INFRARED SAUNAS – Why you should add them to your self-care practice - Part. 2
If you’re just joining us now for part 2, here is a little recap from part 1:
What exactly is Far Infrared sauna technology and how does it work in the sauna?
Infrared heat is one part of the electromagnetic spectrum. It occurs naturally as the non-harmful component of the sun's radiation. Unlike harmful UV radiation, infrared heat is safe.
Within infrared, there are near, mid and far-infrared wavelengths. Infrared saunas employ Far infrared, also known as FIR. Far infrared is the longest wavelength which penetrates the fat cells causing vasodilation, where the fat cells vibrate to expel toxins, resulting in the greatest levels of detoxification and stimulate your metabolism to aid in weight-loss.
Now that we have a basic understanding of the behind the scenes, let’s get to the next round of good stuff…
Chromotherapy
Chromotherapy is the science of using colours to adjust body vibrations to frequencies that result in health and harmony. Each colour possesses frequencies of a specific vibration, and each vibration is related to different physical symptoms.
’It is a system that has been used for thousands of years in a variety of different natural therapies. Each colour has a specific (and fascinating) benefit…see them below:
Red - believed to increase the pulse, raise blood pressure and increase the rate of breathing. Red would be applied to support circulatory and nervous functions.
Strong Pink - acts as a cleanser, strengthening veins and arteries.
Pink - activates and eliminates impurities in the blood stream.
Orange - a mixture of red and yellow. Activates and eliminates localized fat. Assists with asthma and bronchitis.
Strong Yellow - strengthens the body and activates internal tissues.
Yellow - the brightest colour used in chromotherapy, has been used to purify the skin, help with indigestion, strengthen the nervous system, treat glandular diseases, hepatitis and lymphatic disorders and assist metabolism.
Green - a colour associated with harmony, provides a neutral, positive calming effect.
Strong Green - provides anti-infectious, anti-septic and regenerative stimulation.
Strong Blue - lubricates joints, helps address stress, nervous tension and infections.
Blue - promotes relaxation and calm. Blue exhibits tranquilizing qualities often used to relieve headaches and migraines, colds, stress, nervous tension, rheumatism, stomach pains, muscle cramps and liver disorders. Blue is thought to have a positive effect on all kinds of pain.
Indigo - is used to address conditions involving the eyes, ears and nose. It has a calming, sedative effect.
Violet - is used to calm the nervous system, soothe organs and relax muscles. Violet has meditative qualities and is often used to treat conditions of the lymphatic system and spleen, as well as urinary disorders and psychosis.
A boost for the immune system
Infrared saunas have been known to stop an early stage cold in its tracks!
When we start to get sick our body will respond naturally with a fever, the reason it does this is to kill off any virus or bacteria that are temperature sensitive. So, following this train of thought we can think of an infrared sauna session as an induced fever, where the exposure to high temperatures are what give our cells the ability to destroy virus infected and tumour cells.
The infrared heat also increases white blood cells by stimulating cell regeneration (also see anti-aging). White blood cells are among our first line of defense during an illness, coming to the site of infection to protect against foreign cells and bacteria.
Heart health and blood pressure
In recent years there has been a fair amount of interest in how infrared saunas can help with blood pressure and heart health. Currently Japan and Finland are leading the way with research in this field and the news is positive!
The increase in heart rate that the sauna provides; which we likened to moderate exercise in part one, can help with artery stiffness and blood pressure levels. This works in several ways. By gently elevating your heart rate, blood circulation is improved, and over time, plasticity can return to blood vessels and arteries. Also related to this is the calorie burning aspect, which can help with weight loss and resulting blood pressure stabilisation.
Another clinical study in 2005 concluded that regular infrared sessions were able to lower blood pressure via dilation of the blood vessels and reducing the volume of their inner lining which in turn helped to increase circulation and restore a healthy blood pressure.
Further to that a Japanese study that focussed on vascular endothelial function or how well the thin membrane that lines the heart and blood vessels move, concluded that regular sessions improved this function and improved the clinical symptoms of heart disease.
Look younger with regular sessions
One particular study in 2006 revealed that exposure to infrared (without the harmful UV rays) helped to increase collagen and elastin production through the stimulation of cell regeneration and on top of that participants reported having smoother skin with improved complexions.
The added relaxation benefits can help to reduce stress hormone production like cortisol, which contribute to the aging process plus when you sleep better, your body has more time to regenerate itself naturally, cells included!
AND…
Here are a few extra interesting facts about infrared saunas!
Far infrared heat can penetrate into the skin about an inch and a half to two inches deep
Far infrared saunas can help clear cellulite
Certain alternative healing practices such as palm healing, a practice with some 3,000 years of tradition behind it in China, rely on the human body’s ability to emit far infrared radiant energy. +
NASA has utilized far infrared therapy to help maintain fitness levels of astronauts in weightless environments. +
If you think that an Infrared Sauna session could benefit you book an appointment by calling the clinic on (03) 5429 3610 or book online by clicking the link below.
‘ https://www.sunlighten.com/blog/chromotherapy-sauna-benefits-color-therapy-explained/
*http://www.sunlighten.com/pdfs/UMKC-Sauna-Study.pdf
~ https://www.goodhealthsaunas.com/health-benefits/heart-disease/
^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11869837
# https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2687728/
> https://neosauna.com/infrared-sauna-therapy-for-anti-aging-to-reduce-your-biological-age/
+ http://personalinfraredsauna.com/36-fascinating-facts-about-far-infrared-saunas-far-infrared-energy/