What exactly is an INFRARED SAUNA and how does it work?
Firstly....it is technically not a sauna, this is why we started to refer to them as INFRARED ROOMS. The word SAUNA is a Finnish word that means "heat bath", that can be dry or wet, and with the use stones to create steam when water is introduced. Since the word "sauna" means heat-bath, you may be shocked to learn that infrared saunas do not technically emit heat! That's right. In fact, the panels that are in an infrared sauna are actually referred to as emitters. Infrared emitters
There is a general consensus in the sauna community that nobody calls them "infrared saunas" and it is not for any other reason, but a technicality. There is no heat.
When you enter an infrared room (we will refer to them as rooms from here) that is already "warm" the warmth you are feeling is largely from the woods, materials, and moisture in the air that is collecting the infrared waves. Infrared is actually a light....or really a wavelength, technically a vibration. (Too much science to go over here)
So what is the point of an infrared room and why are they popular?
Infrared rooms act like microwaves. Yes. It has been said. A microwave heats things and objects that are in contact with the microwaves that aggressively vibrate water molecules found in food. Yes it works on other objects, but most efficiently water...this is the ah-ha moment...
Water - We are mostly water and infrared energy is a relatively safe and efficient way to target water in our muscles and all over our body. We react when bathing in infrared by expelling our water, we sweat and sweating is good for you.
They became popular simply because of their availability to the public and the ease of installation. They are simple to construct, because they only require one lower bench (no heat) and the emitters are part of the wall construction. Traditional saunas require a few more steps with a separate heater, upper benches, more insulation and venting are all very important. As well, all the safety requirements needed to put a hot stove inside a wood room. Infrared rooms have none of these requirements.
ARE INFRARED SAUNAS SAFE?
In the words of Douglas Adams...."mostly harmless". This is a bit of a grey area since the use of them is relatively new, there are very few studies and no long term studies on the affects it has on humans.
However, there is a well reviewed study that researches the affects that EMF has on tissue cells. "Several studies have reported that exposure to EMF results in oxidative stress in many tissues of the body. Exposure to EMF is known to increase free radical concentrations and traceability and can affect the radical couple recombination." View Study
It is important to know that most of the claims being made for infrared being used in the manner of a sauna room are mainly false. There are no real long term studies that support these claims. The claims being made for SAUNAS are from a long term study that spanned over 20 years, but it was based on temperatures of 175 degrees F+, using traditional stove heaters and using water regularly, a traditional Finnish sauna (because who else would do such a study) View Study
The readers of the article should know that we are in the sauna business and fully support the sauna community, including infrared users, and as mentioned, sweating is a great way for your body to remove toxins and increase blood flow, increase heart rate and overall improve your health.
