Isolation Tank
HealthIsolation Tank – also known as float tank, floatation tank, and sensory deprivation tank – is a soundproof water tank rich in Epsom salt and maintained at body temperature. This dark sensory deprivation tank is used for the meditation therapy for soothing the tired nerves and body, away from the external sounds and scenes. Epsom salt – also known as magnesium sulfate – helps in floating by providing buoyancy.
1. What is an Isolation Tank?
1.1. Origin of the Isolation Tank
1.2. How to use an Isolation Tank?
The process to use an isolation tank may be variable for different floatation centers, yet some points are the same everywhere. These steps are listed below:
After reaching the Isolation Tank center or spa, you will be guided to remove all the jewelry and then the clothes.
Then you will take a shower before entering the tank.
Then you are entered into the isolation tank and close the lid of the tank. It deprives you of all the external stimuli including gravity.
You should lie horizontally and let the floatation help you in floating. Epsom salt dissolved in the tank solution will not let you sink.
Often the music is played during the initial time and it relaxes your nerves.
Floatation time depends upon you or the spa, normally it’s for one hour.
When the time is going to end, music is played again for another 5 minutes.
You will get out of the tank and take a shower again.
You must not be eating something, at least half-hour before floatation.
Entering the tank with skin ulcers or just after the shave or wax is not recommended to prevent the irritation because of Epsom salt.
Summary
Isolation Tank is used as a sensory deprivation therapy to get rid of depression, anxiety, body pain, and other ailments. Epsom salt is used in high concentration that helps you to absorb magnesium through the skin that has certain health benefits.
2. How to make an Isolation Tank?
According to scientific evidence and experiences shared by people using the isolation tank, this sensory deprivation tank is much beneficial in getting rid of anxiety, stress, insomnia, and physical tiredness.
Modern problems have modern solutions, so without being worried about the ways to get rid of depression, people often go to their nearby spa to get sensory deprivation therapy.
Buoyancy in the Isolation Tank is achieved by the addition of a large amount of Magnesium sulfate – also known as Epsom salt – into the water of the tank.
High concentration of the Epsom salt increases the density of water just like the ■■■■ sea – a Salt Lake that is known for its high salt concentration.
About 1000 L of water is used in an isolation tank along with the addition of 500-600 kg of magnesium sulfate. It increases the specific gravity of the water in the isolation tank to the level (about 1.28) that prevents the sinking of the individual.
2.1. What is Epsom salt?
2.2. Benefits of Epsom salt in an Isolation Tank
Being a natural stress reliever, magnesium in Epsom salt helps in relieving depression – a silent killer - and soothes the sore muscles or muscle cramps.
Treats insomnia by releasing melatonin if you are in search of some ways about how to fall asleep increase the level of magnesium in diet or use Epsom salt in bathwater.
Taking a bath in hot water with Epsom salt reduces fibromyalgia and arthritic pain due to inflammation
Offers mental relaxation by elevating the levels of brain relaxing neurotransmitters in the body.
Helps in getting rid of headache especially migraines that usually need Anti-depressants or ■■■■■■■■ analgesics.
Helps to detoxify the body by excreting the toxins from the body.
Helps to maintain blood sugar level by improving the insulin sensitivity of body cells.
Improves cardiac performance and aids in maintaining blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels.
Magnesium is a key ingredient in assimilating the calcium in the bones, increasing the bone density.
Although, with the increasing trend of fast-food consumption especially because of the easy availability of fast-food restaurants - such as Five Guys All the way - magnesium intake has been reduced.
Sensory deprivation therapy by Isolation tank helps to absorb the magnesium through the skin, maintain the normal levels of Mg in the body.
Sulfur is also absorbed via skin in the isolation tank and plays a vital role in protein and nerve cell formation.
2.3. What does sensory deprivation do to the body?
The temperature of the solution present in an isolation tank or sensory deprivation tank is maintained to the body temperature.
High concentration of Epsom salt prevents sinking and the individual in the tank keeps floating.
Most of the celebrities, athletes, or normal depressed individuals go for sensory deprivation therapy.
People that want to undergo this therapy, enters the isolation tank without dress, and have no connection with the external world.
There are no external stimuli such as light, voice, and also gravity after closing the lid of the isolation tank.
Same as the restorative yoga, in an isolation tank with or without taking any hallucinogen, when you float in a sound-proof and lightless tank, it takes your brain to the utmost level of relaxation.
Some individuals have reported having hallucinations when they had sensory deprivation therapy by an isolation tank. It increases the creativity level of the brain.
3. Benefits of the Isolation Tank
Isolation tank or sensory deprivation tank therapy has multiple positive effects both physically and psychologically. Some of them have been listed below:
1. Reduces anxiety level
It decreases anxiety level, no matter if you have a one-hour sensory deprivation therapy. It treats the signs and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, depression, insomnia, and restlessness.
