Infra Red Sauna

WHAT IS FAR INFRA-RED HEAT?
Far Infra-red heat is a frequency of light naturally emitted from the sun. The term "Far" refers to a particular band of light within the infrared spectrum. The most beneficial frequency of infrared light lies between 5 -15 microns, especially around 9 microns, which is the same frequency that our own bodies emit infrared heat. Infrared heat is extremely safe. No harmful UV rays are emitted by the sauna heaters.

 

Infra-red saunas use ceramic heaters, which when heated emit infrared light. This light only heats objects on contact, so very little of the energy from the heaters is wasted, with almost 90% being absorbed by the body, penetrating 1 -2 inches deep. Unlike traditional saunas that operate at a temperature of 89 -90 degrees C, infra-red saunas heat to 35-60 degrees C. This allows you to be able to breathe comfortably. Your sweat glands are triggered to start working before the core body temperature increases, so you sweat before you feel hot.

 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF INFRA·RED SAUNA THERAPY
• Effortlessly detoxify and remove stored toxins from your body
• Assist in Weight Loss and Control
• Heart Health
• Natural Pain Relief
• Natural Body Healing
• Relaxation and Stress Relief
• Improve your Immune System
• Improves Skin Condition and Helps Treat Cellulite
• Boosts Moods and Helps Fight Seasonal Depression
• Increased Flexibility

 

THE SCIENCE BEHIND INFRA-RED SAUNAS

Infra-red saunas are easier to tolerate than traditional saunas. Because of this, a longer more beneficial sweat is achieved. Conventional saunas heat only the surface of the skin and very slowly penetrate into the body. Infrared light penetrates the surface of the skin by about 1.5 inches. This allow the fat cells below the skin (adipose tissue) to be heated. This has a very detoxifying effect on the body, encouraging the fat cells to let go of the stored toxins in this fatty layer. The infrared light also benefits your body's lymphatic system, helping it to purge toxins and reduce excess water and inflammation. The infrared heat relieves muscle tension, joint pain, arthritis, spasms, and most commonly Fibromyalgia. Far infrared rays are completely safe and beneficial to the body, so much so that doctors use them in hospitals to warm newborn babies. Far infrared rays are currently being used to promote growth in plants, purify polluted air, treat injured athletes, and even encourage new hair growth.

Sunlight is the source of life on earth. Unfortunately, not all of the energy is beneficial. Sunlight is part of a wide spectrum of frequencies, including ultraviolet and infrared rays. Visible sunlight is in the middle of this spectrum. At a higher frequency are ultraviolet rays that can cause sunburn. At a lower frequency, however, are the gently infrared rays. Infrared light is a product of heat production. Humans generate waves in the 6-20 micron
range. The optimal output range of the infrared sauna emitters is between 7 -14 microns, which is very close to the resonant frequency of a water molecule. This similarity makes sense since our bodies are almost 70% water. This range appears to have special regenerative effects on the body. Our heater's output is evenly spread around the 9.4 micron point of peak human output. Because the water molecule resonates or vibrates,
this vibration causes a release of cellular toxins such as mercury, aluminum, cholesterol and other toxic gases such as sulfur and formaldehyde. The energy output from the infrared sauna corresponds so closely to the body's radiant energy that our bodies absorb close to 93% of the infrared waves that reach our skin.

 

DETOXIFICATION
It has been shown that the human body is a natural bio-accumulator for numerous toxins that the body cannot remove after entry and are therefore stored internally. For example, when toxic gases such as sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, pesticides, nitrogen oxides meet large water molecules, they are completely surrounded by the clusters of water. When this happens, the toxins accumulate to eventually stop or block blood circulation and cellular energy is impaired.

