infrared sauna
Why should I use the InfraRed Sauna?
1) To Detox
Detox can be used as a tool to help relieve symptoms AND as a preventative tool to increase overall health, vitality, and resistance to disease.
Sweat carries toxins out of the body and pushes it through the pores.
Sweating helps the body release heat and keeps your internal core temperature as consistent as needed
The average person has 2.6 million sweat glands. Sweat glands are distributed over the majority of the human body.
Skin is the largest organ in the body and it plays a significant part in the detox process
Detox therapy is also useful for those suffering from immune system problems that including chronic fatigue syndrome, environmental illness/multiple chemical sensitivity, and fibromyalgia.
The United States Centers for Disease Control estimate that over 80% of all illnesses have environmental and lifestyle causes.
Therefore, detox has also become a prominent therapy as people have become more aware of environmental pollution.
For example, it is estimated that one in every four Americans suffers from some level of heavy metal poisoning, including mercury, lead, cadmium, and aluminum.
Toxins in the body also include chemical pollutants such as pesticides, DDT, PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) and food additives. Drugs and alcohol also have toxic effects in the body.
Source: Sweat It All Out; How Stuff Works; Zane R. Gard, MD & Erma J. Brown, BSN, PHN TlfDP, October 1992
Detox is a widely used treatment and concept in alternative medicine. The leading detox principle is that illnesses can be caused by the build-up of toxic substances – or toxins – in the body.
Detox from an Infrared Sauna is 7 to 10 times greater than conventional saunas because it operates more effectively at temperatures 60 to 80 degrees lower than conventional saunas.
“The most important breakthrough today for detox and health is to do daily far infrared saunas. Heat therapy is probably the most important avenue for detox for abundant health today.”
-David Steinman, Publisher of Healthy Living and author of “Safe Trip to Eden: Ten Steps to Save the Planet Earth from the Global Warming Meltdown” and “Diet for a Poisoned Planet – the 21 st Century Edition”
2) Relax with Infrared Saunas
Sunlighten delivers the ultimate experience in relaxation. With the most therapeutic far infrared heat found in Solocarbon heating technology, our saunas are guaranteed to help you relax in comfort with an invigorating deep tissue sweat that will have you feeling mesmerized with each sauna session!
Relaxation is more important to your health than most people realize. According to New York Times best-selling author and fitness expert Jorge Cruise – and many other health professionals, the more stressed you are, the more cortisol your body will produce. Cortisol is a “fight or flight” hormone made in the adrenal glands that raise heart rate, blood pressure, and encourages the deposit of any excess calories into the midsection.
Scientific evidence shows that far infrared therapy helps the body maintain healthy levels of cortisol. While cortisol levels stay the same or rise slightly during a sauna session, they drop afterward.
3) Burn Calories in an Infrared Sauna Session!
Studies have shown a 30 minute far infrared sauna session can burn up to 200-600 calories. As the body works to cool itself while using a far infrared sauna, there is a substantial increase in heart rate, cardiac output, and metabolic rate. Blood flow during whole-body hyperthermia is reported to rise from normal 5-7 quarts per minute to as much as 13 quarts per minute. Journal of the American Medical Association, August 1981
“Saunas are an important aid to weight loss and thyroid repair because as you lose weight, fat tissue releases stored toxins such as PCBs and pesticides.”
4) Far Infrared Sauna Heat Therapy for Pain Relief
New clinical research on pain offers evidence to establish a novel class of pain “heat responsive pain” or HRP, which encompasses several common pain conditions that can be treated with the use of heat therapy. Researchers studying HRP have observed remarkable therapeutic benefits by using continuous low-level heat therapy for treating lower back, upper body, and menstrual pain, all conditions that fall under the new HRP classification.
“For centuries healthcare providers have used topical heat to relieve minor aches and pains, but today we are just beginning to understand the full range of therapeutic benefits that heat offers,” said pain expert Peter Vicente, Ph.D., past president of the American Pain Society and Clinical Health Psychologist, Riverhills Healthcare, Cincinnati, OH. “Through new clinical research, we have found that heat activates complex neurological, vascular and metabolic mechanisms to mediate the transmission of pain signals and effectively provide relief for a variety of pain conditions.”
5) Improve blood circulation with Infrared Saunas
Heating of muscles with far infrared produces an increased blood flow level similar to that seen during exercise. Body temperature elevation also produces an increase in blood flow.
Infrared heat assists in resolution of inflammatory infiltrate, edema and exudates. The increased peripheral circulation provides the transport needed to help evacuate the edema which can help end inflammation, decrease pain and help speed healing.