2. Treats chronic pain
REST has positive effects in treating chronic pains, including arthritic pain. Muscle stiffness, migraines, or other tension headaches are relieved by sensory deprivation tank therapy.
3. Improves cardiac functionality
Cardiac diseases are often a result of depression and anxiety that may lead to heart failure or hypertension by vascular stiffness. Isolation tank therapy helps to improve the cardiac function by vascular relaxation.
4. Adds well-being and euphoria
Euphoria is a condition of extreme happiness. Individuals who have experienced the isolation tank therapy, claim to be much happier after therapy, and some claim that they had feelings of euphoria and optimism.
Some of them have told their experience to have hallucination and some spiritual sight while floating in the isolation tank.
In short
Floating tank helps you get rid of depression, anxiety, insomnia, improves cardiac functionality, relieves arthritic pain, and provides you with the feeling of well-being and euphoria.
4. Sensory deprivation therapy at home
5. Isolation Tank experience
While using the isolation tank therapy for the first time, you can get scared. Especially, if you have claustrophobia, you can have much more fear than a normal individual.
After getting used to it, fear goes away and your nerves start relaxing. You can’t even feel your weight because of the absence of gravity and it feels like you are up in the air.
No pain, no fear, no depression, no anxiety, just a feel of ease, relaxation, and weightlessness. Sometimes you may experience hallucinations and sleepy feelings.
Accessing the float tank is not a problem with the easy availability of the spas and even isolation tanks for the home.
6. Isolation tank death
Individuals having low blood pressure
With gastric problems
Skin ulcers or wounds
And most importantly, the claustrophobic individuals
Frequently asked questions
Isolation tank therapy has become so popular to get rid of depression. Here are some relevant questions that have been answered in the best possible way to satisfy the queries:
1. Can you drown in an isolation tank?
2. Do you wear a bathing suit in a floating tank?
3. Do they change the water in the isolation tank?
Conclusion
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An isolation tank, sensory attenuation tank, flotation tank, or float pod is used for (REST) restricted environmental stimulation therapy. It is light-proof or dark, soundproof, its temperature is the same as your skin’s temperature, and it is filled with saltwater to foot or less. The water in an isolation tank or sensory deprivation tank is almost saturated with magnesium sulfate (Epsom Salt), which helps the person in floating more easily.
John C. Lilly, an American physician, and neuroscientist designed the first isolation tank in 1954. Commercial isolation tanks were created and studied for the benefits of health in the 1970s. In past there was a lot of trust issue about it in people regarding its safety, that’s why it was not easily available? Now a day’s finding a floatation tank is easy because spas and float centers are offering float therapy. Its health benefits are as under.
Decrease pain
Improve sleep
Muscle relaxation
Increase focus and concentration
Isolation tank risks
When researchers researched the risks of the isolation tank, they reported very minor health risks when participants or volunteers were in good health or completely stable health-wise. But research also showed that if someone is already suffering from hallucination, so isolation tank could be disturbing for that person. And they may experience psychosis-like hallucinations.
In 2015 a small study was conducted by researchers on isolation tanks. Researchers divided volunteers into two groups; this grouping was done on basis of which volunteers were vulnerable to hallucinations. In that study, researchers found that, if a person does experience hallucinations, that person should stop going to the isolation tank, because in-tank he/she could experience more hallucination and that would not good for the mental health.
Some other people may not enjoy the isolation tank, who is scared of spending time in darkness, soundproof, enclosed, and isolated space. These kinds of people should avoid sensory deprivation tanks. The occurrence of drowning accidents in a flotation tank is extremely rare but it might happen, when someone is drunk or high due to drugs then he/she must be prevented to enter the tank.
SUMMARY
An isolation tank is used for restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST). The water in an isolation tank is saturated with magnesium sulfate (Epsom Salt), which helps the person in floating more easily. With many health benefits like it improves sleep, increases focus, and decreases pain but it could scary for those people who have hallucinations.
Conclusion
An isolation tank is widely being used around the world, if you want to get some peaceful moments and sign off from this noisy world then an isolation tank is the best option for you. I hope you have enjoyed this read and if so then please share this write-up.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Do you wear clothes in an isolation tank?
Most people avoid wearing any clothes in an isolation tank because it is a private space. If anyone has worn clothes in the tank, then these clothes will touch and press the body and may cause a distraction.
Is an isolation tank scary?
Studies show that people can experience psychosis-like hallucinations, which could be disturbing.
Can an isolation tank make you sick?
It could make you sick when high humidity is created inside the tank by the water and the air temperature, which may result in nausea.
Does floating help with weight loss?
It can trigger self-motivation and you can use that motivation for weight loss. As we know it increases concentration then you would be more focused on losing weight.
Do isolation tanks dehydrate you?
You will be feeling silky and smooth after spending time in the isolation tank. You will not be dehydrated.