Healthcare News
Whole Body Detox : Far Infrared Sauna Use
Far infrared rays are part of the sun’s natural spectrum. The radiant energy produced by an infrared sauna is the same as heat from the sun, with the exclusion of the ultraviolet rays. A heat source, (usually ceramic heating elements), emits infrared waves that penetrate and relax the body as increased blood circulation warms the skin. A flood of sweat and toxins is released through the skin’s open pores as the warm blood circulates deeper throughout the body.
Far-Infrared Versus Steam SaunasInfrared saunas warm the body instead of heating the surrounding air. Traditional steam saunas heat the air and require temperatures ranging from 150 – 200 degrees Fahrenheit to promote perspiration, whereas a heat range of 110 – 140 degrees in an infrared sauna produces the same results. The cooler air temperature is more tolerable to heat-sensitive individuals and allows for sessions of up to forty-five minutes, nearly twice as long as in a typical steam sauna session.
The softer heat of an infrared sauna also penetrates deeper into the skin - as much as 1 ½ inches - and draws out more toxins than a steam sauna, according to Dr. Aundrea Adams of the International Institute of Holistic Healing, who compared the detoxification findings of the two sauna types.
Dr. Adams summarizes a report which concludes that sweat from a traditional sauna was up to 97% water, while the sweat released in an infrared sauna was only 80 – 85% water. The remaining 15 – 20% was comprised of heavy metals, sulfuric acid, sodium, ammonia, uric acid and fat-soluble toxins .
The deep penetration of infrared heat activates and releases debris from the subcutaneous fat just beneath the skin. It also allows the body to gradually free stored toxins from organs and tissues, which eventually make their way to the fat tissue under the skin, finally to be purged through perspiration.
Clearly the therapeutic advantages of the infrared sauna are considerable. In her book Detoxify Or Die, Sherry Rogers, M.D. extols the benefits of the far-infrared sauna. She cites a study done by specialists at the Mayo Clinic which proves the effectiveness of therapeutic infrared sauna use for patients of end-stage congestive heart failure.
The individuals in this three-week study tolerated the infrared sauna heat without side effects, and experienced significant chemical detoxification. The toxic load was the underlying cause of their condition and the heart function of each of these patients improved as a result of the therapeutic cleansing. They were also able to eliminate some of their medications (2).