The Ultimate Guide to Thermography: Decoding the Body’s Silent Signals

The body constantly speaks to us, sending signals that alert us to problems needing our attention. One of those signals is increased heat—which can point to ailments in their early stages.

Thermography is a unique screening technique that translates the body’s thermal signals into a colorful map—offering a powerful tool for timely detection and prevention of various health conditions.

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How Thermography Works

Dr. Christine Horner, a board-certified general and plastic surgeon, award-winning author, natural health expert, and founder of a thermography practice in Southern California, spoke to The Epoch Times about thermography and how it works.

“It’s measuring the surface temperature of the skin, and then the software program will assign a different color to every temperature—and that’s what creates our image on our computer screen,” she said. “So, in essence, whatever area of the body that we’re looking at, you can think of it as a geographical temperature map,” she added.

The procedure is simple, safe, painless, and relatively low-cost. Unlike other imaging methods, there’s no compression or radiation involved, and the camera never touches the patient.

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Thermography vs. Traditional Imaging

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Thermography Basics

“Whenever there’s any kind of underlying imbalances, dysfunctions, injuries, infections—anything like that going on—the sympathetic nervous system is going to cause the overlying skin temperature to change,” she said.

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Thermal patterns are also unique to individuals—like fingerprints—and can change over time, Shawn Seuferer, a certified clinical thermographer, told The Epoch Times. There are specific thermal and colored patterns indicative of dysfunction depending on where they are on the body, she added.

“It’s not that specific where it can be diagnostic, but there are indicators which would correspond to, say, a dysfunction or a blockage or inflammation or hormone imbalance,” she said.

In cancer-free patients, the results can help assess future cancer risk.

Horner suggests women begin having regular scans in their 20s. “When we have a woman who has been a regular patient, and she comes in this year, and there’s an obvious difference compared to last year, she’s got that much-advanced warning now that there is a change, or there’s something going on—this gives her more options,” Seuferer said.

Thermography is a valuable tool for men as well, Seuferer added. “The images present indicators for inflammatory, neurological, vascular/lymphatic dysfunction applicable for a number of screenings for men and women: disc disease, nerve damage, undetected diabetic lesions, arthritis, fibromyalgia, Raynaud’s Syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), sprain/strain, vascular disease, undetected dental issues and TMJ, stroke screening, whiplash, inflammatory pain, allergy testing, etc.,” she said.

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What to Do When Problems Arise

Further testing is the next step once anomalies are detected, Seuferer said. These include another thermogram to confirm, an ultrasound, and then, if there is still a question, more invasive tests like mammograms or an MRI.

“Truly, the only diagnostic tool is a biopsy, and not everybody wants to jump into that,” she added. “Some people say, just do it, cut it out, and I want to be done with it. But not everybody feels that way,” she noted.

Horner has a similar approach.

Activities, foods, and beverages that increase body temperature should be limited before a scan as they can also affect results, Horner added. “Exercise is not recommended beforehand, too, because, again, we’re increasing blood flow, and that is going to cause more heat in the body and in certain patterns,” she said. “Caffeinated products like coffees you shouldn’t have for at least two hours beforehand, not smoking, because of the nicotine in it, and no alcohol,” she added.

Even a sunburn can have an effect, and Horner recommends not tanning or having a sunburn for at least one week prior to your appointment.

The room temperature is also adjusted to be slightly cool for the best results.

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Breast Thermography: A Preventative Tool

“We’re not looking for breast cancer; we’re looking for physiological changes that can sometimes occur years before somebody would develop a breast cancer, and usually—fortunately—we can pick things up at such an early stage of just imbalances that it’s easily reversible with simple diet and lifestyle techniques,” Horner said. “So we can truly use it as a preventative tool, and that’s the reason I’m so passionate about it,” she added.

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“The concept behind this test is that as cancer cells multiply, they need more oxygen-rich blood for growth. As there is an increase in blood flow to the tumor, the temperature around the tumor also increases. Malignant cells discharge nitric oxide into the bloodstream and cause impairment in the microcirculation. This released nitric oxide, along with the active growth of the cancerous cells, increases blood circulation and temperature in that particular region. Therefore, evaluating these differences in temperature leads to the detection of the malignant region in the breast.”

According to the International Academy of Clinical Thermology, studies support using thermography in the detection of breast cancer.

They say an abnormal infrared image is the most important predictor of developing breast cancer and is eight times more significant than a family history of the disease.

Breast density is classified into four levels, ranging from mostly fatty tissue to highly dense tissue, according to the non-profit group Are You Dense?, which raises awareness about the impact of breast density on cancer detection via mammograms. ​Approximately 40 percent of women have dense breasts, making it more challenging to detect breast cancer through mammography.​

In the present health care system, some tests and treatments are widely available and easily accessible, while other equally viable alternatives are overlooked.

If you want options other than the ones your physician is recommending, ask. If your questions are not well received, find a doctor willing to have those discussions. Seuferer recommends gathering a team of supportive health care practitioners, particularly when facing a health challenge.

“I tell my patients, you’re hiring your care team, so you have the opportunity to select who you want to work with and who you do not want to work with. And it takes a lot of strength for a patient to tell their doctor, ‘No, I’m not going to work with you. I’m doing something different.’ The pressure is so immense,” she said.

Experts recommend not relying solely on one test but using a combination of methods to track your health and investigate concerns.

“The screening can be used as a pre-hire health assessment, used in a court of law, can be used in research, in medical practices, etc. It sounds like a bit of a ”one-stop-shop,“ and it is not meant to be,” Seuferer said. “Thermography is to be used as an adjunct to other modalities to help with diagnoses and help monitor the progression of treatment or therapy. When incorporated as an early indicator, it can provide the patient evidence to engage earlier intervention and thus have a greater potential for a positive outcome of injuries and other conditions,” she added.

Ultimately, there are many ways to deal with any health issue—and how to proceed is up to you.

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