The health benefits of steam saunas have been recognized for centuries, beginning with sweat lodges, traditional Finnish saunas, and other methods of heating the body and producing perspiration that cleanses the cells and pores. Typically, a heat source such as a wood, electric or gas sauna stove is used to produce the heat in a sauna. But in recent years, a technology known as far infrared has been used to replace the traditional steam sauna with infrared saunas, and some people feel that the result is superior.

How Does A Far Infrared Sauna Work?

Manufacturers say that far infrared saunas use infrared light to heat the skin directly, rather than warming the air first. In an infrared sauna, a heater produces this radiant energy, which is similar to the heat from the sun. 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 promoters state that unlike UV radiation or atomic radiation, infrared radiant heat is safe and beneficial. When infrared rays hit your skin, they transfer heat energy, which proponents say penetrates more than an inch and a half into the body to heal and stimulate tissues, making it an effective therapy for arthritis and tissue injuries.

In addition, the heat causes you to sweat, thus achieving health benefits similar to those from a conventional steam sauna. In fact, some say that the more penetrating and intense heat of a far infrared sauna makes you sweat 2-3 times more, resulting in more comprehensive cleansing.

Reasons to Choose a Far Infrared Sauna

Those who favor the use of the far infrared sauna say that the right frequency of infrared rays triggers a process called resonant absorption, wherein toxins are removed from the cells in our bodies at a higher rate than with a steam sauna. When comparing infrared saunas to standard indoor or outdoor saunas, infrared has several other advantages.

Perhaps one of the most important differences between conventional saunas and far infrared saunas is that they function at a lower heat setting. Standard U.S. saunas typically operate at temperatures ranging from 180F to 190F. This high heat can be uncomfortable or even dangerous for some people, especially those with cardiovascular problems.

In addition, the heavy, thick air can be difficult to breathe, and the evaporation can dry out membranes in the nose and eyes. Sometimes the exceptionally high temperatures make the wood benches and any metal surfaces extremely hot as well, creating potential for burns.

A far infrared sauna functions between 100F and 130F. Claims state that less than 20% of the infrared energy from the heater goes into the air, so not only does the body receive 80% of the heat benefits, some people find that the air is more tolerable. And other than the heaters, there are no hot surfaces to worry about.

Another claim of infrared sauna manufacturers is that an infrared sauna heater uses considerably less electricity than indoor or outdoor saunas that use electricity to heat. Plus, the sauna is usually warm within 10 or 20 minutes, whereas a conventional sauna can take over an hour to reach optimal temperatures.

And infrared uses no water, so you don