That's the big question everyone asks. Which is better, Near or Far Infrared? The first thing to understand is that many sauna benefits are due to heat alone which both near and far infrared provide. When you factor out the heat benefits, near infrared emerges as superior to far infrared. Really, the two are not very comparable. Near infrared light increases energy levels inside the cell through a natural cellular response to near infrared light wavelengths. This leads to remarkable cell healing and regeneration in addition to the regular benefits of sauna heat. In addition, near infrared saunas have no detectable EMF where you sit. Near infrared simply offers more for less!

Specific Advantages of Near Infrared:

Tissue Penetration

First, near infrared as a wavelength, has deeper tissue penetration. The science is very, very clear on this, despite what far infrared websites say. N.A.S.A. has measured tissue penetration as deep as 23cm with near infrared. In addition, tissue penetration is related to light intensity. In the near infrared sauna, the energy is much more focused and you have the option of targeting it on a specific area of your body. In far infrared saunas, especially those with carbon heaters, the total heat is spread out over a very large surface area. While some sauna makers promote this as a good thing, it has the unfortunate side effect of making the infrared much less concentrated at any given point on your skin. Less concentration equals less penetration.

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)

Our Near Infrared Saunas have the lowest EMF of any sauna on the market today.  Near infrared heat lamps have very little EMF to begin with. Secondly, when you use this sauna, you sit about 4-5 feet away from the heat lamps. EMF drops off significantly with distance. So, when you sit 4-5 feet away, the EMF is reduced to undetectable levels. Lastly, we put all electric parts on the far side of the sauna to make them as safe as possible. In far infrared saunas, you are surrounded on all sides by heaters that naturally have higher EMF emissions. And, most importantly, in far infrared saunas you sit right next to the heaters! This dramatically increases your EMF exposure and many people are sensitive to this.

Toxin Protection

 In addition to the detoxification gained through sweating, near infrared light has been show to protect cells from the damages caused by many toxic compounds. Near Infrared light enhances both cell metabolism and intracellular anti-oxidant activity. Studies show that cells treated with near infrared light gain significant protection from common nevironmental protection. Far infrared has no such benefit.

 Cellular Stimulation

Near infrared is received at the cellular level in a way that far infrared is not. In every cell, there are structures in the mitochondria that are upregulated by near infrared energy. They are photosensitive to near infrared wavelengths and respond by increasing energy levels inside the cell. The presence of such structures proves our bodies are simply built to use near infrared! It is very logical considering that 37% of the sun's output is in the near infrared range.

Near infrared saunas can yield greater rejuvenative effects over far infrared, especially on the skin, because it increases tissue regeneration. Over the last 40 years, research has identified many specific near infrared wavelengths that enhance cellular function.

Simple, Effective Heaters

Near infrared saunas lamps are a very simple, yet profoundly effective therapy you can rely on. They are as simple to maintain as changing a lightbulb. With far infrared saunas, there are many types of heaters, most of which are made in China. And, some heaters provide very little infrared output. For a very interesting review of heater types check out this review. It illustrates some of the problems inherent with far infrared heaters. With near infrared, you get a guaranteed quality .

Natural Wide Spectrum Healing

This one comes down to a philosophy of healing. Is it better to extract a single compound and concentrate it or is it better to use healing energies the way nature provides them? Far infrared saunas take the first approach and concentrate their infrared in a very narrow range around 7-10 microns. In fact, they promote their ability to deliver a very narrow spectrum as a good thing. This is the same line of thinking used to manufacture drugs. Take a single component from a naturally wide and diverse healing source, such as an herb, and concentrate it, leaving out all the other therapeutic and balanced compounds naturally present in the herb. It's not that far infrared is bad, it's just with far infrared saunas, thousands of additional healing wavelengths are simply ignored.

Our Near Infrared Saunas are fundamentally different. We use a very wide spectrum that more resembles the wide spectrum we receive from the sun. It has a much broader action and is more natural. It is the same philosophy that chooses herbs over drugs, whole foods over synthetic vitamins and healthy, strong immune systems over flu vaccinations. When you use our sauna, you receive thousands of wavelengths covering a very, very broad range. Simple, natural and efficient!

Natural and Healthy                    Natural and Healthy                            hmmm....not so much        

Healing Wavelengths

Unlike far infrared, there are many specific wavelengths in the near infrared range that have been scientifically shown to enhance cell function. Until now, they have only been available as single wavelengths applied by LED's. When you use an near infrared sauna, you receive the entire near infrared spectrum. 

Researched Wavelengths in the Near Infrared Spectrum in nanometer

600, 620, 630, 660, 680, 730, 760, 820, 840, 860, 880, 940, 970um

Documented effects of these wavelengths:

More on Near Infrared Vs. Far Infrared

Dr. Wilson's Page On Sauna Therapy

Chapter 1 of Dr Wilson's Book on Sauna Therapy