Most of us think of saunas as the typical wooden enclosed structure that has rocks heating and possibly some steam emitted when water is put onto the hot rocks. The person has to sit in the sauna for awhile in unbearable heat for any benefit to occur. These saunas generally raise the temperature of the air to warm the body. These temperatures can reach 185 - 212 degrees in a traditional sauna. This high temperature can be somewhat prohibitive for some people with chronic illness. It can be quite hard on a system that has a compromised immune system to breathe in extremely high heat. Infrared saunas offer a high-tech twist on the old traditional sauna experience. The infrared sauna will only reach temperatures of 70 – 120 degrees and it takes just about twenty minutes to heat up. This is far less than a regular sauna. Infrared saunas do not heat the air in the structure, and far-infrared saunas use infrared wavelengths to heat the body itself. The rays are absorbed directly into the body so sweating can occur with much less heat. Think of infrared heat as much like the sun when it is shining on the skin. You are hot when the sun is beating down on the body. If you walk into the shade or a cloud covers the sun, you feel cooler but the temperature of the outdoor air has not changed. The body itself is heated by the sun’s infrared heat. Infrared saunas use a means of heating naturally using energy to heat objects by direct light conversion.
This type of heat is not ultraviolet light or in any way damaging to the skin. It is not radiation and does not cause skin cancer. Infrared heat penetrates about two to three inches into the body to increase circulation and creates a host of other benefits, such as: pain reduction, reducing joint stiffness, detoxification of impurities from the body, reduces pain from sore muscles, increased weight loss, boosting the immune system, normalizes blood pressure, reduces swelling and inflammation, reduces fatigue from fibromyalgia or stress, speeds healing, removes cholesterol and these are just a few of the health benefits. Because of the detoxification of the largest organ of the body; the skin, the person will look more youthful and have smoother, whiter skin.
Ceramic Infrared Sauna Heaters – Have Made All the Difference
All life as we know it requires heat from the sun, but too much of a good thing can damage the skin. Far infrared heat gives us all of the benefits without the downside of solar radiation. The healthcare industry has tried to use infrared heat lamps, but these were cumbersome and did not produce the constant temperature required for maximum benefits. Ceramic infrared heaters have made all the difference in creating new ways to use this heat therapy. Many patented sauna heaters produce heat in wavelengths of 7 – 14 microns. Digital controls and timers allow constant regulation of temperatures and high energy efficiency. Most operating lives of the heaters are over 10,000 hours.
Infrared saunas are less expensive to install and operate than traditional saunas. The sizes very and they can become portable and fold for storage too. The cost up front is reasonable, but there is no plumbing, no moisture barriers or special drain systems or special heavy wiring required. Water is not used in an infrared sauna so there is no place for bacteria to breed such as in a hot tub or whirlpool.
Saunas have advanced greatly since the Finnish originals dug into an earthen embankment. Saunas are becoming an appliance of choice for the baby boomers and are added to the treadmill and total gym for must have equipment. As people age they are learning that prevention of disease is more desirable and cost effective than spending money at the doctor’s office. Saunas are a great way to relax and release toxins and stress at the same time.
