There of a number of alternative health practitioners who would suggest that if you are exposed to water soluble toxins, you should be able to extrude these toxins from your body via perspiration. The logic might be reasonable if the toxin is not already absorbed into your body in another cellular structure, thereby still in general circulation.

Toxins in our circulation will be most efficiently and effectively be addressed by our liver enzymes and our urinary system. For water soluble toxins to be substantially addressed by perspiration they would have to persist at very high circulatory volumes in the presence liver and kidneys that are not working very inefficiently. It would then be highly likely that you would be experiencing other symptoms related to their circulatory concentration and subsequent effects on other organs. It is unreasonable to attempt to “detoxify” your body by sweating.

As such, what are you doing in a moist sauna, steam room or sweat lodge? In the case of sore superficial muscles, you may be increasing circulation to these muscles, nourishing, oxygenating and relaxing them. In the case of an upper respiratory condition that is acutely or chronically producing bothersome pulmonary or sinus mucous, you may be loosening the congestion. In the case of small vessel narrowing in your hands and feet, you may be helping with vasodilatation, improving your peripheral circulation.

Not everyone is physically fit enough for prolonged exposure in these environments. Additionally, not all of these environments are readily adjustable to set temperatures that would be tolerable for the most sensitive. Uncontrolled heat exposure in inadequately monitored settings may result in unanticipated dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and death.

That said, if you still believe that you can detoxify yourself via perspiration, put on a comfortable work out attire and exercise; shape up and clean yourself out.