Far Infrared Heat Therapy Benefits

Bridge to Health is pleased to offer FIR - Far Infrared heat as an addition to manual therapies. This blog explains the benefits and history of the valuable therapeutic tool.
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What is Far-Infrared Therapy (FIR) and What Does it Do?
Far-Infrared Rays are waves of energy, totally invisible to the naked eye, are able to penetrate the surface of the skin and reach deeply into the body gently elevating the body’s surface temperature to 107.6F/42C and above. This action stimulates the movement of blood and lymph through the affected body system improving immunity and relieving inflammation.

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 “Give me the power to produce fever and I’ll cure all disease.”– Parmenides, 500 BC.

History of Far-Infrared Heat Therapy 
The body radiates far-infrared energy through your skin at 3 to 50 microns, with most output at 9.4 microns. The palms emit even more energy, between 8 and 14 microns. ‘Palm Healing’, an ancient tradition in China, has used the healing properties of far-infrared rays for 3,000 years. Natural healers emit energy and heat radiating from their hands to heal. Current research  has measured significant far-infrared energy emitted from the hands of Chi Kung / Qigong and Chi Nei Tsang practitioners.

Thermal therapies have been in existence for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilizations such as the Finns, the Romans, the ancient Chinese, the American Indians, and the Egyptians 5,000 years ago. Since ancient times, people have known that exposure to sunshine can maintain and enhance health. Sun therapy is a form of natural FIR thermal therapy. Far-Infrared Rays are the invisible rays of natural sunlight that have the longest wavelength. However, sunbathing should only be enjoyed in moderation since sunlight contains ultra-violet ray which can burn the skin. There is also no temperature control, and sunshine is only available seasonally. FIR gives the benefits of sunshine in a focused and safe way.

Evolution of Far-Infrared Technology
For many decades, scientific evidence has found that heat can maintain and enhance the wellness of the human body. Scientists have researched different ways on how to develop more effective forms of thermal heat therapy that target specific areas and enable deep heat penetration.
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Traditional forms of heat therapy can be hazardous for those with certain health conditions. The extreme heat can be uncomfortable for many individuals and may cause heat stress which can have detrimental effects on health, especially for people with heart challenges or needing to sustain blood pressure. Thermal compression and wraps are uncomfortable, heat is easily lost, temperature does not remain constant and maintaining a thermal compression or wrap can be problematic and inconvenient.

Research and development in the sixties – notably in Japan and Germany lead to the introduction of  the Far-Infrared Ray (FIR) thermal technology. This revolutionized thermal technology as an effective, safe, natural, hygienic, and efficient approach to thermal treatment. Multiple health and medical professionals internationally who rehabilitate numerous physical challenges using heat therapy. Relief for sports injuries via thermal therapy is one example, whilst detoxification and reduction of inflammation areaslo benefits.

Dr. Tadashi Ishikawa, a member of the Research and Development Department of Fuji Medical, received a patent in 1965 for a zirconia ceramic infrared heater used in the first healing infrared thermal systems. Medical practitioners in Japan were the only ones using infrared thermal systems for 14 years. In 1979, they were finally released for public use. The technique has been further refined into far-infrared thermal systems that have been sold in the USA since the 1980’s. One use of Far-Infrared heat in the USA has been in the form of panels used in hospital nurseries to warm newborns.
There have been well over 700,000 far-infrared thermal systems sold in Asia for whole body treatments. An additional 30 million plus people have received localized far-infrared treatment in Asia, Europe, and Australia with FIR lamps, which emit the same 2-25 micron wave bands as employed in a whole body system. In Germany, physicians in an independently developed form have used the whole body Far-Infrared Therapy for over 80 years.

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Far Infrared heat therapy can be added to any manual therapy offered by Bridge to Health, Colonics,     Chi Nei Tsang Sessions, Lymphatic and Therapeutic Massage modalities.

Book your session online today and select the Infrared add-on to enjoy this therapeutic experience. 

If you have questions or seek more information you may schedule a
$30 Learn & Heal Consult with Vanessa Goldeen, CWC, CNT, CCT
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or...for Lymphatics and Therapeutic Massage
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Brittany Craven, LMT offers a Free Fifteen Minute Phone Consult

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If your are interested in purchasing a FIR lamp for home use there are several
great model options we have researched available on Amazon!

​The TDP Digital Control Far Infrared Heat Lamp D-11 offers the quality of a professional therapeutic lamp for use in your home. This unit is ideal for those who suffer chronic pain of any kind. The adjustable arm, height positioning and lamp tilt offers multiple ways to reach the areas of need.
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I strongly recommend this unit for folks with arthritis, chronic pain, gut issues, headaches or for healing from injuries in general.

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​TDP Far Infrared Heat Lamp Desk Top Model
For those needed a smaller unit that may be used to focus on hands, feet and back of the neck or face, the table or desk top version TDP Far Infrared Lamp is also a good choice. Ratings on this product are not as high, but we found it to be well functioning and plenty of power to penetrate to deeper tissue levels. 

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