Benefits

The benefits of Ganbanyoku are plentiful, including improved mood and decreased anxiety, improved metabolism and weight control, beautification/anti-aging, sickness prevention, detoxification, and holistic effects to your health.

Japanese Study shows Ganbanyoku (Stone Spas) Improves Mood and Reduces Anxiety

• We wanted to share an August 2009 Japanese study with you, by Shinya Hayasaka, MD, PhD, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine Dept. of Community Health and Preventive Medicine’. Study
• This study explored the effects of stone spa use on the psychological states of women. Sixty-eight female volunteers participated in the study. Six factors relating to mood were measured: Tension–Anxiety and Anger–Hostility decreased significantly, showing an improvement in mood after stone spa use. Depression–Dejection, Fatigue, and Confusion also decreased, and Vigor increased.
• The main purpose of stone spa use is the hyperthermia effect using heat transmitted from a warmed floor and radiant heat, which differs from hot water bathing. As stone spa use does not use hot water, it does not entail any burden from water pressure exerted on the body. In this respect, stone spa is similar to far infrared dry sauna.
• The results of this study regarding improvement in mood and anxiety concur with reports from previous studies using far-infrared radiation equipment. There is speculation that these results may be attributable to recovery from fatigue by heat shock protein (HSP)70, an increase in cellular immunity, and changes in biochemical and serologic test values.
• Other studies have reported that far-infrared dry sauna is effective for improving chronic pain, relaxation, sleeping disorder, and remedial effects of cardiac failure, and all are thought to be attributable to the hyperthermia effects of heating. Studies in the nursing care field have reported that localized heating of parts of patients’ bodies is effective in improving quality of life.
• As of August 2009, over 26 million people have used this therapy (11.6 million in 2008) and it is thought that stone spas may flourish as a convenient practice of complementary and alternative medicine to improve mood and reduce anxiety.

Metabolism and Weight Control

• As you relax in the gentle heat, your body is actually hard at work producing sweat, pumping blood, and burning calories. According to The Journal of the American Medical Association, "in a single Far Infrared session you may burn as many calories as you would rowing or jogging for 30 minutes". Saunas have traditionally been used by European beauticians to help eliminate cellulite. Since the radiant heat from the Far Infrared Stone beds warms three times as deeply as conventional saunas, it is significantly more effective at reducing cellulite.
• Weight loss occurs because body fat becomes water soluble at 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the body can sweat out fats, toxins, and heavy metal that it otherwise can't dispose of. Most people who have attempted weight loss by many diets without success, will be pleased with their results from the FIR treatments. Often times, the inability to lose weight is associated with chemical toxicity.
• People can burn approximately 700 to 1,500 calories in a 60 minute treatment which is equal to the energy expended in a 6 to 9 mile run. This is excellent for people who don't exercise yet want an effective weight control and fitness maintenance program.
• Negative ions, which are emitted from the bedrock, causes a surface activation effect that makes water clusters smaller. The infrared rays also emitted from the bedrock create a vibration like effect which helps to keep water clusters small and helps with causing good quality sweat to be released. Rock Bathing treatments utilize this small water cluster effect in order to get more oxygen running through your blood. This increased oxygen helps your body's organs to activate your metabolism that helps you achieve weight loss.
• Furthermore, when the body is heated up by a degree or so, it stimulates the autonomic nervous systems and immune system which activates hormone production. Our treatment's ability to produce sebum from the sebaceous glands is what makes the skin so soft.

Beautification

• Our black silica spa treatment increases the body's core temperature, which results in overall health improvements, rejuvenation, relaxation and deeper sleep. These attributes are all related to the enhancement of beauty for most people. Our treatments can help you achieve and improve overall beauty by detoxification of your skin through the perspiration process by lying on bedrock stones.
• The sebum that is produced from the sebaceous gland supplies a natural coating for the skin and hair – making them both smooth and silky. It is recommended not to shower within two hours after the treatment to gain the most benefits to the skin and hair. This detoxification and rejuvenation of skins cells is what leads to the natural "glow" of the skin and the appearance of beauty.

