Infrared Sauna
Sauna (meaning bathhouse in Finnish) is a heating system intended to create profuse sweating. Saunas are a part of Finnish, Rissian, Turkish, Japanese, Icelandic, Laos, Maori and Mexican relaxation traditions. Saunas are thought to have originated in Finland around 2000 years ago. Saunas are so popular in Finland that there are 3 million saunas for a population of 5.5 million people (https://www.visitfinland.com/en/articles/5-must-experience-saunas-in-finland/).
The first electric sauna was created by John Harvey Kellogg in 1893, the first ceramic infrared sauna by Dr Tadashi Ishikawa in 1965 and in 1979 the first broad-spectrum infrared saunas were available in the United States.
While traditional saunas heat the air, infrared saunas emit a wavelength of light that is absorbed by your body. When your body warms up, it brings blood closer to the skin’s surface, pores open and you release sweat to act as a natural cooler through evaporation. Because the air is not heated, infrared saunas are generally a more gradual and comfortable heat which means you can tolerate it for longer periods of time. While everyone responds differently, if using an infrared sauna for an hour, the first 30 minutes feel snuggly warm and the intensity ramps up in the second half.
What are the health benefits of infrared?
Apart from the glow and the natural high that comes from being warm, there are a number of health benefits for infrared saunas, including:
Improved circulation and skin health - with infrared heat, the body produces more ATP and oxygen which improves circulation. Better circulation combined with increased sweating which removes impurities acts to stimulate skin health. An infrared sauna has also been shown to improve skin tone and reduce wrinkles.
Improved heart health - weekly sauna reduces the risk of sudden cardiac death which is correlated to the frequency and duration of use; minor heat stress from the sauna reduces blood pressure and arterial stiffness which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease
Improved immune system - the heat from an infrared sauna also triggers the increased production of white blood cells which stimulates the immune system
Detoxification and elimination of waste - the infrared wavelengths activate mitochondria in the cells which are responsible for converting fat, sugar and protein with oxygen to convert it to energy.
Reduced chronic inflammation - the combination of the infrared heat penetrating into your body, increased oxygen transportation throughout your body and increased sweating, results in your body reducing the production of cytokines, a biomarker for inflammation, from the very first session. With prolonged use of infrared saunas, your stress levels are reduced which has a further positive impact on chronic inflammation
Increased metabolism and fat loss - because the heat triggers an increase in heart rate, the sauna can mimic the effect of exercise on cardiac output and burn calories.
Injury recovery - mild heat stress activates heat shock proteins that repair and recycle damaged cells, promote longevity and reduce muscle atrophy
Pain relief - through increased circulation and injury recovery as well as recovery for inflammation, infrared sauna can help ease chronic pain
Wound healing - consistent sauna treatments (at least 30 minutes 3 times a week) result in higher collagen production which supports wound healing
Reduced risk of neurovascular disease including Alzheimer’s and stroke
Relaxation and reduced stress - as you relax, your body sends signals to pause the production of cortisol and epinephrine which act to relieve stress. If you stack other practices like meditation and breathwork on top of the sauna, you will also stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system which creates an even greater feeling of calm.
Enhanced mood - heat sends signals to our brains to release serotonin, endorphins and dopamine which all act to make us feel great
Improved sleep - in addition to reduced cortisol and epinephrine production, using an infrared sauna stimulates melatonin production which helps you fall and stay asleep
There are some contraindications for sauna use including high blood pressure, heart or cardiovascular disease, diabetes, pregnancy and being severely obese. Please consult your doctor before using a sauna. Due to the dehydrating effect of sweating, alcohol and drug use in a sauna can be life-threatening.
“Infrared light in an infrared sauna directly penetrates and heats your body tissue”
Infrared saunas make you sweat. Sweating pulls electrolytes and other trace minerals from your body. Ensure that you drink plenty of fluids before and after a sauna session and consider using pink Himalayan salt on your next meal to replenish your body.
Visiting or buying an infrared sauna can be expensive. Using, infrared heating panels between waterproof fabric, an infrared sauna blanket is an effective and safe alternative at a fraction of the cost. The other benefit of owning a blanket is that you don’t have to make an appointment or wait for your sauna booth to be available.
