The health benefits of infrared sauna are comparable to, but outnumber the benefits offered by the traditional steam sauna.
A note about Health Benefits of Infrared Sauna
In natural health and healing, we believe in holistic health and healing, as we realize that different parts of the human body are highly interlinked, often beyond Man’s understanding. We also believe that the body has the ability to heal itself of any disease, even supposedly incurable diseases.
In order to do so, the body needs the support of some basic dietary and lifestyle good health habits, such as a full body detox and a proper understanding and application of nutrition. Taking these fundamental health steps will greatly magnify the effects and benefits of any of our health-promoting efforts, including the use of certain holistic remedies.
Infrared energy is known to penetrate 5cm deep into the body and is reported to increase circulation and nourish damaged tissue. The health benefits are varied and many, as listed below:
Improved Circulation – Far Infrared Radiation, or FIR, has the ability to penetrate, refract, radiate and reflect. Its deep acting features allow FIR to reach the subcutaneous tissues and the thermal effect on deep layers of tissue causes dilation of blood vessels boosting the circulatory system. This helps in flushing out impurities from the blood and other metabolic wastes are expunged via sweating.
Pain Relief – The deep tissue heat provided by FIR is ideal for relieving sore muscles and joint pain from chronic conditions like arthritis.
Better Circulation and Energy – Another of the health benefits of infrared sauna therapy is better circulation and increased energy. The heat radiated by FIR saunas causes a phenomenon called “resonance” when it is absorbed by the cells in the body. This invigorates and boosts cellular metabolism and blood circulation instantaneously.
Weight Loss – FIR heat therapy can be used as a complementary aid in weight loss programs for accelerating metabolism which results in large quantities of calories lost in a single sauna heat session.
Improved Heart Health – The health benefits of infrared saunas extend to cardiovascular health, too. FIR therapy increases heart rate and circulation, which is vital to good, robust cardiovascular health. Having a far infrared sauna therapy session is equivalent to a good physical workout.
Promotes Healing – Another of the health benefits of infrared saunas is that it encourages speedy recovery from injuries. Since FIR therapy causes vasodilatation of peripheral blood vessels, sprains and strains and related pain are relieved much quicker and the natural healing process is aided.
Detoxification – One of the most important health benefits of infrared saunas is its ability to effect massive detoxification. Due to the sweating induced by FIR therapy, extra toxic waste products are quickly expunged during intense perspiration. The skin is the largest eliminative organ and it is possible to get rid of large quantities of impurities through its surface area during FIR heat therapy.
Reduces Stress, Induces Relaxation – Infrared sauna therapy helps in stress reduction. Prior to a massage, FIR therapy is an excellent method of inducing relaxation and relieving stress.
Cosmetic Glow – FIR therapy is much in demand since it puts the much sought after glow that accompanies healthy skin, due to its propensity to enhance blood circulation and skin nutritive features, promoting healthy tone and texture to skin.
Improved Immunity – Another of the most important health benefits of infrared saunas is its ability to enhance immunity of the body. This is due to the artificial fever inducing properties of FIR therapy. This stimulates the immune system and also helps the body to fight off any invasive organisms like bacteria or virus in the early stages of cold, cough, or flu, preventing disease from occurring.
Infrared Sauna versus Traditional Steam Sauna – More Benefits
There are additional benefits of infrared saunas, when compared with traditional steam saunas.
Infrared heaters use direct light energy to warm the body in a manner which is similar to sunlight.
Infrared saunas work in a manner where only the body inside the sauna chamber is heated directly, while the surrounding air remains unaffected. Traditional saunas heat the entire enclosure and some people experience difficulties breathing in this hot air. This feature of infrared saunas also results in power conservation, as well as deep tissue penetration, which most people find very beneficial.
It is likely that a conventional sauna may spread and cultivate bacteria due to its humid, heavy air, but this is not the case in an infrared sauna where the environment is not humid and therefore more hygienic and free from bacteria.
Overall, it is a matter of personal preference of users, as to which is better, infrared or traditional saunas. While, on the one hand, many steam sauna advocates feel that an infrared sauna is not as satisfying in providing the relaxing and invigorating experience of a steam sauna, on the other hand, infrared saunas actually have more benefits.
Personally, I find the infrared sauna therapy experience more comfortable and pleasant.
The most obvious effect that an infrared sauna causes is an excess sweating while taking it. The sources what I found on the internet claim that person in an infrared sauna sweats 2-3 times more that in a steam sauna, but these sources are promotional by their nature and don’t contain convincing references to scientific studies. From this I conclude that amount of sweating that infrared sauna actually produces is still in question. But the statement that infrared sauna produces intensive sweating sounds reasonable, as infrared rays heat up a human body in an infrared sauna from every direction, so for a body to cool it has to produce sweat.
Anyway, there is no disagreement in the fact that sweating is good for our health. Sweating is one of the ways our body uses to detoxify itself. When we sweat, our pores open and clean themselves, resulting in more soft and healthy skin. A healthy person should regularly experience intensive sweating. There are many ways to make your body sweat – mostly with physical exercises, like running, aerobics, biking, weight lifting, and more, but if you cannot do them regularly, an infrared sauna can be good additional method to give your body a good sweat. Using an infrared sauna is by no means a replacement for physical activities, just because physical activities have many other good health effects, but it can be a useful supplementary activity.
Sweating in a sauna at home is just simpler – you don’t have to go out, you can multitask while taking a sauna (reading, watching TV of listening to music) and you can do it any time you want. There is no need for effort to take a sauna. This is the real, and the main benefit of an infrared sauna – simplicity and comfort.
Combining the benefits of a detoxifying sauna with a regular workout can be beneficial to the overall muscle relaxation of your body. Saunas are mostly used for detoxifying the body and heating up your circulatory system to promote relaxation and overall health. Anecdotally, many exercise enthusiasts say they enjoy a sauna to relax their muscles after a workout. Working out and taking saunas both are components for an improved lifestyle of health and fitness.
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
1
Prepare for the sauna by drinking 3 to 4 glasses of water before you enter the sauna. Make sure you’ve eaten a satisfying, healthy, protein-rich meal 30 to 60 minutes before your sauna and workout. While you sweat and work your muscles, your body needs fuel to burn.
2
Keep your sauna short. If you do sauna before or after your workout times, limit your dry sauna time to only 10 to 15 minutes at a maximum. This allows your muscles to stay warm and flexible, but spending too long in a sauna with workout times can dehydrate your body and reduce the positive effects of both the sauna and exercise.
3
Towel dry after the sauna before you begin your work out. This will help remove the layer of toxins you have sweated out. Drink at least 3 glasses of water to rehydrate from the sauna. Also make sure to drink more water at intervals throughout your workout.
4
Rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes after the sauna before you begin your workout. Do a few minutes of stretching your muscles out after your rest period before you workout. As an alternative to using saunas with your workout, consider taking the saunas in between workout days to promote your body’s circulation, relaxation and detoxification in various ways.
Infrared saunas are becoming increasingly popular as alternatives to traditional saunas. Unlike ordinary saunas, which cause the body to sweat by heating the air around it, infrared saunas use heat generated by infrared. Because infrared heats the body through radiation and conversion, it does not overheat the body as quickly as traditional steam-based sauna techniques. This may result in longer, more comfortable sauna sessions.
Heat and Detoxification
Infrared saunas are designed to enable radiant heat to penetrate the skin. The wavelength of infrared is, according to sauna enthusiasts, ideal for deep-tissue heating. When the first several centimetres of the skin are heated, toxins are loosened from fat cells and transferred into sweat, which is then excreted from the body. Some health practitioners claim this form of detoxification can help to treat obesity, arthritis, and even serious conditions such heavy metal poisoning and cancer.