Anti-Aging

• Expands Capillaries which stimulates increased blood flow, regeneration, circulation and oxygenation.
• Profuse sweating carries off deeply imbedded impurities and dead skin cells, leaving the skin glowing and immaculately clean. This is excellent for clearing psoriasis, eczema and acne.
• Increased circulation draws the skin's own natural nutrients to the surface. It improves tone, elasticity, texture and fresh color of the skin.
• Promotes rebuilding of injured tissue by having a positive effect on the fibroblasts (connective tissue cells necessary for the repair of injury). Furthermore, it increases growth of cells, DNA syntheses, and protein synthesis all necessary during tissue repair and regeneration. Excellent for healing burns, scar tissue and skin problems.

Sickness Prevention

• It has been established that coldness is the starting point for most diseases. When your body core gets cold, your body accumulates or holds fat and water which leads to poor blood circulation. As well, when your body temperature decreases, so does your metabolism rate and immune system which makes you more susceptible to catching all kinds of colds and illnesses.
• Black silica rock-bathing treatments help increase your body’s temperature throughout by first heating up your body core and can help prevent you from catching unwanted colds and other sicknesses. People can choose Iyashi's signature rock-bathing treatment as a natural way to heal the body through natural health.
• Counteracts negative effects of Environmental Pollution and helps prevent respiratory-related illnesses: Today, modern homes and offices seal out negative ions. Computer terminals, fluorescent lighting, forced air ventilation systems and modern building materials generate an over abundance of positive ions. Positive ions make us feel tired, depressed and irritable. A room charged with negative ions was shown to stem bacteria growth and precipitate many airborne contaminants including pollen, dust and dust mites, viruses, second-hand cigarette smoke, animal dander, odors and toxic chemical fumes. No wonder people don't leave the office energized! It is therefore crucial that we strike a balance by enhancing our bodies with negative ions.
• Increase the flow of oxygen to the brain: Negative ions result in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy," says Pierce J. Howard, PhD, author of The Owners Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind Brain Research and director of research at the Center of Applied Cognitive Sciences in Charlotte, N.C. By promoting abundant oxygen levels in the blood, negative ions help normalize brain function, resulting in relaxation and calmness.
• Natural Anti-Depressant: A higher level of negative ions has been proven to be as effective against SAD (Seasonal Affective Depression) as antidepressants, such as Prozac and Zolof, and without the side effects.

Strengthens the Immune and Cardiovascular Systems

• Stimulates increased production of white blood cells (leukocytes) by the bone marrow and killer T-cells by the thymus.
• Relieves nervous tension and relaxes autoneuro muscles thereby helping the body make the most of its intended healing abilities. Far Infrared Rays reduces soreness on nerve endings and muscle spasms, as muscle fibers are heated.
• Promotes the killing of many pathogenic (disease causing) bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
• Greater immunity makes you stronger at fighting off viruses, bacteria and other infections. If you feel the early signs of a cold coming on, come in for a rock bathing treatment to help rev up your immune system. This will reduce your number of sick days. Greater immunity means greater health and a better quality of life.
• High Levels of negative ions promote production of globulin in the blood, resulting in stronger resistance to illness.
• Cardiovascular System is strengthened by causing heart rate and cardiac output increase, and diastolic blood pressure decrease - Extensive research by NASA in the early 1980's led to the conclusion that far infrared stimulation of cardiovascular function would be the ideal way to maintain cardiovascular conditioning in American astronauts during long space flight.
• Strengthens the immune system: high levels of negative ions promote production of globulin in the blood, resulting in stronger resistance to illness.

Provides Pain Relief

• The deep heat of Far Infrared therapy helps peripheral blood vessels dilate, bringing relief and healing to muscle and soft tissue injuries.
• In Europe, radiant heat therapy is widely used to treat patients suffering from many forms of arthritis. It has proven effective in the treatment of sprains, neuralgia, bursitis, muscle spasms, joint stiffness and many other musculoskeletal ailments.
• For athletes who push their body's to the limit, creating lactic acid build-up, which often results in stiffness and pain, the Infrared Rays offers sweet relief as it gently metabolizes and disperses the lactic acid. Increased blood circulation carries off metabolic waste products and delivers oxygen-rich blood to oxygen-depleted muscles so they recover faster. Muscles relax most readily when tissues are warm, promoting greater flexibility and range of motion.
• Much of the stiffness, aches and soreness that come with aging is reduced.

