What is infrared?
Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves. The radiation penetrates the body and heats through a process called conversion , instead of heating the air around you.
Infrared saunas
An infrared sauna is usually a wooden box, or small wooden room, containing several infrared heaters. In a warm environment, an infrared sauna could be open air and still heat the users in the same manner, since the heaters don't rely on the air being hot, but only hot enough such that the body doesn't cool down without sweating. All the same, normally the units are contained in a room, allowing the air to heat and in effect simulating the feel of a traditional sauna. In other words, the sauna box creates the atmosphere of the sauna while the heaters provide the actual infrared therapy.
In an infrared sauna, the infrared heater produces radiant energy, which is the same as the heat from the sun, only without the harmful ultraviolet rays. 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.
Health Benefit Claims
Infrared sauna promoters state that infrared radiant heat is safe and beneficial, claiming that the heat penetrates more than 1.5 inches (40 mm) into the body. The argument is based on the idea that the wavelengths of far infrared waves are typically between 5.8 and 1000 micrometers. This is supposed to correspond to the vibration of the water molecule at 9.4 micrometers . Because these vibrations are similar, say promoters, the infrared rays help knock toxins loose from fat cells into the body, and those toxins are then released through sweating. They claim this heals and stimulates tissues, and that it is effective therapy for arthritis and tissue injuries.
Dr. Sherry Rogers, a fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and a diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine , says in her book Detoxify or Die that an infrared sauna is the only way of removing man-made toxins from your body. Dr. Rogers also states that bio-accumulated toxic load in the human body is responsible for all disease not attributable to bacteria or virus.
Because the skin is the largest organ of the body, regularly sweating in a far infrared sauna can help decrease the toxic load and contribute to better health and vitality. One of the ways that infrared sauna use is beneficial for a wide range of ailments is through the increase in circulation that it causes in the body. Increased circulation is often believed to be helpful in a variety of ways, and is generally regarded as beneficial for health.
Controversy
There has been some controversy over the health benefits of infrared saunas. It should be noted that there is no significant claim by anyone that they are in any way unsafe. Rather, the controversy is over the type of benefits that an infrared sauna can provide. Also, this debate is typically held between those in the mainstream medical profession, and those in the alternative health profession. One of the central issues is about the idea of "detoxification". Many people, including those in the alternative health community, believe that there is a buildup of chemicals and other contaminates in our body, and that it is important to try to remove them. Mainstream medical professionals have argued however, that detoxification is a misnomer, because they have seen little evidence to show removing buildup is possible or important, or that products such as infrared saunas can help. Mainstream medical professionals do say, however, that sweating is always good for you, provided that you stay hydrated.
One of the finer points of the disagreement is that both sides agree that there is chemical buildup. The National Geographic Magazine recently published an article] on the chemical buildup in the body, which exemplified the pervasive nature of chemical exposure in a post-industrial society. This article does not, however, take the conclusion that all of these chemicals have identifiable negative impacts, or that they can be cleansed in any particular way.
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