Clinical Studies on the Effects of Far Infrared Rays

Sweat Therapy and Lotus FIR Sauna

by James Khan

Saunas and Sweat Therapy

The skin is our largest organ and sweating is the most effective way to remove toxins from the body. Saunas have been used for thousands of years and sweating has been proven to be effective for cleansing, relaxation and for boosting ones general health.

Sweat Therapy helps the body detoxify while strengthening the bodies immune system to fight off everything from the common cold to serious life threatening diseases such as cancer.

Far Infrared (FIR) technology considerably improves the heating, sweating and energizing effects from the sauna.

FIR generating materials were first developed by NASA as a form of radiant heat during space travel. The Japanese have brought this technology to our homes. Over 150 significant Japanese FIR technology patents were granted between 1977 and 1987 alone.

What is Heliotherapy?

Heliotherapy (light therapy) is the treatment of disease by exposing the body to sunlight, which is absorbed by the eyes and the skin.

Sunlight effects such things as our hormone balance and energy levels, deficiency causes many health and psychological problems, including SAD, low energy levels, low immunity and low vitamin D, required for calcium absorption.

The FIR Sauna is an indoor form of heliotherapy that utilizes the beneficial bands of sunlight, but does not include the harmful bands contained in sunlight that can cause skin cancer.

The beneficial, health promoting heat energy that we receive from the sun is FIR (8-14 microns). FIR rays (unlike Microwaves, Ultra-violet rays, Gamma rays and X-rays) are completely safe and extremely beneficial for all living things.

We can be exposed to FIR heat for hours and it will never cause our skin to burn, totally unlike ultra-violet, which is at the other end of the heating spectrum.

FIR is the frequency of chi or life energy in humans and animals, which resonates with the FIR emitted from sunlight. This is one reason that we feel happier in sunlight and less prone to illness in sunny climates.

The intensity of FIR produced by the human body constantly fluctuates depending on the health of the individual.

When FIR intensity is high, we feel healthy and are able to overcome ailments. When the FIR intensity begins to decline, we are subject to disease and illness and tend to age more quickly.

Traditional Sweat Therapies

The Mayan Sweat House dated 900 BC has been documented as the earliest sweat structure, and similar forms of sweating practices have been used in almost all cultures of the world for thousands of years.

The purpose of a traditional sweat lodge ceremony would be to cleanse, purify and renew old energies. The ritual process would involve a physical cleanse or “sweat” as well as a spiritual, emotional and mental cleanse, a ritual rebirth or renewal of the self.

The sweat lodge also served as a place of worship, healing and celebration for the community. Tribal indians often participate in a “sweat” with family and friends.

Known traditional Sweat Therapies include:

(1) American Indian Sweat Lodge; (2) Finnish Sauna; (3) Greek Sweat Bath; (4) Irish Sweat House; (5) Japanese Mushi-Buro and Korean Jim Jil Bang; (6) Jewish Shvitz; (7) Islamic Hammam; (8) Mexican and Central American Temescal and Inipi; (9) Roman Balnea and Thermae; (10) Russian Bania; (11) Scythian Sweatbath; and (13) South African Sifutu.

Traditional Saunas and FIR Saunas

Traditional heat or steam saunas heat the air to heat the body to induce perspiration by sheer force, most of which bounces of the skin.

Though you feel very hot in these saunas, the heating is actually quite shallow, only a few millimeters below the skin.

FIR saunas use the beneficial radiant penetrating band of natural light to heat the deepest organs and tissues to soften, dissolve and remove deposits of deadly crystallized toxins and acid wastes.

The infrared light penetrates deep into the fat and muscles of the body, creating a more powerful, direct detoxifying effect on the deeper tissues of the body.

FIR: A Unique Form of Sweating

fir sweating

Since the air temperature in an FIR sauna remains much lower than in a traditional sauna, the individual feels more comfortable. Sweating often begins before the person feels very hot at all and the sweating is more profuse than in a traditional sauna, without the same degree of discomfort involved.

skin

FIR saunas have been shown to induce 2-3 times the sweat volume of traditional heat and steam saunas, with a lot less discomfort, and the sweat contains more toxins from the deeper fatty tissue layers below the skin.

