Article

Infrared saunas are wonderful devices. Numerous studies have shown them to be quite therapeutic. If you have done your research, you have probably been convinced of the efficacy of far infrared saunas.

The Gnr-Mat, which produces far infrared and negative ions through a bed of Jade and tourmaline, is a great alternative to an infrared sauna. The Gnr-Mat has multiple temperature settings. When the temperature setting is placed on high, the GnrMat can effectively be used in place of an infrared sauna. The high temperature settings are used if you were trying to sweat or detox as you would with an far-infrared sauna.

The GnrMat is less expensive than an infrared sauna.
You can sleep on Gnr-Mat. Since you can vary the temperature settings, you can adjust the mat to lower temperatures, so you will be warm and cozy all night.

The Gnr-Mat uses less power. The Professional Gnr-Mat at its highest output uses about 1/4 the power of an efficient infrared sauna.

Gnr-Mats are portable, and you can travel with them, or move them from room to room. The Mini and Professional Gnr-Mats come with travel cases.

The Gnr-Mat has deeper infrared penetration. The Gnr-Mat can penetrate 6-8 inches into the body. An infrared sauna penetrates about 2 inches.

The Gnr-Mat has a different quality infrared because the infrared is modulated by the amethyst crystals. This increases the bio-availability of the infrared.

The Gnr-Mat provides the benefits of Jade and tourmaline healing. With the GnrMat, you are on lying on a bed of gemstone quality jade and tourmaline

The Gnr-Mat provides negative ion therapy, which stimulates serotonin, allowing the body and mind to relax, assisting in therapeutic sleep. Negative ions are generated within the Gnr-Mat and enter the body through conduction. Negative ions are only generated in those saunas where water is pored onto hot rocks.

Dr.say
The Klinik St. George Hospital - www.klinik-st-georg.de - in Bad Aibling, Germany, has treated 2500 German and 2500 foreign patients each year. Their cancer treatment regime is a week of detoxification and strengthening the immune system with diet and nutritional supplements, followed by 2 weeks of localized Infrared hyperthermia treatment and low dose chemotherapy. This regime has produced great success in treating cancers.

[Discoveries about cancer at Klinik St. George Hospital included:] The cancerous cell has a weakness, [which is] heat. It will die if the temperature goes above 42C/107.6 F.

a) Far Infrared treatment raises body temperature to 42 degrees C [107.6 degrees F].
b) Far Infrared heat penetrates through the body and kills existing cancerous cells.
c) Far Infrared heat enables capillaries to expand, thus enabling good circulation and combating the potential existence of cancer cells.
d) Far Infrared thermal therapy can alleviate pain and prolong life when conventional cancer treatment fails.
e) "The potential is quite endless," said Harry T. Whelan, MD, Medical College Bleser Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics and Hyperbaric Medicine. "I like to say that the history of medicine, since the beginning of time, has been poisons and knives. Drugs usually poison some enzyme system for the benefit of the patient. Think about the drugs you take: Digitalis is digitoxin; it's from the foxglove plant and it poisons your heart gently to help you with cardiac disease. Motrin and aspirin basically poison the prostaglandin system to decrease pain by poisoning the inflammatory cascade. Blood thinners basically poison the clotting system, and on and on and on.”

[Dr. Whelan further states,] "So all these drugs that we take are poisons carefully dosed to help the patient. And then, of course, knives. That's surgery, in which you have to cut the patient in order to cure. [Note his sarcasim] In this particular strategy, [using LED’s and infra-red] what we're trying to do is use the energy of certain specific wavelengths of light, which are carefully studied in our research lab, to determine those that will enhance the cells' normal biochemistry instead of poisoning something that is supposed to occur or cutting at it. I consider that a paradigm shift in the entire approach to medicine that has the potential, therefore, to alter all kinds of disease processes, particularly any in which there's an energy crisis for the tissue."[Pain or disease is an energy flow blockage.]

"In our NASA projects what we're trying to do is find ways to use the energy of near-infrared light to stimulate the little engine in every cell, which is the mitochondria, so that the drive train, which absorbs these very wavelengths of light energy, can be powered to do what it's best at doing, which is providing energy for the cell to do everything it does," said Dr. Whelan. "Now, light absorbed by, say, your sweater or my black pants, does not automatically convert into biological benefits. But if it's absorbed in the form of light energy by chemicals whose job is always to make use of energy to power the cell, then it's going to maybe be put to good use. That's what we will do.

