Infrared sauna

An infrared sauna uses infrared heaters to emit infrared radiant heat which is absorbed directly into the human body, unlike traditional saunas which heat the body indirectly via air or steam.

What is infrared?

Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light (400-700 nm), but shorter than that of radio waves. In an infrared sauna, the electromagnetic radiation warms the occupants' skin without heating the surrounding air.

Infrared saunas

An infrared sauna is usually a small portable room containing several infrared heaters. In an infrared sauna, the infrared heater produces radiant energy, which is the same as the heat from the sun, only without the harmful ultraviolet rays. Most of these heaters draw on technology developed in 1965 by Dr. Tadashi Ishikawa, a member of the Research and Development Department of Fuji Medical.

Infrared sauna vs. traditional sauna

Traditional saunas, also called rock saunas or Finnish Saunas, use various types of heaters to warm the air and stones in a room. Stones placed over the heat source attain a high temperature. In its primitive form the stones are heated by wood without a chimney. The fire dies and the smoke exits by the door. Heat is maintained by the stones. Stones are usually peridotite as they are heat stable. Modern Finnish saunas have thermostatically controlled electric stoves or wood stoves with chimneys.

In a traditional sauna the air temperature typically runs between 169 to 190 °F (76 to 88 °C), though temperatures over 200 °F (93 °C) are sometimes encountered. The hot air causes the body to heat up, and eventually results in a sweat. Water is thrown on the stones to achieve a "steam shock". Some add herbs or oil like eucalyptus. Traditionally, ones skin is beaten with a bunch of birch twigs. When the heat becomes intolerable one cools down under a cold shower or, as in Finland, by jumping into a frozen lake.

An infrared sauna uses a variety of heater types such as older technology steel incoloy rods and ceramic plates, to state of the art carbon heaters. According to Weins Law, the larger the heater, the lower the surface temperature and the longer the lightwave. It is the longer lightwave that falls into the more healthful and beneficial "far" infrared category which provides the myriad of additional health benefits to the body. To date, the only far-infrared sauna heater to be extensively tested in a clinical environment is Solocarbon.

Health benefit claims

A study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis showed a reduction in pain, stiffness and fatigue during infrared sauna therapy.

Detoxification controversy

A number of mainstream and alternative health doctors promote infrared sauna use for the purpose of detoxification, via an acceleration of the body's natural sweat mechanism as well as stimulating circulation. No double-blind studies have demonstrated that infrared sauna use eliminates harmful chemicals from the body.

Energy expenditure controversy

Some infrared sauna proponents claim that the sauna is an effective method for considerably raising the rate of energy expenditure in the body. Proponents typically quote the Journal of the American Medical Association stating: "A moderately conditioned person can easily sweat off 500 grams in a sauna, consuming nearly 300 kcal, which is equivalent to running 2-3 miles. A heat-conditioned person can easily sweat off 600-800 kcal with no adverse effects. While the weight of the water loss can be regained by drinking water, the calories consumed will not be.". This statement is based on the amount of energy absorbed by sweat evaporating from the skin. It is equivalent to the latent heat of vaporizaton of water, which is 539 kcal/kg (2260 kJ/kg). The source of this energy is then confused to be body energy stores, while the source is in fact the excessive heat absorbed from the sauna. The body reacts to the excess heat flux by increasing perspiration. The number of calories the body expends cooling itself in an infrared sauna is unknown.