Health Benefits of Infrared Sauna

Baby, it’s cold outside… 

Our Infrared Sauna is nice and warm, but what are the health benefits?

• better sleep

• relaxation

• detoxification

• weight loss

• relief from sore muscles

• relief from joint pain such as arthritis

• clear and tighter skin

• improved circulation

• help for people with chronic fatigue syndrome

What is an infrared sauna?

An infrared sauna is a type of sauna that uses infrared light waves to create heat. Infrared light is invisible to the human eye, but the human body does detect it as heat, heating your body directly without warming the air around you. As a result, 80% of the heat goes directly into your body. This means infrared saunas can operate at lower temperatures than traditional saunas, making them a more tolerable option for people that are sensitive to heat. 

How does sauna use lead to health benefits?

Saunas have been used for hundreds of years. Their roots can be traced back to the Scandinavian regions, where they were used as a standard health activity, especially during the cold winter months. Saunas cause the body to react as it would during moderate exercise, bringing about sweating and increased heart rate, both of which have some clear benefits. Sweating has detoxifying effects on the body, and an increased heart rate can aid in circulation. In addition, saunas can aid in relaxation, which is much needed during our COVID winter. The sauna triggers the release of endorphins in the body, and at the same time lowers cortisol levels in the blood.   

Sweating is good for your health! 

Making time to sweat eliminates toxic burdens on the body, reduces stress, and generally improves how the body functions. Because the infrared sauna heats the body directly, this happens at the cellular level, which is where toxins accumulate. Detoxification helps the body to function to its full potential, and strengthens the immune system. 

Nerd Alert!

Here are the nitty gritty details of how sauna use improves circulation, for those of you that enjoy that kind of thing. If not, please skim ahead to the next paragraph! The cardiovascular system responds to thermal stress by causing the heart to beat faster, increasing cardiac output, and blood vessels widen leading to increased blood flow, and decreased peripheral resistance. The pulse rate jumps by 30% or more, allowing the heart to nearly double the amount of blood pumped per minute. Due to the decreased peripheral resistance, most of the extra blood flow is directed to the skin; and diverted from the internal organs for the duration of the sauna. This makes the body try to cool itself down, and makes your heart work harder to pump more blood to where it is needed, leading to increased cardiovascular conditioning.  

What do studies show?

• This study found that infrared saunas helped decrease muscle soreness and increase recovery from strength-training sessions.

• Several studies have found that infrared light therapy saunas may help reduce blood pressure, help autoimmune disorders, and congestive heart failure

• This study demonstrates benefits to those with chronic fatigue syndrome

• This study concludes that regular sauna use is an effective way to reduce chronic tension headaches. 

As wonderful as saunas are, they are not for everyone. If you are pregnant or have low blood pressure, this may not be for you. Please consult your physician if you have an underlying heart condition before use. 

***This article was researched and written by our staff member Topaz Lauffer