"Astronauts get four problems. They get immune deficiency, pituitary insufficiency that leads to hormone imbalances in space, wound healing delays, and muscle and bone atrophy. If we can use energy to counteract the long-term effects of weightlessness, which causes a distortion of the mitochondrial structure or scaffolding architecture, then maybe we can countermeasure these four problems astronauts get by long-term weightlessness. That's the NASA thing. It's a long-term preventative daily treatment with this near-infrared light to help 'goose' their cells into better health to overcome the problems of chronic weightlessness on the cell."

"If you think about it, a lot of injuries result in an energy problem because the tissue is damaged, injured, and therefore has difficulties going through its normal processes of energy metabolism," said Dr. Whelan. "Usually there's a lot of swelling, which strangles the blood vessels. You're getting inadequate oxygen and nutrients, so there's an energy crisis. If there's a critical time, and as a neurologist I'm particularly conscious in the case of stroke, spinal cord injury and in the case of retinal laser injury as in the DARPA project, it's those golden hours during which tissue that hasn't been completely destroyed is fighting for survival.

"(LED) might make the difference between a small stroke or a large stroke, or between Christopher Reeve being paralyzed for life or walking again, or between someone having a tiny little blind spot from where the laser first hit to being completely blind because of the spreading injury around the entirety of the retina. Those are the differences we'd like to make in neurology, and those things can have spin-offs beyond military combat casualty care to things like diabetic retinopathy, diabetic ulcers, other tissues that can be affected, metabolic diseases where the mitochondria is the area of tissue affected by the problem, serious burns, and then a whole host of neurologic injuries. These are all potential future areas."

Disturbance "Qi" (life-force) will disturb the normal body function illness. Therefore "Qi" released from the palm of "Qi gong" master is "Qi" introduced from an external source to restore the body's function. Therefore by wearing F.I.R products will help to produce warmth and increase the resonance absorption which is similar to "Qi gong" therapy to restore health. According to Dr. Masao Nakamura from Japan, F.I.R treatment is the best solution because it achieves the objective "treatment that caused the least pain to the patient".

Our body temperature is normally at 36C to 37C. [96.8 to 98.6F] When we do exercise our body will sweat and increase warmness. In this process, the body waste is being eliminated, and proper food nutrient and test to supplement our body will become vital. It is also a fact that materials like clothing can keep our body warm and sweat, but it [our body] does not emit FIR for absorption - only materials that contain FIR materials have the therapeutic properties if worn and used on a long term [basis] in our body will achieve optimum health benefits.

Why do we say that 6-15 micron is the Bio-Genetic Rays? The basis is on usages, research on living things coupled with FIR. Temperature of every living thing including animals and plants is normally within the range 0̊C to 100̊C . The ability to absorb the electromagnetic waves is also within this range. When the wavelength is between 8-12 micron, that is the external emission rate of the human body, it is within the frequency rang of 9 - 12 micron. Extensive biological research has shown that FIR wavelengths between 6 - 15 micron are beneficial to human body and consequently known as the physiological rays or Bio-Genetic Rays.

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/health-benefits-of-far-infrared-therapy/

Far Infrared (FIR) Healing, Medical Facts and Research Data From Japan And Other Sources. Over the last 25 years, Japanese and Chinese researchers and clinicians have completed extensive research on Far Infrared medical treatments and report many amazing discoveries. In Japan, there is an 'Far Infrared Society' composed of medical doctors and physical therapists dedicated to further Far Infrared heat therapy - hyperthermia - research . Their findings support the multiple health benefits of Far Infrared therapy as a method of serious healing capability.

[The] health challenges [listed] below, have been reported in Japan and China, as alleviated, reduced or eliminated by the use of Far Infrared Therapy:

Dr. Masao Nakamura of the O and P Medical Clinic in Japan reports success with the use of Far Infrared heat treatment for the following:

Musculo-skeletal improvements with Far Infrared Heat. Success has been reported from infrared treatments by Japanese researchers for the following musculo-skeletal conditions:

Ear, Nose, and Throat Conditions Relieved with Far Infrared Heat. The Japanese report the following ear, nose, and throat conditions relieved with Far Infrared heat treatments:

'Reversing The Aging Process' - an Enlightened Doctor's Discovery'. ©1999 by Dr. Fouad I. Ghaly, M.D. - Studies suggest that Far Infrared light stimulates the production of cell tissue and rapidly promotes the regeneration of skin and blood tissue.

