If you are looking for a gentle and enjoyable method to reduce discomfort, unwind, de-stress, and potentially lose weight, a sauna blanket may be just what you need. Infrared sauna blankets are believed to promote weight loss and alleviate stress, offer beneficial relaxation, and boost your body’s natural detoxification process.
While scientific research to support these claims is scarce, the relaxing warmth of a cozy blanket is a well-known way to boost emotional wellness. Using a sauna blanket can help you feel more at ease and relaxed, and many individuals swear by it as a form of sauna therapy. So why not try it out for yourself? First, though, here are some possible benefits with their limitations and helpful precautions to note.
Health benefits of sauna blankets
Detoxification
Regular saunas promote detoxification, and a sauna blanket might also be somewhat helpful. Although your body is naturally designed to eliminate toxins, additional help can be beneficial in reducing pollutants.
As National Geographic notes, the notion that you can “detox” through sweating is largely a myth. However, it is true that we excrete environmental pollutants through our pores, but the amount is typically minuscule. Even so, if you choose to use a portable sauna blanket for relaxation, the possibility that it could also rid you of a small amount of pollution is a bonus.
Improved circulation and pain relief
Heat therapy is an effective method to enhance blood flow by widening the blood vessels. If you often experience cold hands and feet, using an infrared sauna blanket could be a beneficial solution. Also, a sauna blanket can help with inflammation and so aid aches and pains, especially in the joints.
Weight loss
Whether a sauna blanket can seriously aid weight loss is debatable. The infrared waves will likely only get through to the skin’s surface rather than reach deeper levels to burn fat.
But you will probably experience water loss that makes it look and feel like you’ve lost weight after using a sauna blanket. Useful, perhaps, when you want to squeeze into your favorite jeans for a date.
Reduced stress and anxiety
Here’s an area where an infrared sauna blanket shines. One of the best reasons to use one might be to aid relaxation. Most people benefit from cozying up under a heat source, depending on the temperature in their environment, of course.
If you’re tired after a long day, suffering from emotional exhaustion, and want to reduce anxiety, or simply want to boost feel-good hormones by warming up when it’s cold, a sauna blanket can assist you.
Precautions when using a sauna blanket
There are a few safety precautions to note if you buy a sauna blanket. One is to put it on the shelf if you’re pregnant rather than use it. Like a regular sauna, it could cause complications.
Another safety element is never to use a sauna blanket if you have a fever. After all, you’re already sweating, and it’s wise to let your body do its job fighting off whatever it’s trying to get rid of rather than tamper with your temperature.
If you’re dehydrated, it’s best to give a sauna blanket session a miss. Sweating under a blanket will only cause more water loss, something you need to avoid. Lastly, don’t snuggle in your sauna blanket if you’ve taken drugs or alcohol. They can hamper blood vessel expansion, which means your blood vessels might not cope with the extra blood flow created by added heat.
Highly popular sauna blankets are becoming commonplace in wellness centers and private homes. They provide an easy way to enjoy some of the benefits of a regular sauna without leaving your front door. So, whether you want a quick relaxation solution or to reduce aches and pains, consider buying one to suit your budget and needs.
References: Nationalgeographic.com/science/article/sweating-toxins-myth-detox-facts-saunas-pollutants-science. (detoxing). Womenshealthmag.com/health/a39002146/sauna-blanket/. (Weight loss). Heliotherapy.institute/infrared-sauna-blanket/. (Precautions).
