Issue #6

University of Oregon scientists conducted the first controlled laboratory study directly comparing the physiological effects of sauna and hot-water immersion on blood vessels, the heart, and the immune system. The research found that the two heat modalities produce meaningfully different biological responses beneath the skin, even when surface-level comfort feels similar.

This article examines the two-decade Finnish cohort study tracking more than 2,300 people and its findings linking frequent sauna use to significantly reduced all-cause mortality, fatal cardiovascular disease, and sudden cardiac death. It also reviews the specific temperature and frequency thresholds supported by the research and acknowledges remaining gaps in the evidence.

As saunas and cold plunges become increasingly mainstream recovery and wellness tools, medical experts are weighing in on the range of physical and mental health benefits advocates cite. The piece cautions that while interest is growing, certain populations should consult healthcare providers before using extreme temperature therapies.

GoodRx reviews the evidence on sauna use and weight management, finding that sessions temporarily increase calorie burn and reduce water weight but are unlikely to produce significant long-term fat loss on their own. The article recommends sauna as a supplementary tool within a broader weight management plan that includes diet, exercise, and sleep.

Longevity and wellness experts are increasingly advocating for outdoor cold-water immersion, citing compounding benefits from combining cold exposure with time spent in nature. Research published in Environmental Research linking green space exposure to lower cardiovascular risk is among the evidence cited for the shift beyond indoor cold plunge setups.

US lumber futures climbed above $630 per thousand board feet, their highest level since October, as buyers rushed to secure supply ahead of revised duties on Canadian softwood lumber while effective tariff rates for most Canadian producers remained near 45%. Even after new rates take effect in August, the combined tariff burden on Canadian lumber entering the United States is expected to remain around 35.9%.

A combination of policy-driven import cost increases and constrained North American softwood supply has pushed US lumber futures to their highest point in several months, with the benchmark surpassing $630 per thousand board feet. Steady demand from the construction sector is sustaining prices, though declining housing affordability and elevated financing costs could temper activity later in the year.

US sawmill production fell for the second consecutive quarter in Q1 2026, with full production capacity at domestic mills down 6.0% year over year according to Federal Reserve and Census Bureau data. The utilization rate edged up to 71.8% as capacity declined faster than output, adding to supply-side pressure that has contributed to recent lumber price increases.

The Madison's Lumber Prices Index reached $533 per thousand board feet for the week ending June 19, 2026, a 2% increase from the prior week and 2% above the level from one month earlier. The index tracks key softwood species including Western Spruce-Pine-Fir, Eastern Spruce-Pine-Fir, Douglas fir, and Hem-Fir, weighted by North American production volume.

The United States will restore tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber after trade negotiations between the two countries failed to produce a new agreement, with rates returning to pre-ruling levels following a Supreme Court decision against the prior tariff framework. The move is expected to affect Canadian lumber exports to the US and add cost pressure to the US housing market.

Pacific Northwest residual wood chip markets experienced significant disruption in Q2 2026 following the closure of a major British Columbia paper mill and a Washington state mill halting purchases of virgin wood fiber, sharply reducing regional chip demand. Additional events including a narrowly averted mill strike, a major acquisition, and a fatal industrial accident at a Longview, WA packaging facility further unsettled the regional wood fiber market.

The US Department of Commerce is offering to reduce Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada and Mexico from 50% to 25% for manufacturers that commit to verifiable US capacity expansion, but qualifying requires maintaining meticulous, traceable records throughout the supply chain. The exemption process creates a significant compliance burden for producers seeking tariff relief on metals widely used in manufactured goods.

A pair of Trump administration proclamations issued in April and June 2026 expanded Section 232 tariffs on aluminum, steel, copper, and downstream products, increasing rates, broadening the list of covered goods, and tightening enforcement to encourage domestic sourcing. The changes carry significant cost and compliance implications for businesses that import or manufacture metal-intensive products.

US truckload spot and contract rates continued climbing through May and June 2026, driven primarily by a shrinking supply of trucks and drivers rather than surging freight demand. Capacity constraints are giving carriers increased pricing power, with the supply-driven tightening accelerating after a Supreme Court ruling raised broker liability and further reduced available capacity.

The May Logistics Managers' Index recorded Transportation Prices at 96.0, the highest reading ever posted in the index's ten-year history, while Transportation Capacity contracted to 31.7 for the sixth consecutive month below 50. The Strait of Hormuz closure, which took roughly 20% of global oil exports offline, has been the primary driver of surging fuel and freight costs since late February.

British Vogue reports on a surge of contrast therapy venues — combining sauna heat with cold plunge — opening across Paris, with Parisian women increasingly adopting the practice as a core part of their wellness and recovery routines. The piece profiles converts including wellness professionals and public figures who describe the ritual as essential during high-demand periods.

Japanese researchers are pursuing scientific explanations for the distinctive altered state of deep relaxation known as 'totonou' that sauna enthusiasts report experiencing after cycling between heat and cold immersion. The work reflects growing academic interest in Japan in understanding the physiological and neurological mechanisms behind sauna's culturally embedded wellness appeal.

A new event called BARE launching at a Melbourne wellness venue invites participants to experience sauna and contrast therapy without clothing, drawing on Finnish, German, and Japanese bathing traditions where nudity in heat rooms is considered practical rather than provocative. The event is designed to strip sauna back to its core elements of heat, recovery, and the body, away from the increasingly curated performance of modern wellness culture.

The Sauna Works, a community-focused wild sauna and cold plunge experience in South Wonston, Winchester, is building social connection through wood-fired sauna sessions, cold plunges, and traditional leaf-whisking rituals held in a forest garden setting. Founded by Ed Phillips, the project has partnered with local fitness professionals to expand access and promote its community wellbeing mission.

Fire and Flow, a community-focused mobile sauna and cold plunge business founded by a couple who built their first sauna at home to address seasonal wellbeing challenges, is hosting a two-day pop-up event at Beccles Quay in Suffolk on July 4 and 5. The event offers wood-fired sauna sessions and cold water immersion alongside the River Waveney as part of the founders' mission to broaden access to sauna culture.

The Biohackers World Conference & Expo held its first-ever New York City event on June 27–28, 2026, drawing more than 1,500 attendees alongside 30-plus speakers and 65-plus exhibiting companies focused on sleep, recovery, metabolic health, and nervous system regulation. The conference marks a broadening of the biohacking and recovery conversation beyond fitness and nutrition into areas directly relevant to the sauna and thermal wellness industry.