Circulation Support
By stimulating circulation, infrared saunas may help to eliminate toxins in the blood and fat cells. Heat, when transferred into the body using infrared radiation, increases the heart rate and stimulates increased blood-flow to all areas of the body. This may cause the body’s major filters– the kidneys and liver– to kick into high-gear and help the body to detoxify. The tendency of infrared heat to improve circulation may also help to treat neuropathy and inflammation.
Weight Loss
Many people pursue detoxification therapies to assist with weight loss, and infrared saunas are effective in enabling the loss of both fat cells and excess water. When exposed to heat, the body automatically responds by increasing sweat production. The shuffling of excess fluids may help to eliminate bloating and excess weight caused by water retention. Because the body burns calories in sweating, fat cells are burned to fuel the body’s cooling system.
Any infrared sauna that functions as a dry sauna, heating up the body in under 110 to 150 degree steam-free conditions, will produce some detoxification benefits. When you perspire in an infrared sauna, your body’s core is being heated and not just the surrounding air; your blood circulation increases and your pores open. This aids the blood in "pushing out" toxins through the pores as you sweat. Wipe off the sweat frequently during a sauna to maximize the release of toxins through the skin. Spas that provide traditional sauna services offer lotions and creams to add the skin purification, detoxification and cellulite reducing functions of a dry sauna. Simply drinking two to three glasses of water before and after your infrared sauna will aid in cleansing your system of toxins produced by sweating as your body "flushes" with clear water. Many reports come anecdotally from sauna users across the world about other medical benefits of infrared saunas. A common theme emerges that regular infrared saunas can improve the long-term health of people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, relieve arthritis pain and reduce inflammations.
Infrared Emitters
Many companies now make electrical, dry saunas for sale but the real difference seems to lie in how much infrared energy is emitted by the heating units. The most effective infrared emitters give off 94 to 96 percent infrared energy. For the best results in using infrared saunas and "far-infrared" technology, a sauna heater that emits more than 75 percent infrared energy is your best bet. At the least, using the mid-grade saunas will increase your benefits. The more true infrared energy, the more effective the body-heating becomes at a deep tissue level to stimulate your natural detoxification. The deeper the infrared energy penetrates your body’s organs and system, the more effective its health benefits will be.When purchasing please ensure that the Far infrared elements are 100% ceramic with a lava coating for the correct emission of far infrared rays
Advantages of FIR Sauna’s * Far infrared Saunas helps – Expels Toxins * Far infrared Saunas known to – Reduces Stress * Far infrared Saunas known to – Benefits your Skin * Far infrared Saunas helps – Controls Your Weight * Far infrared Saunas helps with – Pain Relief * Far infrared Saunas – Provides the same effects of exercise * Far infrared Saunas also- Improves Immune System
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3 Person G series Far infrared Sauna Room Dimensions:1530X1350X1900(mm) Capacity:3 Person & a Half Far Infra red Heaters: 5pcs Operating temperature:18-75 d/c Power: 1800W Wood:Cedar /Can.Hemlock FM/CD Player: Yes Package: 2 Cartons
Product Information 2 Person G series far infrared Sauna Room (Wellness Cabin) with tinted glass D:Outside light Dimensions:1200X1200X1900(mm) Capacity:2Person & a Half Dual control panel: Yes Far Infra red Heaters: 5pcs Operating temperature:18-60 d/c Power: 1600W Wood:Cedar /Can.Hemlock FM/CD Player: Yes Package: 2 Cartons
Health benefits 1. Detoxification: Infrared heat therapy stimulates the sweat glands to cleanse and detoxify you skin. 2. Reduces stress: Loosens muscles and relaxes the body. 3. Skin benefits: Increases blood circulation, expels dirt chemicals and removes dead cells from the surface of the skin, giving you a softer and firmer complexion. It can also be used to reduce wrinkles associated with aging. 4. Exercise exchange: A 20min – 30min Far infrared sauna session burns up to 500 calories, similar to a 5km run. 5. Pain relief: Relieves pain by expanding your blood vessels and increasing circulation. Many use Far infrared heat as a successful treatment for arthritis, muscle spasms and rheumatism. 6. Improves immune system: Recent studies show that cold and flu like illnesses are reduced dramatically if treated in the early stages with far infrared heat therapy. 7. Colour light therapy: Natural medical treatment which has 7 colours; digital control, improves skin, circulation nerve and suites particular mood, adjusts mental and health.
