I recently came across an insightful article by Chris Wark (of Chris Beat Cancer). It compared the health benefits of hot tubs versus saunas, citing a fascinating 2025 study that measured how our bodies respond to different types of heat.

The study compared acute hot water immersion, traditional saunas, and far-infrared saunas. The results were clear: hot water immersion led to the greatest thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and immune responses. Interestingly, far-infrared saunas were actually the least impactful at raising core body temperature and triggering those vital healing responses.

It was wonderful to review this data and see modern science prove exactly what Dr. Christopher taught over 50 years ago. He championed hot water therapy as a cornerstone of both the Cold Sheet Treatment and the Incurables Program.

The Purpose of the "Artificial Fever"

In the Cold Sheet Treatment, the goal is to create an "artificial fever" using hot water and diaphoretic herb teas (like yarrow, red raspberry, or boneset). This heat creates an incubation condition that allows bacteria and viruses to multiply rapidly.

To some, that sounds counterintuitive, but Dr. Christopher taught that these germs are actually "nature’s perfect garbage men." They live off the toxins, mucus, and waste within us. By using moist heat to speed up their life cycle, we allow them to finish their job of cleaning the "filth" out of our systems more quickly, leading to a true healing climax.

The key to a safe fever is moisture. As Dr. Christopher famously said:

“Moist heat is life; it is the Garden of Eden. Dry heat is death; it is the desert.” As long as fluids are administered, the body can sweat out those toxic poisons without the dangers associated with "dry" heat.

A Daily Practice for Vitality

In Dr. Christopher’s Incurables Program, he recommended daily hot baths followed by a quick cold shower or bath. The heat builds the fever, and the cold quickly closes the pores, locking in that increased internal temperature to maximize the immune boost.

I have found that incorporating a hot bath followed by a cold shower at least once a week has transformed my own health. I feel more energized, my mental state is clearer, my muscles are relaxed, and I find it much easier to stay resilient against seasonal bugs. I used this therapy constantly when my children were young and sick, and today, it remains a vital part of my preventative routine.

I highly recommend reading the study and experiment with adding this therapy to your own life. All it takes is a bathtub and running water—making one of the most powerful healing tools on earth accessible to almost everyone!

Tara Christopher Eyre is a Master Herbalist and Foot Zone Therapist dedicated to helping individuals reclaim their path to wellness. Carrying forward the legacy of her grandfather, Dr. John R. Christopher, she finds her greatest joy in teaching the simple, natural principles that restore both body and soul.