Yet another way for you to detoxify your body, the hyperthermia cleansing method has less to do with diet and more to do with body temperature. Sweat baths and saunas have been used by humans as therapy for centuries—from the Stone Age, really! Turkish baths, Finnish saunas, Roman baths, Japanese Onsens, and Russian Banyas are all examples of how historical (and current) cultures use sweat to heal the body.

This method, which goes by alternate names like fever therapy, sweat therapy, sauna therapy, or heat therapy, is based on the principle that the body heals itself best when internal temperatures are higher than normal. If you’ve ever had a fever from cold or flu, you know that your body is working hard to rid itself of the offending virus or bacteria that is making it ill.

In much the same way, the hyperthermia detox works by inducing an artificial “fever” so that you can quite literally sweat out toxins that have accumulated in your body. By increasing your core temperature, heat is used to draw toxins out of clogged pores, increase circulation, enhance the immune system, and kill harmful bacteria or viruses that may have lain dormant for months or years.

The hyperthermia detox would not work without the help of the largest organ in your body—the skin. Your skin is one of your elimination organs (along with the liver, kidneys, lungs, and colon) and is responsible for eliminating toxins through your pores. With the hyperthermia detox, your body is able to transform toxins from fat-bound molecules to water-soluble forms, which you then sweat profusely as your body pumps both moisture and toxins from your body.

There are many key benefits to this type of cleansing, including:

• Body relaxation: A warmer body is generally a more relaxed one, and this is especially true in a sauna environment. As the heat and humidity relax your muscles, they can release the tension and pain that they’ve been holding.
• Skin cleansing: Your skin may be the conduit through which all of the toxins exit your body, but as you sweat and the perspiration runs “clear,” your skin will be cleansed as well. You may experience a noticeable reduction in acne and other dermatological conditions.
• Increased circulation: As the heat rises inside your body, your heart will work more rapidly, increasing the rate of circulation and breathing.
• Mental calm: A warm, moist environment stimulates mental relaxation and relieves emotional and mental fatigue.
• Weight loss: Like a good workout, a sauna experience will get you burning more calories per hour than you normally would just sitting around. Some people experience mild weight loss as a result.

Going through a hyperthermia experience usually involves sessions between 20 and 30 minutes each in a sauna set to at least 104 degrees F. Some also recommend using a hot bath where saunas are not available. You should be sure to stay properly hydrated during hyperthermia by drinking 2 or more glasses of cool water immediately after your treatment.