An FIR sauna is thought to be 7 times more effective at detoxifying heavy metals such as mercury, aluminum; cholesterol, nicotine, alcohol, ammonia, sulfuric acid and other environmental toxins.

The sweat from FIR saunas contains far more toxins then the sweat from ordinary saunas because the radiant, penetrating FIR rays are able to heat body tissue from below the skin where the toxins are stored inside fatty deposits. FIR energy helps dissolve these fatty tissues and remove the fat soluble toxins, so that they can be removed via the skin.

In a study performed by American researchers, the sweat of people using a conventional sauna was found to be 95 to 97% water while the sweat of those using an Infrared Sauna was 80 to 85% water.

The non-water portion mainly included cholesterol (fat), fat-soluble toxins, toxic heavy metals (such as mercury and aluminum), sulfuric acid, sodium, ammonia, uric acid, pesticide residues, PCB’s, petroleum-based toxins, chloride and fluoride.

This unusually high concentration of heavy metals and other fat-soluble toxins was not found in the sweat from normal exercise either.

Only FIR heat causes these toxins to be released from the cells. The toxic molecules will then reside transiently in the lymph fluid. Sweat comes from the lymph fluid, which comes from the blood.

The toxins present in the tissues and released into the lymph fluid will then exit the body through the sweat.

The liver and kidneys are not required for this, so these organs are not burdened by sweat therapy.

FIR Sweat Therapy has been shown to be a particularly effective way to remove:

1. Heavy metals, including mercury, lead, cadmium, and aluminum.

2. Chemicals, including arsenic, formaldehyde, pesticides, agent orange, industrial chemicals, and gasoline.

3. Alcohol, nicotine, heroine, and prescription drugs.

What Is Far Infrared Energy?

The electromagnetic spectrum segment range between 4 – 1000 microns is called Far Infrared (FIR).

Even on a cold day, the sun feels warm on the skin. This warmth you feel is FIR radiating waves. FIR is a completely safe form of natural light energy. It is not UV, which can burn and damage your skin.

FIR waves vibrate at the same frequency as all organic matter.

These rays are a sympathetic energy to organic matter. The FIR segment of sunlight is absolutely essential for all living things, including human beings.

The FIR sauna duplicates these healthy FIR frequencies by using special FIR generating materials for the heating elements.

FIR and Chi

palm-chi

Our palms emit FIR waves in the 8-14 micron range and these emissions play a role in the “laying on of hands” healing techniques.

“Palm Healing”, an ancient tradition in China dates back to over 3,000 years.

These natural healers emit energy and heat radiating from their hands to heal, much the same as Reiki healers do.

Yogis in India also employ palm healing and recommend it especially for relieving eye strain.

FIR is considered to be the same energy that is called “Chi”, that is harnessed by Chi Gung masters.

Current research conducted in Taiwan has measured significant FIR energy emitted from the hands of Chi Gong masters.

Resonant Absorption

Water has the same resonant frequency as the FIR frequencies of the sun. The body tissues absorb these rays as the water and the cells responds in a process called “resonant absorption” as the frequency of the FIR matches the frequency of the water and the cells.

The effect is like pushing someone on a swing, if you push just at the right frequency, it will give a huge lift. FIR gives your cells just the right ‘push’ to stimulate and enhance your natural energy or life force.

Deep Detox

We live in a polluted world. In the last fifty years it has been estimated that 5 million new chemicals have been created by man, of which 75,000 are in regular everyday use.

These chemicals are present in our environment and we absorb them through food, water, by inhalation and through our skins. Many of them are fat soluble and bio-accumulate in our bodies.

Most of these chemicals are known toxins that are the root cause all sorts of diseases and ill health.

