April 24, 2009

Treating Arthritis with Far Infrared Saunas

One of the most popular uses of infrared saunas is pain relief, and as far infrared saunas increase in popularity within the western world, mainstream medicine is beginning pay more attention. This is good news, because it means that what many cultures have known for centuries is now being tested scientifically. In August of 2008, infrared Sauna therapy was tested by a group at the Saxion University of Applied Sciences to determine whether it is an effective treatment with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and anklylosing spondylitis (AS) patients:

• Patients were treated twice per week, for four weeks
• There were 17 RA patients and 17 AS patients
• Pain and stiffness decreased clinically, and improvements were statistically significant
• No adverse effects were observed

"In conclusion, infrared treatment has statistically significant short-term beneficial effects and clinically relevant period effects during treatment in RA and AS patients without enhancing disease activity."

[PubMed: Infrared sauna in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis]