Infrared Sauna FAQ

The Frequently Asked Questions below are designed to give you a better understanding of the Infrared Sauna.

Just click on a question below and the answer-box will open up. The answers provide basic information, and sometimes contain links to more detailed information on our site. Please take some time to check these out. If your questions are not answered, do not hesitate to give us a call at 707-529-1020.

What is an Infrared Sauna? What is Far Infrared?

An Infrared Sauna uses far infrared light to heat you up as opposed to a standard sauna which uses either conduction (through the hot wood) or convection (heated air or steam). Infrared light is part of the sun’s spectrum which is below the visible range of humans. Just like ultraviolet (UV) means “above-violet”, infra-red means “below-red.” A far infrared sauna uses the far part of the infrared spectrum. Though both infrared and ultraviolet are invisible to us, they have very different effects on the body. Exposure to ultraviolet light is associated with numerous different health risks. Infrared light is the exact opposite end of the light spectrum and is known to have many positive and healthful effects.

Has there been any research or studies about Infrared Saunas?

In the mid 1960’s NASA researchers discovered that some mineral oxides are capable of generating infrared waves. By the 80’s NASA began using infrared to help their astronauts maintain cardiovascular conditioning on long space flights. Since that time both Japanese and Chinese researchers and clinicians have conducted extensive research on infrared treatments. The benefits that they have found are so numerous that doctors and physical therapists in Japan have established an infrared society to further research and promote the use of infrared as a method of healing.

How is an Infrared Sauna different from other saunas?

Regular saunas heat the skin superficially by heating the air around you. To do this, a regular sauna utilizes heat in excess of 180 degrees, which very quickly heats up your lungs and shocks the body. This extreme heat can dry out your throat, eyes and nasal passages and cause nausea and dizziness. Then Infrared Sauna by comparison is noticeably cooler, but because the light waves penetrate your body from 1.5 to 2.8 inches, your sweat glands will be activated long before your core body temperature increases to the point of discomfort. When infrared penetrates to a depth of 1.5 to 2 inches it stimulates your fat cells to release toxins to the surface of your skin. One side benefit of sweating out these toxins is that your skin will look amazing!

How does an Infrared Sauna increase detoxification?

Infrared light accelerates the removal of toxins from the body. This happens because of a number of different factors. Humans are bio-accumulators, meaning that toxins that are not expelled immediately after entry are stored in our bodies. There is a subcutaneous fatty layer just below the surface of the skin, and as the infrared light penetrates this layer it stimulates our fat cells to release the accumulated debris that they have been holding on to. The infrared also stimulates the sebaceous glands to release harmful toxins such as petrochemicals, mercury and other heavy metals. When toxins encounter H²O molecules, they become encapsulated by water clusters. This accumulation of toxins can eventually block blood circulation, oxygenation, nutrient supply and waste removal. The wave length of infrared light is the same frequency which resonates with H²O. This means that the infrared light causes these water molecules to vibrate, causing the bonds which hold these clusters together to dissolve. Once toxins have been freed from these water clusters they can be safely and effectively flushed from your body.

What are the benefits of using an Infrared Sauna?

The health benefits of an Infrared Sauna are numerous. Saunas are often used in the treatment of diseases and drug addictions, as well as for general therapy and well being. Here are just a few ways that an Infrared Sauna can help you obtain the health you long for… (Also see our Infrared Sauna Benefits page here.)