There is a direct correlation between external pollution and the internal pollution of the human body. External toxicity of food, air and water always causes internal toxicity of blood, tissues and cellular fluids. These toxic conditions become the breeding grounds for disease and degeneration.

Toxemia is the root cause of all disease

The only real way to cure any chronic disease or degenerative condition is to eliminate the root cause by ridding the body of toxins that pollute the blood and tissues, attract germs and weaken resistance and immunity.

FIR Sweat Therapy is one of the most proven effective ways to help remove these toxins from our bodies.

For a more effective detoxification:

a) Increase the oxygen in your blood by regular deep breathing.

b) Drink plenty of Ionized Alkaline Water.

As ionized water has small clusters, it will hydrate your body quickly and effectively, and be a great help for the bodies detox process.

Sang Whang in his book “Reverse Aging”, says that our bodies require Oxygen in two forms, as O2 from that air and as OH- ions from alkaline water. We get these from breathing and drinking ionized alkaline water.

You should continue to maintain the “alkaline” state of your body by strictly limiting acid-forming foods and drinks (refined sugar/starch, soft drinks) and increasing alkaline forming foods like fresh fruit and vegetables and juices.

Passive Exercise

While you relax in your FIR sauna, your body is hard at work.

A 30-minute session creates the same amount of perspiration and cardiovascular activity as a six-mile run.

The body uses several means to cool itself as it reacts to the deeply warming effect of FIR.

Heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate increase and blood vessels dilate to move warmed blood from the interior of the body towards the skin.

Oxygen-rich blood is delivered to oxygen-depleted muscles. Heat is transferred from the blood to the sweat and is released through evaporation on the skin. This provides similar cardiovascular benefits to those from working-out.

NASA first researched this “passive exercise” effect and determined FIR to be an ideal way to maintain astronauts’ cardiovascular fitness during long space flights.

 

Weight loss

FIR Sauna’s are one of the most effective and easy ways to lose weight – just relax in the sauna, and let it do the work.

FIR has the ability to mobilize and eliminate “fat bound” toxins.

Cellulite is a gel-like substance made up of fat, water and wastes which are trapped in pockets below the skin. FIR saunas can assist this condition, as FIR will directly agitate the fatty tissues.

Fat becomes water-soluble at a 100 F° and can dissolve and enter the bloodstream to be removed from the body by sweat.

Profuse sweating can then help clear this form of unwanted debris from the body.

Sweat therapy using saunas has been extensively researched and shown to be effective at lowering fat soluble chemicals.

European Beauty Specialists confirm that a sauna will greatly speed any anti-cellulite program. The FIR sauna is far more effective than a conventional sauna because it penetrates deeply and provides up to 10 times the level of heating to these tissues.

Cardiovascular Health

While you relax in an FIR Sauna, your body is hard at work. A 30 minute session creates approximately the same amount of perspiration as a six-mile run.

Your heart works harder to boost circulation and supply Oxygen to all the cells of the body, thus improving your cardiovascular system.

Increased circulation has been shown to relieve acne, eczema, psoriasis, burns, lesions, and cuts.

Wounds heal faster, which reduces scarring.

Blood vessels dilate to help heal muscles and soft tissue while delivering oxygen-rich blood to oxygen-depleted muscles.

This also helps soothe muscles after a strenuous work out.

Lactic acid is effectively removed, which is why many sportsmen that know about FIR saunas use them after strenuous exercise.

Skin Care

For that sought after healthy glow, FIR Sauna heat therapy allows increased blood circulation to carry great amounts of nutrients to the skin, thus promoting healthy tone and texture.

Skin is left soft and smooth with improved tone and elasticity, the profuse sweating deeply cleanses the pores.

Artificial Fever and the Immune System

An artificial fever is created in the FIR sauna that greatly aids our immune system.

The famous Greek physician, Parmenides, stated:

“Give me the power to create fever and I shall cure any disease”.

This has been validated by scientific research, which has shown that different types of white blood cells (T cells, Natural Killer cells, B cells etc.) are enhanced by the artificial fever.

