Can Infrared Saunas Help With Fibromyalgia And Chronic Pain

There’s few things in life worse than a pain in the neck that won’t go away. Sufferers of fibromyalgia syndrome, or any form of chronic fatigue syndrome can no doubt attest to this fact.

Thankfully, there is a growing body of medical evidence to suggest that fibromyalgia can be treated, or at the very least, the symptoms minimised, with the use of an infrared sauna. 

From the outset, it looks as though infrared sauna benefits for fibromyalgia, or at the very least, its symptoms, can help in addressing inflammation, increasing blood circulation and providing thermal therapy for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

Before we get into it, it’s worth noting that fibromyalgia is more widespread than you might initially think. The Victorian government says that anywhere between 2-5% of the population suffers from fibromyalgia, with women most likely to suffer in their middle age.

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disease that results in widespread musculoskeletal pain, that often sees sufferers with symptoms of increased pain sensitivity, extreme fatigue, issues with sleep and difficulties with memory and concentration. 

Fibromyalgia is typically categorised as multiple sites of pain, usually six or more, that have been irritable for at least three-months, as well as stiffness in muscles and joints. These sites of pain are usually extremely sensitive to pain and temperature changes.

The most common sources of pain for those suffering from fibromyalgia are the head and neck area, the upper chest and the back, outside of the elbow, around the lower back and buttocks, as well as the inside of the knee.

Is An Infrared Sauna Good For Fibromyalgia?

One of the most telling signs that fibromyalgia treatment with an infrared sauna is effective comes in the form of a research study from the American College of Rheumatology.

Researchers found that “thermal therapy combining sauna therapy and underwater exercise improved the quality of life as well as the pain and symptoms of patients.”

In some cases, patients reported up to a 77% reduction in the pain they experienced after their thermal therapy inside a sauna.

Thermal therapy, in the context of chronic pain, was also explored by a team of Japanese researchers who found that “a combination of multidisciplinary treatment and repeated thermal therapy may be a promising method for treatment of chronic pain.”

Another study shows that ten patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were given infrared sauna treatments once a day, five times a week for a month, with the researchers noting that “perceived fatigue levels significantly decreased after therapy,” and that “no patients reported any adverse effects during therapy.”

It seems likely that the thermal therapy can be facilitated with an infrared sauna, and could therefore be recognised as a potential treatment for some of the major symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Can Infrared Sauna Help With Anxiety And Depression?

One of the major, and most persistent symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome are the fatigue and sleep issues that come with it. This can often result in heightened anxiety and a depressed mental state. 

As we’ve discussed previously here on the blog, infrared saunas can help put you in a deep state of relaxation, and raise the amount of melatonin your body produces to help regulate your sleep. 

The simple act of spending time inside an infrared sauna before you go to bed can help regulate your circadian rhythm and help you get a full night’s rest, which helps to improve our mental state, as well as reduce cortisol levels that are associated with anxiety and stress.

Is Red Light Therapy Good For Fibromyalgia?

Red light therapy has been proven beneficial for the treatment of pain, as well as the reduction of some of the symptoms associated with chronic pain disorders like inflammation, muscle and joint pain. 

More specifically, researchers found that compared to pure exercise therapy, red light therapy, or biomodulation “had additional benefits in reducing the severity of pain, number of tender points, and fatigue.”

Is An Infrared Sauna Good For Autoimmune Disease?

Spending time in an infrared sauna helps regulate your homeostasis - your body’s preferred, balanced state of health and wellness. An infrared sauna offers a range of health benefits, including major contributors to autoimmune disease. 

These benefits include the detoxification of your body’s cells, providing your immune system with a boost of nutrient-rich blood, as well as the numerous benefits of thermal therapy that help our bodies produce chemicals that fight off toxins and reinvigorate our cells.

Does An Infrared Sauna Help With Inflammation?

Treating inflammation with an infrared sauna can be extremely beneficial, considering the fact that an infrared sauna helps to provide oxygen-rich blood throughout the body, which helps to relieve the symptoms of inflammation. 

As your body soaks up infrared light, it converts the energy and produces higher amounts of ATP, otherwise known as the engine of our cells. With higher rates of ATP and oxygen, the blood circulating in our bodies contains ingredients to reduce the immediate symptoms of inflammation.

If you're interested in an infrared sauna cabin for home, click here to view our range of full-spectrum saunas, far-infrared saunas, and outdoor saunas.