“Hot steam baths” as well as makeshift saunas have been utilized for centuries by various cultures throughout the globe, from sweat lodge rituals that were practiced by Native Americans to the Diocletian baths in Ancient Rome. The practice of taking a sauna continues to be practiced the modern age of technology has provided the possibility of a method that is said to offer an infinite list of benefits: Infrared sauna therapies.
Infrared sauna therapy is distinct from the old method of burning a fire under a temporary lodge to produce warmth, instead, it utilizes infrared light waves to create warmth inside the body. The waves penetrate deeper into the tissues, without elevating the temperature of the sauna space which makes this treatment ideal for those who aren’t able to handle the humidity and heat of traditional sauna rooms , and consequently miss the benefits that could be gained.
Infrared waves are not visible, and fall in the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. They are also known in the form of “far-infrared” wave (FIR) These waves are able to positively alter the tissues of the body by penetrating beneath the skin’s surface creating mitochondrial activity and efficiently circulating heat.
While long-term research is being conducted Infrared sauna therapy is believed to be a low-cost secure, safe and effective method of reducing discomfort, boost detoxification, boost heart health and much more.
How much more? Let’s look at how an infrared sauna Sydney can do much more to your health than just getting your sweat on:
1. Enhanced Skin Tone
The infrared sauna therapy dilates blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow throughout your body. The improved circulation helps not only eliminate unwanted substances as well as delivering more nutrients and oxygen for the face. Because our skin relies on the collagen-forming nutrients (which helps keep our skin tight) Infrared sauna therapy is beneficial to enhance skin tone and decrease wrinkles.
2. Eliminates Toxins
The immune system of our bodies is fighting against a myriad of toxins that our forefathers could not have imagined such as pesticides and toxic metals PCBs found in the plastic industry, pollution from the environment as well as GMOs (genetically altered organisms). In combination with a poor diet can set the stage for the accumulation of toxins and an weakened immune system.
The good news is that infrared sauna treatments can provide your body an extra boost to flush out the toxic substances. Particularly, this happens by sweating, which has been proven in numerous studies to improve the process of detoxification and reduce levels of toxins within the body.
3. Weight Loss
It’s been discovered that having a break in a sauna that is infrared can help in losing weight. In a study involving obese adults, researchers found that “… the body’s weight and body fat diminished after two weeks of infrared sauna therapy.” Researchers believe this could be due to an increase in blood flow and body’s work (i.e. using calories) to get cool.
In that same research, people of normal weight who had an appetite loss experienced “increased caloric intake as well as an improvement in their eating habits.” This suggests that infrared sauna therapy could be a diet and weight “balancer” by raising the level of ghrelin (the food hormone) in people with low appetite and keeping the levels of ghrelin even when obese individuals.
4. Improves the Cardiovascular Function
Infrared sauna therapy has been found to be beneficial to your cardiovascular health. The benefits have been proven to be to be so effective that studies have been conducted that have linked the infrared sauna to a decreased risk of sudden death from cardiac or death from coronary heart disease death from cardiovascular disease, and all-cause death.
The effects are due to the higher blood flow, heart rate and higher blood pressure of patients who undergo saunas that use infrared light. In a fascinating study, researchers compared heart rate that patients get from the sauna with a strenuous stroll.
5. Pain Relief
Another great benefit that infrared sauna therapies offer is their capacity to alleviate chronic pain without the adverse effect of many medication for pain. As an example, research conducted out from the Netherlands revealed that patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis who were treated with infrared sauna for four weeks felt less stiffness, pain and fatigue after the treatment. The researchers believe these benefits resulted from lower levels of inflammation which reduce tension between joints that cause chronic pain.
6. Wound Healing
The infrared therapy has also the extraordinary capacity to speed up the healing process for wounds. In particular, research conducted by NASA has proven that infrared light dramatically increases cell growth and regeneration because mitochondria are capable of taking infrared light.
7. Increases Circulation
Infrared sauna therapy also has been shown to increase circulation. It has many advantages, ranging from better skin tone (as mentioned earlier) to a decrease in blood pressure. Researchers have discovered that the benefits of infrared sauna therapy are significant. It improves blood vessel functioning in diabetics and smokers who have high cholesterol.
8. Combats Chronic Fatigue
A recent study revealed an interesting finding that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a condition that causes extreme fatigue that has no specific cause, can be significantly relieved by saunas that use infrared light. The study consisted of CFS patients who sat in 60degC (140degF) sauna for 15 minutes. They were then after which they slept under a blanket for thirty minutes in an additional room. The experiment was carried out daily 5 days per week for a period time of 4 weeks.
The result? Positive mood, anxiety and depression levels improved significantly following the treatment as fatigue ratings improved on a scale of one to 10 ranging between 6.7 and 4.8. While there isn’t an exact reason for the reason why infrared sauna therapy is beneficial to CFS patients, scientists speculate that it could be due its ability to decrease the effects of oxidative stress and increase cardiac output as well as improve cardiac output. Both have been associated with CFS.
It’s important to know that the research team states that patients didn’t feel any effects of the treatment but they definitely felt less tired after two weeks. If you’re interested to try infrared sauna therapy for fatigue, you should be aware that you’ll need to endure a full month for a chance to experience the advantages. But, just a little less than an hour every daily for four weeks to alleviate fatigue and chronic fatigue sounds like an effective treatment!
Do you think Infrared Sauna Therapy safe?
There are some who question the safety of sauna treatments using infrared light because of the ability of infrared light to penetrate below skin layers. While there are no major adverse results have been observed during the course of treatment, it’s not recommended for children or older adults who are susceptible to dehydration and heat exhaustion, and it is not recommended for patients taking medications that hinder their sweating ability. It is important to speak with your physician regarding any medical conditions you might have prior to making the decision to try infrared saunas.
Outside of exercising Who knew exercising can bring such incredible health benefits? In the end, infrared sauna therapy is beneficial to almost everyone, from those seeking to detox at least once a month to people seeking alternative solutions to various issues.