Far Infrared

 

Electromagnetic Spectrum Biological Effects

What is Far Infrared Light Energy?

Far Infrared (FIR) is a form of energy that is contained within both the Sun and all living creatures. It is used in baby incubators in hospitals, it is used by farmers for hatching chicken eggs and it is the energy that turtle eggs absorb from the Sun while in the sand on the beach.

Relax FIR Energy - Engineered to Make You Healthier and More Beautiful

Benefits of Far Infrared

Far infrared’s benefits go far beyond heat.

Heating is good for the body especially in ridding infection and the beneficial effects of saunas are well known, but by using a far infrared sauna you get the added benefits of increased energy production by cells, increasing collagen and elastin production by the skin, increased circulation, burn calories and fat, increase muscle relaxation, speed injury recovery, boost metabolism, and the detoxifying release of heavy metals stored in the body's fat cells.

Far Infrared Saunas

Emit a Certain Bandwidth of Energy

This energy resonates with the water and organic cells of the body. The pulsating of water molecules causes an increase in core temperature, which mobilizes the lymphatic system.

Far Infrared is a Spectrum of Light

Far infrared is part of the spectrum of light. The Relax sauna emits the highest level of pure far infrared energy of any sauna on the market. This energy increases circulation, activates mitochondrial energy production and releases heavy metals that are stored in the body's fat cells. It burns calories too!

Far infrared therapy is one of the biggest breakthroughs in the health industry. Far infrared can improve blood pressure, speed healing and improve circulation. The best thing about Far Infrared Light is that it teaches us how to heal ourselves with little more than heat and light. Far infrared energy increases the core temperature of the body, mobilizing the lymphatic system to remove heavy metals and toxins.

Pain Relief and Quickening Healing

Research has shown that Far Infrared benefits include improved healing, reduced muscle soreness and long term healing from using a far infrared sauna. A pilot study of infrared sauna use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis showed good tolerance, short-term improvement of pain and stiffness, and a trend towards long-term beneficial effects. (Source)

Near Infrared Vs. Far Infrared

Near infrared saunas

Generate 0% far infrared energy

Near infrared, by the definition, does not resonate with human organic cells and the water cells in our body. Near infrared energy is between 1 and 2 microns. Far infrared is between 4-14 microns. Humans send off a frequency of 9.4 microns, and water sends off a frequency of 8 microns . So 4-14 micron energy is pretty much the same as human energy. So they "Resonate".

Near infrared gets the skin hot, but from what I have learned, it does not penetrate. Proponents of near infrared say it does. I don't understand how. I understand a lot of people find benefit from near infrared, as they do from Hot Rock Finnish Wood saunas.

These can both be beneficial. Yet, the thorough cleansing of the cells of the body by resonating Far Infrared Energy is rather monumental, as evidenced by the 680+ videos we have on our Relax Sauna YouTube Channel.

The Difference Between Near Infrared and Far Infrared

Near infrared, like far infrared, has many health benefits - but due to it's more energetic wavelength, it is harsher on the skin. 

Near infrared is close to the spectrum of light you see when a toaster or oven glows orange.​

Summary: Studies have shown that near infrared can contribute to aging of the skin and increase in the risk of skin cancer. Another study showed that far infrared can actually protect the skin by stimulating collagen production.

1. Because water absorbs far infrared, you can heat the body faster. This is why it works so good for hyperthermia treatments. A man posted the test he did on Reddit which proves this. His apple watch showed his body temperature rising faster when using the Relax sauna.

2. Studies show that near infrared causes the formation of free radicals in the skin, which depletes the body of antioxidants, makes the skin form scar tissue and ages it faster.

3. Much of the research they use is based on near infrared lasers or LED lights and does not apply to their sauna.

In short, near infrared is harsher than far infrared. Near and Far infrared are different and have different applications, apples and oranges. When looking at near infrared vs. far infrared
saunas, it is not really a which is superior question, but rather what is better for the results a person is wanting to achieve.
 If someone wants to raise their temperature, sweat and detox, research shows that far infrared is the best choice.

Infrared is part of the spectrum of light

Near infrared has a shorter wavelength and is therefore more energetic.

Near infrared is in the wavelength of 0.76 microns to 1.5 microns. Far infrared ranges from 4 to 1000 microns. Humans send off a frequency of 9.4 microns, and water sends off a frequency of 8 microns. So 4-14 micron energy is pretty much the same as human energy.  So they Resonate". Near infrared is not absorbed by water as well, human skin even has developed to reflect up to 35% of near infrared to protect itself. Near infrared is closer to the ultraviolet spectrum which causes sunburn than far infrared is. Because it is close on the light spectrum to far infrared it has many similar benefits but it is harsher and therefore has some potential risks. 

The Relax Sauna's far infrared generators were specifically designed so that they would NOT generate near infrared due to it being harsh on the skin.

The creators of the Relax Sauna knew about the potential skin damaging
effects of near infrared
and therefore designed the generators to stay within a tight temperature range so that primarily far infrared would be generated, as explained in the following video. The part about the generator begins at 5 minutes in.

What are the risks of near infrared?

Near infrared causes production of reactive oxygen species (ROS, aka free radicals).

To counteract this, the body must use its own stores of antioxidants. This also activates genes in the skin which form scar tissue to protect itself, causing skin aging.

Near infrared has been shown to damage collagen in the skin, making the skin age faster and increasing the risk of the development of skin cancer.

Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings

Cutaneous effects and therapeutic uses of heat with emphasis on infrared radiation

Many of the claims made about near infrared are based on research done using near infrared diodes (lights) and lasers, not near infrared saunas!

A misleading practice that many near infrared sauna companies have been
doing is quoting research about near infrared that was performed using near infrared diodes and lasers.

These devices use a concentrated light and therefore can penetrate the skin deeper. Look at the article citations on near infrared sauna website. Many of the studies listed are for LED lights and lasers. This can be misleading when the results of these studies are associated with near infrared saunas. 

Because it is absorbed by water, far infrared is much better at raising the body's temperature for use in heat therapy - Hyperthermia

Many pathogens and diseases cannot survive when the body's temperature is raised.

This is the reason you get a fever when you are sick, the body is trying to kill the infection by raising the temperature. Far infrared is absorbed better than near infrared and so this creates a larger heat transfer when in a far infrared sauna. Because of this, health professionals have found that far infrared saunas are the best tool for creating hyperthermia heat treatment in their patients.

A man tested which sauna would raise his core temperature faster. He used an Apple watch which tracked his body temperature and found that the Relax sauna was the most effective by far. He posted his review on Reddit here. This test backs up a research article which proves that far infrared heats up the body at a deeper level.

Research proves far infrared heats up tissue deeper and creates a higher blood flow than near infrared lamp.

Researchers compared the effects of a 150 watt far infrared lamp, which uses the same far infrared generators as the Relax sauna but is 10 times less powerful compared to the 1500 watt sauna, versus a 250 watt Phillips near infrared light bulb, the kind used in the near infrared saunas.

Click here to view the study