Infrared sauna benefits are tremendous. Do you frequently feel the effects of chronic fatigue syndrome or Fibromyalgia? Treatment and therapy for these symptoms can incorporate Far infrared saunas and their powerful effects.
6) Improve your skin’s appearance
Infrared has been shown to reduce inflammation, improve cell health and aid your immune system
Open wounds heal quicker with reduced scarring
Help acne, eczema, psoriasis, burns and any skin lesions or cuts
Helps to reduce wrinkles and make skin look radiant
Firms and improves skin tone and elasticity
May help reduce cellulite trapped beneath the skin
Scars may become less visible
Burns and incisions may heal significantly
Infrared light is part of the sun’s invisible spectrum. One of far infrared light’s characteristics is the ability to easily penetrate human tissue. When this happens, it creates a natural resonance, which has many beneficial properties. Remember the last time you were sunbathing with sunscreen? Were you still hot? Of course, you were because the sunscreen only stops the ultraviolet (UV) light from hitting your skin. The far infrared heat penetrates your skin, giving you that wonderful natural warmth.
What do I need to do to prepare for sauna use?
Drinking an electrolyte replacement water is strongly recommended before and after sauna use.
How long is a sauna session?
The typical sauna session will last 30 minutes. The exceptions would be the following:
Children
The core body temperature of children rises much faster than adults. This occurs due to a higher metabolic rate per body mass, limited circulatory adaptation to increased cardiac demands and the inability to regulate body temperature by sweating. When using with a child, operate at a lower temperature and for no more than 15 minutes at a time.
The Elderly
The ability to maintain core body temperature decreases with age. This is primarily due to circulatory conditions and decreased sweat gland function. The body must be able to activate its natural cooling processes in order to maintain core body temperature. When using with the elderly, operate at a lower temperature and for no more than 15 minutes at a time.
Will the sauna cure my condition?
Infrared saunas creating a cure for or treating any disease is neither implied nor should be inferred. For treatment of disease, please consult a licensed physician.
Are there times when I should not use the sauna?
If any of the items listed below apply to you, be certain to consult with your physician before using an infrared sauna.
Medications
Individuals who are using prescription drugs should seek the advice of their personal physician or a pharmacist for possible changes in the drugs effect when the body is exposed to infrared waves or elevated body temperature. Diuretics, barbiturates, and beta-blockers may impair the body’s natural heat loss mechanisms. Some over-the-counter drugs, such as antihistamines, may also cause the body to be more prone to heat stroke.
Cardiovascular Conditions
Individuals with cardiovascular conditions or problems (hypertension/hypo tension), congestive heart failure, impaired coronary circulation or those who are taking medications which might affect blood pressure should exercise caution when exposed to prolonged heat. Heat stress increases cardiac output and blood flow in an effort to transfer internal body heat to the outside environment via the skin (perspiration) and respiratory system. This takes place primarily due to major changes in the heart rate, which has the potential to increase by thirty (30) beats per minute for each degree increase in core body temperature.
Alcohol / Alcohol Abuse
Contrary to popular belief, it is not advisable to attempt to “sweat out” a hangover. Alcohol intoxication decreases a person’s judgment; therefore, he/she may not realize when the body has a negative reaction to high heat. Alcohol also increases the heart rate, which may be further increased by heat stress.
Chronic Conditions / Diseases Associated With Reduced Ability To Sweat Or Perspire
Multiple Sclerosis, Central Nervous System Tumors, and Diabetes with Neuropathy are conditions that are associated with impaired sweating.
Hemophiliacs / Individuals Prone To Bleeding
The use of infrared saunas should be avoided by anyone who is predisposed to bleeding.
Fever
An individual who has a fever should not use an infrared sauna until the fever subsides.
Insensitivity to Heat
An individual with insensitivity to heat should not use an infrared sauna.
Pregnancy
Pregnant women should consult a physician before using an infrared sauna.
Menstruation
Heating of the low back area of women during the menstrual period may temporarily increase their menstrual flow.
Joint Injury
If you have a recent (acute) joint injury, it should not be heated for the first 48 hours after an injury or until the swollen symptoms subside. If you have a joint or joints that are chronically hot and swollen, these joints may respond poorly to vigorous heating of any kind.
Implants
Metal pins, rods, artificial joints or any other surgical implants generally reflect infrared waves and thus are not heated by this system. Nevertheless, you should consult your physician prior to using an infrared sauna.
Pacemakers / Defibrillators
The magnets used to assemble our saunas can interrupt the pacing and inhibit the output of pacemakers. Please discuss with your doctor the possible risks this may cause.