Detoxification: Medical doctors and health practitioners worldwide recognize the Infrared Sauna as one of the most effective methods for removing both chemical and heavy metal toxins from the body.
Enhanced Immune System Health: Each Infrared Sauna session causes a brief, beneficial increase in body temperature, which improves immune system health by boosting production of infection-fighting white blood cells and killer T-cells. This enhanced immune system, combined with improved elimination of toxins and wastes via intense sweating, increases your overall health and resistance to disease.
Improved Cardiovascular Conditioning: Medical research shows that regular use of an Infrared Sauna may be as effective for cardiovascular conditioning as exercise. As the body heats up, it cools itself by sending blood from the internal organs to the extremities and the skin, thus increasing heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate.
Stress Relief: High daily stress levels put constant strain on the body’s nervous system and can contribute to chronic disease. Our Infrared Sauna helps to reduce physical stress by boosting circulation and triggering the production of endorphins, the “feel good” hormones.
Increase Metabolism, Burn Calories & Weight Loss: As you relax in the gentle infrared heat, your body is actually hard at work producing sweat, pumping blood, and burning calories. As your body increases sweat production to cool itself, your heart will work harder to pump blood at a greater rate to boost circulation. This increase in your metabolism will burn calories. Those wishing to lose weight should note that the cardiovascular effect from a single Infrared Sauna session burns as many as 600 calories.
Improves Appearance of Cellulite: Cellulite is a common term used to describe superficial pockets of trapped fat, which cause uneven dimpling or “orange peel” skin. It appears in 90% post adolescent women (almost all women over the age of 20 have cellulite to some degree) and is rarely seen in men. Common but not exclusive areas where cellulite is found, are the buttocks, thighs, and the abdomen. Contrary to popular belief, cellulite is not related to obesity, since it occurs in overweight, average, and thin women. The appearance of cellulite is not always reduced by weight loss. Cellulite occurs in the subcutaneous fat layer just beneath your skin. Your skin is connected to the underlying muscle by vertical strands of tissue. The combination of this connective tissue pulling in on your skin and fatty deposits and fibrosis pushing out against your skin cause the dimpled appearance of cellulite. Since the infrared radiant heat of the sauna warms three times as deep as conventional saunas, it is significantly more effective at reducing cellulite. There is a direct link between the slowing of metabolic rates and the storage of toxins in fat cells. Sauna use and infrared heat can increase heart rate and localized blood circulation, which essentially reverses the above-mentioned trends towards the accumulation of liquids in the fat cells to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Pain Relief: By dilating blood vessels, infrared heat increases blood circulation to injured areas, speeding up the healing process and relieving pain. The deep heat of an 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. Infrared heat relieves muscle tension and thereby helping your body to make the most of its intended healing abilities. Infrared heat reduces soreness on nerve endings and muscle spasms as muscle joints and fibers are heated.
Improves Skin: The profuse sweating achieved after just a few minutes in our infrared sauna carries off deeply embedded impurities and dead skin cells, leaving the skin glowing and immaculately clean. Increased circulation draws your skin’s own natural nutrients to the surface. You’ll see improved tone, elasticity, texture and fresh color. Increased blood circulation has also been shown to relieve acne, eczema, psoriasis, burns, lesions and cuts. In addition, open wounds heal more quickly, reducing scarring.

What kind of conditions can be helped by the Infrared Sauna?

Because Infrared Saunas are able to penetrate the subcutaneous fatty layer beneath skin with heat, thereby allowing that layer to release stored toxins and debris, they have been used in the treatment of many ailments and conditions. The following list is just a small sample.

