As people become more health conscious, they are also seeking new and different methods to achieve health and relieve pain. The use of infrared through a variety of applications, such as sauna and hot tubs, has become a popular way to achieve wellness and relaxation. This article explains what infrared is and how it works. It also covers the benefits of its use. Furthermore, it will explore the Jacuzzi® Infrared products available and how they work.
What is infrared?
Infrared, sometimes referred to as IR, is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. NASA1 explains that people encounter infrared waves every day. While the human eye cannot see it, humans can detect it as heat. This is why up until now, it has been predominantly used in saunas.
According to Mayo Clinic2: “An infrared sauna is a type of sauna that uses light to make heat. This type of sauna is sometimes called a far-infrared sauna. ‘Far’ describes where the infrared waves fall on the light spectrum. A regular sauna uses heat to warm the air, which in turn warms your body. An infrared sauna heats your body directly without warming the air around you.”
Jacuzzi® Infrared products
The Jacuzzi® brand currently offers Infrared Saunas and the newly launched Jacuzzi® J-LX® Collection of hot tubs, both which feature a combination of Infrared and Red Light therapy.
Jacuzzi® Infrared Saunas
Instead of heating the air within the sauna, infrared saunas heat the body directly with infrared wavelengths. Jacuzzi® Infrared Saunas provide a place to rest, relax and restore. Jacuzzi® Infrared Saunas promote overall health and wellness by encouraging relaxation, releasing muscle tension after physical activity, and enhancing mood.
Jacuzzi® Infrared Saunas feature two distinct types of heaters to provide a comprehensive infrared therapy session. Combination mica/carbon heaters surround the sides and the back of the sauna, providing low EMF far Infrared wavelengths. Front-facing heaters provide full spectrum (near, mid and far) infrared to provide a comprehensive sauna session.
Featuring premium mahogany wood cabinets and 8 mm-thick glass surrounds that serve as the basis for the construction, Jacuzzi® Saunas are designed for durability and frequent use. They also feature therapeutic high-intensity Red Light therapy, mood-enhancing high-output chromotherapy in two overhead light bars and LED overhead reading lights.
Vibrational Resonance Therapy (VRT) is a standard feature. This can complement your Infrared and Red Light therapy session with sound and vibration.
The Jacuzzi® Sauna Collection features the Jacuzzi® JS-1i One-person Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna, the Jacuzzi® JS-2i Two-person Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna and the Jacuzzi® JS-3i three-person Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna. There are a multitude of features and specifications of each.
The Jacuzzi® J-LX® Collection featuring Infrared and Red Light therapy
After using the infrared therapy in the sauna application for some time and seeing the benefits customers were achieving, the Jacuzzi® team decided to do additional research to develop infrared light therapy into a hot tub application.
The Jacuzzi® team worked with a PhD at the Cleveland Clinic to develop a research white paper on this specific technology and its benefits. The team then began working with an experienced development partner to identify the exact wavelength output requirements for the near IR (NIR) and the Red Light therapy in the underwater application.
The J-LX® Collection was developed to give you the most rejuvenating and regenerating hydrotherapy experience available. That feeling is designed to last long after you have finished your hot tub session.
Both hot tub models in the J-LX® Collection feature the FX-IR Seat, which performs the Jacuzzi® brand’s most advanced hydrotherapy. The FX-IR Seat combines full-back and neck hydromassage with near Infrared and deep Red Light therapy to target deep tissue within the lumbar region of the lower back. The J-LX® hot tub offers an open seating configuration for six or more bathers while the J-LXL can accommodate five to six bathers and also features a lounge seat.
The J-LX® Collection is the first to feature IR and Red Light therapy in an underwater application. However, guests can look forward to these features in the J-400® Collection and in Jacuzzi® Swim products in 2024.
What are the benefits of infrared?
The Mayo Clinic2 states: “Many studies have looked at using infrared saunas in the treatment of long-lasting health problems and found some proof that saunas may help. Conditions studied include high blood pressure, heart failure, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, headache, type 2 diabetes, and arthritis.”
