For those who enjoy the science and research behind the health benefits, below are links to studies, articles and white papers.
Addiction and Substance Abuse
J.A. Best, (1977). Satiation and sensory deprivation combined in smoking therapy: Some case studies and unexpected side-effects.
Barabasz M., Barabasz A. & Dyer R.Chamber, (1993). REST Reduces Alcohol Consumption: 3,6, 12 and 24 Hour Sessions.
Adams, H. B., (1990). Arousability and the Nature of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.
Adams, H. B., Cooper, G. D., & Scott, J. C., (1987). REST and reduced alcohol consumption.
Autism
Harrison J. & Barabasz A., (1993). REST as a Treatment for Children with Autism.
Heart Health And Stress
Hu Pei-Cheng,Wang RR, Shang ZH, (2000).Flotation therapy in the treatment of patients with primary hypertension.
Suedfeld, P., Roy, C., Landon, P.B.Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy in the treatment of Essential Hypertension.
Jean L. Kristeller, Gary E. Schwartz, Henry Black.The Use of Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) in the Treatment of Essential Hypertension:two case studies.
Van Dierendonck, D., Nijenhuis, J.T., (2004). Flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST) as a stress-management tool: A meta-analysis.
Takashi Kihara, MD, Sadatoshi Biro, MD, Masakazu Imamura, MD, Shiro Yoshifuku, MD, Kunitsugu Takasaki, MD, Yoshiyuki Ikeda, MD, Yutaka Otuji, MD, Shinichi Minagoe, MD, Yoshifumi Toyama, MD, Chuwa Tei, MD, (2002). Repeated sauna treatment improves vascular endothelial and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure.
Mitsuo Sobajima, Takashi Nozawa, Hiroyuki Ihori, Takuya Shida, Takashi Ohori, Takayuki Suzuki, Akira Matsuki, Satoshi Yasumura, Hiroshi Inoue, (2013). Repeated sauna therapy improves myocardial perfusion in patients with chronically occluded coronary artery-related ischemia.
Mental Performance
Jacobs, T.The effect of the floatation version of restricted environmental stimulation technique (REST) on Jazz Improvisation.
Levin,J,and Brody, N., (1974).Information-deprivation and creativity.
Forgays, Donald G., Forgays, Deborah K. Creativity Enhancement Through Floatation Isolation.
Taylor T., Enhancement of Scientific Creativity by Floatation REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy).
Pain Management
Åsenlöf, K., Olsson, S., Bood, S. Å., & Norlander, T. Case studies on fibromyalgia and burn-out depression using psychotherapy in combination with flotation-REST: Personality development and increased well-being.
Fibromyalgia Flotation Project
The Effects of Flotation REST on the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia.
Gilbert M. Koula, John C. Kemp, Keith M. Keane, Allan D. Belden, (1990). Replication of a Clinical Outcome Study on a Hospital-Based Stress Management and Behavioral Medicine Program Utilizing Flotation REST and Biofeedback.
Bood, S. Å.,(2007).Bending and mending the neuro signature.Frameworks of influence by flotation-REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique) upon wellbeing in patients with stress-related ailments.
Landström,A.,Bood, S.Å., Kjellgren, A.,& Norlander, T.,(2007).Treating stress related pain in a clinical sample with flotation-REST:A further report on improvementson pain assessed by the Pain Area Inventory (PAI).
Bood, S. Å., Sundequist, U., Kjellgren, A., Nordström, G., & Norlander, T., (2005). Effects of flotation-REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique) on stress related muscle pain: What makes the difference in therapy, attention-placebo, or the relaxation response?
Fine, Thomas; Turner, John Jr. (2005). Rest-assisted Relaxation and Chronic Pain.
Mereday C., Lehman C. & Borrie R.Flotation For The Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Kjellgren, Anette; Sundequist, Ulf; Norlander, Torsten; Archer, Trevor, (2001). Effects of flotation-REST on muscle tension pain.
Goldstein D.D. & Jessen W.E., (1990). Flotation Effect on Premenstrual Syndrome.
Treating stress-related pain with the flotation restricted environmental stimulation technique: Are there differences between women and men?
PTSD
Anette Kjellgren, Hanna Edebol, Tommy Nordén, Torsten Norlander, (2013). Quality of Life with Flotation Therapy for a Person Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, Atypical Autism, PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression.
Float Therapy Helping Veterans News Article, (2014).
Clinical Psychologist David Manfield Discusses Float Therapy and PTSD.
Physical Performance
Patrick Mcaleney, Arreed Barabasz, and Marianne Barabasz, (1990). Perceptual and Motor Skills, 71: 3, 1023-1028 Effects Of Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation On Intercollegiate Tennis Performance.
Morgan PM, Salacinski AJ, Stults-Kolehmainen MA, (2013). The acute effects of flotation restricted environmental stimulation technique on recovery from maximal eccentric exercise.
Well Being
Ruzyla-Smith P. & Barabasz A., (1993). Effects of Flotation REST on the Immune Response: T-Cells, B-Cells, Helper, and Suppressor Cells.
Van Dierendonck, Dirk; Nijenhuis, Jan Te, (2005). Flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy
(REST) as a stress-management tool: A meta-analysis.
Kjellgren, Anette, (2008). The Experience of flotation-REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique): Consciousness, Creativity, Subjective Stress and Pain.
Rand Walker,W.Freeman,R.F.,Christensen, D.K.,(1994).Restricting Environmental Stimulation (REST) to enhance cognitive behavioral treatment for the obsessive compulsive disorder with a schizotypal personality disorder.
Bood, S. Å., Sundequist, U., Norlander, T., Nordström, L., Nordenström, K., Kjellgren, A., et al, (2006). Eliciting the relaxation response with the help of flotation-REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique) in patients with stress related ailments.
Crinnion WJ, (2011). Sauna as a valuable clinical tool for cardiovascular, autoimmune, toxicant- induced and other chronic health problems.
Eating Disorders and Weight Management
Barabasz M. & Barabasz A., (1993). REST: A Key Facilitator in the Treatment of Eating Disorders.
Dyer R., Barabasz A. & Barabasz M., (1993). Twenty-Four Hours of Chamber REST Produces Specific Food Aversions in Obese Females.
