History of the Sauna
Palm healing, which has a 3000 year old tradition in China, has been based on the healing properties of the natural infrared rays.
Sauna use has been popularized by the Finns whose old religion used it as a ceremony for the mental, spiritual and physical cleansing. This came with the Finns when they migrated from an area northwest of present day Tibet, between 5000 and 3000 BC, to their present location in Finland. Today there is one sauna for every two Finns and sauna design is a revered art here.
Numerous saunas appear along the Mediterranean and the world’s first bathtub appears in the palace of King Minos of Crete in 1700 BC.
Native American sweat lodges are used.
Whole body infrared therapy has been used for greater than 80 years by German physicians in an independently developed form.
Dr. Tadashi Ishikowa received a patent on the zirconia infrared heaters in 1965. These were mostly used exclusively by medical practitioners in Japan until they were released for public use in 1979.
The infrared idea has been further refined and sold in the United States since 1981. The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into three segments by
wavelength measured in microns (1/1,000,000 of a meter).
0.76 to 1.5 microns = near infrared
1.5 to 5.6 microns = middle infrared
5.6 to 1000 microns = far infrared This invisible band of light warms objects without warming the air between the source and the object (known as conversion). Do not confuse this with UV radiation (sunburn) or atomic radiation (nuclear) This radiant heat can also be called Infrared Energy (IR). This band of light is not visible to human eyes but can be seen by special instruments that translate infrared into colors that are visible to our eyes. The best example is the sun (80% of the sun’s rays are infrared). Our atmosphere allows IR rays in the 7 to 14 micron range to safely reach the earth’s surface. When warmed, the earth radiates infrared rays with its peak output at 10 microns. The human body radiates infrared energy out through the skin at 3 to50 microns, with most around 9.4 microns.
What is the theory behind how this product works? Far infrared sauna therapy is said to duplicate the healthy frequencies. The tissues are purported to selectively absorb these rays as the water in the cell reacts in a process called “resonant absorption”. Sauna belts, infrared sauna blankets, far infrared saunas are all good sources This is said to occur when the frequency of the far infrared matches the frequency of the water in the cell causing toxins to be dropped off into the blood stream and excreted in sweat, feces, and urine. Proponents of this therapy state that the healing response of our tissues may need a boost of infrared to insure the fullest healing response possible in a tissue under repair. Far infrared is claimed to penetrate the body’s tissues to a depth of over 1.5.” Due to the supposed deep penetration into the skin of the infrared rays being emitted from coils within the sauna walls there is a heating effect deep in the This “deep heating” is thought to be responsible the healing effect and the other health benefits associated with these infrared rays. Manufacturers Claim The Major Differences of Far Infrared Saunas Over Conventional Saunas Are:
Operate at temperatures of 100 degrees F to 130 degrees F while conventional saunas operate at temperatures of 180 degrees F to 220 degrees F (These high temperatures are not well tolerated by some).
Have more toxins expelled through the kidney, liver, and hair through “resonant absorption".
Are safer (no hot surfaces or high temperatures).
Are easy to assemble.
Are portable saunas.
Do not dry out the mucous membranes like conventional saunas.
Require 90% less electrical energy (thus a lower electrical bill).
Less than 20% of the infrared energy heats the air, leaving 80% available to be directly converted to heat within the body.
Warms the user to a much greater depth and more efficiently than the conventional sauna.
The lower heat ranges may be safer for those with cardiovascular risks.
The air is more pleasant and easier to breathe.
Easier and more comfortable to use.
Warm up only takes 5-10 minutes compared to 30-90 minutes for conventional saunas. Infarred saunas are more efficient.
Use no water, thus no plumbing costs, bacterial problems or cleanup. |
