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Far Infrared
Technology:
For many decades, scientific
evidence has found that deep heat can enhance the
beneficial effects of healing therapy. Scientists
have looked at ways of how to develop more
effective forms of thermal treatment that target
specific areas and enable deep heat penetration.
Traditional forms of
heat therapy can be hazardous, uncomfortable,
unhygienic, inefficient and ineffective.
Traditional saunas create exposure to extremely
high temperatures causing heat stress which can
have detrimental effects on health, especially for
people with a heart condition or high blood
pressure. Thermal compression's and wraps are
uncomfortable, heat is easily lost, temperature
does not remain constant and maintaining a thermal
compression or wrap is problematic and
inconvenient.
Research and development
in the sixties - notably most extensively in Japan and also Germany -
introduced the Far Infrared Ray (FIR) thermal
technology. This revolutionized thermal technology
to an effective, safe, natural, hygienic, and
efficient approach to thermal treatment. Today
there are multiple health and medical
professionals internationally who rehabilitate and
treat a multitude of physical problems by using
heat therapy for humans and as well as animals. Relief
of sports injuries via thermal therapy is just one
example of treatment. Cancer is a most significant
other.
The
Japanese and Far Infrared Products:
The Japanese have extensively researched Far
Infrared Technology for use in the fields of
healing, preservation, cooking, drying and heating.
Well over 150 significant patents were granted
between 1977-1987.
List
of Far Infrared products available in Japan
today:
FIR sleeping pads and heaters - Instant warmth even
though air temperature remains cool - Infrared
sauna.
FIR plastic plate to keep fish and vegetables
fresher and longer in your refrigerator.
FIR ovens replacing harmful microwaves - Cooks more
uniformly than conventional.
FIR ceramic paper and ceramics.
FIR fabrics - socks, gloves, jackets, car seats -
Wool and cotton impregnated with ceramic insulating
powder.
FIR fabric keeps body warm in a cold environment
whilst providing passive FIR health benefits.
FIR hair dryer - Cooler and faster, reduces damaged
hair.
FIR clinical treatments - FIR panels for incubators
in maternity wards.
Far Infrared Medical Healing Worldwide.
Japanese and Chinese researchers and clinicians have
completed extensive research on far infrared medical
treatments and report many amazing discoveries. In
Japan, there is an 'Infrared society' composed of
medical doctors and physical therapists dedicated to
further Far Infrared research. Their findings support
the outstanding health benefits of Far Infrared
therapy as a method of healing.
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 1981. One use of Far Infrared heat
in the USA has been in the form of panels used in
hospital nurseries to warm newborns.
To date, there have been
over 700,000 far infrared thermal systems
sold in Asia for whole body treatments. An
additional 30 million people have received
localized 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 whole body Far Infrared
therapy for over 80 years.
Far Infrared
technology is generating outstanding results and
is rapidly gaining worldwide recognition and
acclaim: The benefits of FIR technology are
truly phenomenal beyond the initial feelings of
well being and relaxation. A wide variety of
health and fitness systems are available
internationally such as the FIR Hothouse (as
seen at the top of page). Many
traditional
saunas now incorporate Far Infrared, but
the benefits are questionable due to factors such as
the distance from source of Far Infrared to the
person, and the actual elements used to generate the
Far Infrared.
Far Infrared potential
benefits and the scientific basis of far
infrared ray therapy - 2005.
Written By: Professor Neil Piller, Team Leader
Lymphoedema Assessment Clinic,
Flinders Medical Center and Flinders
University, Adelaide, South Australia - 2005
There is still some uncertainty about the benefits
of Far Infrared Ray (FIR) use because there have
been no large scale clinical trials detailing its
benefits. However, many anecdotal observations,
experimental work and small scale clinical trials
have strongly suggested a range of benefits.
Early in the awareness about FIR it was realized
that Far Infrared Ray are released from the hands
(palms) of Qi Gong masters and that this, in part,
explained how they could improve people's health
most likely through re-balancing a disrupted
physiological mechanism.
FIR can penetrate deeply into the tissues,
generating the sensation of warmth as they do so.
There is a belief that the Far Infrared Rays set
up a resonance in the body, thus generating this
feeling of gentle warmth and repair. It was later
discovered that certain ceramic substances could
emit FIR naturally and when stimulated by an
electric current.
There have been many studies about the benefits of
various wavelengths of laser, of intense polarized
and non polarized light on the human body, but it
is those of the Far Infrared Rays which seem to
have the widest and most systematic effect, and
more work is underway to substantiate this.
