there are no prior studies demonstrating the efficacy of thermal therapy in hemodialysis patients with CHF.MethodsPlasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were evaluated in 98 hemodialysis patients in a clinic. Nine patients whose BNP levels were >500 pg/mL agreed to be enrolled in the study and received thermal therapy using hot water bottles.ResultsPlasma BNP levels, a potential marker for CHF, tended to decrease (891 ± 448 to 680 ± 339 pg/mL), but the difference was not significant (P = 0.0845). The oral temperature changed from 36.44 ± 0.45°C to 37.04 ± 0.48°C (+0.597°C, P < 0.0001). No side effects were experienced during the therapy. Moreover, most patients had an improvement in their symptoms and the ability to perform activities of daily living.ConclusionThermal therapy using hot water bottles is very safe and tends to reduce plasma BNP levels in hemodialysis patients with CHF.

Circular Temples and the Moon Goddess

Circular Temples and the Moon Goddess Mardith K. Schuetz-Miller (bio) [Water Strider] stretched out his arms and legs and touched the horizon at the north, west, south, and east. He was in the middle of the world. He said, "My people shall live here always. They will never be overthrown for their hearts will not be to one side of the world." —Ruth Benedict, Zuñi Mythology I: 5-6 When the universe was still so dark that not even shadows could be seen in the night, Grandmother Spider sat in her web in the Sky World, waiting and watching. No one knows how old Grandmother Spider is, or how long she sat waiting for the universal mind to awaken. But, every Creative Being who has ever lived knows her song and dance as the weaver of the Web of Life. From her web, Grandmother Spider observed the first thoughts as the Universal Mind awakened from the dream. Seven energy beings floated out from the shining light in the center of the Universal Mind and solidified into bright, shining stars who went out to take their places in the Sky World. Grandmother Spider took a very deep breath and softly began to sing her weaving song while she danced across the Sky. As she spun her thread, Grandmother Spider envisioned the Web of Life. Within moments, she had woven her web connecting the seven stars [Pleiades?] and creating the Spirit Doorway through which all of the rest of life would enter. —Spider-Taino Ti, Grandmother Spider and the Web of Life You shall build the lodge like the world, round, with walls, but first you must build a sweat house of a hundred sticks. It shall be like the sky . . . and half of it shall be painted red. That is me [the Sun]. The other half you will paint black. That is the night [the Moon]. —George Bird Grinnell, Blackfoot Lodge Tales, 101 [End Page 349] The Spider Creatress and Her Sacred Architecture The spider creator as an aspect of the moon, identified by some as male and by others as female, is one of the earliest avatars of the creating spirit introduced by New World colonizers. Archaeological evidence is found in pebbles painted with cobwebs and female genitalia left by Archaic period Pecos River Focus people of Southwest Texas dating from about 7500 BCE to 600-900 BCE. Spiderwebs and vulvae were also incised and painted by other hunters-gatherers of Baja California. The spider creator was once widespread, not only in South America, as traced in the foregoing sections, but also across Mesoamerica and the southeastern United States. While Mayan Ixchel (goddess of sexuality, procreation, childbirth, medicine, divination, and weaving) was considered an earth deity, she was also Mistress of the Sea—in other words, she was the Moon Goddess. As in the case of her Old World equivalents, monkeys, deer, king vultures, and spiders were associated with her. The use of real spiders for divination in South America was echoed among Ixchel's priestesses who used small divinatory stones called am. In the Motol dialect am are small black spiders with red dots on the back. Ixchel's square [anomalous?] oracular temple on Cozumel, second only to the cenote [Place of Emergence] at Chichén Itzá as a Mayan pilgrimage site, had a hollow clay model of her mortared to the wall. From a small hidden room behind it her priestesses communicated with petitioners.102 Spider Woman is ubiquitous among Pueblo groups and Navajos and was of obvious importance in the Southern Cult of the Mississippi Valley. The gorget shown in figure 24 illustrates perfectly Spider's role in not only defining the world by stretching its legs from the Place of Emergence, but also partitioning the earth into quadrants (Cosmic Cross) with its thorax (heart) defining the center. With the introduction of other cults in the Southeast over time, Spider's role in creation was remembered only in her/his trickster aspect: Iroquoian speakers recalled Spider stealing the sun or fire (earthly sun) for the benefit of humankind. Northern Sioux, who migrated from the Southeast, tell many tales of Iktomi, the trickster-spider, but retain...

