We usually think of sitting in a Far Infrared Sauna as a relaxing experience. We may consider it to be something we do to calm the mind and soften the muscles in our body. Perhaps we use this kind of sauna as a as a tool for detoxification. However, often we don’t consider the regular use of one of these for therapy.
Yes, therapy. It’s an odd concept, but true. You see, just like occupational therapy or physical therapy or even mental health therapy, the consistent use of an Infrared Sauna can lead to therapeutic results. These results are physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual nature.
For instance, there are four reported benefits of the regular use of a Far Infrared Sauna, or Sauna Therapy. These benefits are improvement with Chronic Heart Failure, reduced risk for heart disease, lifting of mild depression, and reduced chronic pain. According to the Journal of Cardiac Failure, patients using these saunas on a regular basis were reported to have fewer hospital admissions. Supported by statistical evidence, those patients experienced improvements in blood pressure, higher tolerance for exercise, and a strength of heart. These improvements were compared against patients not using saunas at all in their treatment plan. The conclusion was that Far Infrared Sauna therapy could be an effective addition to the treatment of those suffering from Chronic Heart Failure.
From the Journal of American College of Cardiology, this type of therapy can improve the function of impaired vascular cells, particularly for those patients who are at risk for coronary artery disease. The Journal points out that further research needs to be done to uncover the correlation between how this type of therapy reduces the risk for heart disease.
A study on this type of therapy took 28 mildly depressed patients and treated half of them with use of a Far Infrared Sauna once per day for four weeks. The other half of the patients were asked to rest in bed instead of using the sauna. Those who participated in this kind of therapy showed improvement in somatic complaints, ability to relax, and daily caloric intake improved. Again, more research needs to be done to determine long-term effects.
Another study was recently done which included 46 patients with chronic pain. Treatment included a variety of methods, only some of which included this kind of therapy. Though there were decreases in pain, depression, and anger for all patients, those participating in Far Infrared Sauna therapy had a more significant drop in these categories.