Ever wanted to go for a dip in the fountain of youth? You’re not alone! Maybe the thought was prompted by a pulled muscle or a neck strain, a reminder that you weren’t as young as you once were. Everyone has experienced some similar at some point, and as we age we are more susceptible to discomfort or pain.
In fact, recent medical industry reports reveal that 1 in 5 adult Americans experience chronic pain. This includes prolonged muscle pain, joint pain, tension, and nerve issues.
Good news! There’s a natural solution that doesn’t require a prescription, and the results are incredibly positive!
Infrared therapy has little to no side effects. It’s also non-invasive and can be enjoyed in the privacy of your own home. What could be more convenient?
If you’ve ever experienced chronic or prolonged pain, keep reading.
Arthritis And Infrared Therapy
Stiffness, swelling, and aching joints are common arthritis symptoms, a condition that affects up to 24% of U.S. adults. It’s also been the most frequently reported main cause of disability for nearly twenty years. We used to hear primarily of seniors who suffered from arthritis, but more and more it’s affecting the younger, working population. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), a severe and rarer version, is considered an autoimmune disorder and can be seriously debilitating.
No matter the level and intensity, arthritis can cause missed work and social activity and lower your quality of life. While exercises can be done to alleviate the pain, exercise can cause pain and inflammation. This vicious cycle is difficult to break to begin the healing process.
With infrared sauna therapy, arthritis sufferers can enjoy immediate relief in as little as 30 minutes a day. A study done specifically with RA patients resulted in decreased pain, along with a side bonus—reduced fatigue. Infrared helps is via far-infrared heat which penetrates the body deep enough to increase blood circulation. That in turn increases the oxygen delivered to muscles that have been depleted. In addition, the improved circulation helps flush out edema, trapped fluid in tissues that causes swelling and inflammation.
You can reap the benefits infrared has to offer in a half-size, Essential Lounge. Or, you can have a whole-body experience with an enclosed, full spectrum sauna that offers a range of infrared benefits.
Good-bye, Migraines
If you’ve ever had a headache, you know it can throw off your focus or functioning. For the migraine sufferer, this pain and tension can last days on end. And while there are holistic treatments like acupuncture and meditation, many who get migraines find those aren’t effective remedies.
Enter light therapy. The more scientific term is photobiomodulation or Chromotherapy, and it has been used to treat a variety of health issues. Light stimulation may sound like a terrible idea to a migraine sufferer who has acute light sensitivity.
However, Green light therapy provides proven migraine relief. It emits a lower dose of infrared that when administered, resulted in a success rate of 60% reduction in pain; that’s substantial! The study showed that “Green light therapy shortened the duration of headaches, and improved participants’ ability to fall and stay asleep, perform chores, exercise, and work.”
Health Mate offers light therapy in many of its infrared sauna models. See the other benefits of Chromotherapy—a great alternative to migraine medication without the serious side effects.
Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
What used to be a misdiagnosed or overlooked health issue has recently been given more serious attention in the medical world. The symptoms? Extreme exhaustion, pain, and sleep disruptions. Women tend to suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome more than men. It can even include cold-like symptoms such as sore throat or headaches. No amount of sleep seems to help, and it often goes undiagnosed for months.
Additionally, there doesn’t seem to be a prescriptive treatment for this affliction, which can last years and even a lifetime.
Infrared therapy has helped with many of the typical symptoms, based on small studies conducted in more recently. It also benefits people with fibromyalgia, which shares some of the same symptoms as chronic fatigue. Doctors attribute both illnesses to what they term “compromised detoxification pathways”. This is where patients’ bodies aren’t properly flushing out toxins, particularly from heavy metals. They fully endorse infrared therapy as a solution.
Spending as little as 20-30 minutes in an infrared sauna lets you sweat just as much as you would during a fitness workout, but without exertion.
Detoxification using infrared saunas can be the key to fending off a range of illnesses and improving the immune system.
Muscle And Back Pain Relief
To ice or to heat? That is often the question when it comes to treating general muscle pain, spasms, and back injuries. Each method has its own merits and can be used alternately to relieve or reduce pain.
Ice packs are often recommended immediately after an injury to reduce inflammation. Heat wins out for stiffness, soreness, and joint pain that lasts over several days, weeks, or as a chronic condition. Since we know infrared heat increases blood flow, particularly far-infrared with its deeper penetration, the result is that muscles receive more oxygen and can recover quicker. In addition, infrared therapy can enhance flexibility and improve performance.
Overall, rest and relaxation can relieve sore and injured muscles. Including regular sessions in an infrared sauna will result in a speedier recovery so you can be back to lifting groceries—or weights—sooner rather than later.
Consider investing in a personal home sauna if you suffer from chronic pain. Learn about all of the health and wellness benefits that Health Mate infrared saunas can provide by taking our sauna quiz to find out which one suits your lifestyle best.