Heavy Metal Detox: Medical doctors and health practitioners worldwide recognize the Infrared Sauna as one of the most effective methods for removing both chemical and heavy metal toxins from the body.
Psoriasis and other skin conditions: According to many forms of holistic medicine, psoriasis and many other skin disorders actually originate in the liver. When certain toxins are ingested, the liver does not have the ability to break down, metabolize and excrete the toxins. The toxins are sent to the skin for elimination via sweat. When the toxins hit the cells just below the skin, the body overproduces skin cells by a factor of 10,000. The toxins come out on the dead skin cells. By sweating regularly and profusely, the toxins are eliminated via the sweat and sebaceous glands as opposed to through the shedding of skin. The dramatic increase in circulation to the skin that comes with infrared sauna use is also a major factor in toning, tightening and rejuvenating the skin.
Weight Issues: Weight loss from perspiration is quickly regained. However, being in a hyper-thermic state due to the increased core body temperature increases blood circulation, especially to the capillaries, converts fat and increases heart rate. It is possible to burn 300 – 600 calories in a single session in an infrared sauna. Some infrared sauna proponents claim that a 30 minute sauna session is equivalent to jogging or rowing for thirty minutes. The removal of heavy metals that were contributing to metabolic imbalance and weight gain can also improve the basal metabolic rate and normalize body weight. The decrease of toxins stored in the subcutaneous fat goes a long way towards increasing a feeling of lightness in the body and willingness to exercise. Also increasing circulation and oxygenation to the glands improves their health and their ability to keep the body balanced.
Heart Disease: Studies done at the Mayo Clinic in the 1990′s were performed on 37 congestive heart failure patients. All 37 displayed improvement and some even got off their medications after 6 weeks of low heat infrared sauna therapy.
Arthritis: In the infrared sauna you are surrounded by the carbon heating element which produces the infrared waves. This allows the heat to penetrate deeply into the joints and muscles to break up lactic acid deposits and to increase circulation to the joint capsules which accelerates soft tissue repair and increases the suppleness, flexibility and pliability of the connective tissue.
Asthma: During the 1980′s infrared sauna therapy studies demonstrated that industrial chemical exposure was alleviated in about 4 weeks. Some regular infrared sauna aficionados claim that inhaler use dropped from 3x / week to 3x / year.
Fibromyalgia (chronic pain disorder): Many holistic doctors and more and more traditional medical doctors are beginning to believe that these types of patients have a very large toxic burden. It is also the case that for many of them, the liver (the major detoxification organ) and the kidneys (the major organ of filtration and excretion) are not functioning optimally. Oftentimes when their toxic load begins to lighten up, many of their symptoms begin to decrease. The infrared sauna is invaluable for accelerating heavy metal and petrochemical excretion.

How hot does it get and how long do I have to stay in there?

Our Infrared Sauna operates at a maximum of 120 degrees as opposed to a traditional sauna, which can be as hot as 200 degrees or more. A session is 30 minutes long. Trust us, in 30 minutes you’ll sweat more than you’ve ever sweat before.

How safe is the Infrared Sauna? Are there any side effects?

The Infrared Sauna is completely safe. This is the exact opposite end of the spectrum from ultraviolet (UV) waves and is nothing like microwaves. UV overexposure has repeatedly been shown to be bad for your skin whether from regularly going to tanning salons or laying in the sun until you burn. Infrared waves are the healthful part of going into the sun. We all need a bit of sun exposure for vitamin D production and other reasons. But when we get too much exposure, the UV damage far outweighs the infrared benefits. With an infrared sauna you can gain the beneficial exposure and not be exposed to the UV at all.

How much water should I drink? Can I become dehydrated?

Plenty. We’ll give you a tall glass of water to drink during your session. We haven’t seen anyone become dehydrated while in the Infrared Sauna or afterward because everyone tends to drink plenty of water. Theoretically, if you spent an excessive amount of time in the sauna you could become dehydrated, but nobody has had that issue because a session is only 30 minutes.

How often can I use the Infrared Sauna?

For some folks who are particularly toxic or unhealthy, once or twice a week might be all they can handle. That being said, most people that are looking to do some cleaning out like to come three times a week during a serious cleanse. We’ve even heard of people who’ve used the infrared sauna everyday for months on end with no ill effects.

What Should I Wear (if anything)?

Because it’s a private room we recommend that people strip down entirely before getting in the sauna. You are welcome to bring a bathing suit if you are more comfortable that way, but anything that enters the sauna is probably going to be soaked. We will give you two towels for your session, one to sit on in the sauna and another to dry yourself off after you are finished.

Are there any contraindications for the Infrared Sauna?

Some health conditions are considered contraindications for using the Infrared Sauna.
If you have any of the following conditions, or any other concerns regarding the use of the Infrared Sauna for health reasons, we recommend that you consult with your doctor. (Also see our Infrared Sauna Contraindications page here.)

Indications where Infrared Sauna sessions are not appropriate:

Congestive Heart Failure
Fever
Hypertension
Hypotension
Impaired Coronary Circulation
Insensitivity to Heat
Infection
Joint Inflammation
Pregnancy
Pacemaker / Defibrillator

Those with chronic conditions or diseases associated with a reduced ability to sweat or perspire should not use the Infrared Sauna. These conditions include: