When people first hear about infrared saunas, they often think of saunas from their local gyms. Unlike far infrared saunas (commonly referred to as just infrared saunas), these traditional saunas use stove-like heaters to heat the air. As the temperature in the air rises, it eventually causes body temperature to rise. In order to cool itself, the body sweats. To elicit this response, the temperature inside a traditional sauna needs to be significantly higher than that which is necessary in an infrared sauna. The type of heat in an infrared sauna is also quite different, and this is apparently where all the health benefits lie.
Infrared saunas utilize dry heaters that warm the body in the same way sunlight does, recreating the longer wavelengths that are a part of the invisible portion of the sun’s spectrum, known as infrared light. (Before moving on, here is a little refresher in 7th grade science. The visible portion of sunlight is what we know as Red-Orange-Yellow-Green-Blue-Indigo-Violet, and what the naked eye sees as white light. The full electromagnetic spectrum goes from radio waves and infrared on the longer wavelength end, through the ROYGBIV visible light, to ultraviolet, x-rays and gamma rays on the shorter wavelength end. The spectrum is differentiated by both the size of the wavelength and the frequency of light, with red light, infrared and radio waves boasting longer wavelengths but less energy than the other end of the spectrum). These far (left) infrared wavelengths, which”far” infrared saunas utilize, can penetrate the skin and directly raise the core body temperature. Heating in this way- from the inside out- positively affects us on a cellular level.
Along with detoxification, other claimed benefits from this process include, but are not limited to: improved circulation, lowered blood pressure, pain relief and decreased belly fat. Once inside, it usually takes about 15 minutes for the sweat to get rolling and it recommended you stay in for 10 minutes after that happens. Typical sessions are about ½ hour. I have never heard of anyone feeling claustrophobic inside since most boast a glass front, and you are encouraged to bring lots of water in with you for hydration purposes. To view images and read more information on the many benefits of infrared saunas, please refer to: https://www.sunlighten.com/infrared-sauna-health-benefits/.