Buy a Sauna Today and get these fabulous accessories
Buy far infrared Saunas with light therapy direct from importers | Deliveries nationwide
Call: 0215567203
4 person Far infrared sauna S SERIES with colour therapy Model FIR-4SGLT
Advantages of FIR Sauna’s
* Far infrared Saunas helps – Expels Toxins * Far infrared Saunas known to – Reduces Stress * Far infrared Saunas known to – Benefits your Skin * Far infrared Saunas helps – Controls Your Weight * Far infrared Saunas helps with – Pain Relief * Far infrared Saunas – Provides the same effects of exercise * Far infrared Saunas also- Improves Immune System
Buy a Sauna Today and get these fabulous accessories
4 Person FIR Sauna Room D:Outside light Capacity:4 Person Dual control panel: No Far Infra red Heaters: 6pcs Operating temperature:18-60 d/c Power: 2000W Wood:Cedar /Can.Hemlock FM/CD Player: Yes Dimensions: 1500x1500x600x600x1200x1900
Understanding Toxins and their impact on your health. CONTACT US TODAY FOR FRIENDLY ADVICE 021 5567203
The word toxin is used to describe anything that is foreign or poisonous to the body. All of us are exposed to thousands of toxins and chemicals on a daily basis. Toxins fall into two main categories: environmental toxins and internal body toxins. Environmental toxins include but are not limited to, household chemicals, industrial pollutants, food additives, and pesticides. During the last 100 years, at least 75,000 new chemicals have been introduced into our environment. The majority of these chemicals have no scientific evidence to prove that they are safe for human consumption or exposure. In fact, most of them are known to be unsafe for humans at some level. The following is a compelling excerpt on Toxins. We include this story to emphasize that Toxins, even in the hands of professionals are dangerous and potentially deadly.
Bad things come in small packages. On August 14, 1996, Karen Wetterhahn, a toxicologist and professor of chemistry at Dartmouth College, spilled a drop, a tiny speck, of dimethylmercury on her left hand. Wetterhahn, tall, thin, intense, was an expert on how toxic metals cause cancer once they penetrate cell membranes. When she spilled the poisonous droplet in her lab, she thought nothing of it; she was wearing latex gloves. What she didn’t know killed her. The dimethylmercury was volatile enough to penetrate the glove. Five months later Wetterhahn began stumbling into doors and slurring words. After three weeks in a hospital, she slipped into a coma. "I went to see her, but it wasn’t the kind of coma I’d expected," recalled Diane Stearns, one of her postdoctoral students, now a professor of chemistry herself. "She was thrashing about. Her husband saw tears rolling down her face. I asked if she was in pain. The doctors said it didn’t appear that her brain could even register pain." Karen Wetterhahn died five months later. She was 48 years old, a wife and mother of two. The mercury had devoured her brain cells "like termites eating away for months," one of her doctors said. How could such a brilliant, meticulous, world-class toxicologist come to such an end? "Only lion tamers are killed by lions", said Kent Sugdan, one of her postdoctoral fellows. Get the whole story in the pages of National Geographic magazine.
