Australia is among the top percentage in the world’s happiest countries, and it comes as no surprise among a cultural host of stunning landscapes, warm climate, and relatively laidback professional lifestyle as the cherry on top.
However, this doesn’t make us immune to factors that may deteriorate our mental health and well-being. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), around 42.9% of Australians have encountered some mental health concerns at some point in their life.
We have to note that mental health extends to disturbances in cognitive, emotional, and behavioural functions and may not necessarily mean that the person is experiencing a severe or chronic mental illness.
Thankfully, existing research in this field may suggest that infrared (IR) saunas could help with strengthening our well-being. In this article, we’ll discuss a few IR sauna benefits that may help an individual lift their mood, reduce stress, and improve their mental health.
Lowers Stress
To start, infrared saunas help lower stress mainly through two mechanisms of action: pain relief and inducing the body to a state of relaxation.
We have also found that the warm, inviting heat an infrared sauna exudes may help the body secrete more euphoric hormones such as β-Endorphins and ACTH.
β-Endorphin contains potent analgesic (pain-relieving) effects, and can help the body relax by promoting feelings of happiness and well-being.
On the other hand, the Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) helps the adrenal glands to secrete more cortisol, which helps modulate stress. This sudden cortisol secretion can also influence β-Endorphin levels in the body, lowering stress while putting the body in a state of relaxation.
Fights Depression
Although limited, there is some research suggesting that infrared saunas can help fight depression or symptoms of this condition.
In one study published in 2016, researchers experimented with the idea of using heat therapy for treating chronic depression such as Major Depressive Disorder, with the trial lasting for up to two years.
All participants fit the criteria for major depressive disorder, but were otherwise medically healthy, free from any relevant medications, aged between 18 to 65 years old, and were split between a treatment group and a placebo group.
Findings show that heat therapy had significantly reduced any symptoms of depression when compared to the placebo group and had only mild adverse events, with the beneficial effect persisting for up to six weeks.
These results suggest that heat therapy (which includes infrared saunas) can be a safe, fast-acting treatment for depression with long-lasting benefits.
Keep Safe With Sun Stream Saunas
For best results, we suggest loading up on plenty of water before and after sessions. This is to ensure your overall health while you relax inside.
At Sun Stream Saunas, we are dedicated to enhancing your health and well-being. Our saunas embody these values, crafted with non-toxic, hypoallergenic materials and featuring low-EMF/ELF technology to maximise your safety and comfort, both mentally and physically.
Feel free to explore our resources if you’re interested in learning more about IR sauna benefits. If you’re interested in joining the Sun Stream family and trying out the benefits yourself, contact us today.