Hyperthermia

Far infrared Wave Therapy

Far infrared radiation is a part of the solar radiation spectrum, adjacent to its visible red part with the ability of heat most objects. The human eye is unable to see this part of the spectrum, but we can feel the heat. Far infrared rays are completely safe for the human body, unlike X-rays, ultraviolet rays, or microwaves.

Hyperthermia treatment with far infrared waves has many benefits and is backed by scientific research. The benefits include improved quality of life, rehabilitation medicine, pain management, preventive medicine, treatment of viral and autoimmune diseases, and more. Hyperthermia is a treatment method that causes, among other things, the destruction of malignant cells in the body using high heat, without side effects and without pain.

More than 100 years ago, doctors noticed spontaneous regressions of tumors in cancer patients who had a high fever for several days. This finding led researchers to conclude that cancer cells are not resistant to high heat. Following these findings, the conventional medical world began to develop equipment that works to introduce high heat into the cancerous tumor and its surroundings. Most of the equipment used works using radio waves.

Cancer cells begin to be destroyed at a temperature of 42 degrees Celsius, so the hyperthermia devices currently in use introduce heat from 42 to 70 degrees into the body.

The high heat causes the destruction of proteins in the cancer cell, which build the enzymes essential for the cell’s function. The destruction of the proteins causes the cancer cell to enter a state of “apoptosis” (a state of self-destruction of the cell).
The high heat causes blockage of the blood vessels in the tumor area preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching the cancer cell and causing it to die due to a lack of these essential substances.
The heat shock that the cancer cell receives causes it to produce proteins called “heat shock proteins” (HSP). These proteins accumulate on the cancer cell’s membrane to protect it from further heat shock. However, these HSP proteins are “foreign” proteins, not recognized by the body’s immune system, which cause the immune system’s blood cells to attack the cancer cells that contain these proteins and to try and destroy them.
The blood vessels in the tumor area are narrow and winding causing the blood to flow slowly, and therefore the heat generated by the action of the hyperthermia devices remains in the cancer tissue for a long time.

Hyperthermia is a selective treatment method that only damages cancer cells without causing damage to healthy cells. Hyperthermia treatment allows for the treatment of oncological patients who cannot receive radiation and patients who are unable to undergo treatments with severe side effects due to their weakened state.

Combining Hyperthermia with Other Treatment Methods

In published medical studies, it has been found that combining hyperthermia with various types of chemotherapy improves the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Drugs such as Gemzar, Taxol, Adriamycin, Doxil, and more have been shown to be more effective when given in combination with hyperthermia. In many studies, it has been shown that combining hyperthermia and radiation doubles the effectiveness of radiation.

Hyperthermia in Oncology Research

There have been many studies in the field of hyperthermia in oncology in recent years. The European Society for Hyperthermia Oncology (ESHO, esho.info) published on February 20, 2017, 32 studies on the treatment of the following types of cancer:

Carcinoma of the Skin
Head and Neck Yumors
Colon Cancer
Bladder Cancer
Hodgkin’s & Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Malignant Melanoma
Breast Cancer
Esophageal Cancer
Ovarian Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Rectal Cancer
Sarcoma
Cervical Cancer

Different Types of Hyperthermia

The current studies have acknowledged three types of hyperthermia therapy: local, regional, and whole body, accounting for 78% of all clinical research reported by ESHO. Other organizations involved in hyperthermia research include the Asian Society of Hyperthermic Oncology and the Society of Thermal Medicine.
Local therapy is the application of focused heat to small areas, such as a single tumor. The longer and hotter the heat, the better the results. This treatment destroys the cancer cells it targets.
Regional therapy is applied by heating larger areas, such as internal organs or limbs. The heat is less intense and is generally used to support and enhance healing of many diseases and pathologies.
Whole-body peripheral therapy is performed by heating the entire body at once, to treat cases of advanced cancer or to treat metastases.

Research on Suppressing Cancer Cell Development

In 2007, a study was published in the Springer Medical Oncology journal. The study was designed to test the effects of far-infrared radiation on five different types of cancer. After four days of testing, it was determined that there were different levels of response for each of the different types of cancer. The tongue, gums, and lungs experienced a 45.75%, 74.63%, and 65.79% suppression of proliferation, respectively.
The study found that far infrared was beneficial in treating several types of cancer, raising the question, “What makes other types of cancer insensitive to radiation?” After testing, they determined that cancers with higher levels of the protein HSPC70 (heat shock protein) were less responsive to treatment. They realized that the level of the protein could be used as an indicator of the effectiveness of far infrared therapy in specific patients.
According to the American Cancer Society, heat therapy can be an effective approach to treating cancer.

