Benefits of Infrared Sauna

The infrared energy released by an infrared sauna can penetrate up to 1.5 inches deep into muscle tissue. 93% of this energy is absorbed through our skin. By heating these tissues, we experience a vasodilation of peripheral blood vessels, which can be beneficial in reducing muscle spasms, joint stiffness as well as general aches and pains due to conditions such as Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

There is also evidence that when used 24 – 48 hours post injury, far infrared energy can reduce the time it takes for your body to heal sprains and strains.

According to Dr. Jeffrey Spencer, a sports medicine expert from the University of Southern California, “infrared wavelengths penetrate the body to create heat, which creates profound therapeutic benefits. They increase blood flow to the muscles, delivering more concentrated oxygen, which creates more energy to heal.”

Raising body temperature powerfully assists the body to kill bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. Many people cannot get rid of chronic infections because they have a low body temperature. Common sites of infections are the sinuses, ears, eyes, bladder, throat and intestines.

By creating an “Artificial Fever”, the benefits of infrared sauna treatment includes a positive effect on the immune system. Often misunderstood, fever is a natural healing response of the body. The function of the immune system is increased naturally during a fever, while virus and bacterial growth is slowed, weakening its hold. This helps the body ward off invading organisms. A FIR heat treatment in the early stages of a cold or flu has been known to stop the disease before the symptoms occur. Further studies into the benefits of FIR heat therapy is creating a new avenue of hope for those suffering from life threatening diseases such as cancer, which explains why the majority of FIR Sauna heat clientele base is affiliated with the medical industry.

Here is a quote taken from “The Science of Far Infrared Therapies” by Dr Toshiko Yamazaki, MD:

“One of the reasons why the Far IR sauna benefits a variety of illnesses is the ability of far infrared waves to remove toxins, which are often at the core of many health problems. Toxins in our body appear in water as clumps or globules. Blood circulation becomes blocked and cellular energy impaired where these toxins accumulate.

However, when the energy from FIR is applied to water molecules containing toxins, the water begins to vibrate, releasing the encapsulated gases and other toxic materials back into the bloodstream where they are removed naturally by the body’s normal detoxification process.

Sauna detox benefits, in other words, supplement our biological ability to remove toxins from our bodies, expediting the process of metabolising them via the body’s bloodstream flow to the liver.

The sweating process gently and safely helps eliminate all heavy metals and toxic chemicals. Medical studies demonstrate that most toxins can be eliminated through the skin, relieving the burden on the kidneys and liver.

Having a sauna treatment increases heart rate and blood circulation, both crucial to maintaining one’s health. The heart rate increases as more blood flow is diverted from the inner organs towards the extremities of the skin without heightening blood pressure.

Subsequently, this also helps bring more oxygen to tired, strained and painful joints and muscles. For injuries, heat stimulates vasodilation of peripheral blood vessels, bringing oxygen to joints and extremities, speeding the healing of sprains and strains, thus relieving pain.

The most deeply researched benefit of infrared sauna treatment, the increased blood helps aching and injured muscles recover faster – because the stronger the flow of blood, the quicker metabolic and toxic waste products are purged from the body, exiting the skin during perspiration. The skin is often known as the third kidney, because it is believed to be responsible for eliminating up to 30% of body waste.

One of the more noticeable or salient advantages of infrared saunas, heat therapy can aid in weight loss by speeding up the metabolic process of vital organs and endocrine glands, resulting in substantial caloric loss in a sauna heat session.

Because you are sweating, fat deposits are burned. Instead of undergoing extreme physical activities, you just have to sit down and get the same great results. Infrared units also help reduce the formation and appearance of cellulite. You can burn up to 600 calories in 1 hour in infrared sauna fat loss, provided you sweat profusely.

Producing sweat requires a lot of energy (i.e. uses up a lot of calories).

• Producing 1 g of sweat requires nearly 0.6 calories.
• A profuse sweat can produce 1 litre of sweat in an hour.
• Since sweat weighs 1 g/ml, to produce1 litre (1000 ml) of sweat requires 600 calories (0.6 cal x 1000 ml = 600 cal)!

Sauna use slowly restores elimination through the skin. The skin is the largest organ of the body and a major eliminative channel. However, in most people, it is inactive, congested and toxic. Sun exposure, use of synthetic clothing, bathing in chlorinated water and exposure to hundreds of chemicals damage the skin. Excessive sympathetic nervous system activity and emotions such as fear, anger and guilt cause blood to be withdrawn from the skin, contributing to inactivity of the skin.

For that sought after healthy glow, infrared sauna skin benefits involve increased blood circulation to carry great amounts of nutrients to the skin, thus promoting healthy tone and texture. A FIR Sauna heat also provides a mild cleansing of the skin.

Research has shown that sauna therapy reduces systolic blood pressure because the heat dilates blood vessels and reduces the volume of the inner lining of the vessels, thus promoting healthy blood pressure. Among the researched advantages of infrared saunas, heart health is by far among its most promising and advocated.

A Japanese study published in the October 2008 issue of The Journal of Cardiology examined the clinical effectiveness and safety of infrared blood pressure therapy, as compared to standard therapies for patients with chronic heart failure. The report concluded that far-infrared sauna therapy is both safe and effective at improving clinical symptoms and cardiac function as well as decreasing cardiac size in chronic heart failure patients. Repeated infrared sauna treatments improved impaired blood vessel functions in patients with high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. This suggests a preventive role for infrared sauna cardiovascular benefits, and its use for conditions like arteriosclerosis.

The warmth of your infrared sauna will relax your muscles, increase flexibility and range of motion. Studies show, tissues heated to 130 degrees and then stretched have exhibited an elastic elongation that persists long after the stretch is removed.

This was not the case when the same tissues were stretched at normal tissue temperatures. Therapeutic benefits were also seen in working with ligaments, tendons, fascia, joint capsules and symposiums that have become scarred, thickened or contracted.

A regular intervention among high-level athletes, the benefits of infrared sauna muscle recovery largely denote injury prevention and bodily control – as a function of increased range of motion, flexibility and movement of body in-space.