Internal body toxins consist of waste products created by normal metabolic processes within the body. Everyday physiological processes such as energy production, digestion and hormone synthesis create waste products. These waste products are examples of internal toxins. If these waste products are not discarded they interfere with the function of our internal organs . Although the human body excretes the majority of these toxins through urination and fecal elimination, we also expel them when we breathe, sweat, cut our hair and trim our nails . Such digestive toxins are produced as a result of breaking down proteins, starches and fats . We are eating more sugar and processed foods than ever before in human history and regularly abuse our bodies with various stimulants and sedatives all of which contribute to the toxic load. We are exposed to thousands of toxins and chemicals on a daily basis . U.S. industries manufacture over 6 trillion pounds of 9,000 different chemicals a year . Billions of pounds of industrial chemicals are dumped into our air and water year after year. For decades, scientists have been studying the pollutants in our air, water, food, and soil. Now they are turning their attention to examine pollution levels in humans. The findings are disturbing. Research shows that our bodies are not capable of eliminating the multitude of toxins that we ingest daily. Over time there is a build up of body toxins and if they are not released or cleansed, varying degrees of illness occur . When your body is unable to release or break toxins, they are stored within the fatty tissues, blood, and organs (such as the colon, liver and brain). They remain stored for an indefinite length of time causing all kinds of health problems . People who are highly toxic are susceptible to many diseases including;
Premature Aging
Cancers
Auto-immune Diseases
Skin Disorders
Hormone Imbalances
Anxiety
Headaches
Emotional Disorders
Heart Disease
Arthritis
Alzheimer’s
Chronic Fatigue
Natural Body Detoxification and its benefit to your health
Natural Body detoxification is a process whereby toxins are released from fatty tissues, blood, organs and are expelled from the body. When faced with toxicity, our bodies respond by retaining water in an effort to dilute water-soluble toxins and by retaining fat in an effort to dilute fat-soluble toxins . As a result, toxins often lead to weight gain and increased fat retention . Most people living on this planet have varying degrees of toxicity in their physical body. We are bombarded with polluted air, food that is tainted by pesticides, herbicides, parasites and acidic water . There are also many other lesser known causes of toxicity levels in our bodies including home cleaning products, silver fillings (amalgam), vaccines and personal care products . The human body is designed with an incredible defence system that keeps us healthy even under the most extreme circumstances . Natural Body detoxification is performed through the colon, lungs, skin, urinary tract, lymphatic system and the liver. You may be wondering how you will know, or what symptoms will show up, to let you know that your body needs to be detoxified . There are a myriad of symptoms that are strong indicators that the body may need help. Some of these include unexplained fatigue, increased allergies, hypersensitivity to common materials, intolerance to certain foods, indigestion, aches and pains, low grade fever, headaches, insomnia, depression, sore throats, sudden weight loss or gain, lowered resistance to infection, frequent colds. A proper body detoxification program will remove harmful toxins. With the toxins gone, the symptoms go away . These symptoms are indicative of toxic overload and when this occurs, we need to help the body detoxify through a variety of Natural Detoxification methods . For full body detoxification: A far infrared sauna is especially effective at full body detoxification . It is up to three times more effective than regular saunas. Infrared rays penetrate the body one and a half to three inches. This causes a deep heating effect in the muscle tissues and internal organs . The cellular metabolism is stimulated which breaks up the water molecules that hold the toxins and allows them to be released through the skin in perspiration . Through the perspiration process, acid and waste residue such as toxins, sodium, alcohol, nicotine, cholesterol and the potentially carcinogenic heavy metals (especially zinc, lead, nickel, cadmium, etc) are removed from the cells. The medical profession acknowledges the success of infrared sauna technology and many doctors provide a sauna within their offices for patient use. Drink plenty of clean, filtered water (preferably alkaline water) while in the sauna. Sun Spirit Infrared Saunas are a safe and natural way to cleanse your body through natural body detoxification. For the liver – eat foods that help the liver detoxify:
Broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and kale
Green foods – green vegetables, sea vegetables and seaweed
Various supplements, green tea and milk thistle extract
For the Colon – eat fibre – 25-30 grams of fibre per day:
Apples, pears and citrus fruits
Carrots, beans, lentils, legumes and peas
Whole grains
For the Urinary Track – drink plenty of clean alkaline water:
Your body needs a minimum 2 quarts of water a day
For over all good health – eat organic foods whenever possible:
The thicker the peel on fruit and vegetables the less chance of pesticide penetration – bananas, grapefruits, pineapple and watermelons
For the Skin – have a good sweat:
If you are unable to have a good sweat for whatever reason or you are unable to exercise, give serious consideration to far infrared sauna therapy to remove body toxins through natural body detoxification.
