Infrared Sauna
Infrared (IR) saunas have numerous health benefits when used on a regular basis. Not everyone has access to a gym and not everyone has the time to sit in a sauna away from home for 45-60 minutes a day. Having a portable in house sauna has tremendous value and convenience. I did some research on portable IR saunas. There are a number of them out there for around $200. However, it seems those cheaper saunas have a very high EMF load. One reviewer who tested it with an EMF meter found that the less expensive models have EMF output similar to sitting under a high voltage power line. He tested the Durherm and found their low EMF claims were accurate. I am not a fan of purchasing off of Amazon due to a number of fraudulent sellers, but I put the link here so you could see which one I am talking about. Durherm low EMF portable Infrared Sauna.
Infrared Sauna Benefits:
1. Detoxification
Infrared saunas can help increase blood circulation and stimulate the sweat glands, releasing built-up toxins in the body.
Daily sauna sweating can help detoxify the body as it releases heavy metals (lead, mercury, nickel, and cadmium) alcohol, nicotine, mycotoxins, sulfuric acid and other organic and inorganic stored chemicals.
2. Stress and fatigue reduction
Infrared saunas have been shown to affect the autonomic nervous system by putting you into a parasympathetic or resting, calm state perfect for aiding digestion which will allow your body to heal and restore itself.
3. Muscle aches, arthritis and joint pain
Infrared saunas can help relieve inflammation, stiffness, and soreness by increasing blood circulation and allowing the deep, penetrating infrared heat to relax muscles and carry off metabolic waste products, and improving oxygenation to your tissues. It helps to warm the muscles to improve flexibility and range of motion, while relieving muscle tension and pain.
It helps relieve pain from arthritis, neuralgia, bursitis, muscle spasms, joint stiffness, strains and sprains and many other musculoskeletal ailments.
4. Weight loss and increased metabolism
Regular use of an infrared sauna imparts a similar boost to the cardiovascular system as running. While relaxing in the gentle infrared heat, the body is producing sweat, pumping blood and burning calories.
This is called a “passive aerobic workout,” because although the body is receiving all these benefits, it is not being stressed in the same way as a normal workout. The body is more relaxed and is in parasympathetic mode during that time.
As the body increases sweat production to cool itself, the heart works harder to pump blood while boosting circulation. This increase in metabolism is also burning more calories.
A 30-minute infrared sauna session can burn somewhere between 300–800 calories.
5. Immune system support
The infrared wavelengths from infrared saunas indues an artificial fever. This enhances the immune system, and combined with the improved elimination of toxins and wastes via sweating, it can increase overall health and resistance to disease.
6. Skin conditions
The profuse sweating achieved in a sauna helps to eliminate deeply embedded impurities and dead skin cells, leaving the skin glowing and clean. It can improve skin tone, color, elasticity and texture. Increased blood circulation has also been shown to help improve acne, eczema, psoriasis, and aid wound healing with reduced scarring.
7. Heart health
Infrared sauna therapy can help keep blood pressure within healthy levels, lower cholesterol, reduce chronic pain and be of therapeutic value to patients with chronic congestive heart disease (CHD).
A study published in the Journal of the Japanese Circulation Society showed that infrared sauna therapy reduced heart arrhythmias and the symptoms of chronic heart failure in patients with cardiovascular disease.
8. Appearance of cellulite
Cellulite refers to superficial pockets of trapped fat, which cause uneven dimpling or “orange-peel” skin.
Cellulite is not related to obesity, and the appearance of cellulite is not always reduced by weight loss. There is a link between the slowing of metabolic rates and the storage of toxins in fat cells.
Sauna use and far infrared heat increases heart rate and localized blood circulation, which essentially reverses the above-mentioned trends toward the accumulation of liquids in the fat cells to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
9. Diabetes support
Infrared saunas can reduce the side effects of chronically elevated blood glucose levels. It aids toxin elimination, improves organ circulation and cleansing and aids with weight loss which is notoriously difficult with diabettes and insulin resistance.
Information written from Chiropractic Economics.