Infrared Saunas - Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the most commonly asked questions about infrared saunas can be found below:
Can infrared heat therapy improve immune system?
As you have probably experienced, illnesses are often accompanied by a fever. During a fever, the body reacts by heating up to eliminate viruses and attack foreign agents. This rise in temperature is a completely natural way of the immune system's healing the body - it is also one of the best ways to get rid of unwanted chemicals and toxins in the body. Infrared saunas can help to create an artificial fever and your body reacts in the same way as if it was sick - it begins getting rid of toxins almost immediately.
Can infrared heat therapy reduce stress?
Infrared heat therapy helps to relax muscles and therefore will reduce tension in your body and ultimately stress. Many chiropractor and massage therapists are now using infrared heat to provide more effective treatments to a variety of patients.
How does infrared heat therapy benefit my skin?
Because you body temperature rises, you blood circulation is also improved which means that your skin can expel more dirt and chemicals through the body's natural reaction of sweating. Infrared sauna benefits include softer skin and a firmer complexion.
How does and infrared sauna relieve pain?
FIR heat relieves pain by expanding blood vessels and as mentioned above, increasing circulation. Because of improved circulation more oxygen can reach the parts of the body that need it. This helps to speed up the healing process and ultimately the pain involved with a sports injury or other condition such as muscle spasms or arthritis.
Can infrared heat therapy help me to lose weight?
Ultimately, the sauna (traditional or infrared) isn't going to help you lose much more weight than, say for instance, if you where sitting down somewhere for the same time. A much better way to lose weight would be to go for a moderate walk. When you sweat you get rid a lot of water from your body so you might find a slight reduction in your weight if you were to weigh yourself before and after an infrared sauna. Perspiring does put more pressure on your body and therefore uses more energy, but it doesn't do as much to help reduce weight. It's nearly as stupid as people drinking icy cold water to lose weight. (the theory there is that your body has to use more energy to consume the water then if the water was at your body temperature). Some sites contain misinformation like that will tell you that you can get the same effect of a 6 mile run as from a 20 to 30 minute infrared sauna. If that was the case, Olympic athletes would be sleeping them!
Can infrared heat therapy eliminate toxins?
Yes. FIR can help get toxins such as sodium, alcohol, nicotine, metals (zinc, nickel, cadmium, lead) and mercury from your body. The body would normal eliminate these toxins by sweating, but if you don't have time to exercise or you live in a cold climate, then your body might not be able to get rid of these metals . In this instance, infrared saunas help by speeding up the body's natural sweating process.
What are ceramic infrared heaters?
Ceramic infrared heaters will produce the same useful FIR energy without the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. However most infrared sauna heater elements are steel coated. Steal coating is an old technology that focuses the heat source (but they take a little bit longer to heat up). Ceramic FIR heaters are much more efficient.