Thermotherapy

Thermotherapy is the treatment of disease by the application of heat.

Traditional sauna
The Traditional sauna uses a heating element to increase the ambient air temperature. Sauna has been widely used in Finland for centuries. Today there are 2 million saunas in Finland, which has a population of 5 million. During a short sauna the average person will lose a pint of sweat. Patients afflicted with asthma or psoriasis have reported symptom relief.

Infrared sauna
An infrared sauna uses electrified ceramic plates to heat the skin. Far infrared radiation's effects include increasing artery blood flow, improving endothelial function, reduction in blood pressure and alleviating fatigue. A small 2005 study observed symptomatic relief for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients from daily usage for 35 days.

Hot bathing
Whirlpool or hot bath.

Immune system
Animal models of the effects of thermotherapy have returned a wide range of results. Hormesis in some species results in enhanced resistance to future infections. However, in other animal models it results in an enhancement of other physiological systems at the detriment of the immune system. Even the animals whose immune systems were weakened still had longer life expectancy.

Mitochondria
When the human body is activated by environmental stressors (e.g. heat or oxidative stress), it enters a state called hormesis. A 2008 study found that hormesis causes mitochondrial biogenesis. Patients with ME/CFS have been show to have reduced mitochondrial function, so this is why thermotherapy or cryotherapy may be beneficial.

Longevity
Theromotherapy causes the activation of heat shock proteins. This mild acute stress results in the activation of cells protection mechanism (hormesis). Over times this hormetic strengthening results in a greater homeodynamic capacity. As humans age their homeodynamic space shrinks. Therefore, hormesis helps to counterbalance this key component of aging.

In human disease
Sauna was found to be beneficial for antihistamine-resistant urticaria, an autoimmune disease.

While exposure to heat (as well as cold) can tone the vagus nerve and is beneficial for the autonomic nervous system many patients with dysautonomia including patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and postural orthostatic tachycardia (POTS) are intolerant to heat and cold.

A case study of two patients with CFS found dramatic improvement in self-reported fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, and low-grade fever after daily sauna use for 35 days.