How Does Infrared Heat Work?

Far Infrared Sauna therapy works by duplicating the healthy frequencies of our own body cells.  The bodily tissues selectively absorb these rays as the water in the cell reacts in a process called “resonant absorption”.  This resonant absorption is said to occur when the frequency of the far infrared rays matches the frequency of the water in the cells.  This causes toxins from the cells to be put out into the blood stream & excreted in sweat, feces & urine.

Proponents of far infrared therapy state that the tissues, which are undergoing the healing process, may need a boost of infrared to ensure the fullest healing response.  Far infrared may penetrate the body’s tissues to a depth of 1.5 to 3 inches.  Due to the deep penetration of infrared rays, a healing effect is observed deep in the muscular tissues & even into the internal organs.

What is infrared energy?

The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into three segments by wavelength, which is measured in microns (1/1,000,000 of a meter).

• 0.76 to 1.5 microns = near infrared
• 1.5 to 5.6 microns = middle infrared
• 5.6 to 1000 microns = far infrared

This wavelength of light warms objects without warming the air between the source and the object (known as conversion).  This radiant heat can also be called Infrared Energy (IR).

Do not confuse this with UV radiation (sunburn) or atomic radiation (nuclear) - see the diagram above for where these types of light fall on the spectrum.Infrared waves are not visible to human eyes but can be seen by special instruments that translate infrared into colors that are visible to our eyes.  

The best example is the sun (80% of the sun’s rays are infrared).  Our atmosphere allows infrared rays in the 7 to 14 micron range to safely reach the earth’s surface.   When warmed, the earth radiates infrared rays with its peak output at 10 microns.  The human body radiates infrared energy out through the skin at 3 to50 microns, with most around 9.4 microns.