FIR and Athletic Training

The FIR sauna can play an important role in athletic training. The stimulation to one’s cardiovascular is the perfect ‘warm up’ prior to athletic activity.

It also enhances muscle flexibility thus, aiding with injury prevention. FIR reduces lactic acid in the body. Lactic acid is the muscle metabolism by-product; it causes soreness and stiffness following exercise.

A single sauna session can burn 300-900 calories, as many as rowing a boat for 30 minutes or running several miles.

The Lotus Flower and Detox

The lotus flower is often found floating on muddy, dirty ponds; yet it maintains its beauty and purity, untainted by the pollution around it.

The lotus seeds in the bottom of muddy, dirty ponds, totally surrounded by darkness, with not a glimmer of light; it gently moves up as if an inner knowledge is guiding it and eventually reaches the surface and to the light, where it flowers.

As it does so, it improves the water around it, which becomes clearer, transparent and allows light and life to flow into the pond.

The Lotus is the perfect symbol for mind-body detox, as it has been a symbol of the Chinese culture, Buddhism and the path of Enlightenment.

Are we not like the lotus seed; surrounded by darkness, ignorance and pollution, though it may seem as if we are living in advanced, enlightened times?

Relaxation and Enjoyment

With an FIR sauna you get energized at the cellular level and feel deeply relaxed, rather then tired as with a conventional sauna or exercise.

This relaxed feeling lasts the entire evening.

As you relax, be aware of the thoughts that arise, but try to stop identifying with thoughts, particularly stressful ones!

Focus upon your breath and your body. The 75 trillion cells of your body radiate energy all the time. Energy follows thought, so don’t waste it on stressful thoughts. Get out of the mind and enjoy being in the body, enjoy being alive.

The Tibetan Sage Milarepa said:

The bodily substance is the palace of divinity

The body or bodily substance is the temple or palace – not the mind.

As a Zen master asked:

Tell me what problem you have, if you don’t think about it?

There was a “mad” man in China who just laughed and laughed; whatever you said to him he just laughed! Pretty soon, you’d just join the mindless madman in his mindless laughter!

They called him the Laughing Buddha. I wonder if he knew something that we don’t – is it all just a cosmic joke?

Stress, pessimism, and negative emotions have been shown to be very destructive to health and longevity.

Along with your body, you should also purify your thoughts and detoxify your emotions to really benefit from any physical cleansing therapies.

Massage Therapies

massage1You could augment this natural relaxing and energizing effect of the FIR sauna with a Massage Therapy of choice, particularly a massage involving stretching as well muscle and tissue work.

This will stretch and relax the muscles and nerves, allow the body to move the acidic deposits in bones and tissue to the blood, lymph and out through the skin.

Massage is often the only sure way to move toxins in muscle tissue and joints that can cause things like shoulder and neck pains, or pains in other joints or muscles.

Thai Yoga massage with Aromatic Oils combined with a deep meridian massage form like Shiatsu is ideal and would help the detox and cleansing process tremendously.

Also deep regular breathing, Yoga, Tai Chi, Chi Gung and Meditation.

These therapies will move the energies along the meridian systems, re balancing you at the energetic levels.

The would be helpful each time you take time to relax and have a sauna, but particularly during a 7 Day Detox Program where you take a week off to allow your body to heal itself.

The Lotus Upright FIR Sauna

The Lotus upright FIR sauna uses two powerful Ceramic FIR Heaters. The canopy reflects the radiant energy back to user. The air is not heated; the radiant FIR heats the body in the same way that sunlight does.


Lotus Sauna

Lotus Upright FIR Sauna Features

 

 More details, please read: The Lotus FIR Sauna.

Availability

Lotus Upright and Lotus Dome FIR Saunas can be Ordered Online from:

http://glowing-health.co.uk

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Lotus FIR Dome Sauna

With the Lotus FIR Dome Sauna you can lie down, relax, and enjoy the total 360° degree surround FIR heating!

