The sun is our principal source of infrared heat. As the sun's rays hit the surface of the earth, what we perceive as heat is in fact far infrared heat waves. Infrared heat is essential for all life. Remember the feeling as you lay on the sun-warmed beach soaking up the rays. This is infrared heat in action. Unfortunately you are also receiving the direct damaging ultra-violet rays.

The invisible and very safe far infrared heat produced by our Saunas is able to penetrate well below the skin, which enables the body to sweat at temperatures of 110 - 130 F (much lower temperatures than conventional saunas).

Toxins in our bodies generally are acidic. Where toxins accumulate, blood circulation is blocked. Far Infrared therapy is effective in expanding clogged capillary vessels and successful in dissolving the toxins into the blood and out of the body via urine and perspiration.

Dr. Toshiko Yamazaki, MD, has a clinic in Japan where she continues her medical research in utilizing Far Infrared wave technology. She attributes the success of the FIR wave treatments to the ability of FIR waves to remove toxins from the body.

Another comparison lies in the process of sweating. Infrared energy created in the Infrared Sauna may induce up to two to three times the volume of sweat produced in a traditional sauna while operating at significantly cooler temperatures (100 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit -- 37 to 55 Celsius -- compared to 180-220 degrees Fahrenheit). The lower heat is safer for those concerned with cardiovascular risk.

One issue for traditional sauna users has been breathing the exceptionally hot air of 180 degrees Fahrenheit and above. It is distinctly more comfortable to breathe air that is 130 degrees or less, with no loss in heat penetration. As a result infrared sauna users are able to stay in the saunas for longer periods of time resulting in greater benefit.

Traditional saunas require a closed door to maintain a level of intense heat. Breathing in these saunas has been found to be quite challenging. The Infrared Sauna can be used with ceiling vent, door or window fully open for ventilation.

One of the practical aspects of the Infrared Sauna is that it requires a relatively short time to warm up, compared to 45 to 90 minutes for traditional saunas. The speed of heating and the ease of breathing, coupled with the healing effects, encourage people to use their saunas on a regular basis. One can see the practicality for use in clinics, spas and resorts as well as home.

The Infrared Sauna is inexpensive to operate. A 30-minute session, including a 10-minute warm up period, costs about 10 cents ($0.10) for electricity.

The Infrared Sauna takes only minutes to set up. Conventional saunas require building, modifying a room, or creating a separate building, often necessitating the hiring of tradesman. Traditional Native American sweat lodges require labor-intensive installation.

Radiant heat is simply a form of energy that heats objects directly through a process called conversion without having to heat the air between. Radiant heat is also called infrared energy or IR. The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into three segments by wavelength, measured in microns or micrometers (a micron = 1/1,000,000 of a meter): 0.076 to 1.5 microns = near or close; 1.5 to 5.6 = middle or intermediate; 5.6 to 1000 = far or long wave infrared. The far infrared segment of the electromagnetic spectrum occurs just below, or "infra" to, red light as the next lowest energy band. This band of light is not visible to human eyes but can be seen by special cameras that translate infrared into visible colors. We can, however, feel this type of light, which we perceive as heat. The sun produces most of its energy in the infrared segment of the spectrum. Our atmosphere has a "window" in it that allows infrared rays -- in the 7 to 14 micron ranges -- to safely reach the earth's surface. When warmed, the earth radiates infrared rays in the 7 to 14 micron bands with its peak output at 10 microns.

Our bodies radiate infrared energy through the skin at 3 to 50 microns, with most output at 9.4 microns. Our palms emit infrared energy too, between 8 to 14 microns.

Material adapted from article by Dr Aaron M Flickstein

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