Certainly, more large-scale research needs to be done to prove the benefits of Far-Infrared Therapy. But here are some potential benefits from existing research and patient testimonials.
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Improve detoxification and weight management
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Far-Infrared is excellent for detoxification and helps lymphatic drainage.[1]
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Scientists in Japan report that in the FIR treatment of clogged capillary vessels, heat expands the capillaries and then initiates the start of a process to dissolve hidden toxins.[1]
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Far-Infrared promotes the elimination of fats, chemicals, and toxins from the blood which positively impacts body weight. It also eliminates poisons, heavy metals, and carcinogenic substances from food processing as well as lactic acid, free fatty acids, and subcutaneous fat associated with aging and fatigue. Finally, it eliminates excess sodium associated with high blood pressure and uric acid associated with gout.[2]
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Strengthens cardiovascular system
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Far-Infrared can strengthen the cardiovascular system by causing heart rate and cardiac output to increase, and diastolic blood pressure to decrease according to research by NASA in the early 1980s. The researchers concluded that far-infrared stimulation of the cardiovascular system would be the ideal way to maintain cardiovascular conditioning in American astronauts during long space flights.[3]
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FIR’s warming properties have also been shown to help improve the ‘health’ of the cells that line our blood vessels[4], which if left untreated may increase the risk of heart disorders.
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Improve blood circulation
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Far-Infrared expands capillaries which stimulate increased blood flow, regeneration, circulation, and oxygen delivery. [5] Good blood circulation is essential for healthy organ and tissue function. It significantly improves pain levels by stimulating circulation without exercise that causes pain.
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Wound healing
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Some good quality experimental and clinical scientific studies (2003) from Japan have shown FIR to result in more rapid wound healing which was independent of changes in blood flow and skin temperature.[6]
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FIR helped this healing by stimulating a group of cells called fibroblasts to make more collagen which is a very important part of good wound healing and tissue repair.[6] In my case, my knee replacement at 10 days was comparable to someone 2 months out from surgery.
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Furthermore, it supports cell growth, DNA synthesis, and protein synthesis, all of which are crucial for tissue repair and regeneration. This makes FIR therapy excellent for healing burns, scar tissue, and skin problems such as acne and skin breakouts. Its anti-oxidative properties also promote anti-aging and lessening/softening of wrinkles due to enhanced collagen production.[6] By combining FIR with collagen, I no longer have wrinkled skin.
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Relaxation and pain/aches management
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FIR relaxes auto-neuro muscles which help the body make the most of its intended healing abilities.
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FIR reduces soreness on nerve endings and muscle spasms by warming muscle fibers. As a result, rapid reduction of swelling, inflammation, and pain occurs. This allows for relaxation of muscles and relief of back, shoulder, and neck muscle aches.[7] It not only relieved the pain of a broken rotator cuff but it appears to have leaked the tissue.
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FIR soothes tension and stress in both body and mind.[7]
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Immunity boosting
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Far-Infrared strengthens and supports the immune system by supporting increased production of white blood cells (leukocytes) by the bone marrow and killer T-cells by the thymus.[8]
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Cancer support
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Far-Infrared Thermal Therapy, also known as Hyperthermia, supports the destruction of malignant cells which supposedly cannot survive if the temperature of the cell becomes 107.6F/42C and above.[9] What? Why don’t more people know about this?
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FIR is used extensively in Asia and Europe – especially Japan and Germany – but is only fairly recently researched and utilized within the USA, acknowledged and attested to by the American Cancer Association and the National Cancer Institute on their respective websites.
References:
[1] https://thermomedica.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FAR_INFRARED_THERAPY.pdf
[2] https://www.therasauna.com/docs/Healing%20Power%20of%20Infrared%20Saunas.pdf
[3] https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/full/10.1024/0301-1526/a000752
[4] https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.4015/S1016237221500034
[5] https://koreascience.kr/article/CFKO200333239337477.page
[6] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/153537020322800612
[7] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40064-015-1093-5
[8] https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/thermalmedicine1985/20/4/20_4_257/_article/-char/ja/