 

Research has shown that when far Infrared light waves are applied, the body begins to heat up and we start to sweat. When the body sweats, it causes a chain reaction between the large water molecules containing toxins. The water becomes active and begins to vibrate, which reduces the ion bonds of the atoms which are holding together the molecules of water. As the breakdown process occurs, the molecules that are surrounded by water are released through the sweat, and the body now has the ability to expel the harmful toxins and gases. This explains why studies performed have shown that the sweat of people using a conventional sauna was 95 -97% water, while the sweat from people using Far infrared saunas was 80 -85% water. The remaining content percentage was mostly made up of cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, toxic heavy metals, calCium, magnesium, potassium, sulfuric acid, sodium, metabolic wastes (ammonia, lactic acid and uric acid), medications, nicotine and alcohol. They also found that this higher concentration of toxins was not present in sweat from normal exercise. We have proof that it is the steady silent accumulation of toxins over a lifetime that produces most diseases, including cancer. But medicine merely sees every disease as a deficiency of some drug or surgery, or tells us there is no known cause or "cure". Studies now confirm that diet and environmental chemicals cause 95% of cancers. Furthermore, as the first generation of man exposed to such an unprecedented plethora of daily chemicals, we have learned that stored or undetoxified chemicals can mimic any disease. "'ncurable" chronic diseases that were thought to have no known cause often disappear once toxic chemicals are gone. Decreasing your toxic load can improve your cellular health.

 

WEIGHT LOSS AND TREATMENT OF CELLULITE
Article -Heat Treatments Get Rid of Toxins, by Raymond Francis, M.Sc., reprinted from
"Never Be Sick Again".
"A layer of fat and oil exists just below the surface of the skin. Heat from the sauna increases skin temperature, causing those fats and oils to "melt" and ooze out of the skin's oil glands. As sweat and oil are secreted, the toxins dissolved in them are secreted as well. Be sure to shower afterwards, to prevent those toxins from reabsorbing back into your body. Incorporating saunas after exercise is even better. Exercise begins to mobilize toxins and saunas continue the process. Infrared rays provide beneficial physical stimulation, including increased lymphatic and cardiovascular circulation."
In just 30 minutes, your body may burn up to 600 calories. Passive cardiovascular conditioning increases heart rate and metabolism. This is a good solution for people that are immobile due to chronic disease or injury.

"Regular use of a sauna imparts a similar stress on the cardiovascular system and its regular use may be as effective a means of cardiovascular conditioning and burning calories as regular exercise."
-- Journal of American Medical Association, 1981

 

HEART DISEASE

Increased circulation helps to normalize blood flow and lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Weight loss and stress reduction cause less insulin resistance and blood flow to detoxify fat. This results in a lowering of triglycerides and cholesterol. Blood flow is increased while heart is at a lower elevation in relation to the rest of the body. Heart disease has been linked to inflammation of the blood vessels. Detoxification of heavy metals promotes healthier vessels and less inflammation. As the body works to cool itself, there is a substantial increase in heart rate, cardiac output and your metabolic rate. Increasing your heart rate and cardiac conditioning, induces sweat, which works with your body's metabolism. The far infrared heat stimulates enzyme activity that in turn burns calories, removes waste and releases fat.

 

SKIN PURIFICATION
Far infrared sauna therapy opens pores all over the body and utilizes natural moisturizing process of sweat. It improves the skin tone for softer, smoother skin. Detoxification of the pores helps to prevent and treat acne. It increases the blood flow to the microvasculature of the skin. Through increased blood flow and detoxification of the skin, conditions like eczema and psoriasis may also be ameliorated. It also opens the nasal passages and assists the sinuses to drain. Scars, burns and other wounds or incisions may heal with significantly reduced scarring.

IMMUNE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT AND STRESS RELIEF

A study out of Psychosomatic Medicine looked at group of 28 mildly depressed patient. With appetite loss and subjective symptoms and treated half of the patients with sauna once a day for 4 weeks and half with just bed rest for 4 weeks. They showed a significant improvement in somatic complaints, hunger and relaxation scores in the group treated with sauna compared to the control group. Viruses, tumors and toxin-laden cells are weaker than normal cells as they tolerate heat poorly. Raising the body temperature causes infections to heal more quickly. Hypothermia or fever therapy help combat infections and even cancer. Our bodies develop fever when ill to enhance metabolism and help kill germs.