Far Infrared Detoxification

Toxic accumulation is a root cause behind most physical challenges, including the aging process and diseases such as cancer.

Far Infrared is thought to be 7 times more effective at detoxifying heavy metals such as mercury, aluminum, and even cholesterol's, nicotine, alcohol, ammonia, sulfuric acid and other environmental toxins, as opposed to conventional heat or steam saunas.

The human body is a reservoir of all kinds of bio-toxins which cannot be expelled immediately and become stored in the body, thereby triggering illness. When toxic gases such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, or potentially fatal heavy metal toxins such as mercury, lead and chlorine, meet large water molecules, they are encapsulated by clusters of water and trapped in the body. Where these toxins are accumulated, blood circulation is blocked and cellular energy is impaired. However, when a 7 to 11 micron FIR wave is applied to these large water molecules, the water begins to vibrate. This vibration reduces the ion bonds of the atoms which are holding together the molecules of water. As the water evaporates, the encapsulated gas and toxins can be released.

Toxic Cleansing With Far Infrared (FIR) Waves:

"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 that cannot be removed immediately after they enter the body are encapsulated by clusters of water. Blood circulation becomes blocked and the cellular energy impaired where these toxins accumulate. However, when a 10-micron FIR wave is applied to water molecules containing toxins, the water begins to vibrate. This vibration reduces the ion bonds of the atoms that are holding together the molecules of water. As the breakdown of the water molecules occurs, encapsulated gases and other toxic materials are released. One study done by American researchers showed that the sweat released by users of a FIR sauna was different that the sweat of people using a conventional sauna or doing normal exercise. The non water portion of sweat released in a FIR sauna was cholesterol, fat soluble toxins, toxic heavy metals, sulfuric acid, sodium, ammonia and uric acid." - Dr. Kyuo, Japan.

Toxic overload has been implicated in many health conditions, from fibrocystic breast disease (FBD) in women to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Symptoms of toxic overload include fatigue, headaches, joint or muscle pain, frequent colds and flu, signs of allergy and hormonal imbalance, chemical sensitivity, sinus congestion, psoriasis and other skin conditions, loss of dexterity, insomnia and more. Psychological symptoms include poor concentration, memory loss, mood changes, mental confusion and changes in behavior. - www.balancedlives.net

A great overview on FIR history and its therapeutic value is available in an article: "Warming Up to FIR" published in the Jan. 2001 issue of Alternative Medicine Magazine by Dr. D.J. Fletcher. Here is an extract:

'Detoxification from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: Randy Gomm in Vancouver, became a distributor of FIR saunas after his life was turned around by detoxification. As a firefighter, his health had begun to deteriorate until he was no longer able to work. He was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and eventually it was realized that the root of his problem was toxic overload from occupational exposure. During the eight years he was ill, he says, he had a lot of time to research alternative modalities to regain his health. "I discovered that leading researchers in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome stated that their patients had high toxic loads," says Randy. "When their loads were reduced, their symptoms often improved dramatically. It worked for me. Detoxing really helped put me back on my feet."'
Masuda A, Kihara T, Fukudome T, Shinsato T, Minagoe S, Tei C. The effects of repeated thermal therapy for two patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. J Psychosom Res. 2005 Apr;58(4):383-7.

  1. Lin CC, Chang CF, Lai MY, Chen TW, Lee PC, Yang WC. Far-infrared therapy: a novel treatment to improve access blood flow and unassisted patency of arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007 Mar;18(3):985-92. Epub 2007 Jan 31.
  2. Fredrikus G. J. Oosterveld, Johannes J. Rasker, Mark Floors, Robert Landkroon, Bob van Rennes, Jan Zwijnenberg, Mart A. F. J. van de Laar, Gerard J. Koel. Infrared sauna in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Clinical Rheumatology. 2009 January 01. vol. 28 issue 1, pages 29-34 doi10.1007/s10067-008-0977-y.
  3. Kihara T, Biro S, Imamura M, et al. Repeated sauna treatment improves vascular endothelial and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002 March. 39(5):754-759. doi:10.1016/S0735-1097(01)01824-1.