Repeated sauna therapy improves myocardial perfusion in patients with chronically occluded coronary artery-related ischemia

BackgroundRepeated low-temperature sauna (Waon) therapy relieves ischemic symptoms in patients with peripheral arterial disease. We investigated whether Waon therapy could improve myocardial perfusion in patients with ischemia related to chronic total occlusion (CTO) of coronary arteries. MethodsTwenty-four patients who had ischemia in the CTO-related area were examined. The severity of ischemia was quantified by thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with adenosine. The Waon group (n=16) was treated daily for three weeks with a 60°C far infrared-ray dry sauna bath for 15min and then kept in a bed covered with blankets for 30min. The control group (n=8) underwent myocardial perfusion scintigraphy twice with a three-week interval. ResultsIn the control group, neither summed stress score (SSS) nor summed difference score (SDS) of myocardial scintigraphy changed. However, Waon therapy improved both SSS (16±7 to 9±6, p<0.01) and SDS (7±4 to 3±2, p<0.01), and the improvement was greater in patients with higher SSS and SDS scores at the baseline. Waon therapy extended treadmill exercise time (430±185 to 511±192s, p<0.01) and improved flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (4.1±1.3 to 5.9±1.8%, p<0.05), but tended to decrease the number of circulating CD34-positive bone marrow-derived cells. ConclusionsWaon therapy improves CTO-related myocardial ischemia in association with improvement of vascular endothelial function. This therapy could be a complementary and alternative tool in patients with severe coronary lesions not suitable for coronary intervention.

Characterization of Bacterial Community Contaminating Floor of A Hot and Dry Sauna

The purpose of this study was to examine profile of bacteria contaminated in a dry sauna. Bacteria sampled from the floor of the dry sauna (75~80℃) were separated and identified by using a thermal gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) technique, and were cultivated using a defined medium at 50℃. Bacteria grown in the defined medium were identified based on 16S-rDNA sequence homology. The band number of DNA separated by TGGE was 15, indicating the species diversity of bacteria contaminating the dry sauna. Seven species of bacteria were successfully cultured on agar plate medium at 50℃, which represented a combination of thermophilic and thermoduric bacteria contaminating the dry sauna. The highest limit temperature for growth of the bacterial isolates was generally 50℃ when cultivated in a defined medium, but was raised to 60℃ when cultivated in a complex medium. Consequently, the bacteria grown at 50~60℃ are thermoduric or thermophilic, but others may not be.

Abstract P323: Waon Therapy, a Form of Thermal Therapy, Reduces Oxidative Stress Systemically and Inhibits the Progression of Cardiac Dysfunction in TO-2 Cardiomyopathic Hamsters with Heart Failure

