Infrared Sauna

For detox, relaxation, circulation and immunity

  • What are infrared sauna dangers? Overheating is possible, but not common because this is a low temperature sauna.

  • Can infrared sauna remove toxins from the body? Yes. Mercury in small amounts along with ammonia, urea and some electrolytes can be eliminated using infrared sauna.

  • What are infrared sauna benefits and disadvantages? There are no disadvantages as this treatment is very safe. Benefits include detoxification, stress reduction, improved lymphatic flow and circulation.

10. Infrared Sauna copy

Infrared Spectrum of Healing Light

Far infrared, an invisible part of the light spectrum that is used as a deep penetrating heat that inspires sweating at lower temperatures than conventional saunas. It absorbs easily and can aid in improving circulation and detoxification.

To sweat or not to sweat…this is the question!

Infrared saunas differs from traditional saunas in that they use infrared radiant energy to directly penetrate into the body’s tissues to produce perspiration.  Traditional saunas use steam to heat the air inside the sauna, which then heats your body until you begin to perspire.  In order for this to be effective, temperatures would need to reach in the upwards of 190 degrees Fahrenheit.  Infrared saunas only need a temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to obtain the same effect.  This lower temperature makes the environment more tolerable and allows you to breathe easier.

detoxification

Sweating in general has many essential functions in the human body one of the most important of which is that of detoxification or elimination of various toxic elements. The promotion of sweating through various methods would therefore potentially promote enhanced detoxification of certain toxins.  Infrared light saunas heat the surface of the skin promoting toxic elimination; infrared sauna acts differently than a “regular sauna”

Researchers discovered the following:
  • In individuals with higher exposure or body burden, sweat generally exceeded plasma or urine concentrations, and dermal could match or surpass urinary daily excretion

  • Arsenic dermal excretion was several fold higher in arsenic-exposed individuals than in unexposed controls.

  • Cadmium was more concentrated in sweat than in blood plasma.

  • Sweat lead was associated with high-molecular-weight molecules, and in an interventional study, levels were higher with endurance compared with intensive exercise.

  • Mercury levels normalized with repeated saunas in a case report.

More Potential Benefits

Because infrared rays penetrate the body through conversion, there is a deep healing effect in both the muscle tissues and internal organs without putting too much burden on the heart.

Our body reacts to the increased heating through the natural cooling process of perspiring.  Though the perspiration process, acid and waste residue like toxins, sodium, alcohol, nicotine, cholesterol and the potentially carcinogenic heavy metals are potentially and partially removed from the cells (especially zinc, lead, nickel, cadmium, etc).  the pores of our skin open and discharge waste products shedding any old skin cells leaving through skin glowing and clean, with improved tone, elasticity, texture, and color.

Over the last 25 years, Japanese and Chinese researchers and clinicians have completed extensive research on infrared treatments and have reported many provocative findings.  In Japan, there is an “infrared society” composed of medical doctors and physical therapists dedicated to furthering infrared research.  Their findings support the health benefits of infrared therapy as a method of healing.

Benefits include, but are not limited to:

–     Pain relief from rheumatoid arthritis

–     General relaxation and stress reduction

–     Relaxing muscle spasms

–     Increasing blood circulation

–     Cardiovascular conditioning

–     Clears rashes, acne

–     Removes toxins and mineral waste

–     May improve metabolic rate and promotes water weight loss

–     Reduces stress and fatigue

–     Enhances skin tone

The researchers concluded, “Sweating deserves consideration for toxic element detoxification.”

An infrared sauna uses infrared heaters to emit infra red light experienced as radiant heat that is absorbed by the surface of the skin.[1] Traditional saunas heat the body primarily by conduction and convection from the heated air and by radiation of the heated surfaces in the sauna room.

a groundbreaking 2011 study published in the Archives of Environmental and Contamination Toxicology, which explored the effects of bio-accumulated toxic elements within the human body and their method of excretion:

“…toxic elements were found to differing degrees in each of blood, urine and sweat. Serum levels for most metals and metalloids were comparable with those found in other studies in the scientific literature. Many toxic elements appeared to be preferentially excreted through sweat.  Presumably stored in tissues, some toxic elements readily identified in the perspiration of some participants were not found in their serum.  Induced sweating appears to be a potential method for elimination of many toxic elements from the human body.” (1)

Sweating Also Removes The Insidious Petrochemicals BPA and Phthalates

But it gets better.  Two additional studies published in 2012 found that sweating enhances the elimination of dangerous endocrine-disrupting petrochemicals.

The first study, involving 20 subjects made to undergo induced sweating, found that the ubiquitous petrochemical Bisphenol A (BPA) was excreted through sweat, even in some individuals with no BPA detected in their serum or urine samples. (4) This clearly indicates that the body uses sweat to rid itself of the BPA that has bio-accumulated in tissue.

The second study by the same research group, also involving 20 subjects, found that phthalate, a plasticizer tied to breast cancer and various other conditions associated with endocrine disruption, was present in concentrations twice as high in their sweat compared to their urine, and in several individuals was found in their sweat but not in their blood serum, “…suggesting the possibility of phthalate retention and bioaccumulation.”

The researchers concluded:

“Induced perspiration may be useful to facilitate elimination of some potentially toxic phthalate compounds including DEHP and MEHP.”(5)

1.     Infrared Sauna^ Sagar Naik (2008-09-21). “Infrared Radiation”. Scribd.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.

2.     Stephen J Genuis, Detlef Birkholz, Ilia Rodushkin, Sanjay Beesoon. Blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study: monitoring and elimination of bioaccumulated toxic elements. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2011 Aug ;61(2):344-57. Epub 2010 Nov 6. PMID: 21057782

3.     Margaret E Sears, Kathleen J Kerr, Riina I Bray. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in sweat: a systematic review. J Environ Public Health. 2012 ;2012:184745. Epub 2012 Feb 22. PMID: 22505948

4.     Stephen J Genuis, Sanjay Beesoon, Detlef Birkholz, Rebecca A Lobo. Human excretion of bisphenol A: blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study. J Environ Public Health. 2012 ;2012:185731. Epub 2011 Dec 27. PMID: 22253637

5.     Stephen J Genuis, Sanjay Beesoon, Rebecca A Lobo, Detlef Birkholz. Human elimination of phthalate compounds: blood, urine, and sweat (BUS) study. ScientificWorldJournal. 2012 ;2012:615068. Epub 2012 Oct 31. PMID: 23213291

6.     Jump up^ Sagar Naik (2008-09-21). “Infrared Radiation”. Scribd.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.

7.     Jump up^ Oosterveld FG, Rasker JJ, Floors M, et al. (January 2009). “Infrared sauna in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. A pilot study showed good tolerance, short-term improvement of pain and stiffness, and a trend towards long-term beneficial effects”.Clin. Rheumatol. 28 (1): 29–34. doi:10.1007/s10067-008-0977-yPMID 18685882.

8.     Jump up^ http://www.inbody.co.nz/contents/en-us/d14.html

9.     Jump up^ http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12265/6-benefits-of-infrared-sauna-therapy.html

10.  Jump up^ Dean W (August 1981). “Effect of sweating” (PDF). JAMA 246 (6): 623.doi:10.1001/jama.1981.03320060027013PMID 7253113. – letter

11.  Jump up^ Searle AJ (January 1982). “Effects of the sauna” (PDF). JAMA 247 (1): 28.doi:10.1001/jama.1982.03320260016012PMID 7053434. – letter

DISCLAIMER

The Infrared rays emitted by your sauna are reported to offer a wide range of possible therapeutic benefits. However, we make no claims or guarantees whatsoever that infrared sauna will cure or effectively treat any medical or health condition. You should check with your medical doctor as to whether or not infrared sauna is safe for your health or medical condition.   THIS THERAPY MAY BE CONSIDERED EXPERIMENTAL/INVESTIGATIONAL (SEE BELOW):

Investigational” or “Experimental

“Investigational” or “experimental” refers to the use of a service, procedure or supply that is not recognized by your insurance company and/or the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and/or the AMA (American Medical Association) or other appropriate boards and/or governing bodies or organizations (all of the aforementioned considered as “PLAN”), as standard medical care for the condition, disease, illness or injury being treated. A service, procedure or supply includes, but is not limited to the diagnostic service, treatment, facility, equipment, drug or device. A service is considered investigational (experimental) if any of the following criteria are met:

1. The services, procedures or supplies requiring Federal or other Governmental body approval, such as drugs and devices, do not have unrestricted market approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or final approval from any other governmental regulatory body for use in treatment of a specified condition. Any approval that is granted as an interim step in the regulatory process is not a substitute for final or unrestricted market approval.

2. There is insufficient or inconclusive medical and scientific evidence to permit the Plan to evaluate the therapeutic value of the service, procedure or supply. (Adequate evidence is defined as at least two documents of medical and scientific evidence that indicate that the proposed treatment is likely to be beneficial to the member.)

3. There is inconclusive medical and scientific evidence in peer-reviewed medical literature that the service, procedure or supply has a beneficial effect on health outcomes.

4. The service, procedure or supply under consideration is not as beneficial as any established alternatives and is not a replacement for the standard of medical care for your health condition(s).

5. There is insufficient information or inconclusive scientific evidence that, when used in a non-investigational setting, the service, procedure or supply has a beneficial effect on health outcomes or is as beneficial as any established alternatives.

If any portion of this notice is deemed unenforceable the remainder will remain potentially enforceable and in effect.

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*DISCLAIMER: Dr. Michael Wald is a doctor of chiropractic with a masters degree in nutrition. He is also a Certified Dietitian Nutritionist and a Certified Nutritional Specialist and Sports Nutritionist. Dr. Wald is certified to provide acupuncture in several states, but not New York. Dr. Wald has two board certifications in nutrition. Dr. Michael Wald earned his MD diploma, but did not complete a residency and is thus not licensed to practice medicine. The information on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not to substitute for sound medical or health advice. Information contained within this website may change at any time without prior notice. The information on this website is under copyright, 2021.