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Benefits

There are many websites and other resources claiming various benefits of the far infrared (FIR) sauna.  Unfortunately, some statements are misleading.  As we compiled our information for this document we took special care to find reliable information and sources.  We highly suggest you to conduct your own research and talk with your physician before starting infrared sauna treatments.

FIR sauna benefits are significant.  Do you frequently feel the effects of arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia? Treatment and therapy for these symptoms can incorporate FIR saunas and their powerful effects. Additional FIR sauna benefits can include:

• * promoting killing of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi & parasites
• * reducing stress, fatigue, pain & sleep disturbance
• * reducing depression
• * preventing seasonal affect disorder
• * controlling TMJ and any other joint pain
• * improved reaction to traditional therapies of chemotherapy & radiation
• * weight loss
• * detoxification of heavy metals and “bad” chemicals
• * increased circulation and cardiovascular function
• * cholesterol removal
• * boosting and strengthening the immune system
• * normalizing blood pressure
  
• * faster healing of cuts and bruises
• * reduction of stiffness, swelling and inflammation

What exactly is FIR sauna, and how does it work?

The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into three segments by wavelength measured in microns. A wavelength of 0.076 to 1.5 microns is "near" infrared, 1.5 to 5.6 microns is "middle" infrared, and 5.6 to 1000 microns is "far" infrared (FIR). This invisible band of light warms objects without warming the surrounding air. The best example of this is the sun. Consider standing in the sun on a cold day. You feel warmth from the sun even though the air temperature is cold. This warmth you feel is far infrared penetrating your body 1.5 to 3.5 inches. Infrared heat is, therefore, a completely safe energy that raises the temperature in objects without having to heat the surrounding air. Approximately 80% of the sun's rays fall into the infrared range. (This should not be confused with ultraviolet rays, which are harmful to the skin.)

Infrared energy is not visible to the human eye but can been seen with special cameras that translate the light into visible colors. Our bodies radiate far infrared energy through the skin at between 3 and 50 microns. Our palms emit infrared energy between 8 and 14 microns. (You can experience this by holding your palms near each other without touching.) Palm healing, with a 3000-year history in China, is based on the natural healing properties of far infrared energy.

Weight loss

On March 24, 2009, Oprah featured Dr. Oz who discussed FIR sauna therapy.  Dr. Oz stated one could burn up to 700+ calories in single FIR session.

“Regular use of a sauna may impact a similar stress on the cardiovascular system as running, and its regular use may be as effective [at] burning calories.” - Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
Guyton’s Textbook of Medical Physiology reports that producing one gram of sweat requires 0.586 kcal. The JAMA citation above goes on to state that “A moderately conditioned person can easily sweat off 500 grams in a sauna, consuming nearly 300 kcal – the equivalent of running two to three miles. A heat-conditioned person can easily sweat off 600 to 800 kcal with no adverse effect. While the weight of water loss can be regained by rehydration, the calories consumed will not be.” Since a sauna helps generate two to three times the sweat produced in a conventional hot-air sauna, the implications for increased caloric consumption are quite impressive.
Assuming one takes a sauna for 30 minutes, some interesting comparisons can be drawn. Two of the highest calorie output exercises are rowing and running marathons. Peak output on a rowing machine or during a marathon burns about 600 calories in 30 minutes. FIR can therefore, play a pivotal role in both weight control and cardiovascular conditioning. It is valuable for those who don’t exercise and those who can’t exercise and want an effective weight control and fitness maintenance program, and the benefits regular exercise contribute to such a program.  FIR sauna may better this from “just slightly” up to 250 percent by burning 900 to 2400 calories in the same period of time. It might in a single session simulate the consumption of energy equal to that expended in a six- to nine-mile run.