The Helsi Show Sebastian Mierau and Johannes Kettelhodt

Dr. Marc Cohen is one of the world's leading academics in the study of holistic and integrative medicine including sauna bathing, and in this podcast, guides me through a list of sauna protocols that can be used to achieve the most common sauna bathing health benefits. The sauna protocols he describes are designed from the findings and research from peer-reviewed studies conducted by Dr. Marc Cohen and his Ph.D. colleagues on longevity, the quality of life, and much more.

In this episode of The Sauna Show, we have Dr. Joy Hussain making her second appearance on the podcast to talk about her latest research paper: The study of whole-body thermal therapy in health and wellness. An extremely exciting time for sauna bathers around the world, particularly for women, as Dr. Hussain explains how she trailed 10 women to take part in this experiment to determine the effects infrared sauna bathing had on the female patients from both a biological and physiological stand-point. Dr. Hussain describes the control (meditative state) and variables' (infrared sauna bathing using a Clearlight infrared sauna and exercise using a bicycle) differentiators, similarities, and key findings. Fascinating in itself, the findings were found to support the notion that Clearlight infrared saunas are beneficial for detoxification, as it was the cause for the 10 women to excrete the highest levels of pesticides (organophosphates) in their sweat when compared to the sweat found from the other two states of being. An eye-opening medical paper and brilliant episode that takes the first look into this pioneering sauna study.

What is red light therapy and how does it work? Most people think of light as something that only allows for visibility of their direct environment. (Sun)light, for instance, allows you to see what’s going on around you. And at nighttime, the absence of light makes your environment invisible. Without going into too much detail, the energy-producing processes in your cells are also affected by light in your environment. That basic process of light absorption by photoreceptors brings many fundamental health benefits. This red and infrared light therapy is also frequently described with other names, such as “Low Level Laser Therapy (short: LLLT)”, “LED light therapy”, “photobiomodulation”, and “red light therapy”. In this episode of The Sauna Show both Sebastian and Johannes talk about the fundamentals of understanding Red Light Therapy, how it works, and the options you have out in the market today.

We talk to Dr. Marc Cohen, a medical doctor with over 30 years of experience and a university professor, who has written over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers, multiple books, and technical texts, on wellness and natural medicine. This episode teaches his techniques on how to enhance the sauna experience, how to prolong the time within a sauna or ice bath to be "comfortably uncomfortable", and this basic sauna bathing framework to maximise the therapeutic benefits of a sauna. A true pioneer in holistic wellness, Dr. Cohen has paved the way for scientific research to be conducted on both hot & cold sauna bathing, and in this episode, shares his insights from that research. With an ethos of "wellness being more infectious than illness", Dr. Cohen resonates with a passion and a mission to educate the world on "why feeling good is good for you". Further topics in this episode include detoxification with sauna bathing, toxins from water sources, a look at peer-reviewed research papers and findings, and this notion of 'if you're not using a filter, you are the filter.

In this episode, we sit down with culinary chef and creator of New Zealand-based organic movement little Bird Organics, Megan May. With her own personal experiences suffering from food allergies as a child and adult, Megan has a first-hand experience of the debilitation food allergies can have on a person and also the success of healing herself through raw and organic plant-based foods. Food allergies have become a growing epidemic in the modern world and are described as an unusual reaction to specific foods. It is estimated that anywhere between 2.5% - 10% of the world's general population suffers from some form of food allergy according to worldallergy.org. Symptoms of food allergies range from itching or swelling to vomiting and even asthma. We get down and dirty into the power of food to heal and the power of food to harm, as Megan gives her insights into the plant-based and organic food culture, the impact food and consumption has on our planet and some of the misconceptions that 'all plant-based foods are healthy.' A fantastic episode that is a culmination of Megan’s life-long experience, her passion for creating high-quality, organic, and raw foods, and her mission to help heal and educate the food industry.

Herbal medicine has increasingly become more accepted in the west in recent years. Numerous studies have continued to show the therapeutic benefits that herbs have on the human body. In 2002 the Food and Agriculture Organisation estimated over 50,000 different types of medicinal herbs were used around the world. With so many medicinal herbs out there, knowing what herbs work for you and why can be a daunting endeavor to embark on. In this episode of The Sauna Show, we talked to Elvian Drysdale, an Australian naturopath, and owner of Mullum Herbals. Elvian explains the top 5 medicinal herbs that she supplies to her local region, what each of these medicinal herbs are used for, why they're important, and the common reasons why they're are prescribed. Elvian also speaks on the power of native herbs to regions and provides some social commentary on the industry of Chinese Medicine in the west. A fantastic episode that explores the powerful healing modalities native herbs can play in supporting a long and healthy lifestyle.