‘Tis the season. Unfortunately, we’re not talking about the holidays. The cold & flu season is here. Sniffles, coughs, fevers, aches. Lucky for you, regular infrared sauna use can help strengthen your immune system, working to prevent colds and flu.
Infrared rays in the near, mid and far portions of the spectrum all play a part in helping to keep the body healthy during the cold and flu season. The full spectrum infrared saunas in use at ºdegree Wellness are the only saunas on the market to offer infrared in all three portions of the spectrum.
Regular infrared sauna use – especially in the mid-infrared range – has been shown to significantly stimulate blood flow. Better blood circulation means more toxins flow from the cellular level to the skin’s surface to improve cell health, aid in muscle recovery and strengthen the immune system.
Near infrared (NIR) heating technology, also found in our full spectrum infrared saunas, can also strengthen the immune system by stimulating cell regeneration and reducing cell death.
A NASA study showed near infrared therapy, delivered by LEDs deep into body tissue, can quadruple cell health and tissue growth.1 Several studies have shown that LEDs (like those found in our saunas) stimulate white blood cell production and collagen growth by increasing energy at the cellular level.
In another study, medical researchers in Wisconsin demonstrated that LED-produced NIR helps promote cell health and regeneration.2 The LEDs in our Solocarbon Full Spectrum infrared heaters produce infrared in this same range. Another study, this one published by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, concluded that LED-produced NIR restores enzyme activity and reduces cell death by half.3
Finally, the far-infrared end of the spectrum can help the human body relax.
An estimated 75 to 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related problems. Long-term stress is the cause of countless physiological effects on the body, including increased blood pressure, weight gain and – you guessed it – weakening of the immune system.
According to New York Times best-selling author and fitness expert Jorge Cruise – as well as many other health professionals – the more stressed you are, the more cortisol your body produces. Cortisol is a hormone that raises heart rate and blood pressure. Excess levels of cortisol in the body can suppress the body’s immunity.
Scientific evidence also shows that infrared sauna therapy helps the body maintain healthy levels of cortisol. In fact, infrared saunas have been clinically shown to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure with regular use.
Better circulation, increased cellular regeneration and lower stress levels can all help better the body’s immune system. Higher immunity means stronger resistance to colds and flu virus – and a much more enjoyable winter.
References:
- Harry T. Whelan, Ellen V. Buchmann, Noel T. Whelan, Scott G. Turner, Vita Cevenini, Helen Stinson, Ron Ignatius, Todd Martin, Joan Cwiklinski, Glenn A. Meyer, Brian Hodgson Lisa Gould, Mary Kane, Gina Chen , James Caviness. NASA Light Emitting Diode Medical Applications From Deep Space to Deep Sea. CP552, Space Technology and Applications International Forum-2001, edited by M. S. El-Genk. Copyright 2001 American Institute of Physics 1-56396-980-7/01.
- Kristina D. Desmet, David A. Paz, Jesse J. Corry, Janis T. Eells, Margaret T.T. Wong-Riley, Michele M. Henry, Ellen V. Buchmann, Mary P. Connelly, Julia V. Dovi, Huan Ling Liang, Diane S. Henshel, Ronnie L. Yeager, Deborah S. Millsap, Jinhwan Lim, Lisa J. Gould, Rina Das, Marti Jett, Brian D. Hodgson, David Margolis, Harry T. Whelan. Clinical and Experimental Applications of NIR-LED Photobiomodulation. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, Volume 24, Number 2, 2006.
- Margaret T.T.Wong-Riley, Huan Ling Liang, Janis T. Eells, Britton Chance, Michele M. Henry, Ellen Buchmann, Mary Kane, and Harry T. Whelan. Photobiomodulation Directly Benefits Primary Neurons Functionally Inactivated by Toxins: Role of Cytochrome C Oxidase. JBC Papers in Press. Published on November 22, 2004 as Manuscript M409650200. Copyright 2004 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.