21 Key Points about Infrared Saunas and Holistic Healing with Robby Besner

In this #149 Podcast Episode "The Science of Infrared Saunas and Holistic Healing with Robby Besner", Robby and Freddie discuss the science behind infrared saunas and holistic healing.

As a natural health and wellness advocate, Robby Besner shares how Therasage's portable infrared sauna aims to reconnect users with nature for powerful healing experiences.

From managing environmental toxins to managing tick-borne illnesses, Robby covers the benefits of Therasage's devices and shares insights on how to integrate natural remedies into your lifestyle.

Freddie's Personal Experience:

As I mentioned in this episode using near-infrared saunas and heat was one of the first times I moved the needle in my joint pain associated with chronic illness and chronic Lyme disease. While I do love a nice sweat in convection, I often feel the improved mobility in my joints (to a greater degree after in session in the unit similar to the one Thersage offers on their site.

One of the Clips from EP 149 included Robby's explanation on convection vs. Near Infrared heat for delivery of a good sweat. As an infrared sauna advocate, he explains the difference and why he believes the latter is more beneficial.

What is Convection Heat

Convection heat is the heat that comes from an element such as hot rocks, and it heats up ambient air that then touches the skin. In order for it to work properly, the temperature must be high, around 180 to 220 Fahrenheit, because the layer of fat under the skin is designed anatomically to insulate the inside of the body from extreme temperatures. As a result, convection saunas have to fight hard to penetrate that layer.

Understanding Radiant Heat

Radiant heat, on the other hand, is sunlight, which is responsible for warming up more than 82% of the planet. It has different frequencies in the infrared spectrum, and each wavelength does specific things with the body. One of the wavelengths, 940 nanometers, resonates or harmonizes at the same frequency as the water inside the body. Therefore, infrared frequencies penetrate through the insulating layer with ease and bioresonate or vibrate, to break loose the covalent bonds between all the toxins that are being held in the body.

The skin is the largest organ in the body, and it is the most exposed to toxicants in the air, water, and food. Underneath the skin is a layer of fat that is a body's depot of toxins, is exposed to toxic air or water, and it is coming through that layer of skin. The skin is the front line of defense, so it is important to take care of it.

Robby prefers the infrared sauna because they work by warming up the body directly, rather than through the air. They penetrate the skin, tissues, and organs, providing more thorough detoxification. The heat can also help reduce stress levels, promote relaxation, and improve circulation. 

Benefits of Infrared Sauna

Increasing evidence suggests that Infrared Radiation (IR) can carry out photostimulation and photobiomodulation effects particularly benefiting neural stimulation, wound healing, and cancer treatment. [1]

Moreover, several studies have reported that infrared radiation can help relieve pain [2], stiffness, and fatigue of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis [3], treat neurological (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases) [4], and psychiatric (major depressive disorder) disorders [5], and stimulate the proliferation of mesenchymal and cardiac stem cells [6]. Infrared saunas have been also shown to help reduce blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease [7].

Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman has talked about the benefits of saunas, and more people are looking at the data and possibilities of health improvement and life extension. 2 systematic reviews of more than 50 clinical studies involving a total of more than 5000 participants [8, 9], and a bunch of other studies mentioned earlier, have shown, that regular practices of saunas can help: 

1. Improve detoxification processes.

2. Improve cardiovascular health, including reducing blood pressure, increasing 6-minute walking distances, reducing heart size, stimulating the proliferation of cardiac stem cells, fewer ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, and all-cause mortality

3. Relief from pain and improved mobility in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

4. Strengthen the immune system through the production of white blood cells, antibodies, and increased activity of lymphatic cells.

5. Reduce the risk of dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases.

6. Improve lung function and decreased symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.

7. Improve mental health and decreased symptoms of anxiety, depression, and fatigue.

8. Improve skin health, including increased collagen production, reducing signs of aging, and relief from skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and acne.

9. Improve athletic performance through increased muscle strength and endurance, increase blood flow, and decrease muscle damage and inflammation.

Summary of the #149 Episode with Robby Besner

Here are 21 key points to consider from this episode:

1. Robby Besner is the Chief Science Officer, Device Developer, and Co-Founder of Therasage, where he develops devices and integrates healthcare for a wellness experience.
2. Therasage devices aim to bridge the gap between how nature intended us to be and the way society has developed.
3. The devices offer a sense of community and individual aspect to users and provide coaching services to integrate natural and naturopathic ways to achieve users' goals.
4. Therasage's devices offer a way to reconnect with nature for powerful healing and wellness experiences that align with the body's natural balance.
5. Infrared frequencies have a wavelength that resonates with the water inside our bodies, allowing them to penetrate the insulating layer with ease. [10, 11, 12]
6. Sun rays coming through the skin break loose the covalent bonds between toxins in our tissues, and infrared helps break the covalent bond of toxic metals. [13, 14]
7. The layer of fat holds ~70% of the environmental toxins that our body takes in. [15, 16]
8. Various methods can help the body expunge toxic metals.
9. Environmental stressors can throw off our whole body field.
10. Testing polarities beforehand is crucial, as different people have different results from the same treatment.
11. Sunlight exposure can have healing and anti-aging effects on the body, such as managing senescent cells and producing heat shock proteins.
12. Heat shock proteins act as a targeting system for the immune system and help fight off infections. [17]
13. Sunlight exposure can also improve sleep scores and have a regenerative effect on the body.
14. By bringing nature back into the body, humans can unwind harmful habits and improve overall health.
15. We are surrounded by positive charge from exogenous frequencies, air handlers, incandescent lights, fluorescent lights, and other modern technologies.
16. We are missing negative charge, which is necessary for our batteries to be balanced.
17. Negative ions occur when water moves over friction, such as in Niagara Falls, which creates an abundance of free electrons.
18. The showerhead emulates rain and creates friction, which produces an abundance of negative ions that the body can soak up like a sponge.
19. Soaking up negative ions can give a sense of well-being and make a person happy, which can lead to singing or humming.
20. The purpose of humans is to find their bliss and vitality.
21. Lifestyle is key to managing tick-borne illnesses.

Greetings, I'm Freddie Kimmel!
Now, before we get started, let me set the record straight — I may have certifications in functional health, personal training, PEMF therapy, and gut health, and even have a cancer survivor badge of honor, but I am not a licensed physician.
So, when it comes to my insights and research, please don't take it as medical advice.
I'm just here to share some healthy tips, not perform surgery or prescribe drugs (unless you count Bone BROTH as a drug, in which case, I'm all for it!).