Background: Oxidative stress is one of the most crucial factors that develop chronic heart failure (CHF), leading to cardiac apoptosis and fibrosis and vascular endothelial dysfunction. We have reported that Waon therapy, which is a form of thermal therapy using a far infrared-ray dry sauna at 60 degrees centigrade, improves cardiac and vascular endothelial functions and prognosis in patients with CHF. The aim of this study is to investigate whether Waon therapy reduces oxidative stress and prevents from developing cardiac dysfunction in CHF. Methods: Thirty-week old male TO-2 cardiomyopathic hamsters with CHF were divided into Waon therapy or control group. Waon therapy group underwent Waon therapy daily for 4 weeks. Control hamsters did not take any treatment. We examined the amounts of reactive oxygen species of serum, hearts and aortas using ELISA and immunohistochemistry. We measured left ventricular % fractional shortening (LV%FS), and performed TUNEL and Azan staining of hearts to assess cardiac function, apoptosis and fibrosis, respectively. Anti-oxidants and apoptotic and angiogenetic factors were assessed by Western blot. All examinations were performed after 4 weeks of treatment. Results: Four-week Waon therapy significantly decreased oxidative stress of serum, hearts and aortas compared to those of controls. Waon therapy significantly increased LV%FS and decreased cardiac apoptosis and fibrosis (LV%FS, Waon therapy: 23.3±4.3 vs. control: 16.5±4.2%, P&lt;0.01, TUNEL positive nuclei, 22.0±2.6 vs. 49.3±7.2%, P&lt;0.01, % fibrosis, 20.6±5.3 vs. 47.6±4.8%, P&lt;0.01). Waon therapy significantly increased the expressions of manganese superoxide dismutase, heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) and HSP32 of hearts and aortas, which negatively modulate oxidative stress, compared to those of controls. Waon therapy significantly increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase and decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 of aortas. In addition, Waon therapy significantly decreased Bax, cleaved caspase 3 and cytochrome c and increased Bcl-2 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α of the failing hearts. Conclusions: Waon therapy reduces oxidative stress systemically and inhibits the progression of cardiac dysfuntion in TO-2 cardiomyopathic hamsters.

Treatment oh Heart Failure by Waon Therapy

We developed a form of thermal therapy, namely Waon therapy, that differs from the traditional sauna. During Waon therapy, the entire body was warmed in an evenly heated infrared dry sauna at 60°C for 15 minutes, and after the deep-body temperature has increased by approximately 1.0°C-1.2°C, parients are transferred to an outside room, where they lie in the supine position, and are covered in blankets for additional 30 min. Then, patients drink water to compensate the weight loss from perspiration during the therapy.Waon therapy improves hemodynamics, peripheral vascular function, arrhythmias, and clinical symptoms in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), and corrects abnormal autonomic nervous response and neurohumoral factors.

The effects of dehydration and rehydration on electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters in Greco-Roman wrestlers

The effects of exercise training on heart have been widely explored. However, less understood are the effects of dehydration and rehydration on electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic (Echo) parameters in wrestlers. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of dehydration and rehydration on some ECG and Echo parameters. Fourteen healthy high school wrestlers (age 18.1±2.6 years, weight 77.2±10.2 kg, BMI 25.2±2.9 kg · m−2; mean±s) were randomly assigned to an experimental (loss of 3–4% of their weight through 10-min bouts in dry sauna) or a control (dry sauna exposure with mineral water proportionate to their body weight loss) group. Blood and urine sampling, 12-lead ECG, and echocardiogram were recorded in euhydration, dehydration, and 18 h after sauna. Moreover, a 6-min high-intensity arm ergometer cranking test (8×15 s intervals at maximum workload and 30 s active recovery) was completed in each of the three stages. Data were analysed with repeated-measures analysis of variance, independent t-tests, and Pearson correlations. Dehydration by 3–4% of body weight in sauna resulted in augmentation of the sum of amplitudes of P waves and QRS complexes (mm), but decreased left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), and stroke volume (ml). As expected, rehydration was associated with recovery of the P wave and ECG parameters. In general, QRS amplitude correlated poorly with LVESV, LVEDV, and P wave, but was inversely related to stroke volume (r=–0.387, P=0.011). In conclusion, dehydration in Greco-Roman wrestlers results in physiological alterations (amplitude of the P wave and QRS complex, LVESV, LVEDV, and stroke volume) of the electrical properties of the passive volume conductor. Further research is necessary to assess the potential for adverse events and appropriateness of this short-term weight loss strategy for young wrestlers or other populations.