While the article notes more and larger studies are needed to further prove this, no harmful effects have been reported with infrared saunas.
However, the Cleveland Clinic3 reports several proven benefits of infrared sauna use. These include improved heart health. “Studies show4 that infrared saunas can help boost heart health and reduce blood pressure. Researchers equated the physical response of an infrared sauna session to walking at a moderate pace.”
The article states that the regular use of infrared sauna may help improve athletes’ performance, and the improved blood circulation that infrared sauna promotes can help speed up muscle recovery following physical activity, according to Melissa Young, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine.
According to Young, pain relief, relaxation, better sleep and the ability to help you fight off illness are some proven benefits of regular infrared sauna use. The article states: “Researchers found that infrared therapy ‘may be a promising method for treatment of chronic pain.’ The determination followed a two-year study5 where people showed improved outcomes with the treatment.”
Furthermore, sauna time “may help decrease depression, anxiety and stress.” Considering the fact that the National Alliance on Mental Illness reports depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide; 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year; and 50 percent of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75 percent by age 24, sauna use can be a very enjoyable way to try to combat that.
Is infrared therapy safe?
The use of infrared as it relates to Jacuzzi® products is safe and easy to use. The Infrared and Red Light technology used in Jacuzzi® hot tubs and other wellness products deliver preprogrammed therapy which takes the guesswork out of treatment. In the Jacuzzi® J-LX® Collection models, you can select a 20-minute IR and Red Light therapy session cycle from the topside control.
It is also integrated into the Jacuzzi® SmartTub® System and app, so you can track your IR and Red Light therapy sessions. To ensure safety, Jacuzzi® has tested this product to the IEC 62471 Photobiological Safety Standard in both wet and dry applications.
Tips for using infrared therapy
The Cleveland Clinic offers the following tips for using infrared sauna:
-Low and slow is the way to go. First-time users can begin with short sessions of 5-10 minutes at around 110 degrees Fahrenheit and build from there, according to Dr. Young.
-Don’t max out. Even regular sauna users should keep their sauna sessions under 30 minutes and limit uses to four times a week.
-Hydrate. The article notes that the sweating that occurs during a sauna session can leave your body’s fluid levels low. Dr. Young advises bringing water in with you during a session and suggests drinking a sports drink with electrolytes.
-Rinse off the toxins. “A shower after your sauna will wash off any toxins you sweated out before they can be reabsorbed through your skin,” the article states.
Affiliations: Jacuzzi® is a registered trademark of Jacuzzi Group. All rights reserved.
Medical disclaimer: This information is not intended to prescribe a particular diagnosis or course of action. We are not medical professionals. Please contact your GP or other medical professional for advice if you have any concerns about your current health or well-being.
The IR and Red Light device has been tested both in a dry and submerged state by certified third-party Intertek® test laboratories. Testing was conducted for this device to the IEC 62471 Photobiological Safety of Light Standard. Results place this device in the Risk Group 0 (RG0) exempt category.
1. “What Are Infrared Waves?”. NASA. Accessed Dec. 11, 2023. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/07_infraredwaves/
2. Bauer, Brent, A. M.D. “What is an infrared sauna? Does it have health benefits?” Mayo Clinic. June 11, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/infrared-sauna/faq-20057954#:~:text=A%20regular%20sauna%20uses%20heat,warming%20the%20air%20around%20you.
3. “Infrared Saunas: What They Do and 6 Health Benefits.” Cleveland Clinic, healthessentials. April 14, 2022. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/infrared-sauna-benefits/
4. Beever, Richard, MD CCFP CI. “Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors.” National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. July 2009. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2718593/
5. Masuda, Akinori. Koga, Yasuyuki. Hattanmaru, Masato. Minagoe, Shinichi. Tei, Chuwa. “The effects of repeated thermal therapy for patients with chronic pain.” National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. 2005. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16088266/
6. “Mental Health By the Numbers.” National Alliance on Mental Illness. Last updated: April 2023. https://www.nami.org/mhstats