Did you know that saunas originated in Finland over 2000 years ago?
A lot has changed since then.
The original saunas were dug into the ground and heated by wood fires. Eventually saunas evolved into wooden buildings.
Today most saunas use electric heaters. These heaters may be conventional or infrared.
Conventional heaters heat the body indirectly by heating the air. The air then contacts the body’s surface and transfers heat. Infrared heaters use a different method.
What are infrared saunas?
While conventional saunas heat the air around you, infrared saunas heat you directly from the inside.
Infrared heaters produce thermal radiation in the form of infrared light which is able to penetrate the body. This allows for infrared saunas to operate at lower temperatures, making them more comfortable while providing the same health benefits as traditional saunas. The infrared light also provides additional benefits not found with conventional saunas.
What is infrared light?
Most people remember from science class that there is a spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. Visible light makes up only a small portion of this spectrum. Violet light is the shortest wavelength and red light is the longest with all the colors of the rainbow in between.
Just below the visible spectrum of light, there are longer wavelengths than red light which are referred to as infrared. This light can be further categorized into near, mid, and far infrared.
Besides being able to heat the body more efficiently, infrared light also provides other health benefits. Infrared light comes to us naturally in sunlight. Over half of the light from the sun is infrared light. This is the portion of sunlight that is the most beneficial to your health. It is also perfectly safe unlike the high energy ultraviolet light that causes skin damage and cancer. While high energy ultraviolet light damages cells, lower energy infrared light has just enough energy to stimulate cells to regenerate and repair themselves without causing any damage.
Our sauna here in the office is able to emit the full spectrum of infrared light from near to far, providing you with the most health benefits.
What are the benefits of infrared sauna?
Near infrared wavelengths are the shortest wavelengths. This means they are the highest energy and are the closest to visible light. They only penetrate the outermost layers of your skin. This makes near infrared light the best for anti-aging effects and skin health. Near infrared light has been shown to regenerate cells, promote wound healing, and increase collagen production leading to healthier skin.
Mid infrared light is the mid-length wavelength. This light is able to penetrate the skin into the body’s soft tissue. This makes it great for improving heart health and circulation as well as pain relief and muscle recovery.
Far infrared light has the longest wavelength and is the farthest on the spectrum from visible light. It is able to penetrate the body the deepest. Far infrared light has been shown to be able to raise core body temperature by 3 degrees. This activates the body’s cooling mechanisms, increasing circulation and stimulating sweat glands. Far infrared light heats deep tissues directly. This makes far infrared the best for detoxification, heart health, weight loss, immunity, relaxation, muscle recovery, mood and mental health improvement, as well as general health and longevity. For more information about these health benefits click here.
To get the most benefit out of a sauna session, you want to use an infrared sauna that is able to produce near, mid, and far infrared light. Luckily, our sauna here in the office is able to do that. With the full spectrum of infrared wavelengths, you are able to get the most health benefits in the most comfortable and efficient way possible.
To read more about the research behind our full spectrum infrared sauna click here.
Dr. Derek Gallant
Dr. Derek Gallant has committed himself to helping others live the best life possible. After graduating from Wesleyan University, he received his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Life Chiropractic College West where he finished 2nd in his class. He is the owner of Beverly Family Chiropractic and co-founder of The Well Family Foundation. Dr. Gallant is certified through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) in the Webster technique, an analysis focused on assisting pregnant women in a healthy pregnancy and natural birth. He has inspired thousands of people to take control of their own health using the Life By Design method. Apart from full time practice you can find Derek at the parks and coffee shops around Beverly with his family, training hard at the gym, or at the beach surfing.