Additional Health Benefits of Far Infrared Rays

Hyperthermia therapy has many benefits improving quality of life, treating pain, viral diseases, autoimmune diseases, and more, all backed by scientific research.

Body Cleansing

Far infrared radiation is at least seven times more effective in removing heavy metals such as mercury and aluminum from the body than heating with conventional heating methods. In addition, working with FIR can eliminate other toxins such as cholesterol, nicotine, alcohol, ammonia, and more.

Improving Blood Circulation

Far infrared therapy improves blood circulation by dilating capillaries in the body. The treatment enriches the amount of oxygen in the blood, thus helping the internal organs improve their blood supply for regeneration and energy. Oxygen-enriched blood accelerates the healing of damaged tissue.

Normalizing Blood Pressure Levels

Medical researchers from Germany concluded that one hour of daily FIR treatment significantly reduces blood pressure. Normalization is achieved by a steady dilation of peripheral blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure. They also observed improvements in blood viscosity.

Fistula Treatment

A study conducted by the Department of Nursing in Taiwan in 2014 on the effects of FIR on fistulas showed FIR to be beneficial in the treatment and healing of fistulas. The results of the study showed improvements in blood flow through the fistula and a reduced risk of exacerbation.

Chronic Fatigue Treatment

A study published in 2005 in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research shows that heat therapy has an effect on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Reducing Pain and Stiffness

FIR has been shown to be a promising method for relieving muscle spasms, muscle pain, and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Frequent use of the Onnetsu mattresses causes improvement in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and help them with the pain and stiffness they experience. The use of the mattresses is very effective for athletes. The treatment helps prevent sports injuries, relieve muscle and joint pain, maintain a regular training routine, and improve athletic results.

Reducing Side Effects of Diabetes

A study published in the “Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine” in 2010 shows that far infrared therapy helps improve the quality of life in people with type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes often also suffer from symptoms of CFS, pain, CHF (congestive heart failure), depression, and various heart problems. FIR mattress therapy helps treat all these symptoms.

Reducing Back Pain

Dr. Gaze, along with a team of experts, conducted several studies in 2015 on the health benefits of far infrared therapy for chronic back pain. The study involved 50 patients experiencing lower back pain who were asked to sit on a FIR mat daily. The study findings showed that the majority of patients reported a reduction in lower back pain after repeated treatment and an improvement in overall physical and mental health.

Improving Motor Function

The Department of Radiology in Taiwan conducted a study in 2015 that showed that far infrared therapy can positively effect the function of the nervous system. The results show that FIR can improve nerve regeneration and nerve function in a natural, non-invasive and effective way. FIR is recommended as a treatment for various diseases that effect motor function and as a treatment for peripheral nerve injuries.

Allergy Treatment

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, occurs as a response of the immune system to airborne allergens, causing an inflammatory response. It is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. A study conducted by the “Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society” in 2007 showed that far infrared radiation has beneficial effects on many symptoms of hay fever such as itchy nose, stuffy nose, itchy eyes, sneezing and runny nose. FIR treatment showed better results than any other treatment.

Encouraging Weight Loss

FIR helps burn calories. According to a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and conducted by Binghamton University, daily infrared wave therapy can help burn many calories by breaking down fat cell walls and dissolving fat.

Improving the Immune System

FIR has been proven to be a preventative treatment for viral illnesses such as the flu or cold. The treatment also helps alleviate the symptoms of these illnesses. The deep heat produced by far infrared rays raises the body’s core temperature, promotes general blood circulation and thus supports the immune system.

Cleaning The Body of Poisons

Far infrared heat radiated to the skin dilates the skin’s blood vessels, increases blood circulation, and stimulates sweating. Dr. German Aicher , a renowned macrobiotic scientist, writes in the journal Macrobiotics Today: “There is a very important aspect of infrared systems: when fat is removed through sweat, it drags with it the heavy metals that the body cannot drain on its own. Far infrared heat-emitting mattresses are invaluable because they help drain heavy metals from fat tissue and release toxic substances from the human body.”