Infrared sauna

The interior of an infrared therapy room.

Infrared therapy uses infrared heaters to emit infrared light experienced as radiant heat which is absorbed by the surface of the skin.[1] Saunas heat the body primarily by conduction and convection from the heated air and by radiation of the heated surfaces in the sauna room. Because of this, infrared therapy is not considered a sauna by Finnish sauna societies.[2] Nevertheless, "Infrared Sauna" and "Infrared Therapy" are respectively a methodology and a terminology in the application of the infrared electromagnetic field spectrum to the human body. There are claims of detoxification which lack scientific evidence.[3] There are at least 48 scientific or medical articles on "Infrared Sauna",[4] 327 on "Far Infrared Therapy" and over twenty one thousand on "Infrared Therapy"[5] some of which investigate health benefits, such as prophylactic physiotherapeutic treatment schemes,[6] appetite loss and depression,[7] cardio vascular system improvements, and Photothermal Therapy.

Effects

Arthritis

A study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis showed a reduction in pain, stiffness and fatigue during infrared therapy, but since results from the study did not reach statistical significance[8] there is no clear or certain relationship between reducing symptoms and using infrared therapy.

Toxins

"Toxins" and "toxicity" are general terms used in alternative health to cover a wide range of substances from petrochemicals to heavy metals, which are excreted in very small quantities (less than 1%) while sweating. More than 99% of detoxification in the human body occurs in the kidneys and liver, hence, inducing sweat production via high temperatures does not enhance detoxification. In addition to that, the composition of sweat is mostly water, as the physiological purpose of sweating is to lower the body temperature in order to maintain homeostasis. Therefore, prolonged sweating induced by IR therapy can result in dehydration. Proponents of FIR sweating claim a toxin content of up to 15% vs. conventional sweating, however there is no evidence supporting this claim.

Energy expenditure and weight loss

Some infrared therapy proponents claim that the IR is an effective method for considerably raising the rate of energy expenditure in the body. Proponents typically quote the Journal of the American Medical Association stating: "A moderately conditioned person can easily sweat off 500 grams in an infrared room, consuming nearly 300 kcal, which is equivalent to 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 drinking water, the calories consumed will not be." However, this conclusion drew significant criticism, at least because it implies that individuals living in warm climates, where liters of sweat are generated per day, would require hundreds or thousands of additional kilocalories to survive, which is known not be the case.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ Sagar Naik (2008-09-21). "Infrared Radiation". Scribd.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  2. ↑ "Don't Call it Sauna – Sauna Digest". Sauna Digest. 2017-07-12. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  3. ↑ Beever, R (2009). "Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors: Summary of published evidence". Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien. 55 (7): 691–6. PMC 2718593. PMID 19602651.
  4. ↑ PubMed Database (2018-03-15). "Infrared Sauna". National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Retrieved 2018-03-15.
  5. ↑ PubMed Database (2018-03-15). "Infrared Therapy". National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Retrieved 2018-03-15.
  6. ↑ Khodarev, V. N; Zhemchuzhnova, N. L; Olempieva, E. V; Kuz'Menko, N. V (2013). "The influence of general infrared sauna on the antioxidant systems in the blood of volunteers". Voprosy kurortologii, fizioterapii, i lechebnoi fizicheskoi kultury (5): 10–3. PMID 24437201.
  7. ↑ Masuda, A; Nakazato, M; Kihara, T; Minagoe, S; Tei, C (2005). "Repeated thermal therapy diminishes appetite loss and subjective complaints in mildly depressed patients". Psychosomatic Medicine. 67 (4): 643–7. doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000171812.67767.8f. PMID 16046381.
  8. ↑ Oosterveld, Fredrikus G. J; Rasker, Johannes J; Floors, Mark; Landkroon, Robert; Van Rennes, Bob; Zwijnenberg, Jan; Van De Laar, Mart A. F. J; Koel, Gerard J (2008). "Infrared sauna in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis". Clinical Rheumatology. 28 (1): 29–34. doi:10.1007/s10067-008-0977-y. PMID 18685882.
  9. ↑ Dean, Ward (1981). "Effect of Sweating". JAMA. 246 (6): 623. doi:10.1001/jama.1981.03320060027013. PMID 7253113.
  10. ↑ Searle, A. J (1982). "Effects of the Sauna". JAMA: the Journal of the American Medical Association. 247 (1): 28. doi:10.1001/jama.1982.03320260016012. PMID 7053434.
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