7 Ways Infrared Sauna Therapy Benefits Your Health Journey

Infrared sauna therapy is more popular than ever — but it's not just a fitness fad!

‍

Infrared saunas have major advantages over traditional or steam-based saunas. Yet they provide many of the same scientifically backed, physiological health benefits to those who enjoy regular sauna sessions.

‍

Therefore, infrared sauna therapy can be an excellent addition to your holistic health journey and wellness routine. You can enjoy infrared saunas before or after workouts or on days when you need to de-stress.

‍

Still not convinced? Let’s take a look at seven ways infrared sauna therapy can benefit your health journey overall.

‍

Infrared Saunas – How They Work

‍

Infrared saunas work by heating your body directly with infrared light. Also called far-infrared radiation or FIR, your eye can't see this energy due to the light's wavelength. Even though it can't be seen, it can certainly be felt. Your body experiences infrared radiation as heat.

‍

Due to its wavelength, infrared radiation can penetrate down to 1 ½ inches or so beneath the skin. In this way, the heat emanated from infrared saunas can warm deeper tissues in your body compared to the steam-based heat provided by traditional saunas.

‍

This deeper heat penetration may also affect molecular bonds within your body's cells. Your skin and core temperatures increase, leading to physiological changes. Infrared saunas are so effective that they typically only require short sessions of between 15 and 30 minutes to see effects.

‍

Now you know how infrared saunas work, let’s look at some specific ways they may benefit your health journey.

‍

Improves Circulation

‍

For starters, infrared saunas warm your body tissues, causing blood vessels to widen and your heart rate to increase. As this occurs, it improves circulation throughout your body. Why is this helpful? For several reasons:

• More circulation brings nutrient-rich blood to the extremities, such as your fingers and toes
• More circulation brings nutrients to your skin, which may provide ancillary skin benefits
• Improved circulation helps support your heart health and cardiovascular system
• Your body tissues become more oxygenated as oxygen-rich blood flows more smoothly

‍

In short, improved circulation is good for your body in more ways than one. This, in turn, may assist with your wellness journey in a broader, more generalized sense.

‍

Supports Healthy Blood Pressure

‍

Next, infrared sauna therapy can decrease high blood pressure. As the blood vessels throughout your body expand, your blood circulation improves as mentioned above. This also makes your blood pressure decrease. Thus, individuals with high blood pressure may find regular infrared sauna therapy sessions to be very useful.

‍

However, you should not engage in infrared sauna therapy and cryotherapy in the same session if you have high blood pressure. This can counteractively raise your blood pressure by accident. Furthermore, if you are on heart medication that may affect your blood pressure, check with your healthcare provider before engaging in infrared sauna therapy for this benefit.

‍

Eases Pain

‍

Thanks to the warmth infrared saunas produce, you may experience pain relief in your deep tissues and joints, which may aid muscle recovery. This effect may also alleviate or ease chronic pain from medical conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

‍

Many of these chronic conditions cause discomfort or joint pain by causing body tissues to swell or become inflamed. Infrared sauna therapy doesn’t directly counteract inflammation, but it can soothe and relax otherwise irritated tissues.

‍

Indeed, many people with sore joints and muscles find infrared sauna therapy to be relaxing and revitalizing. It's similar in this way to cryotherapy, which is also used to soothe sore joints and muscles. Athletes, regular exercisers, and individuals with chronic conditions that cause pain or soreness may find regular use of infrared sauna therapy very beneficial for this reason alone.

‍

Reduces Stress

‍

As your heart rate increases and your blood vessels dilate, you’ll experience a physiological shift that reduces stress. Your body burns through cortisol hormones as it heats up, alleviating the hormonal stress you may feel. In addition, the relaxing effect of infrared heat can cause your muscles to unwind, removing or reducing tension spots throughout your back and neck.

‍

Don't forget the pain reduction benefit mentioned above, either. Many people find infrared sauna therapy to be stress-reducing just because of that aspect. When combined with regular exercise and a great diet, infrared sauna therapy can help you feel less stressed.

