Sauna use may activate biological pathways similar to exercise, potentially aiding depression.

“there's definitely an antidepressant effect that seems to correlate with biomarkers of the immune system so so the more potent the il-6 response the more potent the antidepressant response”

“I personally feel very optimistic about deliberate heat exposure having a possible role as a non-pharmacological intervention for depression.”

“This preliminary study paves the way for exploring whole-body hyperthermia, using saunas, as a promising tool to combat depression.”

“Deliberate heat exposure may be a promising therapeutic avenue for the treatment of depression.”

“how whole body hyperthermia (ie. sauna, hot bath, steam room, hot yoga) may improve depressive symptoms.”

“Deliberate heat exposure using sauna and hot tubs is a potent tool for mood and depression symptoms.”

“So, you know, whether it’s through the exercise or the hot yoga, or the sauna, or the hot bath, or the steam shower.”

“It’s astounding, the number of cultures in the world that use phasic exposure to high heat for healing purposes, or for transcendent purposes. I mean, we’re sitting in the new world, and certainly, the use of things like sweat lodges, and Temazcals were just were rampant in new world indigenous cultures, but across the old world too, you know. If you look at the healing rites in the ancient world, you know, hot baths were just a huge part. So it’s a widespread human thing. All around the globe, so many groups recognized, you know, it’s not just living in a chronically hot environment, it’s this outrageous heat for a time limited basis, right? I mean, why would you repeatedly stuff yourself in a smoky, hideous, dark, miserable, sweat lodge right? Answer, because that’s what sort of face heated exposure induces profound states of positive wellbeing that have antidepressants effects, right?”

“Yeah, absolutely. I think the pathway is totally plausible.”

“Would people rather, you know, take drugs that maybe aren't working so well, or maybe come with a certain number of side effects, or say, "Oh, once a week, I have to sit in this thing for 45 minutes and read a magazine," right?”

“But if we're able to actually capitalize on sauna, if people are more open to using whole-body heating practices, then maybe we have an avenue in to get at some of those biological pathways that exercise is triggering, like you just described.”

“there's been a sham-controlled trial looking at the effects of heat stress on major depressive disorder. There was a sham-controlled. And basically, it had an antidepressant effect. And I'm working now. I'm collaborating with someone. I'm a small collaborator. I'm the biomarker person. But Dr. Ashley Mason, she's at UCSF. She's now running more large randomized control trial on this.”