Today’s fast-paced modern life brings along with it, problems like stress and anxiety. Another common condition affecting a predominant portion of today’s society is depression. Mental health problems like stress, anxiety and depression have become a part and parcel of our lives.
When it comes to improving mental health, sometimes, the simplest of strategies can be of great benefit. And, regular infrared sauna therapy is one of them. Infrared sauna therapy is becoming increasingly popular and for good reason.
Regular sauna therapy has been associated with several health benefits—from reducing hypertension and symptoms of heart disease to chronic fatigue, skin problems, sauna therapy is becoming a popular and effective way to treat a variety of health problems.
New research reveals the psychological health benefits of sauna therapy, which indicates that it can help to relieve depression, improve mental health and have calming effects of people suffering from mild to moderate anxiety.
Scientists believe that when the heat from the infrared sauna stimulates the skin and tissues and activates the cells that release serotonin in the brain, which is essentially a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate mood, sleep, motivation and sleep. Serotonin also helps to boost feelings of happiness and well-being.
Generally, people who suffer from anxiety, panic disorder, depression and seasonal affective disorder have significantly lower levels of serotonin, which is why they are prescribed antidepressants that help to increase the serotonin levels in the brain. However, studies show that regular use of infrared sauna therapy can help immensely with mental health symptoms that are related to depression, stress and anxiety, fatigue, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, etc.
Infrared Sauna Therapy for Depression
Depression is among the most common disorders in the U.S. according to the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) and according to the WHO, over 260 million people suffer from depression worldwide. Depression affects the way people feel, think and behave and makes it difficult for them to complete even the most basic of their everyday tasks. In fact, depression is the leading cause of several diseases, disability and even suicide and is becoming a common illness today.
Often, treatment for depression typically utilizes a combination of medication, lifestyle remedies and psychotherapy, which can be a long and cumbersome process and can vary from one individual to another, not to mention expensive too. Fortunately, today, sauna therapy is emerging as a new method of treatment for depression.
According to a clinical study conducted in 2016, whole-body hyperthermia has shown promise as a rapid-acting and safe antidepressant modality, offering therapeutic benefits. And, a single session of WBH (whole-body hyperthermia) showed reduced depressive symptoms.
Other research has studied the effects of infrared sauna therapy on patients who were mildly depressed with mental complaints, appetite loss and fatigue and found that the sauna therapy helped to increase their appetite and reduce their mental complaints significantly. It has also been seen that heat therapy has helped to reduce depression in patients suffering from cancer.
Infrared Sauna Therapy for Anxiety and Stress
It is common for all of us to experience stress and some form of anxiety in our lives. Anxiety can essentially be defined as a worry about something that you don’t have any control over and uncertainty about something. Anxiety can also mean unease and restlessness. Anxiety interferes with your life and can result in further stress. While some people are free of anxiety for days or weeks, there are others who suffer from anxiety on a daily basis.
Infrared sauna therapy can be an unconventional, but effective way to manage and treat anxiety and stress. Many studies have revealed that regular use of infrared sauna therapy helps to lower the level of cortisol, which is the main stress hormone of the body. In a study, it was found that using the sauna can help to reduce state, as well as trait anxiety.
Another study reveals that sweating helps to increase relaxation and reduce frustration and anxiety. According to a study in Psychosomatic Medicine Journal, it has been found that sauna therapy leads to relaxation and has shown a positive effect on mental health by enabling you to escape the complexities and uncertainties of the world.
It is really amazing to see the benefits of infrared sauna therapy, especially when it comes to treating psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. And, these are just a few of the several health benefits of infrared sauna therapy.
Infrared saunas are amazingly therapeutic, relaxing and affordable too and now, you can easily install one at home so that you can find an effective remedy for stress, anxiety or depression right in the comfort of your home.
