Infrared Ray Sauna Health Benefits
Researchers in Japan have been documenting the effectiveness of far infrared ray (FIR) saunas. Apparently using FIR saunas can raise one's body temperature in a controlled and healthy way, which induces better tissue function. The benefits of FIR sauna therapy are many. Below is a brief list of some of them.
Asthma: May be cleared up (like moving to Arizona's dry air). A case study was reported in which a 41 year old male suffered from toxic occupational asthma, headaches, depression and other complaints. Serum analysis revealed an extremely high level of toluene (a toxin) and antibodies to isocyanate, TMA and formaldehyde (toxins). He was placed on a FIR therapy program and his lungs cleared up within 3 days. After 52 days, his health had improved by 85%. Post treatment analysis revealed no detectable levels of any volatile compounds.
Back Pain: Low level heat therapy is more effective than over-the-counter oral medications for relieving low back pain, according to the results of a nationwide study led by a sports medicine researcher at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. In the six-month study involving 371 patients, participants were given the maximum recommended non-prescription dosages of ibuprofen and acetaminophen or low level heat therapy for two days to treat acute low back pain. The results showed that the low level heat therapy provided significantly more pain relief beginning on the first day of treatment than the oral analgesics and that the effects lasted more than 48 hours after the treatment was completed. "Confirming that this treatment is effective is important to patients because it gives them a treatment option that does not have the potential risk to the liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract than can accompany inappropriate analgesic usage," said Dr. Nadler, an associate of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the medical school.
Cellulite: Cellulite is a gel-like substance made up of fat, water and wastes, which are trapped in pockets below the skin. FIR sauna therapy can assist this condition, as profuse sweating helps clear this form of unwanted debris from the body. European beauty specialists confirm that a sauna will greatly speed any anti-cellulite program. Because FIR saunas have at least twice the depth of heat penetration into cellulite combined with up to 10 times the level of heating in these tissues, they are significantly more effective than any conventional sauna at removing cellulite.
Diver Decompression Sickness (Bends): 16 divers were compressed in a high pressure chamber . Each underwent one dive in the chamber after a 30 minute far infrared sauna therapy session at 149F (65C) and one dive without the therapy. The results showed that circulating bubbles after a dive were decreased significantly in the FIR treatment group.
Flexibility: A FIR Sauna is perfect as a "heat therapy room" for athletes looking for a pre-workout warm-up to warm up muscles and increase flexibility, helping to prevent injury. It's also ideal for pre-warm-up for physical therapy and massage therapy, or for a relaxing, wind-down at the end of a stress-filled day.
In 12 patient study of neonates with congestive heart failure due to ventricular septal defect, clinical signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure decreased, urine nitrate levels decreased and 75% of patients avoided surgical repair.
Lung Disease (Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease): 13 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease who had breathlessness despite repeated treatments underwent 15 minute FIR sauna sessions once per day for four weeks. The results showed improved pulmonary health, breathlessness, exercise tolerance and quality of life.
Muscle Spasm: Muscle spasms have long been observed to be reduced through the use of heat, whether they be secondary to underlying skeletal, joint, or neuro-pathological conditions. This result is possibly produced by the combined effect of heat on both primary and secondary afferent nerves from spindle cells and from its effects on Golgi tendon organs. The results produced demonstrated their peak effect within the therapeutic temperature range obtainable with FIR heat.
Menopause: FIR therapy relieves menopause related symptoms: relieved chills, nervousness, depression, dizziness, head & stomach aches.
Hopefully this list of health benefits will be useful. More positive results keep coming in from users and researches around the world so we will have to keep an eye on incoming information.
To learn more regarding the various health benefits discovered by the users of far infrared ray (FIR) saunas visit HEALTHandMED.com