Repeated sauna therapy attenuates ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction in rats by increasing coronary vascularity of noninfarcted myocardium

Repeated sauna therapy (ST) increases endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and improves cardiac function in heart failure as well as peripheral blood flow in ischemic limbs. The present study investigates whether ST can increase coronary vascularity and thus attenuate cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). We induced MI by ligating the left coronary artery of Wistar rats. The rats were placed in a far-infrared dry sauna at 41°C for 15 min and then at 34°C for 20 min once daily for 4 wk. Cardiac hemodynamic, histopathological, and gene analyses were performed. Despite the similar sizes of MI between the ST and non-ST groups (51.4 ± 0.3 vs. 51.1 ± 0.2%), ST reduced left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic (9.7 ± 0.4 vs. 10.7 ± 0.5 mm, P < 0.01) and end-systolic (8.6 ± 0.5 vs. 9.6 ± 0.6 mm, P < 0.01) dimensions and attenuated MI-induced increases in LV end-diastolic pressure. Cross-sectional areas of cardiomyocytes were smaller in ST rats and associated with a significant reduction in myocardial atrial natriuretic peptide mRNA levels. Vascular density was reduced in the noninfarcted myocardium of non-ST rats, and the density of cells positive for CD31 and for α-smooth muscle actin was decreased. These decreases were attenuated in ST rats compared with non-ST rats and associated with increases in myocardial eNOS and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA levels. In conclusion, ST attenuates cardiac remodeling after MI, at least in part, through improving coronary vascularity in the noninfarcted myocardium. Repeated ST might serve as a novel noninvasive therapy for patients with MI.

Characteristics of the medical status and living conditions of the homeless registered as tuberculosis patients in Nagoya City

An Investigation by questionnaire was conducted in 1996 to know the tuberculosis (TB) status and living conditions of 50 homeless people registered as TB patients at one of Nagoya city's 16 health centers. 1. All patients had one or more symptoms of TB, 64% of them showed positive TB bacilli on smear, and 35.3% of them had a previous history of TB treatment. However, only 15.2% suspected they had TB at the onset of symptoms. 2. Main reasons of seeking medical treatment: 28.6% arrived by ambulance after falling down from exhaustion, 25.7% had consulted with welfare agencies after the onset of symptoms, and 20.0% had been diagnosed during the treatment of other diseases. 3. When they were admitted to the hospital they had many concerns: 29.0% loss of income, 19.4% living expenses, 19.4% smoking prohibition, 12.9% admission fee, and 9.7% privacy. 4. They lived in the following: 42.9% construction camps, 20.0% parks or streets, 17.1% single room occupancy hotels, 17.1% daily or monthly paid apartments, and 11.4% sauna baths. 5. Past medical histories of the subjects included 40.6% injuries by labor accidents, and 25.0% stomach ulcers. Current diseases were 15.6% mental diseases, 15.6% liver diseases, 15.6% diabetes mellitus, and 9.4% alcoholic dependence. Seventy percent of them consumed alcohol daily (average pure ethanol 125 ml per day). 6. From the results outlined above, the following proposals relating to TB control of the homeless should be considered. 1) Educating the homeless as to the need for a health check when TB symptoms are present. 2) Opening a clinic for the homeless for easy access to consultation on TB. 3) Directly observed therapy short-course, for TB in the homeless. 4) Health examination of the employees of single-room occupancy hotels and sauna baths which are used frequently by the homeless. 5) A fundamental countermeasure to deal with alcoholic dependency among the homeless.

Effect of Waon Therapy on Oxidative Stress in Chronic Heart Failure

A previous report by our team showed that Waon therapy, using a far infrared-ray dry sauna at 60°C, improves cardiac and vascular function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The purpose of the present study was to clarify the effect of Waon therapy on oxidative stress in CHF patients and investigate its mechanism by animal experiments. Forty patients with CHF were divided into control (n=20) and Waon therapy (n=20) groups. All patients received standard optimal medications for CHF. Waon therapy group was treated with Waon therapy daily for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of Waon therapy, concentrations of hydroperoxide and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) decreased significantly (hydroperoxide, 422±116 to 327±88U.CARR, P<0.001; BNP, 402±221 to 225±137pg/ml, P<0.001), and the nitric oxide metabolites increased (71.2±35.4 to 92.0±40.5mmol/L, P<0.05). In contrast, none of these variables changed over the 4-week interval in the control group. Furthermore, animal experiments were performed using TO-2 cardiomyopathic hamsters. On immunohistochemistry, cardiac expression of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, a marker of oxidative stress, was decreased in the 4-week Waon therapy compared to untreated hamsters. On Western blotting, cardiac expressions of heat shock protein (HSP) 27, manganese superoxide dismutase and HSP32, which reduce oxidative stress, were significantly upregulated in the 4-week Waon therapy compared to untreated hamsters. Waon therapy decreases oxidative stress in patients and hamsters with heart failure.

