My naturopath and I were having a discussion several weeks ago regarding health and healing and I finally asked her to tell me in a nutshell the one thing she would recommend I invest in to optimize my health. She didn’t hesitate one moment and answered “The far-infrared sauna”.

She actually told me about the far-infrared sauna at my first visit and piqued my curiosity but as there was not one available in my area I was unable to pursue it as a healthy addition to my life. I pondered this for several months and looked in to buying one for home use which seemed a good idea but then I came upon an even better idea I would provide a far-infrared sauna to anyone interested in using it as a healing aid or just to maintain their health. This summer I am opening a business in Stillwater, Minnesota that will provide all of the benefits of far-infrared sauna without the investment of money and space to have one at home.

“What is a far-infrared sauna?” you ask. As succinctly as possible I will attempt to answer that question.

According to Sunlight Sauna’s (http://www.sunlightsaunas.com) website “far infrared light(FIR) is part of the sun’s invisible spectrum and since it can’t be seen it is experienced as heat. One of far infrared light’s characteristics is the ability to easily penetrate human tissue. When this happens  it creates a natural resonance, which has many beneficial properties.  Dr. Toshiko Yamazaki, M.D. 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.

The far-infrared sauna looks like a traditional sauna and mine is made of basswood to provide the best hypoallergenic properties but in appearance it will be as pleasant as sitting in any sauna. The infrared sauna differs from a traditional sauna in several ways but I feel the primary difference is that far-infrared has healing properties due to its ability to penetrate human tissue more deeply thus exciting existing cellular water molecules, breaking them down and allowing the cells to excrete the toxins that have accumulated. A traditional sauna uses extreme heat(150 degrees+) and humidity to make a person sweat and release some toxins. Far-infrared uses much lower temperatures (110 degrees F-130 F) but more effectively allows the body to release accumulated toxins because it heats from the inside out.

Far-infrared sauna therapy has been studied quite extensively(particularly in Japan where it has been in use for many years) and found to be quite  therapeutic in treating conditions as diverse as artherosclerosis and fibromyalgia. It can be effectively used to help people with debilitating arthritis or who suffer with psoriasis. It aides in weight loss and is equivalent to 30 minutes of aerobic activity (but who wants to sit in a sauna instead of exercise I want to use it in addition not as a substitution for exercise). It helps clarify skin that is troubled by acne and helps build collagen in skin like mine that has lost some of its elasticity. It has been used to detoxify former drug users by L Ron Hubbard and less well known but every bit as important to me it has helped a friend of mine lessen the pain and debilitating affects of an injury to her groin.

Will I be able to make such claims to the people who use my facility? Of course not, there are far too many lawyers out there looking for business and far too many people willing to give them their business. I feel confident however that I have the information to prove that the far-infrared sauna is a great healer and I simply want to provide those who are looking to maximize their potential for good health with the tool to achieve their goal.