Infrared Radiant Energy - Article by Dr. Aaron M. Flickstein

- http://www.natural-pain-relief-guide.com/safety-of-infrared.html -
What is Infrared Heat?

Radiant heat is simply a form of [light] energy that heats objects directly through a process called conversion without having to heat the air between. Radiant heat is also called infrared energy or IR. The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into three segments by wavelength, measured in microns or micrometers (a micron = 1/1,000,000 of a meter): 0.076 to 1.5 microns = near or close; 1.5 to 5.6 = middle or intermediate; 5.6 to 1000 = far or long wave infrared. The far infrared segment of the electromagnetic spectrum occurs just below, or "infra" to, red light as the next lowest energy band. This band of light is not visible to human eyes but can be seen by special cameras that translate infrared into visible colors. We can, however, feel this type of light, which we perceive as heat. The sun produces most of its energy in the infrared segment of the spectrum. Our atmosphere has a "window" in it that allows infrared rays -- in the 7 to 14 micron ranges -- to safely reach the earth's surface. When warmed, the earth radiates infrared rays in the 7 to 14 micron bands with its peak output at 10 microns.

The infrared heat produced by infrared saunas is similar to the heat from the sun. Our tissues normally produce infrared energy and burn it as fuel to keep us warm and use it for tissue repair. Tissue production of infrared energy is associated with a variety of healing responses. At times, the infrared energy in our tissues may require a boost to a higher level to insure the fullest healing possible for tissue repair. Dr. Tsu-Tsair Oliver Chi, when summing up how infrared devices are attuned to the human body, reported that body tissues that need an infrared boost selectively absorb infrared rays. After boosting a tissue's infrared energy, the remaining rays pass onward harmlessly.

Other Therapeutic Effects of Infrared Heat

The following information has been summarized from Chapter 9 of Therapeutic Heat and Cold, Fourth Edition, Editors Justus F. Lehmann, M.D., Williams, and Wilkin, or concluded from data gathered there.

Generally it is accepted that [infrared] heat produces the following desirable therapeutic effects:

  1. Infrared heat increases the extensibility of collagen tissues. Tissues heated to 45 degrees Celsius [113F] and then stretched exhibit a non-elastic residual elongation of about 0.5 to 0.9 percent that persists after the stretch is removed. This does not occur in these same tissues when stretched at normal tissue temperatures. Therefore 20 stretching sessions can produce a 10 to 18 percentage increase in length of tissues heated and stretched. Stretching of tissue in the presence of heat would be especially valuable in working with ligaments, joint capsules, tendons, fascia, and synoviurn that have become scarred, thickened, or contracted. Such stretching at 45 degrees Celsius caused much less weakening in stretched tissues for a given elongation than a similar elongation produced at normal tissue temperatures. Experiments cited clearly showed low-force stretching could produce significant residual elongation when heat is applied together with stretching or range-of-motion exercises. This is safer than stretching tissues at normal tissue temperatures.
  2. Infrared heat decreases joint stiffness. There was a 20 percent decrease in rheumatoid finger joint stiffness at 45 degrees Celsius (112 degrees Fahrenheit) as compared with 33 degrees Celsius (92 degrees Fahrenheit), which correlated perfectly to both subjective and objective observation of stiffness. Speculation has it that any stiffened joint and thickened connective tissues may respond in a similar fashion.
  3. Infrared heat relieves muscle spasms. Muscle spasms have long been observed to be reduced through the use of heat, be they secondary to underlying skeletal, joint, or neuro-pathological conditions. This result is possibly produced by the combined effect of heat on both primary and secondary afferent nerves from spindle cells and from its effects on Golgi tendon organs. The results produced demonstrated their peak effect within the therapeutic temperature range obtainable with radiant heat.
  4. Infrared heat treatment leads to pain relief. Pain may be relieved via the reduction of attendant or secondary spasms. Pain is also at times related to ischemia (lack of blood supply) due to tension or spasm that can be improved by the hyperemia that heat-induced vasodilation produces, thus breaking the feedback loop in which the ischemia leads to further spasm and then more pain. Heat has been shown to reduce pain sensation by direct action on both free-nerve endings in tissues and on peripheral nerves. In one dental study, repeated heat applications led finally to abolishment of the whole nerve response responsible for pain arising from dental pulp. [Infrared] Heat may lead to both increased endorphin production and a shutting down of the so called "spinal gate" of Melzack and Wall, each of which can reduce pain. Localized infrared therapy using lamps tuned to the 2 to 25 micron waveband is used for the treatment and relief of pain by over 40 reputable Chinese medical institutes.
  5. Infrared heat increases blood flow. Heating one area of the body produces reflex-modulated vasodilators in distant-body areas, even in the absence of a change in core body temperature. Heat one extremity and the contra-lateral extremity also dilates; heat a forearm and both lower extremities dilate; heat the front of the trunk and the hand dilates. Heating [with infrared heat] muscles produces an increased blood flow level similar to that seen during exercise. Temperature elevation also produces an increased blood flow and dilation directly in capillaries, arterioles, and veinules, probably through direct action on their smooth muscles. The release of bradykinin, released as a consequence of sweat-gland activity, also produces increased blood flow and vasodilation. Whole-body hyperthermia, with a consequent core temperature elevation, further induces vasodilation via a hypothalamic-induced decrease in sympathetic tone on the arteriovenous anastomoses. Vasodilation is also produced by axonal reflexes that change vasomotor balance.
  6. Infrared heat assists in resolution of inflammatory infiltrates, edema, and exudates. Increased peripheral circulation provides the transport needed to help evacuate edema, which can help inflammation, decrease pain, and help speed healing.
  7. Infrared heat introduced in cancer therapy. More recently, infrared heat has been used in cancer therapy. This is a new experimental procedure that shows great promise in some cases when used properly. American researchers favor careful monitoring of the tumor temperature; whereas, the successes reported in Japan make no mention of such precaution.
  8. Infrared heat affects soft tissue injury. Infrared healing is now becoming a leading edge care for soft tissue injuries to promote both relief in chronic or intractable "permanent" cases, and accelerated healing in newer injuries.

