History

Different forms of indigenous practices involving the use of heat have been found across many geographically and culturally distinct regions of the world since mankind’s earliest civilizations including the following:

Finland: Sauna

Sweden/Norway:

India:  Swedana (Ayurveda)

Central America/Mexico: Mayan Sweat Houses; Temescal and Inipi

North America: Native American Sweat Lodges (Navajo, Dakota, Ojibwe…)

Greece: Sweat Baths

Japan: Mushi-Buro

Korea: Jim Jil Bang

Jewish: Shvitz

Islamic: Hammam

Ireland: Sweat House

Rome: Balnea and Thermae

Russia: Bania

South Africa: Sifutu

Scythian Sweatbath

The term hyperthermia is a combination of two Greek words: hyper (rise) and therme (heat) and refers to a much higher than normal body temperature that is induced therapeutically. Since the dawn of civilization, healers have used heat in China, ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, North America, India and many other countries to cure various ailments . In the past century interest was rekindled when it was noted that systemic hyperthermia due to fevers associated with acute bacterial infections resulted in tumor regression in patients with inoperable sarcomas and localized hyperthermia produced tumor regression, with and without radiation therapy. Prospective, controlled trials began in the 1970s and many are ongoing today.