What is Infrared?
What exactly is radiant heat? No need to worry- it has nothing to do with either ultraviolet radiation (which gives you a sunburn and damages your skin) or atomic radiation (the kind from a nuclear bomb).
    Radiant heat is simply a form of energy that heats objects directly through a process called conversion, without having to heat the air in between. Radiant heat is also called infrared energy (IR). The infrared segment of the electromagnetic spectrum is divided into 3 segments by wave length, measured in microns or micrometers (a micron = 1/1,000,000 of meter): 0.076 – 1.5 microns = near or close; 1.5 – 5.6 = intermediate; 5.6-1,000= far or long wave infrared. The infrared segment of the electromagnetic spectrum occurs just below or "infra" to red light, which we perceive as heat. Our sun produces most of its energy output in the infrared segment of the spectrum. Our atmosphere allows IR rays in the 7-14 micron range to safely reach the earth’s surface. When warmed, the earth radiates infrared rays in the 7-14 micron band with its peak output at 10 microns.
   The sun is the principal source of radiant energy that we experience daily. Have you ever been outside on a partly cloudy spring day of about 50 deg? And felt quite comfortable when suddenly the sun was obscured by a cloud? Although the air temperature had not had time to drop, you felt chilled, as the cloud would not let the warming infrared rays through to reach you. The infrared heat in your FIR heat sauna is just like the heat from our sun or that which our own bodies produce as they burn fuel to keep us warm.

The source of infrared heat in your infrared sauna is actually a ceramic tube or cube, warmed by an electrical wire embedded within it. This zircon ceramic emitting tube is shielded by a metallic grill that is covered by a soft coating of suede-ex, and is safe to touch while it is operating.

Infrared sauna saunas use infrared radiant energy to directly penetrate the body’s tissues a depth of over 11/2". It’s energy output is tuned to correspond so closely to the body’s own radiant energy that our bodies absorb more than 90% of the infrared waves that reach our skin.
   A conventional sauna must rely only on indirect means of heat: First, on convection (air currents) and then conduction (direct contact of hot air with the skin) to produce its heating effect on us. In infrared sauna less than 20% of the infrared energy heats the air, leaving over 80% available to be directly converted to heat within our bodies. Thus an IR based system can worm its user(s) to much greater depth and much more efficiently than a conventional sauna, as its energy output is primarily used to convert energy directly to heat in us and not create excessively hot air that then only heats the skin superficially. This crucial difference explains many of the unprecedented benefits reported to be available through an infrared sauna. The infrared energy applied in these thermal systems may induce up to 2-3 times the sweat volume of a hot-air sauna while operating at a significantly cooler air temperature range of 110 to 130 F. vs. 180 to 235F for hot air saunas. The lower heat range is safer for those concerned about cardiovascular risk factors that might be adversely affected by the higher temperatures encountered in old-style saunas. Researchers report beneficial effects from hour-long whole-body infrared exposure in two groups of hypertensive patients that they studied in 1989 including 24-hour long increase in peripheral blood flow and decreases in the blood pressure.

It is also distinctly more pleasant to breathe air that is from 50-125F cooler. Due to its "user-friendly" nature, people naturally prefer to use the infrared sauna and will continue to do so on a regular basis due to the ease of breathing much cooler air while feeling warm as they choose, and to a distinctive feeling of well-being reported by users as an after effect. Your infrared sauna may even be used with the door fully open if the only effect desired is infrared penetration or if a very cool no-sweat experience is desired as in a pre-activating warm-up while fully clothed. This approach might be used in warming up prior to stretching, working out, running or exposure to cold weather.

   An infrared sauna is easier as well as more comfortable to use than old-fashioned hot-air saunas. Hot-air saunas require extensive warm-up periods of 30-60 minutes, making them much less practical than the modern infrared sauna, which warms up in only 5-10 minutes from room temperature. Consistent and convenient at home use is thus, much more likely with an infrared sauna. Significantly lower operating costs makes your infrared sauna more desirable than a regular sauna. A 20-minute session, including a 10 minute warm-up in your infrared sauna, costs about 5 cents of electricity. A comparable session with a full warm-up in a conventional sauna costs about $.75 - $1.00. Daily usage of an infrared sauna will raise your electricity bill by only $1.50 a month compared to $22.50 to $30.00 a month in a conventional sauna, if each is used for 20 minutes after warm-up.
   Your infrared sauna brings you the same infrared rays experienced in the traditional American Indian sweat lodge and bring them to you in a much more convenient and easily used form, the privacy or your on home. The cleansing and purifying benefits attributed to the traditional sweat lodges are now available for daily purification without the time-consuming and extremely labor-intensive set-up process that a sweat lodge requires.

                            Passive Cardiovascular Conditioning Effect
Your infrared sauna makes it possible for people who are otherwise unable to exert themselves or who won’t follow through on an exercising and conditioning program to achieve a cardiovascular training effect. This also allows for more variety in any ongoing training program.
" Many of us who run do so to place a demand on our cardiovascular system, not to build big leg muscles. Regular use of a sauna may impart a similar stress on the cardiovascular system, and its regular use may be as effective, as a means of cardiovascular conditioning and burning of calories and regular exercise." As reported in the Journal of American Medical Association, August 7, 1987.

Due to the deep penetration, over 1-1/2" into the skin, of the infrared rays generated by your infrared sauna there is a heating effect deep in the muscular tissues and the internal organs. The body responds to this deep-heating effect via hypothalamic-induced increase in both heart volume and rate. This beneficial heart stress leads to a sought-after cardiovascular training and conditioning effect. Medical research confirms the use of a sauna provides cardiovascular conditioning as the body works to cool itself and involves substantial increases in heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate. As a confirmation of the validity of this form of cardiovascular conditioning, extensive research by NASA in the early 1980’s led to the conclusion that infrared stimulation of cardiovascular function would be the ideal way to maintain cardiovascular conditioning in American astronauts during long space flight. Blood flow during whole-body hypothermia is reported to rise from a normal 5-7 pints per minute to as much as 13 pints per minute.

"The 1980’s was the decade of high-impact aerobics classes and high-mileage training. Yet there was something elitist about the way exercise was prescribed: only strenuous workouts would do, you had to raise your heart rate to between X and Y, the only way was to ‘go for the burn". And such strictures insured that most ‘real’ exercisers were relatively young and in good shape to begin with., Many, many Americans got caught up in the fitness boom, but probably just as many fell by the wayside. As we’ve reported, recent research shows that you don’t have to run marathons to become fit- that burning just 1,000 calories a week…is enough. Anything goes, as long as it burns these calories." Reported in the Wellness Letter, October 1990, from the University of California Berkeley. 

Infrared Sauna

  IR thermal systems use infrared energy to penetrate the body’s tissue to a depth of over 1 ½". Tests have shown that the energy output is tuned so closely to the body’s own radiant energy that our bodies absorb close to 93% of the infrared waves that reach our skin, known as conversion. By comparison, conventional saunas must rely only on indirect means of heat: first, on convection (air currents) and then, conduction (direct contact of hot air with the skin) to produce its heating effects. The IR sauna is able to produce upwards to three times the sweat volume at much lower temperatures (110-130F vs. 180-230F). The IR sauna is significantly less costly to operate and does not heat up the area outside of the sauna.

Sweat Analysis
Lead    Nickel    Copper    Zinc      Magnesium
8.4ug    1.2ug    .11mg    1.3mg      2.0mg

Iron    Calcuim     Sodium     Mang    Cadmium
.26mg    22mg    .84mg    .019mg      6.2mg 
source: Green Cross Hospital 

Far Infrared Saunas are able to remove heavy metal toxins (sweat analysis chart above), that accumulate due to sluggish elimination or exposure. Many clinics’ detoxification programs utilize IR Saunas for mercury toxicity, which they claim, is eliminated through the stool, hair and urine.
Anyone experiencing the following symptoms that are often linked to toxicity can benefit greatly from using an infrared sauna.

Allergies Acne Anxiety Burning Skin Brain Fog Chronic Fatigue Depression Eczema

Frequent Colds Insomnia Memory Loss Mood Swings Muscle Pain Joint Pain Concentration

The same combination of "resonant absorption" and low heat that effectively removes heavy metal toxicity from the body, also improves the immune system. A typical infrared sauna session causes a brief 1-3 degree increase in body temperature. Fever is the body’s defense against bacteria, microbes and consequent infection. This beneficial side effect triggers the production of white blood cells (leukocytes) by your bone marrow and killer T cells by your thymus, resulting in strengthening the immune system. 

Benefits of an Infrared sauna treatment

• Improves Skin- The only known antidote for sunburn.
• Burns Calories-Once heat conditioned, burns as much as 600 calories in 30 minutes.
• Removes Toxins- Even promotes mercury detoxification!
• Relieves Pain- Arthritis, muscle spasms, joint stiffness, sprains.
• Strengthens Cardiovascular System- Heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate increase, while diastolic blood pressure drops.
• Reduces Stress/Fatigue
• Strengthens Immune System
• Reduces Swelling of Prostate in Men
• Controls Excessive Leukorrhea in Woman (PMS & Yeast)

Contraindications:  Lupus/MS sufferers should be carefully monitored. Pregnant and nursing mothers should not utilize sauna. 

BENEFITS REPORTED
Weight Loss: Infrared heat saunas burn 300-600 calories in just one 30 minute session!
Here’s how many calories a 150 pound person normally burns up in 30 minutes of exercise:
  Sport                                                            Calories
Marathon Running ………………………….... 590
Vigorous Racquet Ball…………………………510
Rowing (peak effort)……………………………600
Swimming (crawl stroke)……………………….300
Jogging………………………………………….300
Tennis (fast game)……………………………..265
Chopping Wood……………………………….265
Cycling (10 mph)……………………………….225
Golfing (without a cart)………………………..150
Walking (3.5mph)………………………………150
Bowling………………………………………….120

Some weight loss authorities believe that our bodies use fat to dilute toxins. As an infrared heat sauna is an unsurpassed expeller of toxins, it is also a great way to get rid of any fat our bodies are using to dilute toxins we are storing.

Beauty: Your infrared sauna is excellent for increasing blood circulation to the skin, which is essential for beautiful, youthful, glowing skin! A new "inner Glow" as the skin is free of accumulated dirt and dry skin cells, due to deep cleansing of impurities!
Help acne, eczema, psoriasis, burns and any skin lesions or cuts.

• Open wounds heal quicker with reduced scarring.
• Removes roughness, leaving skin baby smooth and soft again.
• Firms and improves skin tone and elasticity.

Scars on Skin: Scars fully formed, even keloids, may be gradually softened. Burns and other wounds or incisions may heal with significantly reduced scarring.
Cellulite: Cellulite is a gel-like substance made up of fat, water and wastes which are trapped in pockets below the skin. An infrared sauna can assist this condition, as profuse sweating helps clear this form of unwanted debris from the body. European Beauty Specialists confirm: a sauna will greatly speed any anti-cellulite program! Due to at least twice the depth of heat penetration into cellulite combined with up to 10 times the level of heating in these tissues your infrared sauna can be significantly more effective than any conventional sauna.
Relieve Pain: Effective for arthritis, back pain, muscle spasm, headache, etc.
Injuries: Radiant heat helps with sprains, strains, arthritis, muscle spasm and pain. If you are an athlete, your infrared sauna is all good news. It allows oxygen debt to be repaid more quickly. That’s likely to lead to improved and quicker healing of sprains and muscle pain for you!
Runners: Your infrared sauna is the perfect solution for keeping up your cardiovascular fitness while avoiding a run on a difficult weather day – days you may want to just skip a workout or when you need to rest to allow an injury to heal. Also, your infrared sauna is great for warming up before stretching or staring any vigorous activity. You simply get in your infrared sauna with your clothes on and allow the infrared rays to pour right through your clothing until you just begin to break a sweat. Now you are pre-warmed for stretching, skiing, running in cold conditions, etc. For the maximal stretching benefit from this system you will need a 40-minute sauna before your stretching. Research indicates that stretching after a 40-minute sauna session should produce a ½% permanent increase in your flexibility. Even one 20-minute session may create temporary increase in your flexibility of up to 10%. As a warm-up, your infrared sauna should help to prevent injuries and enhance your ability to stay with your training program or enjoy any outdoor activity. Your infrared sauna is also great cold weather post-activity warm-up. Especially for any frostbitten areas.
Relaxation & Enjoyment: Remove stress in the comfortable warm temperature with a fresh air vent for easy breathing.  

                Outstanding Caloric Consumption and Weight Control
In Guyton’s Textbook of Medical Physiology, we find that producing one gram of sweat requires 0.586 kcal. The JAMA citation referred to above goes on to state that, "A moderately conditioned person can easily sweat off 500 gms. In a sauna, consuming nearly 300 kcal- the equivalent of running 2-3 miles. A heat-conditioned person can easily sweat off 600-800-kcal with no adverse effects. While the weight of the water loss can be regained by dehydration with water, the calories consumed will not
be." Since an infrared sauna helps generate two to three times the sweat produced in a hot-air sauna, the implications for increased caloric consumption are quite impressive. Assuming "a sauna" as mentioned in JAMA, to last for 30 minutes, some interesting comparisons may be drawn. Two of the highest calorie output forms of exercise are rowing and marathon running. Peak output on a rowing machine or during a marathon run burns about 600 calories in 30 minutes. 
   Your infrared sauna can, thus, play a pivotal role in both weight control and cardiovascular conditioning. This would be easily valuable for those who don’t exercise and those who can’t exercise, yet want effective weight control and fitness maintenance program and the benefits that regular exercise can contribute to such a program.

Musculoskeletal Cases- success reported with Infrared treatments by medical researchers:

• The increased peripheral circulation provides the transport needed to help evacuate the edema which can help end inflammation, decrease pain and help speed healing.

                            Blood Circulation
All of the following ailments may be associated to some degree with poor circulation and, thus, may respond well to the increased peripheral dilation associated with IR application:

Post-operative Edema - treatment with infrared has been so successful that hospital stays were reported to have been reduced by 25%.

Peripheral Occlusive Disease – "The goal is to maintain an optimal blood flow rate to the affected part... In general the temperature should be maintained at the highest level which does not increase the circulatory discrepancy as shown by cyanosis and pain." Therapeutic Heat and Cold pp.456-7