 

Stress can cause many ailments, including a decline in our body's ability to fight off disease. The heat and increase in metabolism generated by sauna therapy activates the immune system, in particular our "Heat shock proteins", which are activated by various types of stress. These proteins help with the proper assembly and formation of proteins in the body. "Heat shock proteins" are important in understanding cancer and disease because they help the immune system recognize diseased cells. The Canadian College of Naturopathic medicine uses far infrared saunas at their teaching clinics and facilities. Harvard University, Mayo Clinic and University of Toronto Medical School all employ the use of far~infrared saunas.

 

NATURAL PAIN RELIEF and INCREASED FLEXIBILITY
Perhaps the most immediate relief this far infrared sauna offers is simple relaxation, as it melts away the stresses and tensions of life. Infrared sauna gives an overall massaging effect, soothing jangled nerves and knotted muscles. The deep heat of the far infrared sauna helps peripheral blood vessels dilate, bringing relief and healing to muscle and soft tissue injuries. Increased blood circulation carries off metabolic waste products
and delivers oxygen-rich blood to oxygen-depleted muscle, so they recover faster. Muscles relax most readily when tissues are warm, for greater flexibility and range of motion. Don Colbert, MD, in his book "The Seven Pillars of Health", states: "The skin has been called "the third kidney" by some in the medical field because it is able to release so many toxins such as pesticides, solvents, heavy metals, urea and lactic acid from the body. It is also called this because the consistency of the sweat is similar to our urine. Because of air conditioning. antiperspirants, and a general bias against sweating, much of the population never really sweats. The result is a buildup of toxins in our bodies. You have about two to three million sweat glands in your skin. Sweat glands keep you cool and prevent you from drying out. If you don't sweat, you are not fully healthy. If you don't work outdoors in the heat, or if for some reason you cannot exercise, consider sauna therapy."

 

 

SAUNA TIPS
- Drink plenty of water before and after your session. Drinking water during is good too, but it will not contribute to more sweating, as it will still be in your stomach. For maximum sweat volume, reduce your intake of caffeine from coffee or pop.

- Do not use lotions or oils on your skin as it will block the pores and reduce the body's ability to perspire.

- A typical sauna session can run anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour, Start between 20 ~ 30 minutes, twice per week and increase based on your comfort level. It 15 very important to listen to your body and respect your own comfort levels, After a few weeks, you may increase the length and frequency of your sessions.

- If you cannot shower immediately after, at least wipe the sweat off your body. It is BEST to plan your massage or acupuncture/acupressure treatment immediately after, as your muscles will be warm and relaxed.

- Bathing attire is suggested but shorts and a T-shirt are fine. Please bring your own.

- Sit with one towel under your body and one under your feet. A third smaller towel can be used to wipe the sweat from your face.

 

- Set the sauna to the maximum temperature of 66 Celsius. This will ensure the heaters are constantly running and you will be receiving the infrared benefits the entire sauna session. If it gets too warm for your comfort, open the fresh air vent and if it is still too warm you can open the door for a few seconds.

- If 66 Celsius is too warm then arrange your sauna to go in earlier, ego 30 -40 degrees and allow your body's temperature to rise with the sauna.

- Relax! Time spent in a sauna should be enjoyable -forget all your worries. You may want to bring your own CD or book to read. If not, I do have both for your use.

- Everybody sweats at a different rate. The average person will begin to sweat within 10 -20 minutes in the sauna. To increase the amount that you sweat, try the following: Exercise prior to your sauna to elevate the heart rate further and increase your core temperature. A warm shower will do the same thing.

- If you are using the sauna quite frequently, and start to feel tired or lack energy, make sure you supplement your body with trace elements. Remember that you sweat out toxins and chemicals, but also your own nutrients and vitamins.

- At the first signs of a cold or flu, increasing your sauna session can be beneficial in boosting your immune system and decreasing the productive rate of the viruses.

- At any point during your sauna if you do not feel well, leave immediately, especially if you feel weak, light-headed, dizzy or nauseous. If symptoms do not resolve, seek medical attention.

Remember to thank yourself for what you have done for your body, Infrared is a phenomenal health tool and your body will definitely appreciate it.