Possible BENEFITS of flotation therapy
REDUCES
Stress / Cortisol Levels
90% of all illness and disease is related to stress according to The Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy in 1998. Our bodies produce cortisol after adrenaline when under stress. When exposed to chronic stress and a constant stream of cortisol, our cells become desensitized causing inflammation to flare up. Chronic inflammation then leads to resistance of insulin, blood vessel damage, damage to brain cells, and promotes painful joint diseases. Cortisol also plays a significant role in weight gain and water retention.
Justin Feinstein, Ph.D. is the director at The Float Clinic and Research Center at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research. Positive scientific data from his studies are proving that flotation therapy greatly decreases stress and lowers cortisol levels.
According to reports by AARP and WebMD, stress management techniques can fix the following health problems · Common cold · Slower healing · Sleep dysfunction · Heart disease · Obesity · Diabetes · Headaches · Depression / Anxiety · Gastrointestinal Problems · Alzheimer’s disease · Accelerated aging · Premature death · Back, neck & shoulder pain
chronic Pain
*Dr. Borrie’s study “The Effects of Flotation REST on the symptoms of Fibromyalgia,” found after only 3 float sessions significant reductions with stress, depression, pain, anxiety, and muscle tension. He also found significant increases in energy, relaxation, ease of movement, better sleep, and feelings of well-being.
Other studies have found pain relief from arthritis, bursitis, back & neck pain, inflammation, tendinitis, tension headaches muscle tension, whiplash related disorders (such as pain, stiffness, & range in motion). Some people have reported being pain free for the first time in months or even years.
Depression / Anxiety
Anxiety is the most common mental disorder in the U.S. with about 40 million adults are affected. By removing environmental stimuli, this allows you to center and focus your thoughts. Your body can then produce an abundance of endorphins which leads to improved mood, reduction of irritability, fatigue, & sleeping difficulties.
A study found that a one-hour session could induce a strong reduction in anxiety and a substantial improvement in mood of group with a range of different anxiety and stress-related disorders (including PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, and Social Anxiety Disorder). Also reported a significant decrease in stress, muscle tension, pain, depression, and negative affect, along with a significant increase in serenity, relaxation, happiness, positive affect, overall well-being, energy levels, and feeling refreshed, content, and peaceful.
Migraine & Headache
A pilot study done by UC Irvine had participants float twice a week for 90 minutes for 4 weeks. At the 6-month follow up, the continuing improvement was 57% over end of treatment for the Tank-Relaxation group, a mean of 25% for the other two, and the control group had deteriorated by 34% since end of treatment. This study proves flotation therapy to be a long lasting and versatile treatment, critical for fighting off migraines and headaches.
Blood Pressure
When floating, the part of your nervous system that needs to be alert goes on pause. The part that is responsible for relaxing you is then able to take over. Lowering your blood pressure can significantly reduce your risk of strokes and heart attacks.
IMPROVES
Deeper Sleep
According to the CDC, a third of U.S. adults don’t get their optimal 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Lack of sleep has been linked to many diseases like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, Alzheimer’s and depression. Fatigue also causes 20% of all car crashes.
Our sleep environments contain distractions like pets, partners, children, etc. that can disrupt restorative sleep. External stimuli are dramatically reduced when floating, helping individuals disconnect from their stress and enter a deeper state of relaxation. The brain can produce Theta Waves for a prolonged period, typically only seen in children or people with years of practicing meditation.
So, if you pulled an all-nighter, have a baby who won’t let you sleep, or have insomnia, floating can help compensate for the missed sleep. Regular sessions have been scientifically proven to improve sleep quality, increase sleep time, and help control the levels of hormones that disrupt sleep and circadian rhythms. Also a popular technique for minimizing the effects of fatigue and jet lag.
sports Performance / Muscle Recovery
Athletes that use flotation therapy in combination with visualization techniques, experience a very significant improvement in their performances. Flotation loosens the muscles and gives athletes a higher degree of control in their nervous systems. In effect, this reduces injury risk during training or competition. Flotation also reduces the stresses of gravity which causes the weight and pressure to be taken off strained muscles, joints and bones.
This increases the efficiency of the blood circulation right through the body and helps to accelerate recovery time after injury. This therapy has also been shown to reduce lactic acid. Lactic acid is produced in your muscles and builds up during intense exercise. It can lead to the discomfort of painful or sore muscles.
