Seen on Oprah & elsewhere

• Oprah Winfrey - Monday, May 3, 1999
• Donnie and Marie
• Home & Garden TV
• Jeopardy!
• The Price is Right
• The Drew Carey Show
• Good Morning Sacramento & numerous
  morning shows around the country

• Better Homes & Gardens
• Exercise for Men Only

Taken from: Alternative Medicine Digest, Issue 15, February, 1997, pages 57 & 58

Natural Pharmacy Products, Techniques, and Services You Can Use

AROMATHERAPY SPA Detoxify, Relax Muscles, and Enhance Immunity

Physicians have long known of the many therapeutic benefits of steam heat, also known as hyperthermia or heat stress detoxification. Similarly, the benefits of aromatherapy-the inhalation of the vapors of essential plant oils- are widely recognized among alternative practitioners. Now Variel Health international has combined both modalities in the form of the aromaSpaTM aromatic steam capsule, suitable for home use as a portable health spa.

The unit stands 5'6", weighs about 68 pounds, may be easily assemble, and plugs into any standard 115 volt socket. Its walls and sliding door are made of transparent polycarbonate used for airplane windows. The steam generator and aroma diffuser are located on the floor of the unit. Any of at least 250 aromatherapy oils may be used, singularly or in combination, to support muscle relaxation, detoxification, and immune system stimulation, or for elimination fatigue, lifting mood, revitalizing skin, or general rejuvenation.

Other self-care benefits include general mind and body relaxation, stress reduction, energizing, emotional cleansing, and "custom personal pampering," depending on the aromatherapy formula used, says Variel's Cathy Dammann. The self-contained aromatherapy and steam heat diffuser, soothing mists carrying aromatic molecules envelop the entire body surface for maximum absorption and benefit.

The aromaSpa uses one quart of distilled water (preferable to chlorinated and fluoridated tap water) for a 40 minute steam heat session and can reach temperatures of 115° - 120° F within about 10 minutes. These temperatures are necessary as hyperthermia provides its benefits by temporarily raising the body temperature to between 101° - 103°F and inducing perspiration. Clinical information suggests that steam heat may have therapeutic advantages over the dry heat associated with most saunas, says Dammann.

The aromaSpa was tested in 1994 by Jerry Schindler, Ph.D., director of Sports Health Science Human Performance Lab at Life College School of Chiropractic in Marietta, Georgia. Dr. Schindler reported that the unit was effective in decreasing the risk of everyday and athletic injuries, primarily by increasing muscle flexibility, blood flow, and oxygen delivery to the muscles.

Dr. Schindler demonstrated these benefits by way of thermographic studies (which register nerve sense pathways) comparing the left and right sides of a test subject's body. Individuals whose thermographic readings are asymmetrical (indicating imbalances and sensory interference) are prone to injury, says Dr. Schindler. Symmetrical patterns were achieved after 30 minutes in the aromaSpa.

According to Dammann, aroma steam therapy can also reduce lactic acid buildup in muscles following exercise, thereby preventing soreness. The approach may be effective in reducing cellulite (lumpy fat areas in the skin), especially when used with rosemary, sandalwood, juniper, geranium, or lemon essential oils. These can produce detoxifying and water-draining effects in only 10 minutes compared to standard hot body wraps, which require as much as 60 minutes, says Dammann.

Steam heat therapy may increase blood circulation and heighten immune response by stimulating white blood cell production, Dammann says. The aromaSpa is now being used experimentally by patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, she reports. According to Zand Gard, M.D., "the only detoxification program that has proven successful in removing fat-stored toxins from the body is hyperthermia." The use of the essential oils of clove, cinnamon, melissa, or lavender have been clinically shown to benefit bronchial conditions as effectively as some antibiotics, especially when delivered by steam heat, Dammann says.

by Patrick Netter
(Exercise for Men Only, Febuary 1996)

When you're stressed out and a friend tells you, "Don't sweat it," he means well. But, in actuality, this popular expression is bad advice.

Working up a good sweat is essential to your physical health. It is estimated that as much as 30 percent of bodily wastes are eliminated by way of perspiration, which is also enormously beneficial to your mental well-being.

As it turns out, sweating is exactly the remedy you need when anxiety kicks in.

For thousands of years, the soothing wonders of steam bathing have offered the best way to beat stress, stimulate and improve circulation, help the body purge itself of impurities, and even prevent injuries. Additionally, the aesthetics benefits are well known. The ancient Romans practiced steam bathing regularly to improve their complexion, and many contemporary men have followed their lead to achieve a better appearance with clear, glowing, healthy skin as a result.

This time-honored tradition has taken a giant leap forward with the AromaSpa by Variel Health International. This light-weight, portable, convenient device uniquely combines the therapeutic benefits of steam with those of aromatherapy - the use of essential oils distilled form plants to improved physical and emotional health. Together, these diverse practices create a powerful tool for total well-being.

The success of this break-through product has been documented meticulously by Dr. Jerry Schindler, associate professor of the Sports Health Science, Human Performance Lab at Life College in Marietta, Ga., who observed the AromaSpa's effectiveness during a three-month research project.

"The basic cause of many injuries is a lack of tissue oxygenation and lymph exchange at the cellular level," states Schindler. "Many injuries are predisposed by an abnormal increase or decrease in biological temperature, which has a compromising effect on the combination of soft tissue and neurologic components. Correcting this situation improves vascular flow, which, in turn, enhances oxygen, nutrient and lymph exchange at cellular level, thus restoring a state of optimal well-being to the individual. The key, then, is to increase the capacity for muscular flexibility and reduce the risk of injury, and the AromaSpa accomplishes this quite effectively."