Waon Therapy, Can It Be New Therapeutic Modality in Heart Failure Patients?

Refer to the page 37-42 In general, sauna bathing (Finnish bath) has dry air and high temperature with 80℃ to 100℃ and has a relative humidity of 10% to 20%. Sauna bathing is a popular recreational activity that is generally considered to be safe. Although most people are safe and feel relax, sudden hyperthermic death can occur. Most of victims were middle-aged men, 84% were under the influence of alcohol, and 27% had cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, systemic hyperthermia is often prohibited for heart failure (HF) patients because it increases heart rate by 60% to 70%, change in blood pressure or hormone status, and, thereby potentially serious arrhythmia or cardiac arrest. However, it has potential benefits in regard to reduction of afterload from vasodilation and salt loss, and it is well tolerated by patients with chronic stable HF patients. In some reports, sauna bathing appears to improve left ventricular ejection fraction and decrease brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level in chronic systolic HF (Table 1). Table 1 Sauna bathing or Waon therapy in patients with heart failure Waon therapy, which means soothing warmth in Japanese and is not a typical (Finnish) sauna but an experimental infrared-ray dry sauna, is a form of thermal treatment in a dry sauna maintained at a temperature of 60℃ and has been studied exclusively by Tei et al.1) in Japan. Waon therapy warms entire body in a uniformly heated chamber for 15 min and maintains the soothing effect at outside the sauna for a further 30 min. Waon therapy also has proven beneficial effects on peripheral arterial disease.2) By now, Waon therapy is safe and has some beneficial effects and well tolerated by patients with HF. The common mechanisms of action of Waon therapy are improvement of endothelial function by upregulating the endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase protein and salt loss, which reduces cardiac preload and afterload from vasodilation. However, sauna bathing may be risky in patients receiving beta-blocker and nitrate, and contraindicated in severe aortic stenosis, unstable angina, recent myocardial infarction, or decompensated HF. Furthermore, sauna bathing should be cautious in patients who are prone to develop orthostatic hypotension. The question arises whether proscription on sauna bathing is overly restrictive. In this issue of the Journal, the study by Sohn et al.3) evaluated the safety and efficacy of Waon therapy in HF patients on the top of conventional medical therapy. Before this study, Waon therapy has never been introduced in Korea. Although it is a preliminary experience, they concluded that Waon therapy was safe and well tolerated and had some beneficial effects for patients with HF. However, one of the major limitations of the study is its small sample size. Original plan was to evaluate 10 patients, but difficulties in recruitment and follow-up led to the ultimate analysis of only 5 patients. All subjects were safe and well tolerated Waon therapy and there were no serious adverse events. However, it is still unclear whether it is safe on the top of medical therapy. In this paper, the authors included the patients whose medication did not change within previous 3 months but their medications were not presented. In regard to efficacy, we do not know the clinical benefits in 5 patients who did not continue Waon therapy more than 2 weeks. In addition, one patient did not have improvement in clinical symptoms even after complete session of Waon therapy. Therefore, only 4 out of 10 patients have benefits in clinical symptom and echocardiographic variables. Furthermore, there was no control group with bath in room temperature in this paper and this was not a cross-over design. And thereby, it is too impetuous to conclude its clinical benefit based on the results of the current study. Because this study only included patients with chronic stable HF, we should not extrapolate clinical benefits of Waon therapy to all HF patients. In conclusion, although Waon therapy has been proven its efficacy in chronic stable HF in small, retrospective studies or one prospective study with relatively small sample size, we do not have large prospective randomized trials. Further large clinical research into the safety and clinical benefits of Waon therapy on the top of conventional medical therapy appears warranted.