For thousands of years ancient cultures understood that the process of sweating offered an effective cleansing process for the body, many cultures have maintained a focus on sweat lodges and saunas as a primary method of encouraging sweating along with exercise (and hard physical labour!).
With modern lives all too often characterized by diets high in processed foods, sedentary lifestyles and exposure to environmental toxins, the arguments for enjoying a regular sweat have never been more compelling.
As the skin is the body’s largest organ and one designed to aid in cleansing and purifying, sweating plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy body.
While many people have used saunas primarily for relaxation and stress reduction, additional health benefits are increasing the popularity of Infrared saunas for use both in the home and at the gym.
High levels of stress put continuous strain in the autonomic nervous system and are considered to be one of the elusive causes of many chronic diseases. Heat therapy loosens the muscles and relieves muscular aches and pains. By facilitating the expansion of capillary vessels, thereby improving circulation, physical stress levels are reduced. The infrared rays also clear away build up of lactic acid and carbon dioxide around the muscles, by removing the toxins muscle and joint stiffness disappears. Besides these physiological effects, a sauna session also contributes to stress reduction by stimulating the endorphins of the brain, and simply by providing a peaceful and relaxing environment away from it all.
The deep penetrating heat of infrared energy has allowed health professionals and Sports Medicine practitioners to treat muscle and joint problems for many years.
Relief from arthritic joints and lower back pain is a common benefit for many people. Research has also shown infrared therapy to effectively manage all manner of muscular and skeletal aches and pains, and even improve posture.
One of the main reasons for this is its ability to dilate the capillaries in areas associated with pains, allowing oxygen-rich blood to bathe the area and carry away accumulated metabolic waste which contributes to the pain, soreness and stiffness, this also brings relief and healing to muscle and soft tissue injuries resulting in improved recovery times.
Many people who have had trouble sleeping from pain and stress have found deep restful sleep through regular use.
When our body heats up, the heart pumps blood faster around the body and to the extremities of the body. The best defence the body has to overheating is sweating because sweat evaporates from the skin taking the heat with it.
Our body expends energy to produce sweat – 1g of sweat requires 0.586 calories. A moderately conditioned person can easily sweat off up to 1Kg or more in a single sauna session – the equivalent in sweat to run 10 -15kms.
So, by sitting in a sauna your body will start to sweat, raise the heart rate and dilate the capillaries and other parts of the cardiovascular system, offering many of the cardiovascular benefits of physical exercise. It is a great means of exercise for those who cannot physically exert themselves.
NASA concluded after lengthy trails in the 1980’s that infrared therapy is the best way for astronauts to maintain cardiovascular fitness on long cramped space flights.
Q. How will using the Sauna benefit my skin? Infrared Heat penetrates deeply into the layers of skin. Perspiration removes the deep impurities, toxins and dead skin cells. Increased circulation draws your skin’s own natural nutrients to the surface. Together with Infrared heat’s cleansing effect, you will see a noticeable improvement in your skins texture, complexion, tone and elasticity.
Studies concluded that Infrared Heat has been beneficial in the healing of acne, eczema, rashes, psoriasis, burns, lesions and cuts – open wounds heal more quickly, reducing scarring.