The AromaSpa is a convenient as it is healthful. Fully self-contained, it requires no special plumbing or ventilation - simply plug it into a normal household power receptacle. Weighing just 68 pounds, the portable AromaSpa is incredibly fast and easy to assemble (about five minutes), yet the ingenious design and strong , solid construction make it a sturdy unit, as well.

While sitting comfortably inside the spa, you can chose from any of six different heat settings with a manual timer. The American made AromaSpa comes complete with everything you need, including a complete 12 month warranty.

You also get four essential oils specially blend with a separate and specific purpose in mind, depending on your personal needs: Peppermint and rosemary for energy (to invigorate muscles, refresh the spirit and promote clarity of mind); lavender, mandarin and ylang-ylang for relaxation (to combat stress and ease tension); eucalyptus, tea tree, and pine for respiratory problems (to alleviate cold and flu symptoms- clearing the head, sinus and nasal passages); and geranium, melissa and eucalyptus for recovery (to relax and ease muscle tension).

The AromaSpa is designed for diversity of use. Whether you seek to soothe your frazzled nerves after a long day of work, ease the symptoms of a bad cold, improve your complexion, alleviate the pain of a sports injury or prevent such damage in the first place, the aromaSpa® provides all the therapeutic solutions in one accessible unit. And it's a great way to reward yourself after a tough workout and get ready for a hot date.

• Product of the Year by Beauty International
• Gear of the Year by Men's Health
• Most Innovative Product of the Year by the National Sporting Goods Association.

8 Weeks to Optimum Health,
by Dr. Andrew Weil (Amazon Price: $11.16 )

• Dr. Andrew Weil recommends sweat bathing in his fifth week of the Eight Weeks to Optimum Health:
  
  "Let me talk to you this first week about the value of sweating. In addition to its well-known function of cooling the body by evaporation in hot weather, it is one of our most important mechanisms of natural healing, since it allows the body to rid itself of unwanted materials."
  
  "The body can also eliminate other minerals, drugs, and some toxins by this route, taking part of the workload off the liver and kidneys...."
  
  "Sweat bathing induces dramatic changes in physiology, especially in cardiovascular functions, but recovery is rapid once you leave the hot chamber, and unless you have significant cardiovascular disease, the changes probably give the heart and arteries a healthy workout."
  
  "Sweating is clearly good for the bodies of most people; in my experience, it is also highly salutory for our minds and spirits."
  
  "Many people find that it leaves them glowing with vitality. Note the effects of the sweat bath on your energy level, mood, state of tension, and sleep, as well as any effects on your skin, muscles and joints."

Alternative Medicine : The Definitive Guide,
by The Burton Goldberg Group. (Amazon Price: $59.95)

• "Physicians have long known the many therapeutic benefits of steam heat, also known as hyperthermia or heat stress detoxification - the inhalation of the vapors of essential plant oils - are widely recognized among alternative practitioners. Now Variel Health International has combined both modalities in the form of the AromaSpa aromatic steam capsule suitable for home use as a portable health spa." (Page 9)

An Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide To Cancer ,
by W. John Diamond, M.D., W. Lee Cowden, M.D., Burton Goldberg.
Amazon Price: $49.95

• Based on the pioneering treatment plans of 37 alternative medicine cancer specialists, this book guides you through the safest and most effective treatment alternatives known today.
  
• "One of the most essential practices in any cancer-reversal program and for prevention, too, is to detoxify the body, down to the level of its cells...."
  
  "The skin is the largest eliminative organ of the body which is why it is sometimes called the third kidney. The skin can eliminate more than a pound of waste products in the form of sweat throughout the day."
  
  "The therapeutic use of water can be of great benefits to cancer patients, as water can stimulate the immune system, help increase the body's white blood cell count, aid the body in purging itself of accumulated toxins, and produce a state of general relaxation essential to the healing process."
  
  "Studies have shown that hyperthermia treatment modifies cell membranes in such a way as to protect healthy cells and make tumor cells more susceptible to chemotherapy and radiation. For this reason, hyperthermia is a useful adjunct in cancer therapy, largely because it enables the use of lower doses of chemotherapy and radiation."

You Dont Have to Die : Unraveling the AIDS Myth,
by Leon Chaitow, James Strohecker, Burton Goldberg, (Amazon Price: $14.95)
"While hyperthermia treatments may not be able to kill every invading virus (HIV experiences approximately 40 percent inactivation after thirty minutes in a 107.6 degree Fahrenheit bath), it reduces their (virus) numbers, making it easier for the immune system to handle the remaining viruses. Hyperthermia is also a useful technique for detoxification because it releases toxins stored in fats cells."

"This remarkable way (hyperthermia) of deactivating the AIDS virus continues to attract medial interest and will undoubtedly be more widely employed and refined in the near future"

"At the Natural Health Clinic at Bastyr University, hyperthermia is commonly used in the treatment of HIV infection. In 1988 and 1989, the Clinic conducted the Healing AIDS Research Project (HARP) study. Hyperthermia was included in the treatment protocol because of its immune stimulating, detoxifying, and disinfecting properties."

"According to Leanna Standish, Ph. D., N.D., who oversaw the HARP study, participants reported that hyperthermia was the facet of their treatment that had the greatest impact. There was a decrease in night sweats and in the frequency of secondary infection. Also, many participants reported having a greater sense of well-being after receiving hyperthermia treatments."