Some recent good quality experimental and clinical
scientific studies (2003) from Japan have shown
FIR to result in more rapid wound healing which
was independent of changes in blood flow and skin
temperature. FIR helped this healing by
stimulating a group of cells called fibroblasts to
make more collagen which is a very important part
of good wound healing and tissue repair. FIR and
the gentle tissue warming has also been shown to
help improve the 'health' of the cells that line
our blood vessels, which if left untreated may
increase the risk of heart disorders.
Some other exciting work in progress in Japan
strongly suggests that when certain herbal plants
are subjected to FIR that their anti cancer
activity is enhanced.
We have a long way to go in terms of our knowledge
and understanding of the beneficial effects of
FIR. It does seem clear however, that there
are good benefits in the use of FIR on the skin,
blood circulation and other conditions where the
homeostatic mechanisms of body balance have been
disrupted. FIR is what is believed to be the basis
of the healing powers of Qi Gong masters but now
there are some aids which can uniformly deliver
FIR, which can be used in your home.
We all have a
responsibility to ourselves to ensure good health,
but to do this we must be well informed about the
best ways we can attain and maintain this and its
associated vitality. A search of "Pub Med" and a
reading of the booklet "The Scientific Basis
and Therapeutic Benefits of Far Infra Red Ray
therapy" by Dr. Kyuo, which our team helped
translate (for HTE), will help you in this
quest.
Wishing you Good Health!
If you have any health-related enquiries for Prof.
Neil Pillar, please forward them to Flinders
University, Adelaide, Australia.
Source: HTE AUSTRALIA, NZ, EUROPE - Volume 1,
Issue 88, Feb/March 2005
'The
Scientific Basis and Therapeutic Benefits of FIR
Therapy'
Written by acclaimed Japanese medical doctor and
researcher Sasaki Kyuo.
Only available from Australia.
Far Infared Heat
Benefits:
1) Far Infrared
expands capillaries which stimulates increased
blood flow, regeneration, circulation and
oxygenation.
2) Far Infrared
is excellent for detox. Scientists
in Japan report that in the FIR treatment of clogged
capillary vessels, heat expands the capillaries and
then initiates the start of a process to dissolve
hidden toxins. Far Infrared
thereby promotes elimination of fats, chemicals
and toxins from the blood: Poisons,
carcinogenic heavy metals - toxic substances from
food processing - lactic acid, free fatty acids,
and subcutaneous fat associated with aging and
fatigue - excess sodium associated with
hypertension - and uric acid which causes pain.
Furthermore, if sebaceous glands are activated,
accumulated cosmetics in pores can be eliminated
through the skin (sweat and oil glands) rather
than by the kidneys.
3) Far Infrared
stimulates enzyme activity and metabolism -
One hour under the Hothouse dome improves
metabolism. FIR heat aids in breaking down
cellulite - trapped water, fat and waste.
4) Far Infrared
may induce the killing of varied pathogenic
(disease causing) bacteria, viruses, fungi and
parasites.
5) Far
Infrared promotes rebuilding of injured tissue
by having a positive effect on the fibroblasts
(connective tissue cells necessary for the repair
of injury). Furthermore, it increases growth of
cells, DNA syntheses, and protein synthesis all
necessary during tissue repair and regeneration.
Excellent for healing burns, scar tissue and skin
problems.
6) Far Infrared
relieves nervous tension and relax autoneuro
muscles thereby helping the body make the
most of its intended healing abilities. FIR
reduces soreness on nerve endings and muscle
spasms, as muscle fibers are heated.
7) Far Infrared
strengthens the Immune System by
stimulating increased production of white
blood cells (leukocytes) by the bone marrow and
killer T-cells by the thymus.
8) Far Infrared
strengthens the Cardiovascular System by
causing heart rate and cardiac output increase,
and diastolic blood pressure decrease - Extensive
research by NASA in the early 1980's led to the
conclusion that far infrared stimulation of
cardiovascular function would be the ideal way to
maintain cardiovascular conditioning in American
astronauts during long space flight.
Of
Interest:
In the winter, we feel comfortable with a sweater on
when the room air temperature is 70F. In the summer,
we feel more comfortable wearing a t-shirt in the
same room air temperature of 70F. The explanation is
that even though the air temperature is the same,
the walls and ceiling radiate FIR waves from the
outside sunshine during the summer, which thereby
causes our bodies to be warmer.
Couples that sleep together act as
transmitters and receivers of FIR waves to each
other. If you sleep alone, you act as a transmitter
of FIR waves, but you receive none. When people sit
together and talk, they are sending out and
receiving vibrations of FIR from each other.
Health challenges below, have
been reported in Japan and China as
alleviated, reduced or eliminated by the use of
Far Infrared Therapy:
