The sauna’s claim to fame has been its ability to rid the body of impurities through sweat. A body’s organs supposedly become blocked, causing them fill with toxins. When a person sweats excessively in a sauna or steam room, he or she supposedly is able to get rid of these toxins.

Dr. Rachel Vreeman of Indiana University’s school of Medicine debunks this detoxification myth in her book, Don't Swallow Your Gum! Myths, Half-Truths and Outright Lies About Your Body and Health.

"The term 'detoxify' is used so often that it makes people think that special steps need to be taken so 'detoxifying' happens. Your body, however, does not need special cleansing efforts,” Vreeman told Health Day.

Too much heat exposure can lead to a slew of health problems including fatigue, nausea and stroke, not to mention extreme dehydration and an inability for the body to cool itself—the real purpose for sweating. Some might misread these symptoms for detoxification.

"Vomiting, thirst, dizziness, being uncoordinated or clumsy are all signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke,” Vreeman told Health Day. “Heat illness can kill you and should be treated as an emergency."

While there may be other benefits to spending time in the sauna, Vreeman says detoxification just isn’t one of them. “What it does need,” she says, “is for you to get enough fluids and to eat a healthy, balanced diet."

When it comes to cleansing the body of toxins, it’s best to leave it to itself.

Find more health myths in Don't Swallow Your Gum!, co-written by Drs. Rachel Vreeman and Aaron Carroll.

For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is tracking the top complementary and alternative medicines and therapies for children. The CDC collects data on complementary and alternative medicine usage through the Adult and Child Complementary and Alternative Medicine questionnaire in the National Health Interview Survey. The most recent survey results are from 2007 and include questions answered by adults on behalf of children aged 0 to 17. The results show that children whose parents practiced complementary and alternative medicine were nearly twice as likely to use complementary and alternative medicines as other children.

The top 5 complementary and alternative medicines and therapies among American children in 2007 are:

1. Dietary supplements (3.9% of children): These include a range of herbs, botanicals, vitamins, and minerals such as fish oil, glucosamine, and Echinacea


2. Chiropractic treatment (2.8%): Chiropractors attempt to modify the spine and joints to help relieve pain and improve well-being. Common indications are back pain, headaches, and other injuries.


3. Deep breathing exercises (2.2%): These exercises involve slow and deep inhalation and exhalation. Deep breathing is believed to relieve stress and provide relaxation.


4. Yoga (2.1%): Many types of yoga involve controlled breathing, stretching, and meditation to achieve balance physically, mentally, and spiritually.


5. Homeopathic treatment (1.3%): homeopathy recommends that people treat symptoms using a diluted form of a substance that causes those same symptoms. Homeopathic medicines may include natural materials like plants and minerals.

Related blog post: The Top 6 Complementary and Alternative Medicines and Therapies among Adults

_{Source: CDC, National Health Statistics Reports, No. 12, based on data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey conducted by the CDC. http://nccam.nih.gov/news/2008/nhsr12.pdf}

_{Photo: Autumm, FLickr, Creative Commons}

Complementary and alternative medicine and therapies have existed for centuries and continue to be practiced today. Treatments include a range of health practices and products from dietary supplements to acupuncture. Some people use these medicines and therapies to treat specific diseases and health conditions, and others use them for holistic or spiritual reasons. Although studies have shown that some complementary and alternative medicine and therapies are effective for certain indications, the effectiveness of most of these therapies has not yet been shown scientifically.

The top 6 complementary and alternative medicines and therapies among American adults in 2007 are:

1. Dietary supplements (17.7% of people): These include a range of herbs, botanicals, vitamins, and minerals such as fish oil, glucosamine, and Echinacea.


2. Deep breathing exercises (12.7%): These exercises involve slow and deep inhalation and exhalation. Deep breathing is believed to relieve stress and provide relaxation.


3. Meditation (9.4%): This ancient discipline has its origins in Eastern spiritual teachings. People are taught to focus their minds to achieve a heightened sense of awareness, tranquility, and balance.


4. Chiropractic treatment (8.6%): Chiropractors attempt to modify the spine and joints to help relieve pain and improve well-being. Common indications are for the back, headaches, and other injuries.


5. Massage (8.3%): Massage therapists knead muscles and tendons to improve function of connective tissues and to promote calmness and pain relief.


6. Yoga (6.1%: Many types of yoga involve controlled breathing, stretching, and meditation to achieve balance physically, mentally, and spiritually.

For additional information, join the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Support Group on Healia Communities


_{Source: CDC, National Health Statistics Reports, No. 12, based on data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey conducted by the CDC; http://nccam.nih.gov/news/2008/nhsr12.pdf}

_{Photo: judepics, Flickr, Creative Commons}

A large study examining the effects of the medicinal herb Ginkgo biloba concludes that it does not prevent Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. The findings, presented in the Journal of the American Medical Association, cast serious doubt on the future of ginkgo as a preventative measure for dementia, a disorder that affects more than 5 million people in the United States.

The eight year long Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) Study involved over 3,000 patients age 75 and older, some of whom had a condition that can be an early harbinger of dementia called mild cognitive impairment. The results showed that among both healthy and mildly impaired participants, taking two 120 milligram doses of ginkgo a day had no effect on the development of dementia in general or Alzheimer’s disease specifically, which is the suspected cause of the vast majority of dementia cases.

Extract from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which suggested that it might help protect the brain from the processes that lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Earlier lab tests also demonstrated that ginkgo can protect brain cells from the same problems that occur in Alzheimer’s disease. Despite this, the study appears to demonstrate conclusively that ginkgo is not helpful in preventing Alzheimer’s disease in older adults.

While the study did not find any positive effects of ginkgo, there did not appear to be any significant negative effects either. Taking the supplement did not affect the rate of coronary artery disease, stroke, or mortality. The study did not examine this possibility that ginkgo could have an effect on the development of dementia if people started taking it earlier, such as in middle age. There may also still be role for ginkgo in treating, rather than preventing, dementia.

Earlier research on ginkgo and memory has provided mixed results. Still, annual sales of the supplement in the U.S. reached an estimated $107 million in 2007.

If you take Ginkgo biloba, it is a good idea to do so under the supervision of a medical professional. People on the blood thinner warfarin shouldn't take ginkgo because of the risk of increased bleeding. Previous studies have also suggests an association between ginkgo and increased risk of “mini strokes” known as TIAs.

For more information, see the Healia Health Guide on Alzheimer’s Disease or visit the Healia Health Communities for Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.  You can also get answers to your questions about ginkgo at the Healia Health Communities for Dietary Supplements or the Healia Health Community for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

 ^{Photo (adapted): colros, Flickr, Creative Commons}