Infrared Saunas
In contrast to traditional saunas, infrared saunas don’t use heaters or water. The absence of water might remind some of a dry sauna, but infrared saunas don’t employ that system either. In a dry sauna, a heater is used to warm the air, which heats the body through skin contact. But an infrared sauna doesn’t need hot air as an intermediary—it warms up the body directly through infrared waves.
Infrared waves are a part of the light spectrum, invisible to the human eye, and are responsible for the sun’s warmth. It’s important to note that it is ultraviolet light that is the harmful component of sunlight, not infrared light. In fact, infrared waves are highly beneficial, which is why they’re used in specialized saunas. Additionally, infrared saunas provide those benefits with temperatures a third lower than traditional saunas.
Health Benefits of Infrared Saunas
An infrared sauna provides many benefits similar to a traditional dry sauna. Possibly the most important of those is the boost to the cardiovascular system. Under increased heat, the blood vessels widen, the heart rate speeds up, and blood flow throughout the body increases. In essence, an infrared sauna produces physiological effects, not unlike those during moderate exercise like walking.
While working out can strain the muscles, infrared sauna treatments can relax and soothe the musculature. The boost to blood and lymph circulation also helps muscle tissue recover and regenerate. Additionally, the treatment is effective in relieving pain. Infrared saunas might even be helpful when it comes to chronic pain treatment. These benefits are a possible side-effect of improved lymphatic system function.
Surprisingly, infrared saunas can be beneficial for the psyche and the body. Regular time in an infrared sauna can contribute to mental and physical relaxation. As a result, sauna therapy could be beneficial in combating stress, anxiety, and depression. In addition, some link it to improved sleep.
Prolonged infrared sauna use can stave off some illnesses and disorders. For example, people using these saunas are often more resilient to the common cold. By reducing oxidative stress, infrared saunas can reduce the chances of stress-induced conditions. The most severe conditions associated with oxidative stress include dementia and other degenerative diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.