Waon Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease: - Innovative Therapy for the 21st Century -

Waon therapy is a form of thermal treatment in a dry sauna maintained at a temperature of 60 degrees C, which differs from the traditional sauna. Waon therapy reportedly improves the hemodynamics, cardiac function, ventricular arrhythmias, vascular endothelial function, neurohormonal factors, sympathetic nervous system function, and symptoms in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). It has also been demonstrated that the molecular mechanism by which Waon therapy improves vascular flow and endothelial function involves increased expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Furthermore, in a mouse model of hindlimb ischemia, repeated Waon therapy increased eNOS protein expression, blood flow, and capillary density. Moreover, Waon therapy did not increase blood flow and capillary density in eNOS-deficient mice, indicating that eNOS is a critical regulator of the angiogenesis induced by this therapy. Moreover, repeated Waon therapy is effective for patients with severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD), as evidenced by substantial decrease in pain scores, increases in both ankle-brachial pressure index and blood flow assessed by laser Doppler perfusion imaging, and by formation of new collateral vessels on angiography. In addition, ischemic ulcers heal or improve markedly. In conclusion, Waon therapy is an innovative and highly promising strategy for treating CHF and PAD.

Preliminary Clinical Experience with Waon Therapy in Korea: Safety and Effect

Waon therapy has beneficial effects on chronic heart failure (CHF), peripheral arterial disease, and other various diseases. This was to assess the safety and effect of Waon therapy by echocardiography for the first time in Korea. Ten patients with CHF were enrolled. The patients with a light gown were placed in a sitting-position in an evenly maintained 60 dry sauna system for 15 minutes, and then after leaving the sauna, they underwent bed rest with a blanket to keep them warm for an additional 30 minutes. Waon therapy was performed once a day, 5 days a week. Four of the 5 patients who had been treated for more than 2 weeks as protocol noted improvement of heart failure (HF) symptoms and decrease in left ventricular (LV) volume. There were trends in improvement of LV ejection fraction and parameters of diastolic function after the therapy although statistical significance was lack. No one complained of worsening of HF symptoms. In each session, body weight (61.8+/-10.2 kg vs. 61.6+/-10.3 kg, p=0.008) and blood pressure (systolic, 119+/-28 vs. 111+/-27 mmHg, p=0.005; diastolic, 69+/-12 mmHg vs. 63+/-10 mmHg, p=0.005) were significantly decreased, oral temperature (35.9+/-0.4 vs. 37.0+/-0.9, p=0.017) was increased by 1.0 at the end of sauna bathing, but the heart rate (71+/-10/min vs. 72+/-8/min, p=0.8) was not changed. We have experienced Waon therapy which was safe and well tolerated and some beneficial effects for patients with CHF. Large scale randomized study is needed to apply Waon therapy as a promising therapy in Korean HF patients.

Plantes aromatiques dans l’alimentation et la médecine des régions Nord-Ouest de l’Amérique du Nord

Humans everywhere have had a special relationship with scented or aromatic plants. In northwestern North America, at least 65 species have been identified as being used for their aromatic qualities by one or more indigenous group. Virtually all the coniferous tree species are utilized for their aromatic qualities. Categories of usage include chewing or food products; aromatic beverage teas; flavourings for cooking; scents for aesthetic, cosmetic purposes, for skin, scalp or hair; aromatic/therapeutic sweat bath or washes, or rubs; ceremonial scrubbing; washes for hunting or fishing gear, to mask human scent and/or bring luck and success; insecticidal, insect repellents with fungicidal and/or preservative properties; Sleep-inducing or dream-inducing; therapy for children and babies; fragrant or protective smudges or incenses; external medicinal applications; and internal medicinal applications. Most species have applications falling into two to several of these categories. Some are used in combination. These plants and the knowledge about them represent an important component of traditional ecological knowledge systems of first nations. They have played a major role in peoples’ survival and well being over thousands of years. This type of knowledge has been seriously eroding over the past decades, as knowledgeable elders pass away. Its recovery and restoration is part of ongoing efforts in culture and language renewal for many communities.

