
How Infrared Saunas Promote Wellness - The Gentle, yet Powerful Heat
When you step into an infrared sauna for the first time, you would expect the intense heat that traditional saunas deliver to make you start sweating instantly. Instead, you will find that the infrared sauna warmth is gentler and deeper, but remarkably relaxing and powerful through the session. Infrared saunas might seem like the newest buzz in the wellness world — everyone is talking about them, raving about their health benefits, and recommending them. But here’s something surprising: they are not just a passing trend. In fact, infrared saunas have been used for healing since the early 1900s. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how infrared saunas can actually support your health and wellness — and why they might be worth the hype.
Infrared Light and the Misconception about EMF
Infrared light makes up about 50% of sunlight and is widely known for its ability to provide comforting warmth. Infrared light is safe and in fact, even plays a crucial role in neonatal care. The radiant warmers in neonatal incubators use infrared heating to provide stable thermal support to newborns without direct contact. That being said, there is a lot of confusion between infrared light and EMF (Electromagnetic Field). EMFs are invisible areas of energy associated with the use of any kind of electrical power and in our current world, are present everywhere around us. That means any electrical appliance you use from hair dryers to toasters and even traditional saunas with electric heaters - all emit EMFs. Infrared saunas generally transmit low and safe levels of EMF. So if you see an infrared sauna claiming to emit zero EMFs, that claim is not accurate and it is worth checking how far the EMF meters were placed from the sauna while taking the readings.
The Truth About Detoxification
One of the biggest claims of infrared saunas is detoxification. You have probably heard a lot about how infrared saunas help "flush toxins" from your body, but the truth is slightly complicated.
Sweating is one of the ways our bodies eliminate waste but when it comes to detoxification, our liver and kidneys deserve most of the credit. While infrared saunas do aid in detoxifying the body, the primary detoxification happens only with a healthy liver and kidneys. Infrared heat goes deep — reaching your inner tissues in a way that can help your body release built-up toxins, partly through sweat. Although it can support your body’s natural detox process, experts agree it should not be your go-to method for full detoxification. What’s interesting is how infrared saunas promote increased circulation by expanding capillaries and increasing blood flow. This means more oxygen and nutrients are delivered where they need to go and waste gets cleared out more efficiently. This enhanced circulation is one of the main reasons why infrared sauna therapy is being explored for benefits like detoxification, improved cardiovascular health, and chronic fatigue relief.
The bottom line? You cannot sweat out every toxin from your system solely by sitting in an infrared sauna, but you can essentially support your body’s natural metabolic processes to function at their best.
Pain, Inflammation, and the Magic of Deep Heat
If you have ever had sore muscles after a workout or dealt with chronic pain, you should know that heat therapy can be life-changing. So if you are curious whether infrared saunas help with recovery, or are just another wellness trend, turns out, that there’s solid science behind it. A study showed that people with fibromyalgia reported a significant reduction in pain after just a few weeks of infrared sauna sessions with effects remaining stable even six months later. The deep heat from infrared light helps increase blood circulation to sore muscles, accelerating recovery and reducing inflammation. It’s the same reason why even elite athletes swear by it and physical therapists also use infrared for injury rehabilitation — heat promotes healing.
Infrared Saunas and the Inner Glow Up You Didn't Expect
In about 15 minutes into an infrared sauna session, your heart rate rises and breathing slows making you feel pleasingly calm. Not just relaxed, but really good, thanks to a natural release of endorphins and serotonin, the same mood-lifting hormones you get from a solid workout. Over time, regular sauna sessions can help ease everyday stress and leave you feeling more centered and recharged. And as your circulation improves, your skin gets a boost too — bringing in more nutrients and oxygen, which can lead to a clearer, more radiant complexion. That post-sauna glow? Totally real.
Are Infrared Saunas a Hype?
Infrared saunas aren’t just another wellness fad. The benefits — improved cardiovascular health and circulation, pain relief and muscle recovery, stress reduction, and even better skin — are all backed by science and felt in real-time.
However, note that infrared saunas aren’t a miracle cure. They will not erase years of poor diet and lifestyle or replace the need for exercise. But if you’re looking for a way to enhance your post-workout recovery, improve relaxation for stress relief, and give your body a health boost, an infrared sauna is one of the best wellness investments you can make. That being said, it’s important to choose an infrared sauna that is safe and right for you to give you the best of all the above benefits — one that is made of natural materials without glues, plastics, chemical finishes, or wood treatments. Imagine any of those items combined with heat when you are trying to heal, detox, and relax in your sauna, need we say more? Salt & Cedar Saunas are meticulously crafted with premium Pacific Northwest Cedar wood without any plastics, glues, or chemicals. So, bring home your personal Salt & Cedar wellness retreat and elevate your wellness journey today!