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Read MoreDifferent cultures have used thermal therapy for centuries to promote well-being, and this practice continues today. While generating heat using a fire inside a sauna is still common today, most saunas use gas, electricity or infrared light to provide health benefits.
The Sanctuary at Sedona offers sauna therapy using infrared light to address trauma, substance misuse and various mood disorders like depression, anxiety and dual diagnosis.
What Is Infrared Sauna Therapy and How Does It Work?
Infrared sauna therapy uses light to create heat, which increases your body temperature to induce sweating and relaxation. An infrared sauna doesn’t reach the same high temperature as a traditional sauna, meaning it’s pleasantly warm rather than blistering.
It increases your body heat slowly, and you may not start sweating until you’ve been in it for 30 or 40 minutes. While the infrared sauna isn’t as hot as the traditional one, you’ll still experience deep relaxation and detoxification.
Infrared saunas use far, near, medium or full-spectrum wavelengths of light to penetrate body tissue through the skin and create warmth. Far infrared light penetrates deeper into the body than near and medium infrared.
Benefits of Infrared Sauna Therapy for Depression
Infrared sauna therapy is a safe way to address drug addiction, trauma, depression and other mood disorders in a comfortable and relaxing space. Its benefits include:
- Enhanced mood: Infrared sauna therapy mildly stresses the body, causing the brain to release euphoric hormones like serotonin, dopamine and endorphins. These feel-good hormones counteract the stress, allowing your mood to improve. You can sustain these feelings of happiness by regularly using the infrared sauna.
- Increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF): The treatment encourages the body to boost BDNF levels, elevating a depressive state. BDNF helps enhance low moods by repairing existing brain cells and stimulating the body to create new ones.
- Improved detoxification: Infrared light elevates body temperature, increasing sweating and detoxification. Several sessions of sweating will allow your body to expel toxins, improving your health and ability to recover from trauma, substance misuse, anxiety, depression or other mood disorders.
- Reduced stress: Thermal therapy from an infrared sauna reduces stress and, in return, lowers cortisol levels — a hormone that the body releases during periods of stress. As cortisol drops, you’ll feel less anxious and stressed.
- Better sleep: Sleep is essential in your recovery journey, and you must get enough of it. One way of stimulating better sleep is through a session in an infrared sauna. The heat promotes thermoregulation and facilitates body relaxation. When your body cools off after leaving the sauna, it signals to the brain that it’s ready to rest, allowing you to sleep faster and better.
- Improved digestive health: Infrared sauna therapy improves nutrient absorption, enabling you to experience better digestive health, which is vital for recovering from drug addiction, mood disorders and trauma.
- Increased blood circulation: Thermal therapy boosts blood circulation, enabling your muscles to obtain oxygen easily and boosting your overall energy for overcoming drug addiction, trauma and mood disorders.
Why We’re Your Ideal Treatment Center
The Sanctuary is ideal for recovering from mental and emotional health issues. We offer the following benefits:
- Access to nature: Nature surrounds our 22-acre recovery center. You’ll have attractive views of hills, trees and the blue sky. This serene environment can help boost your energy levels and recover your soul and spirit.
- Integrated treatment: We use various models to heal the body, repair the mind and recover the soul. We’ll ensure you experience a comprehensive transformation by incorporating infrared sauna therapy and multiple other treatments into your recovery program.
- Alumni support: Once you finish our program, you can access our aftercare program, which helps you transition back into the real world and maintain your new skills and habits.
- Expert care: Our care providers have the skills and licenses to address mental health issues, trauma, substance misuse and emotional disorders. They’ll provide all the support you need every step of the way.
- Proven success: We have helped many clients recover and can assist you, too. With your commitment and our expertise, you can overcome anxiety and depression.
Frequently Asked Questions
While our care providers will guide you through an infrared sauna session, having basic knowledge about this therapy is vital. Here are a few answers to some common questions about infrared sauna therapy:
What Should I Do Immediately After Leaving the Infrared Sauna?
Drink water at the end of your infrared sauna therapy to rehydrate your body. Thermal therapy will cause your body to lose water through sweating, so you should hydrate immediately afterward. Next, shower to cleanse your skin.
Is It Okay to Use the Infrared Sauna Every Day?
It’s advisable to start gradually and work your way up to three to four sessions a week. More therapy sessions will help you experience more benefits, but your frequency also depends on your individual tolerance and health goals.
Do I Have to Wear Clothes in an Infrared Sauna?
You can wear loose-fitting, breathable clothes like a bathing suit or wrap yourself in a towel. It all depends on your preference.
Is It Better to Receive Infrared Sauna Therapy in the Morning or at Night?
You can reap the benefits of infrared sauna therapy at any time. However, consider doing it in the evening if you want to fall asleep shortly after your session.
We’re Here to Help
We walk the recovery journey with you because we understand the challenges of living with a mental and emotional health issue. We’ll support you throughout your time at our center and after you leave because we want you to regain control of your life.
Our holistic approach to recovery means we’ll focus on healing your body, mind, spirit and soul. We embrace biohacking treatments like infrared sauna therapy and combine them with Indigenous wisdom traditions to address trauma, substance misuse, anxiety, depression, dual diagnosis and other mood disorders.
Dial 877-710-3385 to speak with a counselor and find out how we can help.
