Curious about the growing trend to sit in a heat box for health and wellness?  Infrared saunas are growing in popularity in the wellness community for a number of reasons.  In addition to the many suggested health benefits, you can’t help but to feel amazing after getting your sweat on!  Read on to discover the basics of infrared therapy and to learn why you may want to spend time in a high-quality, full-spectrum sauna today.

Infrared wavelengths

The sun emits a huge range of light, most of which is not visible.  Infrared (IR) light is the light just past what is visible to the human eye and just before red light. While IR it not a visible wavelength, it can be felt as heat. Sunlight contains 52-55% IR wavelengths.  

Scientists have established that infrared waves benefit the human body by increasing the body’s thermal energy without the added harm caused by other rays of sunlight. Think of it as all the good parts of the sun’s healing light.

Near vs. mid vs. far infrared

	NIR	MIR	FIR
PENETRATE LEVEL	Penetrates just below skin surface	Penetrates soft tissue	Penetrates deep into body (1.5inches/4cm)
TARGET	Targets cellular healing at skin surface	Targets areas of tissue inflammation and early weight loss	Reaches  level where toxins & chemicals are trapped
BEST FOR	Promotes wound healing, cell regeneration, skin revitalization. Consider for effects of aging on the skin.	Often a therapy for chronic pain. Begins to target weight loss by stimulating cardiovascular system to raise body temp then increasing cardiac output and metabolic rate through cooling process	Continued benefits of weight loss and reduction of pain & inflammation. Also best for detoxification through heavy perspiration.
ALSO	Beneficial for all skin concerns and wound healing	Beneficial for inflammation, pain, overall healing time	Increased weight loss, enhanced metabolism, detoxification
BASIC  PATHOPHYS. (geeky stuff only an RN wants to know)	Stimulates fibroblasts to differentiate into a more mature cell. These cells synthesize and secrete collagen, elastin, & essential skin proteins	Expands blood vessels to improve circulation by improving O2 delivery for healing	FIR detoxifies the body 7x more effectively over standard saunas because they produce heavy sweating, moving harmful “toxins” out of the body quickly by inducing a fat-based sweat

What is An infrared sauna?

Where traditional saunas use heating elements to raise air temperature, infrared saunas use infrared light to heat your body first, causing less change to the air around you. The result is increased core body temperature without requiring ambient temperatures of 200° Fahrenheit. In an infrared sauna, your body absorbs the infrared heat and thermal energy increases, inducing a deep and relaxing sweat. Meanwhile, the air temperature raises to only 120°-150°F. Using an infrared sauna at lower temperatures means you can stay in longer and gain more benefit.

Is It Safe?

Many lower-cost saunas on the market are actually not so safe. Without getting all geeky on you, know many affordable home-based saunas produce both EMF (electromagnetic fields) and ELF (extremely low frequency) radiation at dangerous levels. As many of you know, I have a family member with stage IV lung cancer. It was essential to me to find the best and safest therapy for him. This is why I selected a full-spectrum, Clearlight Sanctuary sauna. This brand is known for its comprehensive safety testing and very low EMF/ELF radiation. It is the only brand on the market with their safety ratings.  I absolutely feel safe promoting regular sauna use in our sauna for all the members of my household, from 8 to 78!

Contraindications

While IR is safe, a few conditions warrant discussion with a medical provider or avoidance of the sauna altogether.  For any of the below conditions, exercise extreme caution and discuss with your provider:

• Pregnancy– Do not sauna if there is any chance of pregnancy.  
• Medications– Some meds require provider guidance: diuretics, barbiturates, and beta-blockers all impair the body’s heat loss mechanisms. Antihistamines may cause the body to be more prone to heat stroke.
• Cardiovascular conditions– Conditions include hyper/hypotension (treated and untreated), CHF, and impaired coronary circulation.  As cardiac output increases due to heat stress, the body’s natural defense mechanism increase the heart rate up to thirty (30) beats per minute for each degree increase in core body temp.  
• Alcohol– Alcohol increases the heart rate, which can be dangerous with heat stress. 
• Chronic conditions/diseases associated with reduced ability to sweat– MS, CNS tumors, diabetes with neuropathy, and all conditions associated with impaired sweating should avoid sauna use. 
• Hemophiliac / Individuals prone to bleeding– IR sauna should be avoided by anyone predisposed to bleeding. 
• Fever or insensitivity to heat– Refrain from sauna use if you have a fever or are insensitive to heat. 
• Menstruation– Heating the low back during a period may temporarily increase flow and should be considered before use. 
• Joint injury– Avoid heat for the first 48 hours following acute joint injury or until swelling subsides.  Chronically hot/swollen joints may respond poorly to vigorous heating.
• Implants– Metal pins, rods, artificial joints or other surgical implants will reflect and not absorb heat. Nonetheless, consult a surgeon prior to using the sauna. Additionally, discontinue sauna use for any pain near the implants.

Ready, set, sweat!

Now that you know a little more about infrared sauna therapy, why don’t you check one out for an opinion of your own? Our Clearlight Sanctuary sauna has arrived and is open for business! Clients will enjoy the warm therapy followed by the option of a cool washcloth infused with witch hazel, peppermint, and lavender for a refreshing, quick cool off following their sessions. 

Book your first session in our sauna to feel the benefits for yourself. Begin with a 15- or 30-minute session and work your way to a 45- or 60- minute session. I find that I begin to sweat after about 25 or 30 minutes (less when I am in there more frequently).  Depending on your desired effect, plan to spend one, two, or even three days per week in the sauna for best benefits. Call us for more details or to discuss any questions or concerns you may have prior to entering the sauna.  I am working on developing a dedicated page on the website for sauna bookings. In the meantime, use the link below or you will find the sauna services deeply under the coaching booking tab.  Or, just give us a call. We’d be happy to book you over the phone.