My friend called me last week. She’s renovating her house and wants to put in a sauna.
“What do you think, should I get an infrared sauna? Everyone says it’s better for detox.”
I said “Nooo, get a regular sauna! And call me over :)” She was taken aback and we discussed it back and forth, with no real clarity. I researched the facts and wrote this so I could try and convince her!
The Research Nobody’s Reading
I’ve spent ten years testing natural living stuff on my family (some wins, lots of facepalms). And here’s what I found when I actually read the sauna research:
- Traditional Finnish saunas: studied on 2,315 people for 20+ years.
- Infrared saunas: biggest study had 34 people for 4 weeks.
Wait, what?
Yeah. The Finnish study tracked actual deaths—like, did people die of heart attacks or not. Infrared studies measure stuff like “flow-mediated dilation” (which sounds impressive but doesn’t tell us if you’ll live longer).
What Traditional Saunas Actually Do
Those Finnish guys using saunas 4-7 times a week?
- 63% less sudden cardiac death
- 50% fewer cardiovascular deaths
- 40% lower all-cause mortality
- Way less respiratory disease over 25 years
That’s not “my skin feels great” benefits. That’s “I’m literally watching you not die” evidence.
And infrared? The studies show some promise for arthritis pain and heart failure symptoms. Which is great! But it’s 10-30 people studied for a few weeks. We just don’t know about longevity yet.
The EMF Thing That’s Making Me Crazy
Okay so here’s where I get worked up (my husband says I need to chill a bit about this but I can’t).
I help families detox their homes. That’s literally my job. And when I learned about EMF exposure in infrared saunas…
Budget infrared saunas can hit 25 times the EPA safety recommendations for electromagnetic fields.
Why? Because you’re sitting surrounded by high-power electric heating panels. For 30-45 minutes. And proper EMF shielding costs money—a lot lot extra!
So most people buy the budget model thinking they’re “detoxing,” but they’re actually bathing in electromagnetic radiation that (according to research) can:
- Cause oxidative stress and DNA damage
- Trigger sleep issues, headaches, brain fog
- Make other toxins MORE carcinogenic
The irony is killing me. You buy it for health and might be undoing that.
(And before anyone asks—yes, premium low-EMF infrared saunas exist. But you NEED third-party testing documentation. If the company can’t show you those numbers, walk away.)
Traditional saunas? Zero EMF issues. Wood-burning ones have no electricity. Electric ones have the heating element at a distance, not wrapped around you.
When Ancient Wisdom Actually IS Science
Growing up around my Nanaji’s naturopathy institute taught me something: traditions that survive thousands of years aren’t just cultural quirks. They’re experiments tested on millions of people.
- Finnish sauna bathing? Literally millennia old.
- Infrared technology? Maybe 30 years.
I’m not anti-innovation (I’m typing this on my desktop). But when one approach has 100x more evidence than the other… why are we gambling?
What I Tell My Clients
Look, if you have severe heat intolerance or chronic pain that responds to infrared—okay. Get a certified low-EMF model. Spend the extra money. Demand the testing docs.
But if you’re doing this for general wellness and longevity? Traditional sauna all the way.
The research on cardiovascular health, respiratory function, and brain health is just… there’s no comparison. We have decades of data showing people living longer, healthier lives.
With infrared we’re basically saying “well, it improved this biomarker for 2 weeks in 20 people, so…”
My Honest Take
I’ve built my whole practice on one thing: evidence over excitement.
When clients ask about home wellness stuff, I point them to what’s actually been proven. Not what is trending currently!
Traditional saunas have stood the test of time—both culturally and scientifically.
And they won’t potentially expose you to EMF levels that might undermine your health.
So yes. I’m team traditional. Fully committed.
(Even if it makes me sound like the boring wellness coach who won’t jump on trends. I’m okay with that.)
Need help detoxing your home without the overwhelm? I work with families online—room by room, swap by swap. Email me: [email protected] or DM me on instagram @Vaidehi.YourNaturalGuide
Key Research Studies
- Laukkanen T, Khan H, Zaccardi F, Laukkanen JA. Association between sauna bathing and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2015;175(4):542-548.
- Kunutsor SK, Laukkanen T, Laukkanen JA. Sauna bathing reduces the risk of respiratory diseases: a long-term prospective cohort study. European Journal of Epidemiology. 2017.
- Brunt VE, Howard MJ, Francisco MA, Ely BR, Minson CT. Passive heat therapy improves endothelial function, arterial stiffness and blood pressure in sedentary humans. Journal of Physiology. 2016.
- Oosterveld FG, Rasker JJ, Floors M, et al. Infrared sauna in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Clinical Rheumatology. 2009.
- Miyata M, Kihara T, Kubozono T, et al. Beneficial effects of Waon therapy on patients with chronic heart failure. Circulation Journal. 2008.
- Hussain J, Cohen M. Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2018.
- Pall ML. Electromagnetic fields act via activation of voltage-gated calcium channels to produce beneficial or adverse effects. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. 2013.
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Non-ionizing radiation, Part 2: Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. 2013.
- International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Guidelines for limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields (1 Hz to 100 kHz). Health Physics. 2010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are infrared saunas safer than traditional ones?
No. Infrared saunas use lower temps (which feels gentler), but budget models have serious EMF radiation issues. Traditional saunas have thousands of years of safe use. Only expensive, certified low-EMF infrared models are comparable safety-wise. Most people buy the budget version without realizing the electromagnetic field risks.
How much EMF comes from infrared saunas?
Budget models can expose you to 20-80+ milligauss or higher. EPA recommends staying under 3 milligauss. Premium low-EMF models can hit that target, but cost way more. Traditional saunas have basically zero EMF exposure since the heating element isn’t surrounding you.
Which sauna is better for detox?
Traditional saunas have way more evidence for actual health benefits—cardiovascular improvements, respiratory health, longevity. Infrared “detox” claims aren’t backed by long-term research. Worse, high EMF from budget infrared models might increase oxidative stress and make toxins more harmful.
How often should I use a traditional sauna?
The Finnish research showed the best results at 4-7 sessions weekly, 19+ minutes per session. Even 2-3 times weekly showed significant mortality reduction. This isn’t “whenever you feel like it” advice—the frequency matters for cardiovascular protection. That said, whenever you can is great too!
Can infrared saunas cause cancer?
We don’t have definitive human data, but EMF is classified as a “possible carcinogen” by international health agencies. Animal studies show EMF makes other toxins more cancer-causing (it’s a co-carcinogen). Budget infrared saunas with high EMF are a theoretical risk I personally won’t take.