As with the Lotus upright sauna, keeping the head outside and cool while being inside the sauna is the optimal way to get the most benefits of far infrared heat with the least discomfort.

lotus fir dome sauna

 

The sauna does the work, and your body responds with internal cardiovascular responses needed for self healing. With the Dome sauna you get the maximum benefits with the greatest degree of relaxation possible!

Lying down in the dome sauna promotes distinct cardiovascular and neurological advantages. Laying down relieves the nervous system and cardiovascular system of the extra stress that is required to maintain an erect posture.

 

Lotus FIR Dome Sauna Features

lotus=fir-dome1

 

More details, please read: The Lotus FIR Dome Sauna.

 

Availability

Lotus Upright and Lotus Dome FIR Saunas can be Ordered Online from:

http://glowing-health.co.uk

Price: £280 (Inc. VAT)

FIR Professional Use

1. Dr John Cline

drclineDr John C. Cline, M.D., B.Sc, C.C.F.P, A.B.C.T., Medical Director of the Cline Medical Center and Oceanside Functional Medicine Research Institute, located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada uses FIR saunas for wide range of conditions. He explains that:

“Several published studies have now shown that hyperthermic (sauna) therapy can bring about the rapid removal of a wide range of toxic substances from the human body”

“Hyperthermic therapy also is one of the few things, which brings about a significant rise in the level of growth hormone, an important hormone that helps to maintain lean body tissue, including muscle.”

“For the chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia (FMS) patient, hyperthermic therapy helps to restore normal autonomic nervous system functioning. This is the part of the nervous system, which governs unconscious functions such as muscle tension, sweating, blood pressure, digestion and balance.”

“Autonomic dysregulation is the term used to describe changes in the nervous system, which result in many of the symptoms of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia (FMS). Muscle pain, excessive body odor, digestive complaints, visual disturbances and dizziness are some of the many manifestations of autonomic dysregulation.

“Repeated sessions of hyperthermic therapy can greatly assist in the restoration of normal autonomic nervous system functioning”

Dr Cline explains that:

“Sweat therapy has also been used for many years by miners in Europe to prevent and treat occupational heavy metal poisoning, and studies have now demonstrated that hyperthermic therapy can bring about significant detoxification from heavy metals including mercury. But only in recent years has science begun to seriously examine this age-old healing technique.

“Now, organizations such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have taken a serious look at hyperthermic therapy as a means to detoxify individuals who are ill from exposure to environmental poisons”

2. Dr Doris Rapp

rappDoris J. Rapp, MD, of Scottsdale, Arizona, is an Environmental medical specialist as well as a well-known pediatrician, allergist, homeopath and past president of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine. She states unequivocally,

“Everybody in this country needs to be detoxified because we’ve all become toxic dumpsites.”

“I’m hoping to see more patient outcome studies on FIR sauna use, studies that will further evaluate the efficacy of this treatment”

Dr. Rapp began using a Far-InfraRed sauna personally after seeing a similar procedure being employed in a German clinic where she was particularly impressed with the clinic’s work in detoxifying young children and infants.

3. Dr. Toshiko Yamazaki

toshikoDr. Toshiko Yamazaki, MD, owns a clinic in Japan where she has done extensive research on the therapeutic uses of Far-Infrared. In her book, “The Science of Far Infrared Therapies” she explains that:

“One of the reasons FIR has beneficial results in a variety of illnesses is the ability of FIR waves to remove toxins which are often at the core of many health problems.

“Toxins in our body appear in water as clumps or globules. Blood circulation becomes blocked and cellular energy impaired where these toxins accumulate.”