Q. How does regular use of the Sauna reduce cellulite? European beauty specialists regularly incorporate sessions in programmes to reduce cellulite. Because the radiant infrared heat penetrates three times as deeply as conventional saunas, it is significantly more effective at breaking down hard to move cellulite and promoting a more youthful, beautiful complexion.
What boosts your immune system? Combat the effects of daily stress and wake up your immune system. Deep radiant infrared heat results in a rising of your body’s temperature, identical to the body’s defence mechanism against bacteria, microbes, and infection. The beneficial side effect of this induced temperature increase is immune system improvement resulting from increased production of white blood cells (leukocytes) by your bone marrow and killer T-cells by your thymus. Combined with the elimination of toxins and wastes from your body, your overall health and resistance to disease is noticeably improved so you feel and look better.
Q. Is the Far Infrared Sauna good for weight loss and burning calories? There is the obvious weight loss that is associated with burning calories. As you relax in the gentle heat of the infrared sauna, your body is actually hard at work, producing sweat, pumping blood – and burning calories. In a single sauna session you may burn as many as 600 calories, similar to exercising for 30 minutes.
Detoxify and weight loss Scientific studies have shown that a thirty minute session in an infrared sauna can result in the loss of toxins and stored fats at higher rates than with traditional saunas or exercise alone. Infrared heat penetrates deep enough into the tissues of the body to break down the chemical bonds binding these toxins and fats.
Using the sauna before exercise can bring benefits, as it helps increase blood circulation and acts as a warm up before activity reducing the chance of strains.
Lactic acid, a by-product of muscle metabolism that causes soreness and stiffness after exercise, is significantly reduced following infrared sauna therapy. It can also help accelerate repair to damaged tissues.
Infrared sauna cabins can be used pretty much anywhere there is a level floor and access to regular mains power. Since they are totally self contained there is no need for special wiring, plumbing etc. and with a wide range of sizes and shapes available they can often be found in bedrooms, family rooms, garages or even bathrooms.
Q. What about the pre-heating times? Infrared saunas heat up in a few minutes so you can enjoy your sauna whenever you feel like it, traditional saunas can take up to 90 minutes to heat up properly, not only do you have to plan far ahead every time you wish to relax, this can prove to be very expensive.
If you don’t think you have the space to fit a standard cabin, don’t despair – please call us to discuss a potential bespoke solution to suit what space you do have.
No. As an Infrared sauna is typically ready to use in around 10 minutes and each session lasts around 30 minutes the running costs are similar to that of using a hairdryer.
Yes. It is possible to choose from and enjoy a number of other therapies simultaneously in an Infrared sauna cabin including but not limited to; aromatherapy, ioniser, chromatherapy.
To be used outdoors the cabin should be provided with at least a canopy or roof to protect it from the elements. The external panels should also be treated to provide suitable protection from the weather. Ideally a building purposely designed for use outdoors should be considered as an Infrared sauna can be fitted into this – please call us to discuss details.
‘Infrared’ = below red. Infrared is the name given to a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths slightly longer than visible light. Infrared light is invisible to the human eye. The Infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum covers a very broad range of wavelengths from 0.7 to 1000 microns.
If this all sounds a bit technical it’s what causes the warm glow you feel on a sunny day, which comes directly from the sun’s rays. That is why you can feel a sharp drop when a cloud blocks these rays – even though the air temperature hasn’t changed.
The Infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum is sub-divided into three main sections:-
a) Near Infrared (NIR) – wavelengths of 0.7~2 microns
b) Medium Infrared (MIR) – wavelengths of 2~4 microns
c) Far Infrared (FIR) – wavelengths of 4~1000 microns
Far-infrared radiant heat is a completely safe form of energy that heats objects by a process called direct light called infrared heat or infrared energy.
The sun is the primary source of radiant energy, but not all of this energy is beneficial. Although life needs energy from the sun, too much sunlight damages the skin. FIR heat provides many of the health benefits of natural sunlight without any of the dangerous effects of solar radiation.
