Improve Sleep
You want to sleep better
Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to feeling your best. When you don’t get the rest you need, the health consequences quickly add up. It’s hard to give yourself fully to what—and who—you love. Infrared sauna helps the body in so many ways that can help improve sleep, and give you back the energy you need to thrive.
Saunaing may help you sleep better
There’s not much scientific study on infrared saunas and sleep – yet. Anecdotal evidence often points to possibility and creates the need to learn more. In recent years, we began seeing a pattern of feedback from people noticing an effect on their sleep after they began saunaing. We asked our Sunlighten Community who experienced improvements in their sleep: 70% of those who responded said they had. Not everyone does, and the reasons for that are varied. For those who have, we found their experience compelling enough to share.
Resolving sleep issues is complex
Our bodies regulate sleep through a complicated chemical process managed by our brain, activated by our circadian rhythm and sleep drive. When that process is disrupted, there are a lot of variables to consider and evaluate, including activity patterns; health issues like stress, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, depression, menopause, diabetes, etc.; and sleep hygiene factors such as room temperature, light reduction, regular bedtimes and wake times, etc.
Infrared creates a biochemical cascade of benefits
Lack of sleep can increase inflammation, cravings, insulin resistance, weight gain, heart disease, impair immune function, decrease mental health, accelerate aging, and reduce muscle recovery. Infrared sauna therapy enhances detox pathways, increases circulation and improves mitochondria function, all of which help the whole body work better and thus help sleep, too.
Infrared therapy may improve the amount and quality of sleep. The mechanism for this effect has not been firmly established but may be related to the ability of infrared to act as an “exercise mimetic.” It is well known that physical exercise will improve disturbed sleep. Infrared radiation can increase blood flow and oxygen metabolism in the muscles and the skin and could trigger a biochemical cascade resulting in improved sleep.
Prof. Michael R Hamblin
Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of Johannesburg
