Sauna Self-Care: 12 Benefits of Infrared Sauna Therapy

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For many of us, the mention of sauna therapy conjures memories of hot, claustrophobic, and unpleasant spaces. This may be true for traditional saunas, but infrared saunas have revolutionized the experience providing a pleasant way to get a multitude of health benefits. Infrared sauna therapy (IST) can be an excellent addition to anyone’s self-care routine and may be especially beneficial for times when you’re unable to exercise.

How’s it work?

Infrared therapy works by heating your body directly with far infrared heat. A traditional sauna heats the air surrounding you. That air eventually heats your body but also creates an unnatural and uncomfortable environment at temperatures ranging from 180ºF to 200ºF. At a dry 100ºF to 130ºF an infrared sauna creates a relaxing warmth and uses penetrating heat to raise the body’s core temperature gently. This natural sequence is usually only triggered by activity or exercise, and it allows the body to use its system to detox via the process of sweat, through the largest organ of the body – the skin.

Benefits:

As IRT raises your core body temperature, it stimulates your lymphatic system, immune system, and your cardiovascular system. As discussed, our bodies respond to that by sweating profusely. In addition to the infrared heat triggering a profuse sweat, the water in our bodies also resonate with far infrared heat, and this helps with the healing detoxification process. On a cellular level, the body feels the same elevated circulation, warmth, and energy that usually only comes from exercise.

  • Muscle pain relief
  • Improves skin
  • Weight loss
  • Increased metabolism
  • Detoxification
  • Increase circulation
  • Improved heart health
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Immune system boost
  • Stress reduction
  • Fatigue reduction
  • Improves appearance of cellulite

Safety:

Infrared heat is a natural element that is both all around us and emitted by us. It’s essential for all life on our planet including human life. The rays used in IST consist of similar wavelengths as those emitted by the core of the human body. For this reason, infrared heat is so safe that the most common use for decades has been in incubators treating preemie babies. This application speaks not only to the degree of safety but perhaps to the healing benefits of IST as well.

For more information, many medical studies and articles outline the benefits and safety of IST.

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