Question

Infrared saunas: What are the health benefits?

I've read that infrared saunas help cleanse metals, poisons and other toxins from the body. Is this true?

Answer

from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.

While many people feel invigorated after a sauna, there's no evidence that infrared saunas cleanse your body of toxins.

Saunas have been around for 2,000 years and are an important part of many Scandinavian cultures. Traditionally, saunas have consisted of small rooms that are heated to very high temperatures with heated rocks. Water is added to create steam. Infrared saunas, which produce heat using infrared heating instead of hot rocks, have recently appeared as an alternative to traditional saunas.

Some studies do support health benefits of traditional saunas — as a treatment for chronic pain and chronic fatigue syndrome, for instance. Manufacturers of infrared saunas, however, often claim a wider array of health benefits, including that their saunas can rid your body of metals, unwanted acids, ammonia and other toxins. However, research is limited at this point. While it seems plausible that infrared saunas might have some of the same benefits as traditional saunas, it's impossible to be sure until research is available.

Before using any sauna, talk to your doctor to make sure it's safe. Spending time in a very hot sauna — 175 F (80 C) or higher — can be harmful for people with certain medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure.