The answer is yes, an infrared sauna is safe for children to use, and this is why.
Detoxification is one of the well-known benefits of infrared sauna heat therapy. The therapeutic infrared rays penetrate deep down into the body at a cellular level.
Toxins are one of the two causes of disease, and virtually all Americans are in a state of dangerous toxic overload. Even the most finicky among us ingest, inhale and absorb health-damaging toxins daily.
Too many toxins
Toxins are especially harmful to children, and high levels of industrial chemicals have been implicated in the rise of many childhood diseases, including autism spectrum disorder. Which is now estimated to affect 1 in every 59 children, autism has been linked with exposure to harmful chemicals, including in utero.
Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP is an internationally renowned leader in children’s environmental health, says that industrial toxins could be leading to more childhood disease and disorders.
“We are in an epidemic of environmentally mediated disease among American children today,” he said. “Rates of asthma, childhood cancers, birth defects and developmental disorders have exponentially increased, and it can’t be explained by changes in the human genome. So what has changed? All the chemicals that we’re being exposed to.”
And this leads us to why Some professionals Believe that Infrared Saunas Are Safe For Children To Use
According to author Jill Harrison, B.A, C.B.T. writing about using saunas to treat autism, heavy metals like mercury, lead, and cadmium which interferes with detoxification pathways, have been found in many children with autism spectrum disorders.
She has spoken with parents of such children who see significant improvement in their children’s symptoms after using an infrared sauna to reduce their toxic burdens, such as increased eye contact and verbal communication, better sleep patterns, and improved cognitive ability.
“The most comprehensive, gentle, effective technology available today to detoxify the body is far infrared sauna heat therapy. It is currently being used in clinics around the world for this purpose and, using the appropriate protocols, it can be safely used with children as young as two years old.”
“We know that children on the autism spectrum are genetically “poor detoxifiers”, so they are often more affected than most by the toxic soup. We can chelate heavy metals such as mercury out of the body, but we cannot chelate chemicals. They are harder to remove. Fortunately, there is a safe and natural way to remove toxic chemicals from your body. It is called Far-Infrared Sauna Therapy.”
“The skin is the largest organ in the body, and so it is possible in a well-designed sauna that heats the body evenly, to generate a great deal of detoxification in a short amount of time. Another huge advantage is that sweating removes chemical and heavy metal toxins at the same time. No other treatment does that.”
Dr. West uses infrared saunas with children as young as 3 but Pure Life Energy Saunas recommends that you consult your child’s physician before beginning infrared sauna heat therapy.
The core body temperature of children rises much faster than adults. This occurs due to a higher metabolic rate per body mass, limited circulatory adaptation to increased cardiac demands and the inability to regulate body temperature by sweating.
When using your sauna with a child, operate at a lower temperature and for no more than 15 minutes at a time. A general rule of thumb is 1 minute inside your sauna per year of age for the child but always accompanied by an adult. And remember to keep you and your children hydrated, even if you don’t see them sweating.
Another Reason Why Infrared Saunas Are Safe For Children To Use
Because lower temperatures are involved in infrared saunas, kids can be expected to feel more comfortable in them than traditional saunas. Remember, though, that their internal temperature will still rise in an infrared sauna, so make sure you are supervising your children during their sauna session.
Of course autism, like any other health issue, requires a holistic, lifestyle approach, but it is reassuring to know that infrared saunas have produced tangible results in these difficult to treat children.
Given our sorry state of toxic overload, everyone, including children, should be doing regular infrared saunas, especially those with autism. Infrared saunas are not a luxury they have literally become a household necessity.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kim Brillon is an experienced Licensed Practical Nurse and a highly successful Licensed Massage Therapist in NY State who understood the importance of regular sauna usage to ensure a detoxification process on a cellular level in order to improve overall well-being so she became a sauna dealer for Golden Designs Inc. and Almost Heaven Saunas.
Take note that Pure Life Energy Saunas is not a recognized medical entity allowed to diagnose or prescribe any medical treatment or device. You can easily find a lot of information on this website and on the internet promoting the benefits of infrared saunas. It is recommended to see your physician before getting started on an extensive use of an infrared sauna.