Famous Athletes that use Flotation Therapy;
Lennox Lewis (boxing)
Tom Brady (football)
Stephen Curry (basketball)
Michael Phelps (swimming)
blood Circulation
When floating, the effects of gravity on your body are muted. As a result, your body is allowed to completely relax, whereby allowing your blood vessels to expand more freely and deliver greater blood flow to all parts of your body. Greater blood flow allows your body to remove toxins at a greater rate, as well as lactic acid crystallized in between muscle fibers. Blood pressure and oxygen intake reduces whilst blood flow and distribution of red blood cells increases.
Immune System
The low impact environment gives your body time to rest and recuperate. Floating suppresses the stress hormones which can weaken your immune system, suppress your digestion, suppress reproductive systems, affect regeneration processes, and decrease insulin sensitivity. This gives your immune system the opportunity to shift into a higher gear, strengthening your body’s immune response.
Healing / Recovery
Since floating increases circulation to the body, it promotes greater elimination of metabolic by products and can prevent adrenal fatigue. The lack of gravity also helps to promote greater muscular relaxation. Some research has even shown Psychoneuroimmunology has improved recovery rates for various ailments. This is where you focus on an injury or diseased area of the body with positive feelings and intentions of healing.
Stress Resistance
Regular floating can lower adrenal activation threshold. Your body is then more able to resist chronic stressors your everyday life. Your physiological threshold is also higher, so your everyday life won’t trigger your stress response as much either.
Prenatal Care
Floating provides soon to be mom’s relief from the pressure on their feet and back. The weight and strain put on the body from carrying a baby disappears due to the near zero gravity state in the float tank. Moms have reported being able to hear their baby’s heartbeat for the very first time and feeling a deeper connection with their unborn child.
daily Productivity
Researchers Oshin Vartanian of the University of Toronto and Peter Suedfeld of the University of British Columbia found that musicians who floated in the tank for one hour per week for four weeks showed better technical ability at the end of the research. The researchers compared two-minute recordings before and after from the study participants and the control group. They found “a significant difference between the treatment and comparison groups on technical ability, but not on any other dimension.”
ENHANCES
Theta State
Theta state is the brain frequencies of the barely conscious states just before sleeping and just after awakening. Theta is the bridge between the conscious and the subconscious. In the theta state, the mind is capable of deep and profound learning, healing, and growth. It’s a state where tasks become so automatic, you can mentally disengage from them. The formation of ideas or concepts are often free flowing and occurs without censorship or guilt. It is typically a very positive mental state.
Floating is often thought of as the training wheels for meditation. Typically, after about 30 to 45 minutes of floating, your mind starts producing theta brainwaves.
Creativity
In a study done by the University of British Columbia, 40 university students took part in one hour of floating that resulted in increased scores on a standardized test specifically used to measure creativity. As floating limits all environmental/external stimuli, the minds’ processing power is free to focus on other things.
Learning
Studies have indicated that floating increases your dopamine. Dopamine plays a role in your learning ability and memory. Less distractions and greater resources at its disposal, the mind is able to absorb new material very deeply with research showing improved performance in memory and recall activities. Floating would be a great idea before a big test.
Clarity / Problem Solving
Mental clarity is also encouraged by the freedom the brain gets with no external stimulation. Research has shown greater hemisphere synchronization between the right (creative) lobe and the left (analytical) lobe. There is also increased communication between the primitive brain, the limbic middle, or mammalian brain and the conscious neocortex. You are more able to focus on goals, solve problems, and have deeper realizations.
Mood / Happiness / Relationships
Studies have indicated that floating increases your dopamine and endorphin levels. Endorphins produce a positive, euphoric feeling of well-being and happiness. Dopamine plays a role in how we feel pleasure. As well as helps regulate your mood, sleep, appetite, digestion, learning ability, and memory.
When released, dopamine and endorphins can make you feel pretty darn good. People have claimed overwhelming happiness and euphoria, increase well-being, & more optimistic. More persistent changes in people’s lives were documented as feelings of harmony, being more considerate, calm, and in a better mood were common.
Studies have not quantified the benefit of relationships. However, people have reported because of feeling calmer, having less stress, enhanced mood, and increased feeling of well-being that their interactions and connections with others have become closer and stronger.
Heightened Senses
You can become numb to your daily routines. Due to the patterns created, things become automatic. Floating provides a reset, which gives you a greater awareness of things. Research indicates increased visual acuity, improved tactile perception, improved auditory sensitivity, and increased taste sensitivities after floating.
