Infrared Sauna & Cryotherapy Benefits

Written by Alex Payton. She is an undergraduate student at UNCW, and is a Public Health intern at Going Beyond the Pink. *Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

There are various integrative therapies out today that can help cancer patients and survivors, infrared saunas and cryotherapy among them. Ongoing research shows their benefits and how each treatment is useful for most types of cancers such as skin cancers, liver and prostate, and especially breast cancer. 

Infrared Sauna Benefits 

1. Improved circulation - helps bring essential nutrients, oxygen and other substances to cells of the body. Cancer cells grow in tissues with poor circulation which leads to poor nutrition and oxygen flow. Since cancer cells can’t thrive in high oxygen, improving circulation can help reverse this.  

2. Eliminations of toxins - heat from sauna produces sweat which helps cleanse the skin from inside out. Efficient circulation and perspiration from sauna heat helps remove waste materials such as heavy metals, chemicals, and pesticides. This also balances the body’s pH by neutralizing build acids in the body.  

3. Reduced inflammation & oxidative stress - inflammation are breeding grounds for tumor growth and their survival. Reducing inflammation is a key way to make our bodies less inviting for cancerous cells. Regular infrared saunas treatments is a great way to reduce inflammation and stress.  

4. Nervous system regulation - saunas calm and quiet our sympathetic nervous system which is our “fight or flight” response while activating the parasympathetic “rest and digest.” Sauna heat has the ability to inhibit our “fight or flight” to encourage better digestion, immune function, and detoxification. 

Infrared Sauna and Breast Cancer (the details)

Saunas have been known for (and are popular for) their detoxifying and relaxing benefits. More specifically, infrared saunas not only relax and detox the body, but can improve complexion, blood circulation, and help with weight loss. How does an infrared sauna work? Well this process is done by giving off sun-like rays that heat the body from the inside out. The difference between a traditional and infrared sauna is that with a traditional sauna, high temperatures and humidity heat the air first then indirectly heat the body. Infrared saunas are heated by invisible wavelengths of infrared light.   

This is effective because cancer cells are much more sensitive and intolerant to excessive heat compared to normal cells. High temperatures are known to be able to kill cancer cells, and typically without damage to healthy cells. The official term for this method of treatment is hyperthermia. Most infrared saunas use far infrared light but there are some that use near infrared. There is not much difference between far and near infrared in relation to effectiveness of breast cancer treatment. The intense heat from infrared saunas vs radiant heat/traditional saunas provide high enough temperatures to potentially kill cancerous cells and help detoxify pores in your body. It’s important to note that long, repeated exposure to high intensity infrared light can be harmful to skin (so cover up!) and its link to skin cancer is being explored. Check with your physician to see if exposures of  15-30 minute sessions 1-2 times a week with low intensity light are safe for you. Here is an option for an at home sauna to use at your own convenience!  You can also check out our Community Partner, HOTWORX, located on Gordon Rd Wilmington, NC and Midtown Wilmington, NC.

Cryotherapy and Breast Cancer (the details)

Cold plunges, also known as cold-water immersions, have been around for many years, but have only recently been recognized for its health benefits. Cold plunges and cryotherapy refers to the use of cold temperature immersion to help treat a number of ailments such as inflammation and pain management. Specifically with cryotherapy, liquid nitrogen is used to produce extremely cold temperatures that can eliminate abnormal tissue and cancer cells. 

So how does a cold plunge pool or cryotherapy session work? Sessions for cold plunges and cryotherapy typically last for 3 minutes with temperatures being subzero (10-12 degrees Celsius). Before a cold plunge, it’s recommended that you rinse off with a warm shower and then a quick cold rinse. To help ease into the cold water, make as few movements as possible and try slowing down your breathing during initial contact. Start with shallow immersions and slowly work your way into deeper immersion with your stomach or shoulders fully immersed in the bath. For cryotherapy sessions, you use a cryosauna that is cooled with liquid nitrogen. With the correct attire, you enter and rotate in the cryosauna for 2-3 minutes then exit the unit. If you would like to try an at home option, here are cold therapy gloves that chemo patients can use that helps prevent neuropathy.   

Cryotherapy & Cold Plunge Benefits 

1. Pain management - helps with acute and/or chronic pain by freezing damaged areas which relieves pain signals   

2. Immune strength - enhances immune function by activating white blood cells. This is key for breast cancer patients as this increases their levels of diseases fighting white blood cells  

3. Stabilizes blood pressure - the cold water regulates and strengthens our autonomic nervous system responses such as heartbeat and breathing. This also improves circulation and balances the sleep/wake cycle. 

4. Inflammation relief - reduces acute and / or chronic inflammation by freezing & killing excess inflammation  

If you or someone you know are looking for a place to try cryotherapy, check out CryoCove located in Wilmington, NC! You can also find more information on their Facebook @CryoCove and Instagram @cryocove.