Potential Benefits Of Regular Sauna Therapy Practice

Sauna therapy is growing in popularity, particularly within the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) community. If you have never tried sauna therapy, you may be unaware of the possible benefits of exposing your body to high heat levels in a sauna. Research shows a regular practice of saunas could potentially spur a number of health improvements, both physical and mental. Read on to learn more about what this practice entails and the benefits it could offer your health.

What is sauna therapy?

A sauna is an enclosed space where your body can spend time in high heat. Saunas and similar structures have been used for centuries in a variety of different cultures because of the number of health benefits they offer. The traditional sweat lodge was utilized by several Native American tribes; the temāzcal was used by the indigenous people of Mexico; and the banya was part of historical Russian culture. In contemporary American society, saunas are often used at gyms and wellness centers, and smaller saunas can be installed in backyards or even inside homes.

Sauna treatment is the process of regularly participating in sauna sessions to pursue health benefits.

Traditional Finnish sauna therapy

Infrared sauna therapy

Because infrared saunas involve less heat, sessions can last longer than those in a traditional sauna, and you can also participate in infrared sauna treatments more often. Experts recommend participating in a traditional sauna session no more than three days a week, while infrared sauna sessions can be completed every day if you’d like. 

Note: Infrared saunas should not be confused with near-infrared light therapy, which is a form of treatment in which a person is exposed to a low level of infrared light in order to treat skin conditions or neurodegenerative disorders.

Some benefits of sauna therapy

Research on sauna use confirms that exposing yourself to high levels of heat increases your body temperature and heart rate, which in turn dilates your blood vessels and speeds up your blood flow, lowering your overall blood pressure. The effect is similar to the “healthy stress” that exercise and working out can put on your body, which makes your body stronger and more resilient in a variety of ways. Regularly participating in sauna therapy can potentially have the following beneficial effects on both your mental and physical health:

• Greater sense of balance
• Faster healing after an injury
• Lower blood pressure, leading to improved cardiovascular health
• Decreased symptoms of chronic pain conditions
• Help with addressing chronic fatigue syndrome
• Increased relaxation
• Help with symptoms of autoimmune conditions
• Detoxification and increased antioxidant production in your body
• Improved exercise performance
• Higher functioning metabolism and weight control
• Relief from sore muscles, joint pain, and arthritis
• Clearer skin
• Weight loss
• Healthy heart rate
• Fewer symptoms of mental health disorders like depression, psychosis, and dementia

Possible benefits of different heat therapies

Maximizing holistic wellness in your own life

The benefits of saunas still need to be researched further and scientists are particularly interested in whether the positive effects of these treatments are long-lasting especially for medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, heart failure, and chronic pain. At the very least, sauna time can be a method of taking some time for yourself to enter a space where your only goal is to relax and breathe. You may find that taking extra time to pause and reflect on your day in a sauna allows you to understand yourself more deeply. 

If you want to continue your self-awareness journey, it may help to speak to a therapist. Wellness can encompass more than contemporary medicine, like regular doctor’s visits, or complementary and alternative treatments such as sauna time. Holistic wellness involves seeing yourself as an entire person, with integrated mental and physical health needs. Tending to your physical health may lead you to want to focus on your mental health as well. 

Many people lead busy lives and may struggle to fit an extra appointment into their already packed schedules. If you are having difficulties in finding the time for an in-person counseling appointment, you may consider online therapy. Many online psychotherapy providers, such as BetterHelp, offer options to thousands of licensed and credentialed therapists with flexible schedules. These professionals can often schedule appointments in the evening, on the weekends, or during other times when traditional offices usually aren’t open. This could make it easier and more convenient to get the support you need, regardless of where you are or how you choose to connect with your therapist. 

The efficacy of online therapy

Research indicates that online therapy can be just as effective as traditional in-person psychotherapy. One study found that online implementation of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) reduced symptoms of a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, and phobias. It also reduced symptoms of chronic pain, reinforcing the concept that mental and physical health are connected, and holistic wellness involves addressing all aspects of your well-being. If you feel you are making gains in achieving a healthy lifestyle by practicing sauna therapy, online counseling may be an ideal complement to accomplishing your wellness goals.