Waon therapy improves the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure

We developed a Waon therapy (soothing warm therapy) and have previously reported that repeated Waon therapy improves hemodynamics, peripheral vascular function, arrhythmias, and clinical symptoms in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Waon therapy on the prognosis of CHF patients. We studied 129 patients with CHF in NYHA functional class III or IV who were admitted to our hospital between January 1999 and March 2001. In the Waon therapy group, 64 patients were treated with a far infrared-ray dry sauna at 60 degrees C for 15 min and then kept on bed rest with a blanket for 30 min. The patients were treated daily for 5 days during admission, and then at least twice a week after discharge. In the control group, 65 patients, matched for age, gender, and NYHA functional class, were treated with traditional CHF therapy. The follow-up time was scheduled for 5 years. Recent, complete follow-up data on each patient were obtained. The overall survival rate was 84.5% (Kaplan-Meier estimate). Twelve patients died in the control group and 8 patients died in the Waon therapy group at 60 months of follow-up. Cardiac events due to heart failure or cardiac death occurred in 68.7% of the control group but only 31.3% of the Waon therapy group (P<0.01) at 60 months of follow-up. Waon therapy reduced cardiac events in patients with CHF. This therapy is a promising non-pharmacological treatment for CHF.

A CONTEMPORARY HAMMAM: WELLNESS CENTRE IN BODRUM, TURKEY

The article presents and reviews the design of a contemporary hammam and wellness centre in Bodrum, Turkey. The project conceived in Ortakent (near Bodrum), was designed to serve mainly tourists during the summer holiday season and residents of the region in the off-season periods. The complex consists of the main component; the hammam, and also includes other components such as a sauna, steam bath, massage parlour etc. The design concept provides flexibility and adaptability to allow the fluctuations caused by seasonal variations in both type of activities and the frequency of usage during the intended year-long operations of the facilities. The ground floor, where the administrative section is located, has been architecturally designed with integral solar energy panels in order to offset a very significant portion of energy expenditures, which constitutes an important part of the total operating costs of the complex. Water re-use and local construction materials are used in this project. In essence, this project attempts to offer new solutions and opportunities for architects and designers to improve the performance of contemporary building in order to reach an optimum of sustainability levels for the building. It combines modern technology and architectural techniques adapted to the hammam spaces and ambiences. The design is inspired from traditional architectural concepts adapted to today’s technological developments.

Badstuer i middelalderen

Bath-houses in medieval Denmark – a cultural historyThe subject of this article is bath-houses in medieval Denmark. The text is based on all available written sources from Denmark, but in order to obtain a fuller perspective on some aspects of the history of bath-houses it has also been necessary to use German sources as a supplement.Based on the scant historical records dealing with the course of actual bathing activity, it is argued that the most common bath was the sweat bath (similar to a ­modern sauna) rather than tub baths. A stove covered with granite boulders was heated and the bathers would produce sweat using either the direct heat of the stove or from steam produced by pouring cold water onto the hot stones. Sweating was further stimulated by beating the body with bundles of birch twigs and the bath culminated with rinsing in cold water (figs. 2-4). It is argued that, similar to the situation in both Germany and Sweden, bath-house staff would offer haircuts, bleeding and the treatment of wounds in addition to an actual bath (figs. 5-6). ­Referring to specific medieval illustrations, some argue that men and women bathed together in the public bath-houses, leading to sexual excesses. However, the relevant illustrations often depict brothels and not public baths (fig. 1).It is evident from historical records that members of all social classes frequented the public bath-houses – even royalty. From the early 14th century onwards we have historical evidence of so-called soul baths i.e. sums of money bequeathed by wealthy people to the poor to enable the latter to take a bath, often accompanied by a meal. Such bequests were common in the late 15th century but disappeared abruptly with the Reformation. According to medieval records, the use of bath-­houses was also considered important in order to maintain health.The earliest indications in historical records of the existence of bath-houses in Denmark are found in Saxo’s Chronicles from the end of 12th century. From the 1260s onward specific bath-houses in towns appear in the historical records. Judging from the number of bath-houses mentioned in Danish towns it is argued that public bath-houses were a common feature in the urban landscape of medieval Denmark.The number of public bath-houses in towns declined at the beginning of the 16th century and even though a few existed in the major cities up until the 18th century the popularity of these institutions declined. The reasons for this are epidemics of syphilis occurring from the 1490s onward, the phasing out of soul baths and possibly a change in attitudes towards ­nudity and personal hygiene that resulted in a decline in general cleanliness in post-­medieval times.Mikael Manøe BjerregaardVejle Museum