“However, when the energy from FIR is applied to water molecules containing toxins, the water begins to vibrate, releasing the encapsulated gases and other toxic materials back into the bloodstream where they are removed naturally by the body’s normal detoxification process”

Dr Yamazaki reports the successful treatments of many diseases by the use of FIR waves in Japan, including:

• Asthma, Bronchitis (cleared up)

• Rheumatoid Arthritis (7 out of 10 cases resolved in one clinical trial)

• Cancer pain (greatly relieved)

• Cirrhosis of the Liver (reversed)

• Chrone’s disease (cleared)

• Cold hand and feet (20-25% improvement maintained)

• Cystitis (gone)

• Duodenal ulcers (eliminated)

• Gastritis (relieved)

• Hemorrhoids (reduced)

• Hepatitis (gone)

• High Blood pressure (reduced)

• Keloids (significantly softened and in some cases completely gone)

• Leg ulcers (healed)

• Radiation sickness (relieved signs and symptoms)

• Teenage skin problems (cleared)

• Tinitus (chronic case cleared in 10 treatments)

• Eczema and Psoriasis (responded well)

• Pain Relief

4. Prof. Li Dong Qi

Prof. Li Dong Qi carried out clinical test involving 1409 patients at three large hospitals in Tianjin, China.

The results showed that FIR rays could be effective for a range of conditions for the majority of patients:

No. Type of Disease Number of Patients Effective Non Effective Effectiveness
1. Arthritis 413 361 52 87.41%
2. Rheumatism 189 161 28 85.19%
3. Spinocerebellar Disorder 347 317 30 91.35%
4. Neck Dissection 311 262 49 84.24%
5. Prostatitis 34 31 3 91.18%
6. Diabetes 8 6 2 75.00%
7. Vaginitis 30 28 2 93.33%
8. Osteoporosis 16 12 4 75.00%
9. Emphysema 44 40 4 82.35%
10. Neuritis 17 14 3 87.44%
Total 1409 1232 117 87.44%

5. Dr Sherry Rogers

sheree rodgersDr Sherry Rogers, utilizes sweat detoxification for the treatment of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity at the Northeast Environmental Clinic in New York and comments:

“What is the best way to get rid of toxic chemicals including pesticides, heavy metals and hydrocarbon residues?

The Far-InfraRed Sauna. …I’m convinced that the Far-InfraRed Sauna is something everyone should do to restore health and then continue to do on a less frequent basis to maintain the ‘cleaned out’ state for the rest of their lives.”

In addition to the effective removal of toxins, FIR Saunas also have been shown to have the benefits:

1. Lower lactic acid (the acid that accumulates and causes pain in muscles when you have overdone it during exercising);

2. Stimulate endorphins (happy hormones) of the brain;

3. Kill organisms like bacteria and parasites;

4. Stop swelling;

5. Improve lymphatic flow;

6. Strengthen the immune system by increasing leukocytes (a type of white blood cell);

7. Increase blood circulation and oxygen supply;

8. Attract calcium to cell membranes where it is needed for healing;

9. Provide pain relief from arthritis, fibromyalgia, muscle spasms and joint stiffness;

10. Speed up metabolism in the body;

11. Weight control – Burns as many calories in one session as you would rowing or jogging 30 minutes;

12. Improve skin and help reduce cellulite.

6. Dr. Sasaki Kyuo

Dr. Sasaki Kyuo, M.D. has done extensive research on the therapeutic uses of far infrared therapy. She is the author of “The Scientific Basis and Therapeutic Benefits of Far Infrared Ray Therapy” which presents the clinical effects of far infrared ray therapy.

Besides cancer, Dr. Kyuo reports continual successful treatments of many other diseases by use of FIR waves.

The list of diseases documented in her book includes stress induced chronic diarrhea, abdominal distention, ulcerated large intestines, gastritis, facial numbness, hemorrhoids, shoulder, back, and knee pain, rheumatism, hypo tension, diabetes, weight loss, breast and abdominal tumors, low blood pressure, asthma, anemia, burns and scalds, body odour, early onset of baldness, fracture of cervical vertebra, radiation exposure and related diseases.

Clinical Studies on The Effects of Far Infrared Rays

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Lotus Saunas can be Ordered Online from:

http://glowing-health.co.uk