Natural Immune System and Activation Rate of Natural Killer (NK) Cells

• The results were astonishing from a medical study, conducted by Dr. Gomi, with the aid of Dr. Oda, an Immune System Specialist, from the Oda Clinic on “How Ganbanyoku might influence the Immune System”.
• The Activation Rate of the NK Cells rose dramatically after only one Ganbanyoku treatment:
  • Subject (a), increased from 43% to approx 72%
  • Subject (b), increased from 55% to approx 78%
  • Subject (c), increased from 39% to approx 57%,
  • Elderly Subject (d), increased from 23% to approx 52%

  After 10 days, subject (a) and (c) still climbed higher.

• Unlike T cells and B cells, which attack only certain cancerous cells, that are “taught” or “programmed” and recognized to attack, NK cells will attack any cancerous cell directly on its own. For NK Cells to activate, it needs to perceive the granule called Perforin. The activation rate of NK cells determines how strong your Natural Immune System is.
• The rate of NK cells increase with age, however, the activation rate decreases with age. The average 20 year old, with 45% activation rate, drops to about 20% at age 60. Therefore, the cancer rate increases when a person reaches an age over 60.
• The activation rate of NK cells becomes the most reliable indicator for the Natural Immune System.

Detoxification

• Black silica rock-bathing promotes perspiration. There are actually two ways that you can perspire and the quality in the sweat is very different.
  • One type of sweat includes the loss of good nutrients like sodium and magnesium. This type of sweat is usually oily, salty and smelly and is caused by a sudden rise in body temperature (i.e. from hot sauce or sports).
  • The other way to perspire is through Ganbanyoku. The body temperature rises slowly from the inside. Your body will “be ready” to perspire good quality sweat that does not contain minerals essential to the body but gets rid of toxins in your system.
• Essentially, the body eliminates a large fraction of accumulated toxins naturally by sweating. Far-Infrared heat therapy stimulates the sweat glands which cleanse and detoxify the skin as it heats the tissues several inches deep. This promotes elimination of fats, chemicals and toxins from the blood: Poisons, carcinogenic heavy metals - toxic substances from food processing - lactic acid, free fatty acids, and subcutaneous fat associated with aging and fatigue - excess sodium associated with hypertension - and uric acid which causes pain. Since the sebaceous glands are activated, accumulated cosmetics in pores can be eliminated through the skin (sweat and oil glands) rather than by the kidneys.
• Sebum, from the sebaceous glands, detoxifies harmful metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium. Such metals are usually attached to body fat which makes them into unhealthy "non-burnable" fat as even high metabolism rates will not get rid of these contaminated fat deposits. However by sweating from far infrared rays and negative ions, these heavy metals detach from fat cells and through your rock-bathing treatments, you will rid your body of these toxins while also allowing your body to naturally burn away body fat.
• Scientists in Japan report that Far Infrared heat expands the capillaries and then initiates the start of a process to dissolve hidden toxins. Researchers have discovered that the use of the Far Infrared spectrum was most effective in the removal of a vast amount of toxins via the skin, thereby relieving a heavy load on the kidneys and limiting the use of oral or intravenous chelating agents.
• Far Infrared Ray therapy is thought to be 7 times more effective at detoxifying heavy metals such as mercury, aluminum, cholesterols, nicotine, alcohol, ammonia, sulfuric acid and other environmental toxins, as opposed to conventional saunas. Mercury is the most toxic element on earth, second only to plutonium.
• The flushing of toxins from the lymph areas and from the largest organ of elimination, the skin, is the source of many health improvements. Toxemia has been targeted as the number one reason so many of us are ill. With the elimination of these poisons from deep within the body, the organs can then do their job unhindered.
• In one study performed by American researchers, the sweat of people using a conventional sauna was found to be 95 to 97% water while the sweat of those using an infrared thermal system was 80 to 85% water with the non-water portion principally cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, toxic heavy metals (such as mercury and aluminum), sulfuric acid, sodium, ammonia and uric acid. This unusually high concentration of heavy metals and other fat-soluble toxins is not found in the sweat from normal exercise.