Waon therapy in patients with chronic heart failure

We developed a form of thermal therapy, namely “Waon therapy” (soothing warm therapy), that differs from the traditional sauna. We have previously reported that repeated use of a dry sauna at 60 °C improves hemodynamics, and ameliorates symptoms in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). We had already performed “Waon therapy” for several hundred patients with CHF and confirmed that “Waon therapy” decreased the death or re-hospitalization in comparison to non-waon therapy patients. Furthermore, we reported that two-weeks of “Waon therapy” decrease the premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) while increasing the heart rate variability in patients with CHF. We demonstrated that the molecular mechanisms by which repeated “Waon therapy” improves vascular flow and endothelial function is through increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression. Pharmacological, thermal and exercise therapy are the three main pillars for the comprehensive therapy of CHF. In contrast to exercise therapy, we can successfully perform “Waon therapy” in patients who either can not exercise, have severe heart failure, or demonstrate uncontrolled PVCs. In conclusion, “Waon therapy” is a novel, safe, cost effective and promising therapy even for patients with severe CHF.

Beneficial effects of Waon therapy on patients with chronic heart failure: Results of a prospective multicenter study

We conducted a prospective multicenter case-control study to confirm the clinical efficacy and safety of Waon therapy on chronic heart failure (CHF). Patients (n=188) with CHF were treated with standard therapy for at least 1 week, and then were randomized to Waon therapy (n=112) or a control group (n=76). All patients continued conventional treatment for an additional 2 weeks. The Waon therapy group was treated daily with a far infrared-ray dry sauna at 60 degrees C for 15 min and then kept on bed rest with a blanket for 30 min for 2 weeks. Chest radiography, echocardiography, and plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured before and 2 weeks after treatment. NYHA functional class significantly decreased after 2 weeks of treatment in both groups. Chest radiography also showed a significant decrease of the cardiothoracic ratio in both groups (Waon therapy: 57.2+/-8.0% to 55.2+/-8.0%, p<0.0001; control: 57.0+/-7.7% to 56.0+/-7.1%, p<0.05). Echocardiography demonstrated that left ventricular diastolic dimension (LVDd), left atrial dimension (LAD), and ejection fraction (EF) significantly improved in the Waon therapy group (LVDd: 60.6+/-7.6 to 59.1+/-8.4 mm, p<0.0001; LAD: 45.4+/-9.3 mm to 44.1+/-9.4 mm, p<0.05; EF: 31.6+/-10.4% to 34.6+/-10.6%, p<0.0001), but not in the control group (LVDd: 58.4+/-10.3 mm to 57.9+/-10.4 mm; LAD: 46.3+/-9.7 mm to 46.2+/-10.1 mm; EF: 36.6+/-14.1% to 37.3+/-14.0%). The plasma concentration of BNP significantly decreased with Waon therapy, but not in the control group (Waon: 542+/-508 pg/ml to 394+/-410 pg/ml, p<0.001; control: 440+/-377 pg/ml to 358+/-382 pg/ml). Waon therapy is safe, improves clinical symptoms and cardiac function, and decreases cardiac size in CHF patients. Waon therapy is an innovative and promising therapy for patients with CHF.