Infrared Sauna Use in UCSF Clinical Trial Shows Promise in Combating Depression
May 20 2024 - 7:45AM
In conjunction with May as Mental Health Awareness Month,
preliminary results from a University of California, San Francisco
(UCSF) clinical trial combining heat exposure with psychotherapy
sessions showed reductions in depression. The study, led by Ashley
E. Mason, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the UCSF Osher Center for
Integrative Health and the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences,
tested an integrated mind-body treatment combining whole-body
hyperthermia (WBH), a type of whole-body heat treatment, and
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a treatment of major
depressive disorder (MDD). The study, which was the first trial to
integrate sauna sessions with psychotherapy sessions for the
treatment of MDD, was published on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in The
International Journal of Hyperthermia and is accessible here. The
study used the The Curve™ Far Infrared Sauna Dome, manufactured by
Clearlight®, the industry leader in infrared sauna and pioneer in
innovative health and wellness solutions.In brief, the study
enrolled 16 adults with MDD who received eight weekly sessions of
cognitive behavior therapy and weekly or biweekly sauna sessions,
conducted in a Curve Dome. Dr. Mason began the clinical trial after
being inspired by prior work showing that infrared heat treatment
caused rapid reductions in depression. Preliminary results from
prior studies and Dr. Mason’s most recent study suggests that
infrared heat treatment may help significantly reduce depression
symptoms. While Dr. Mason’s future clinical trial testing efficacy
will take several years, early results from her feasibility studies
are showing that whole-body hyperthermia may reduce depression
symptoms. In this most recent trial, Mason also found that sauna
sessions acutely improved mood, and found that these improvements
predicted overall response to the treatment. “This is exciting
work, and it is early days,” said Dr. Mason. “That 11 of 12
participants who completed treatment no longer met criteria for
major depressive disorder sends a positive message – we need to
continue researching this treatment package.” “This groundbreaking
study on depression from UCSF aligns with what we have been hearing
from our customers for the past 25 years. People have been telling
us how using our infrared saunas has changed their lives by
reducing stress and lifting their spirits. Thanks to Dr. Ashley
Mason and all the people at UCSF who have worked tirelessly to
bring these facts to light so that people can find new ways to
heal,” said Clearlight® Founder and CEO, Dr. Raleigh Duncan. Dr.
Duncan is widely recognized for his expertise in infrared therapy
as one of the most significant contributors to technologies for
healing the human body and as a leader in advancing the industry
over the past three decades.About Clearlight®:Founded by a
Chiropractic Physician, Dr. Raleigh Duncan, Clearlight is the
industry leader in infrared sauna and pioneer in innovative health
and wellness solutions for more than 25 years. Clearlight was the
first company to develop Carbon/Ceramic infrared heaters capable of
delivering a deeper, more penetrating infrared wavelength, while
also offering the lowest EMF (electromagnetic fields) and ELF
(extremely low frequency) available on the market. Dr. Duncan is
widely considered one of the early pioneers in infrared sauna
technologies and has patents/patents-pending for much of the
technology Clearlight uses. The Berkeley, CA-based company offers
best-in-class wellness products for home and business use
including: Infrared Saunas, Sanctuary Full Spectrum Saunas, Outdoor
Saunas, Premier Infrared Saunas, FDA approved Red Light Therapy—The
PERSONAL Tower, and The CORE Tower; HALO ONE Salt Therapy, AROMA
ONE Aromatherapy Diffuser, The Curve Sauna Dome, Amethyst Infrared
PEMF Mat, and Custom Sauna Heater Kits (Build Your Own Sauna). For
every sauna purchase, Clearlight plants two trees with The National
Forest Foundation’s Sapling Program. To learn more and/or
enhance your existing Clearlight sauna experience, visit
infraredsauna.com and ClearlightRed.com; and follow on Facebook,
Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube. #Clearlight #Health
#Wellness #infrared #Depression #MentalHealthAuthor details: Ashley
E. Mason, PhD (PSY 26991)Faculty | Osher Center for Integrative
HealthAssociate Professor In Residence | Weill Institute for
NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoLab Website The
study was published in International Journal of Hypothermia, Volume
41, 2024 - Issue 1;
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02656736.2024.2351459
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Dana Young
Clearlight® — Infrared Saunas and Wellness Solutions
4153787998
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