‍

However, only those in good overall health should enjoy infrared sauna therapy regularly. Because of the increased stress, individuals at a greater risk of heart disease or similar conditions may wish to consult with a health physician or professional before signing up for an infrared sauna appointment.

‍

Helps You Sleep Better

‍

There's some evidence to suggest that infrared sauna therapy can also help you enjoy better sleep. Many Americans don't get enough sleep or enough high-quality sleep every night. While you should not fall asleep in an infrared sauna capsule or room, taking a nap afterward is a great way to revitalize the mind and body.

‍

It’s not entirely clear why infrared sauna therapy can result in sleep benefits. But it’s thought to be related to how it relaxes your body’s deep tissues and reduces stress hormones that build up throughout the day.

‍

Through these other effects, you might find that it’s easier to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. This is doubly true if you enjoy an infrared sauna session after exercising and in the latter half of the day.

‍

Burns Extra Calories

‍

By accelerating your heart rate and causing your blood vessels to dilate, your body’s metabolism passively increases. This, in turn, also helps you burn calories and may be conducive to weight loss.

‍

This isn’t to say that infrared sauna therapy can help you shed pounds like exercise and a great diet. On average, you’ll only burn an extra 100 or so calories at maximum from an infrared sauna therapy session. Still, every batch of calories burned counts when trying to lose weight consistently and keep the pounds off for good.

‍

In this way, infrared sauna therapy can be a great addition to your wellness routine and health journey if you want to lose weight and look great for years to come.

‍

Benefits Skin Health

‍

Lastly, there’s lots of evidence that infrared sauna therapy can provide benefits to skin health. As mentioned earlier, bolstered circulation often leads to nutrients reaching your skin cells more easily and often. As a result, your skin cells can produce more collagen and elastin: key compounds that affect your skin’s elasticity, feel, and texture.

‍

On top of that, more skin nutrients mean that your skin cell turnover rate increases. Dead skin cells are shed more quickly, bringing young, nutrient-rich skin cells to the surface. You might find that your skin has a vibrant, youthful glow after an infrared sauna session: this is likely due to the increased blood flow.

‍

Then there’s detoxification. When you experience infrared sauna therapy, you induce a detoxifying sweat. The sweat can carry toxins from the lower layers of your skin to the surface. If you take a shower or bath after your infrared sauna session, you can wash away those toxins and prevent them from being reabsorbed.

‍

All in all, this may result in serious improvements in your skin health and look. Some individuals find that regular infrared sauna therapy reduces the severity of wrinkles or aging spots or helps their skin look and feel younger than usual. It may also provide benefits for those dealing with eczema or psoriasis.

‍

Summary

‍

At the end of the day, infrared sauna therapy remains a go-to therapeutic option for exercisers, workaholics, and anyone else wanting to revitalize their bodies and give their cells an extra jump in energy. With infrared sauna therapy, you’ll feel better than ever, improve your skin and other organs, and see other wellness improvements across the board.

‍

Plus, it’s easier than ever to enjoy infrared sauna therapy without purchasing a dedicated sauna for your home. Next Health’s infrared light sauna therapy is private, comfortable, and uses the most advanced detox technology. It’s about 30% more detoxifying compared to a traditional sauna and combines infrared light exposure with jade stones.

‍

Alternatively, you can try our infrared light bed therapy. These comfortable beds are fitted with over 13,000 high-intensity lights and positioned perfectly close to your skin for maximum beneficial effects. These therapies are quick, enjoyable, and available at most Next Health locations.

‍

Want to know more or sign up for an appointment? Contact Next Health today!

‍

‍

Sources:

Far-infrared therapy for cardiovascular, autoimmune, and other chronic health problems: A systematic review | NCBI

Biological effects and medical applications of infrared radiation - PMC | NCBI

Effects of Infrared Radiation on Skin Photo-Aging and Pigmentation - PMC | NCBI