Infrared Sauna Therapy

Infrared sauna therapy is now becoming common and popping up at health and wellness facilities across the country. Traditional steam size work by heating the air, which means that the air temperature has to reach close to 200 degrees for the body to actually start sweating.  In contrast, infrared saunas use light to heat up the body directly.  This requires a much lower temperature, closer to 140 degrees.  The infrared heat produced from this light travels below the surface of the skin and hence heats the core from within. 

What is Infrared?

Infrared is a safe wavelength of light which we feel as heat.  There is infrared light all-around us and the largest source that from the sun.  Infrared has different wavelengths.  The infrared spectrum consists of near (NIR), mid (MIR), and far (FIR) infrared waves, each with distinct characteristics and frequency ranges.  The longer the wavelength ( FIR) the more heat it gives off.

3 types of Infrared Sauna Heat and Benefits:

1. Near-infrared: This is the shortest wave length but penetrates the deepest.  Generally nonthermal.  NIR promotes skin rejuvenation, and tissue growth, and boosts immune and cellular health.

2.  MID- red: MIR can penetrate deeper into the body's soft tissue, increasing circulation allowing oxygenation of tissues, and addressing inflammation.  MIR helps to reduce pain and speeds up the healing process.  

3. Far-infrared: These long wavelengths penetrate our bodies and activate our sweat glands.  Far infrared wavelengths raise our body's core temperature.  These wavelengths are incredibly effective at removing toxins hence extremely beneficial for detoxification. 

Depending on what benefits you are seeking from sauna therapy will dictate what type of infrared sauna to use.  Full-spectrum infrared sauna, encompassing all 3 wavelengths, is available now.  At ARA integrative functional medicine in Glen Mills Pennsylvania, we assess to see whether sauna therapy is right for you and if so which type.  Please visit us at https://www.araintegrative.com/ to get more information on the use of this therapy in your healing process. 

Benefits of using an Infrared Sauna:
1.  Detoxification: Infrared heats your body deeply, causing you to sweat profusely, which helps eliminate toxins and heavy metals.  Research shows that infrared saunas may be able to help reduce autoimmunity by the elimination of these toxins.


2.  Improve circulation: Infrared saunas increase blood flow, which can help lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.

3.  Pain relief: Infrared heat can relieve pain by reducing inflammation and swelling.

4.  Relaxation: Just like traditional saunas, sitting in an infrared sauna can promote relaxation and reduce stress.

5.  Improve skin health: Infrared heat can help improve skin health by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation within our skin and its vasculature.

6.  Weight loss: Infrared sauna can help you lose weight by increasing your metabolic rate and by burning calories.

7.  Immune system boost: The heat from an infrared sauna can help increase your body's production of white blood cells, which can boost the immune system.

It is important to use a sauna with ultralow EMF technology that brings EMF levels as low as possible preferably less than 90%.  EMF has been linked to symptoms such as insomnia, loss of appetite, headaches nausea, and brain fog.  The type of filter that the sauna uses is also equally important.  Carbon filters have been shown to be the most effective in increasing core body temperature for deep detoxification.

Preparing To Use a Sauna:
1.  Hydrate: Increase water intake prior to getting into the sauna.  Using a sauna potentiates your likelihood of developing dehydration.  Drink plenty of water during both pre and post-sauna sessions.

2.  Time in the sauna:
Generally, start with 10 to 15-minute sessions every other day when initially introducing your body to infrared sauna therapy.  Every individual is different, so work with a functional medicine provider to establish proper parameters for health benefits that are applicable to you.

3.  Temperature:
The optimal sauna temperature for their health benefits of her between 100 degrees and 130 °F.  A beginner should start at the lower end of this range.

4.  Cooldown:
After each session allow your body to cool down naturally.  It is essential to dry off with a towel to wipe off toxins that you have eliminated as well as rehydrate. Once your body reached its normal core temperature you can then rinse off safely.

At ARA Integrative and Functional Medicine in Glen Mills,  Pennsylvania https://www.araintegrative.com/our team will work with you to help identify whether you are the appropriate candidate for sauna therapy. Not all individuals are ready for detoxification when chronic conditions are present.  Ensuring your gut is healthy and you have an adequate level of micronutrients and electrolytes is important prior to starting this detoxification therapy.  When used as a part of the detoxification protocol in conjunction with diet and supplements, infrared sauna therapy can potentiate healing.

ARA Integrative Functional Medicine in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania now serves Wilmington, Delaware, Mainline Philadelphia, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Chester County, Pennsylvania. and South Jersey.