Infrared saunas are hyped for all sorts of impressive benefits. They’re used by celebrities on the regular, plastered all over Instagram, and health and fitness enthusiasts love them! Unlike the saunas of old which use mists and uncoordinated temperature systems to heat up an entire room, infrared technology is more targeted and technologically advanced.
As impressive as the system is though, anyone can make a claim. Science is where one gets to test those claims. Visiting an infrared sauna in Canada, you may come away feeling absolutely wonderful. Even so, whether that’s scientifically measurable to some might not be so clear. So when the infrared light turns off and the sweat wiped away, what are the actual benefits of infrared saunas – that’s what we hope to address in this article.
If you’re going to an infrared sauna at a spa, the experience can be very alluring, relaxing, and pleasurable. In many cases, they offer private rooms to make you feel at ease, lighting is dim, everything’s been preheated, and essential oils are likely in the air. Before going into an infrared sauna, you want to remove any makeup you might be wearing which could help clog the clearing of toxins and impurities through the skin.
Now, this is where things can get a little controversial. In the scientific community, not everyone’s on board with the benefits – at least, not yet. There are studies produced supporting infrared saunas relieving sore muscles, minimizing joint pain, and providing a user with better sleep. These are measurable benefits.
Then, there are celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Lady Gaga, and Cindy Crawford who’ve given their stamp of approval on infrared saunas and who use them regularly. Gwyneth Paltrow has routinely advertised infrared sauna therapy as something which “clears toxins, decreases inflammation, soothes muscles, and increases overall energy”. Although these claims may hold some merit, not enough is understood about infrared sauna technology’s effects on the body to confirm the effectiveness of any of those statements.
What we do know about infrared saunas though are that the dry heat is typically less overwhelming to people who are used to steam rooms which can leave a person feeling light-headed. Infrared sauna have also been shown to burn as much as 600 calories in a single 30-minute session, more than jogging or swimming which burn about half this amount.
The evidence surrounding infrared sauna’s benefits are limited but growing. Studies have shown infrared saunas can potentially normalize blood pressure and be used as a treatment for congestive heart failure, saunas have potential to be used as a treatment for chronic pain, and it’s been theorized they could potentially be used to help grow new blood vessels. There’s also been evidence suggesting infrared sauna heat could be used to help stimulate the immune system – similar to how the body engages in a fever to battle infection.
Infrared saunas should be used as a source of relaxation, for enjoyment, and for some health benefits. Regardless of what’s believed, proven, and arguable, evidence continues to build on what’s a justifiable claim to make and what isn’t. If you’ve never tried an infrared sauna before, give it a try for yourself and see how you feel! You might be surprised by what you come out of there with.