10/29/2025
In the early 17th century, an alchemist and physician by the name of Jan Baptist van Helmont (1580–1644) was conducting experiments on a toxic flower known as wolfsbane when he was called away on household business. That evening, he began to feel strange.
In his journal he wrote this 👉 ... (“I felt that I did understand, conceive, savour, or imagine nothing in the head,” “but that I understood and imagined in the midriffs .”)
Van Helmont had, quite literally, experienced what we would call a gut feeling a deep sense that his thoughts and emotions originated in his abdomen rather than his mind. Though it seemed strange at the time, his intuition foreshadowed modern science’s discovery of the gut–brain axis, the complex communication network linking our digestive system to our mood, cognition, and overall mental health.
Interestingly, practices that support physical relaxation, such as sauna therapy, also benefit this connection. Regular sauna use helps reduce stress hormones, improve circulation, and lower inflammation, all of which foster a healthier gut microbiome. A balanced microbiome, in turn, produces mood-regulating compounds like serotonin and GABA, leading to improved emotional stability, better stress resilience, and an overall sense of well-being.
Come experience the benefits for yourselftry our infrared saunas at Altered States Wellness and feel the difference in both body and mind.
