The health benefits of saunas
have been recognized for centuries,
beginning with sweat lodges, traditional
Finnish saunas, and other methods
of heating the body and producing
perspiration that cleanses the
cells and pores. Typically, a
heat source such as a wood, electric
or gas sauna stove is used to
produce the heat in a sauna. But
in recent years, a technology
known as far infrared has been
used to replace the traditional
steam sauna, and some people feel
that the result is superior.
How Does A Far Infrared
Sauna Work?
Manufacturers say that far infrared
saunas use infrared light to heat
the skin directly, rather than
warming the air first. In an infrared
sauna, a heater produces this
radiant energy, which is similar
to the heat from the sun. Most
of these heaters draw on technology
developed in 1965 by Dr. Tadashi
Ishikawa, a member of the Research
and Development Department of
Fuji Medical.
U unlike Ultraviolet rays or atomic
radiation, infrared radiant heat
is safe and beneficial. When infrared
rays hit your skin, they transfer
heat energy, which proponents
say penetrates more than an inch
and a half into the body to heal
and stimulate tissues, making
it an effective therapy for arthritis
and tissue injuries.
In addition, the heat causes
you to sweat, thus achieving health
benefits similar to those from
a conventional steam sauna. In
fact, some say that the more penetrating
and intense heat of a far infrared
sauna makes you sweat 2-3 times
more, resulting in more comprehensive
cleansing.
Reasons to Choose a Far Infrared
Sauna
Those who favor the use of the
far infrared sauna say that the
right frequency of infrared rays
triggers a process called resonant
absorption, wherein toxins are
removed from the cells in our
bodies at a higher rate than with
a steam sauna. When comparing
infrared saunas to standard indoor
or outdoor saunas, infrared has
several other advantages.
Perhaps one of the most important
differences between conventional
saunas and far infrared saunas
is that they function at a lower
heat setting. Standard U.S. saunas
typically operate at temperatures
ranging from 180F to 190F. This
high heat can be uncomfortable
or even dangerous for some people,
especially those with cardiovascular
problems.
In addition, the heavy, thick
air can be difficult to breathe,
and the evaporation can dry out
membranes in the nose and eyes.
Sometimes the exceptionally high
temperatures make the wood benches
and any metal surfaces extremely
hot as well, creating potential
for burns.
A far infrared sauna functions
between 100F and 130F. Claims
state that less than 20% of the
infrared energy from the heater
goes into the air, so not only
does the body receive 80% of the
heat benefits, some people find
that the air is more tolerable.
And other than the heaters, there
are no hot surfaces to worry about.
Another claim of infrared sauna
manufacturers is that an infrared
sauna heater uses considerably
less electricity than indoor or
outdoor saunas that use electricity
to heat. Plus, the sauna is usually
warm within 10 or 20 minutes,
whereas a conventional sauna can
take over an hour to reach optimal
temperatures.
And infrared uses no water, so
you don’t have to plumb
pipes or pay for that additional
expense. In fact, many feel that
infrared saunas are easier to
assemble and they can be oved
to a new location with relative
ease.
>>
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