As reported in Infrared Therapy by Dr. Yamajaki, Japanese researchers have produced the following provocative results with whole-body infrared heat:

Burns (relieves pain and decreases healing time with less scarring)
High blood pressure (safe in 40 to 50 degrees Celsius, 104 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, regular use helps lower pressure)
Low blood pressure (sauna trains the body to raise the pressure)
Brain damage (accelerated repair in brain contusions)
Short-term memory loss (improved)
Cancer of the tongue (improved)
Toxic electromagnetic fields (effects neutralized)
Cerebral hemorrhage (speeds and significantly enhances recovery)
Arthritis, acute and chronic (greatly relieved)
Gouty arthritis (relieved)
Rheumatoid Arthritis (relieved)
Menopausal symptoms (relieved chills, nervousness, depression, dizziness, head- and stomach-aches)
Weight loss (produced through sweating, the energy expended to produce sweating, and through direct excretion of fat)
Auto accident-related soft tissue injury (daily sessions used until best healing attained, then used to deal with permanent residuals; pain control for chronic residuals lasted three days before another treatment was necessary)

http://drlwilson.com/articles/sauna_therapy.htm -

The following are excerpts are taken from Infrared Sauna Therapy by Lawrence, Wilson, MD. While Dr. Wilson’s focus is on Infrared Sauna Therapy, the concepts also apply to Infrared Heat in general.

Infrared therapy is one of the least costly, safest and most powerful ways to eliminate toxic metals, toxic chemicals and chronic infections. The benefits include:

Skin rejuvenation. Sauna use slowly restores elimination through the skin. The skin is the largest organ of the body and a major eliminative channel. In most people, it is inactive, congested and toxic. Sun exposure, use of synthetic clothing, bathing in chlorinated water and exposure to hundreds of chemicals damage the skin. Excessive sympathetic nervous system activity and emotions such as fear, anger and guilt cause blood to be withdrawn from the skin, contributing to inactivity of the skin.
Enhanced sweating. Sweating in a sauna is a by-product of applying heat to the body. The sweating process gently and safely helps eliminate all heavy metals and toxic chemicals. Medical studies demonstrate that most toxins can be eliminated through the skin, relieving the burden on the kidneys and liver. Sweating increases dramatically in most people after several months of daily sauna use. Sweating during exercise is not nearly as effective for detoxification because exercise activates the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic nervous activity inhibits toxin elimination.