Benefits of Infrared Sauna
Working on one's detox pathways is extremely important when healing from any chronic illness.
The "detox pathways" referred to can include the elimination of toxins via: urine and stool, supporting liver, kidneys, and bile flow, supporting the lymphatic system through movement and massage, breathing out toxins using the lungs, and also sweating toxins out through the skin.
I had heard of the benefits of using an infrared sauna (links below), but I did not want to spend the amount of money required to invest in a pre-made one, nor did I want to set aside that amount of space in my home.
Therefore, I researched DIY and homemade infrared saunas. I made a plan and sketches, ordered and purchased the parts needed, and began assembly.
The raw materials I used include:
-(4) Ruby Lux near infrared (NIR) bulbs - here.
-(4) 250W Woods Light Clamps with ceramic base - here.
-(1) Powerstrip for the lights - here.
-Canvas drop cloths to cover the surface area required, based on my dimensions - from Lowes / Home Depot. I got (1) 15x12 foot canvas cloth + (1) 6x9.
-Cheap stool from Goodwill
-Cheap plant stand from Goodwill (I also considered a magazine rack they had. CD/DVD stands may also work).
-1/2" PVC pipe cut to my desired lengths, plus PVC connectors - from Lowes / Home Depot.
My dimensions... I'm 5'4" so I built it to be 5'8" tall.
(4) cut to 5 feet 8 inches for the height
(4) sides cut to 3.5 feet.
(3) back / front pieces cut to 2 feet 8 inches
(6) 90-degree corner PVC joints
(2) L shaped PVC joints
My total cost was <$200.
Here is my "before" picture. I had assembled my PVC base, stand + lights, and had just thrown the canvas over the base to cover and retain the heat. It worked well, however, it wasn't very pretty with all the extra cloth everywhere.
Eventually, I took the covers off to measure, cut, and sew panels to fit the base. Now, it looks like this and is a bit more visually appealing. I don't mind the raw look it has now.
Here is the inside. I also cleaned up the cords for the lights using zip ties.
Some of the benefits of infrared saunas include:
-Increased detoxification via sweating
-Increased mitochondrial energy
-Increased circulation and oxygenation to tissues
You can read more via these resources:
-"The Benefits of Infrared Sauna..." by Ari Whitten - here.
-"...Science-Backed Benefits of Sauna," also by Ari - here.
-He also has an excellent book on Red Light Therapy, on amazon - here.
-Sauna Benefits by Dr. Ben Lynch / Seeking Health - here.
By using an infrared sauna, you are combining both the benefits of red light as well as sauna / heat therapy.
There you have it. I absolutely adore my sauna and spend 15-30 mins in it most days. I feel great after my sauna sessions. If I'm feeling inflamed, it helps me more than anything else I have found.
Note that I did start with only 5 minutes and worked my way up based on what I could tolerate. For those who can't tolerate heat, I would recommend starting very low, as well, and working up on time very slowly. Supporting adrenals, thyroid, and working on electrolyte status can also help increase heat tolerance.
I truly hope this helps those who need increased detox support on a budget.