The Wholesome, Detoxifying Experience of the Infrared Sauna
Visiting an infrared sauna isn’t just a soothing way to de-stress, it has clinically proven detoxifying capabilities
With gentle waves of invisible light, an infrared sauna provides a relaxing way to detox harmful chemicals from your body. Infrared is the widest wavelength of light, harmlessly warming the skin and stimulating the body’s natural sweating process. Heavy metals including mercury and cadmium are expelled in this process as well as other toxins the body absorbs from polluted air, water, and food.
Different Ways to Detox
There are many methods to detox harmful chemicals from your body, some more pleasant than others. Each is generally built around a natural process of the body, helping the immune system to clear toxins in the same way it has since the beginning.
Detoxification through the digestive system may be the most well known, though not always for good reasons. Diuretics help the body’s metabolism to work faster, expunging substances from the digestive tract but also tossing out nutrients and calories needed to be happy and healthy. In moderation, liquid-based cleanses can be an effective way to clear toxins from the digestive system, but their ability to cleanse the rest of the body is limited.
Thankfully, there is another way to detox toxic substances from your body which does not require frequent trips to the bathroom: the penetrative heat of an infrared sauna allowing you to expunge and sweat out toxins from deep tissue throughout your body.
The Infrared Sauna Detox
Infrared saunas are one of the most efficient ways to trigger detoxifying sweat production without the intense heat of a traditional sauna. Unlike a traditional sauna or steam room, which heats the air around you to increase body temperature, infrared saunas (or IR saunas) use infrared light to heat the skin directly. This allows sweat to be produced at significantly lower temperatures, which means toxins can be eliminated with a lower risk of dangerous heat induced side effects. The lower temperatures of an infrared sauna make it easy to slip into a mental and physical state of relaxation, so you can enjoy the detoxification process as often as you please.
Infrared saunas have been associated with numerous positive benefits even prior to recent research indicating their detoxification potential. Such benefits include:
Skin rejuvenation
Improved sleep
Stress reduction
Anti-aging properties
Weight loss
Anti-inflammation
Improved recovery
And more!
In the past, these benefits have commonly been attributed to heat based physiological adaptations like increased blood circulation. However, further research needs to be conducted to determine the exact mechanism of these benefits. One such study on the potential of sweat as a detoxifying process revealed that elements like cadmium and mercury were present in sweat at higher levels than the other examined substances, suggesting the body’s detoxification of heavy metals during an infrared sauna session could play a role in creating healthier, happier humans. As always, there can be too much of a good thing. Infrared sauna side effects can include low blood pressure, lightheadedness, overheating, and dehydration. If you begin experiencing any of these symptoms during your infrared sauna detox, exit the sauna immediately, rehydrate, and give yourself time to cool down and recover before deciding how to proceed. Infrared saunas are considered safe for most people, but we recommend you consult your doctor and exercise caution if you have implanted medical devices, certain medical conditions like low blood pressure or kidney disease, or are on medication.
Infrared saunas are available for booking at many Urban Float locations as part of our mission to provide the public with natural, noninvasive avenues to better health. Find a wellness spa near you to get started.
