Safety and tolerability of sauna detoxification for the protracted withdrawal symptoms of substance abuse
Lennox RD, Cecchini-Sternquist M
The Journal of international medical research · 4 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Cohort study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Possibly industry funded
- Nonprofit
- Narconon International
- Authors
- At least one author declares a financial tie to industry
Based on 1 listed funder(s) and full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2018-09-13 · J Int Med Res · vol. 46 · issue 11 · pp. 4480–4499
- Publisher
- SAGE Publishing
- Cited
- 5 citations · more than 56% of similar papers · 0.3× the field average
- References
- 97 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY-NC
- Research areas
- Thermoregulation and physiological responses · Therapeutic Uses of Natural Elements · Alcoholism and Thiamine Deficiency
- Keywords
- Medicine, Tolerability, Regimen, Discontinuation, Substance abuse, Adverse effect, Detoxification (alternative medicine), Physical therapy, Psychiatry, Internal medicine
- MeSH
- liver, humans, hiv infections, hepatitis, substance-related disorders, substance withdrawal syndrome, treatment outcome, steam bath, quality of life, adult, female, male, surveys and questionnaires
2 authors
From US
- Richard D. LennoxChestnut Health Systems
- Marie Cecchini-Sternquist · correspondingChestnut Health Systems
Abstract
Objective
Protracted drug withdrawal symptoms can last months or years after drug cessation, often precipitating a return to substance misuse. We evaluated the safety and preliminary health benefits of a unique chemical exposure regimen based on exercise, sauna and therapeutic nutrients.
Methods
This was a prospective evaluation of 109 individuals sequentially enrolled into a sauna detoxification component of a multi-modal, long-term residential substance abuse treatment centre.
Results
Data from medical charts, client self-reports and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) responses indicated that the Hubbard sauna detoxification method was well tolerated, with a 99% completion rate, including one human immunodeficiency virus and nine hepatitis C positive clients. There were no cases of dehydration, overhydration or heat illness. Statistically significant improvements were seen in both mental and physical SF-36 scores at regimen completion, as well as in Addiction Severity Index and Global Appraisal of Individual Needs Short Screener change scores at rehabilitation program discharge, compared with enrolment.
Conclusions
The regimen lacked serious adverse events, had a very low discontinuation rate and high client-reported satisfaction. The SF-36 data indicated improved physical and emotional symptoms. Therefore, broader investigation of this sauna-based treatment regimen is warranted.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY-NC).
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