Heightened Senses can also give introverts the opportunity to feel safe and secure with a break from the constant stimulation of the outside world. And vice versa. Extraverts can develop greater sensitivity to their internal reality and overtime may not feel the need to be constantly stimulated.
Overcome Addiction / Change Bad Habits
Some studies suggest helping with addictive behaviors like overeating, smoking, or alcohol consumption. With regular float sessions there is an improved connection between consciousness and physiology. Participants are more aware of their choices and how they affect how they physically feel. A couple of other things that happen are addict’s mental health has a healthier internal dialog while promoting positive thinking, floating stimulates the body to release its own “feel good” chemicals, and/or because the environment encourages time to reflect and inner exploration.
OTHER BENEFITS
Anti-Gravity Benefits
The density of Epsom Salt in the tank creates a weightless experience. When you are floating the pressure or pull from gravity on your body is removed. The decrease provides relief for muscular tension, lower back pain, neck pain, shallow breathing, high blood pressure, etc.
Magnesium Absorption Benefits
The extremely high concentration of Epsom salts could be absorbed through your skin. People have reported that magnesium has helped with their dry skin, psoriasis, or eczema. Epsom salt has also been recommended for acne. There have also been reports of help with restless leg syndrome.
Magnesium can flush toxins out of your body, regulate high blood pressure, prevent osteoporosis, create healthier bones & teeth, and help with exercise performance, soreness, and recovery. It is known to reduce stress, inflammation, pain, swelling, relieve menopause symptoms, and provide PMS relief. It can also help with constipation, promote sleep, may add volume to your hair, and help exfoliate your skin. Magnesium sulfate has a proven value when used as a supplement. Unfortunately, more research is needed as currently these benefits by absorption through the skin are more anecdotal rather than supported by any studies.
can ALSO HELP WITH
Autism
Flotation Therapy can help those who feel bombarded by constant sights, sounds, and smells on a daily basis. By allowing them to be alone, it can also alleviate the pressure of social interaction, which can lead to more stress. Alleviation of depression, reduced stress, improved sleep, enhanced concentration, higher energy, and reduced pain are just a few of the common effects.
A 24-year-old woman diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, atypical autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression floated regularly for one and a half years. Interviews regarding her experiences were analyzed and the main findings involved a subjective sense of improved quality of life, well-being, and healthy behavior. There were no negative effects from treatment.
In 2018, The Gersh Academy at Cougar Mountain in Issaquah, WA decided to take on a whole new level by integrating float therapy into their curriculum.
Brain Injuries / Concussions
People dealing with long term traumatic brain injury can experience improvements with functional, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physical qualities of life with flotation therapy. One study demonstrates there is a direct and lasting positive effect on multiple categories of emotional, neurological psychological and physical dysfunction related to an individual with a TBI for 10 years. The immediate and lasting functional gains in all categories point to the obvious establishment of a “new normal” with an associated 34% average improvement across twenty-four (24) different categories. As a secondary conclusion, the study demonstrated that a frequent floating pattern, followed by a gradually diminishing frequency over a multi-week period, may significantly improve a myriad of TBI related dysfunctions. It also demonstrates how float frequency modification may be impactful in jump starting or resetting a brain after injury and how floating may be instrumental in subjective awareness of a variety of mental and physical arenas. The study establishes a precedent for considering how float frequency can be used situationally or episodically for those with TBI to best fit the severity and complexity of issues at that point in time. Lastly, it provides a concrete example for float center owners, patients, and their health care providers that flotation can be useful by itself and in tandem with other therapies.
Another case study, a 31-year-old female, Diane, had been suffering with traumatic brain injury issues for over 10 years, with minimal improvement and minimal attention to her situation by her medical providers having been reassured it would take about one year for recovery. After completion of her case study, she noticed that her mood had noticeably improved, and she had more energy and focus to perform her basic daily tasks to her professional tasks. The results demonstrated significant positive functional improvement in a multitude of categories, as mentioned above. Furthermore, in Diane's case, floating more than once weekly appeared to promote rapid and sustained improvement.
PTSD
Most of the excitement around floating being used for PTSD has to do with its potential as a treatment. Very few studies have been done with clinical patients (those suffering from PTSD) and float therapy. Many benefits are well researched and are the exact kinds of benefits generally needed to help with PTSD.
We can look at research that’s been done directly involving clinical patients. There is a case study out of Karlstad University in Sweden from 2013. This case study had a single patient, but it does provide some very strong results in this patient’s life about how floating was able to help her with her mental health and specifically her PTSD. It’s not enough to provide evidence but is does lay the groundwork for future studies.