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The use of a Sauna should be an important part of any Detoxification program
So what is it infrared radiation? Infrared (IR) radiation is an electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves. The radiation hits the surface of the body and heats through a process called conversion, instead of heating the air around you. The infrared heater produces radiant energy, which is the same as the heat from the sun, only without the harmful ultraviolet rays. Most of these heaters draw on technology developed in 1965 by Dr. Tadashi Ishikawa, a member of the Research and Development Department of Fuji Medical.
Traditional saunas use various types of heaters to warm the air and stones in a room. The room's walls can be logs or some other material lined with wood. Stones placed over the heat source attain a high temperature. In its primitive form the stones are heated by wood without a chimney. The fire dies and the smoke exits by the door. Heat is maintained by the stones. Stones are usually peridotite as they are heat stable. Modern Finnish saunas have thermostatically controlled electric stoves or wood stoves with chimneys. In a traditional form the air temperature typically runs between 169 to 190°F (76 to 88°C), though temperatures over 200°F (93°C) are sometimes encountered. The hot air causes the body to heat up, and eventually results in a sweat. Water is thrown on the stones to achieve a "steam shock". Some devotees enhance the experience by mixing vodka etc in the water. This produces a quick "high". Some add herbs or oil like eucalyptus. Traditionally, ones skin is beaten with a bunch of birch twigs. When the heat becomes intolerable one cools down under a cold shower or, as in Finland, by jumping into a frozen lake, or perhaps, most delicately, one rolls in powdery snow. Then one repeats the process to satisfaction. Although potentially unsafe, alcoholic drinks often accompany the sauna.
The temperature in them is much cooler, at around 120 to 140°F (43 to 54°C). The amount of sweat that results from each is comparable, though many people report that the lower temperatures in an infrared sauna allow the user to stay inside longer, resulting in longer sauna sessions and therefore more overall sweating. Health benefit claims Infrared radiant heat is safe and beneficial, claiming that the heat penetrates more than 1.5 inches (40 mm) into the body. The argument is based on the idea that the wavelengths of far infrared waves are typically between 5.8 and 1000 micrometers. This is supposed to correspond to the vibration of the water molecule at 9.4 micrometers. Because these vibrations are similar, say promoters, the infrared rays help knock toxins loose from fat cells into the body, and those toxins are then released through sweating. They claim this heals and stimulates tissues, and that it is effective therapy for arthritis and tissue injuries.
Infrared can be used in cooking and heating food as it predominantly heats the opaque, absorbent objects, rather than the air around them. Dr. Sherry Rogers, a fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and a diplomat of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, says in her book Detoxify or Die that an infrared sauna is the only way of removing man-made toxins from your body. Dr. Rogers also states that bio-accumulated toxic load in the human body is responsible for all disease not attributable to bacteria or virus. Because the skin is the largest organ of the body, regularly sweating in a far infrared sauna can help detox by decreasing the toxic load and contribute to better health and vitality. One of the ways that infrared sauna use is beneficial for a wide range of ailments is through the increase in circulation that it causes in the body. The sauna increases the eliminative, detoxifying, and cleansing capacity of the skin by stimultion of the sweat glands, and also promotes healthy skin tone and texture due to incresed blood circulation. Using the sauna with an oxygen/ozone package allows the the oxygen to be introduced through the skin. More than two thousand years ago Hippocrates said: "Give me the power to create a fever, and I sall cure any disease." Artificially induced hyperthermia (rising body temperature) combined with sweating and a cleansing effect initiated by oxygen will result in elimination of toxins from the lymphatic system and the destruction of bacteria and viruses. Increased circulation enables more oxygen for blood saturation, opening your pores is often believed to be helpful in a variety of ways, and is generally regarded as beneficial for health. Therapeutic oxygen infuse life-giving oxygen deep into your body and can be beneficial in the following ways:
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