Infrared Saunas -my happy place during cancer treatment & beyond
Infrared saunas… who else is a fan? One of my local gyms has finally opened up their far infrared (FIR) sauna again and noone could be happier than me.
My fascination with infrared saunas go back to the beginning of my cancer treatment. I was recommended to use them during my chemotherapy, as part of my integrative approach, to help support my body and to combat any fatigue and help with detoxification. I fell in love with them and used them regularly, even long after treatment had ended. However, the pandemic put an end to this as the gym, where I was enjoying my sessions, closed. This completely disrupted my wellbeing self-care routine and I was sad to have lost such a transforming complementary therapy.
I get cold very easily so to me nothing feels better than the sun on my skin or the warmth of a sauna. The heat from the sauna felt extra amazing today in the midst of this cold, stormy weather we are having here in the United Kingdom. So as summer is nowhere to be seen, regular infrared sauna sessions will have to do for now.
So how long do I tend to use the infrared sauna for when I go? I aim to stay in the there for about 20-30 minutes. I find this is a very realistic goal as FIR saunas don’t get as hot as regular saunas. On the contrary to traditional saunas, the air in infrared saunas doesn’t actually heat up. The warmth you feel is the far infrared radiating waves - a safe form of natural light energy as opposed to the damaging UV light that the sun gives out. When you first start out using an infrared sauna, however, it is always a good idea to only stay in them for shorter periods of time to begin with, say 10-15 minutes then slowly build things up from here, in order for the body to adjust.
Whereas there are many studies on the topic of the use of traditional saunas, there aren’t many that focus on infrared saunas. However, the suggested benefits are similar to those achieved by ordinary saunas, such as:
relaxation
detoxification
relief from sore muscles and joint pain
improved circulation
relief for people with chronic fatigue syndrome
improved sleep
The liver and kidneys are the body’s primary detox organs and the reason why we sweat is to cool down the body internally.
According to an article by Medical Doctor and Women’s Health Expert Christiane Northrup, sweat, is mostly made up of water and a tiny bit of salt. “There is no exception when it comes to sweat caused by a traditional sauna — studies show sweat caused by a traditional sauna is 95-97% water and the rest is salt, with a tiny bit of protein and urea. In other words, it’s not made up of “toxins” per se… While most sweat is comprised of water and little salt, studies show that 15-20% of infrared sauna-induced sweat is composed of cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, heavy metals, sulfuric acid, and ammonia (as well as sodium and uric acid.) In other words, an infrared sauna may enable your body to eliminate environmental toxins through sweat.”
If you are unable to find a place with an infra-red sauna near to you, you can now buy anything from infra-red saunas to infrared blankets, mats and belts for home use.