Why Use Infrared Heat Therapy?

Why Use Infrared Heat Therapy?

What is infrared heat therapy, also known as radiant heat therapy? Radiant heat is a term that simply means a form of energy that heats an object directly, without having to warm the air around it. An example of radiant energy is sunlight, which warms the skin even on a cool day. One can sit comfortably outside on a sunny, cool afternoon, and feel the benefit of the sun’s radiant heat or its loss when the sun is obscured by a cloud. This form of heat therapy is often used by physical therapists, physicians, massage therapists and athletes for its benefits of relaxing muscles and its ability to speed healing of injuries.

Many natural therapy practitioners extol the benefits of radiant heat. It has been used by Chinese medical practitioners for centuries, and new studies have shown that infrared light increases the number of white blood cells produced by the body. White blood cells, the body’s main defense against infection, are vital to health and the quality of life.

Infrared heat therapy also provides for exceptional calorie burning. Whole body infrared heat therapy, such as can be obtained with an infrared sauna, can routinely burn six hundred to over two thousand calories in a regular half-hour long session. What a perfect way to lose weight.

Also, infrared heat therapy directly stimulates the body’s largest organ—the skin. Infrared heat therapy produces a deep sweat, which helps to eliminate body toxins and foreign substances. Releasing these poisons has many health benefits. People who use infrared heat saunas regularly can experience relief from arthritis symptoms, increases in circulation of blood and lymph, an increase in the production of collagen, reduction in edema and many other benefits. Many models of infrared saunas are designed for home installation and use, increasing the convenience of this form of sauna.