Infrared light has the ability to easily penetrate human tissue. This creates a natural resonance, which has many beneficial properties. The radiant heat of infrared gives off the same essential heat as the sun without any of the harmful effects of Ultra Violet (UV) rays. The Infrared heat penetrates the skin, providing you with that wonderful natural warmth. One of the most fascinating aspects of the infrared heat is that you can be exposed to infrared heat for hours and it will never cause your skin to burn. Infrared heat is completely safe and healthy for most individuals.
Absolutely. Infrared light energy is beneficial and not damaging to the body. Infrared has been researched and used in medical practices for many years with Far Infrared heating used in hospitals to warm newborn infants. Sports medicine has long accepted and used infrared to promote healing of sprains and strains. NASA has also concluded after lengthy trails in the 1980’s that infrared therapy is the best way for astronauts to maintain cardiovascular fitness on long cramped space flights.
Far infrared energy emitted as waves is used to heat the body directly, rather than warming the air first. In an infrared sauna, a heater produces this radiant energy, which is similar to the heat experienced from sunlight. Unlike sunlight, pure infrared energy is safe as it does not contain Ultraviolet or other harmful radiation.
When the infrared waves penetrates the body this is realised as heat energy, which proponents say can penetrate 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. The resulting heat causes body temperature to rise and you begin 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.
In a traditional sauna the air in the cabin is heated to more than 70oC or even 80oC. Upon entering the cabin the body temperature rises due to contact with the very hot air and begins to perspire. In order to moderate the humidity levels, water is sprinkled over the heat source to vaporise as steam. Duration of exposure is typically limited to 5~10 minutes to prevent the core body temperature reaching dangerous levels. Having left the cabin and cooled to normal levels again the experience can be repeated, typically two or three times taking up to two hours.
With an infrared sauna the body is heated directly rather than via the air. This encourages the body to perspire profusely but at much lower ambient temperatures usually around 40oC~45oC. The heating effect is due to the Infrared waves being absorbed by the body producing a deeper heat sensation. As the process is more comfortable for the user the duration of a session may last from 30 minutes to an hour for seasoned users.
The amount of energy required to heat the air for a traditional sauna is quite significant (see comparison table) compared to the more efficient Far Infrared method and takes considerably longer to achieve. The power requirements may necessitate a separate electrical circuit to be installed specifically for this purpose. Traditional saunas will also require to be installed upon tiled or other moisture resistant flooring and should contain a vapour barrier membrane within the structure.
As a consequence of the lower operating temperatures and no need to introduce water/steam into the cabin along with low power requirements it means that Infrared cabins can be located almost anywhere.
All three main types of infrared heating element have distinguishing characteristics:-
Type Area (typ.) Power Temperature Response time Wavelength
Rod 34×400~1400mm >500W 800oC~2400oC 1~4 mins 1~2.7 micron
Flat ceramic 60x245mm >150W 400oC~600oC 10~12 mins 2~14 micron
Carbon 650 x 305mm >150W ~88oC 4~10 mins 4~14 microns
Rod types heat up the quickest but have the shortest wavelengths and highest operating temperature.
Carbon panels are relatively new technologies. They boast the thinnest structure, have the largest area and the lowest operating temperature. As the Infrared rays travel in straight lines this large surface area means that much of the Infrared output is ‘lost’ into the cabin.
Cast ceramic heaters represent an industry proven solution being robust, operate in the Far Infrared region, have long life expectancy and operate with 96% efficiency making them our heater technology of choice.
There is no simple answer to this question. Some suggests that 9.4 microns is the optimum wavelength because this is the resonant frequency of water. Such an argument has some merit as the human body is composed of more than two thirds water however; a) around one third of the body is not made of water , b) none of the heater types produces only one tuned frequency or wavelength.
In summary, there cannot be a ‘best frequency’. There can however be an optimum range which is generally accepted as being 8~13 microns.
