Although the word sauna may not have been coined yet, the concept of bathing the body in dry heat has been enjoyed worldwide for over 3,000 years, and in far-ranging climates from Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula where the Mayans fashioned sweat lodges to northernmost reaches of Finland where the hearty Finns sat in low humidity enclosures before trooping out into the snow for a bracing stimulus to their systems.
They didn’t know as we do that the benefits of using a sauna include improved cardiovascular health, stress and pain reduction, reduced inflammation and swelling, and it also boosts your immune system and expels toxins from the body.
Do Infrared Sauna’s Emit EMF?
Those saunas relied on wood for heat. Thanks to technology, we now also have saunas heated by infrared energy. And this presents a dilemma. Some of today’s saunas emit significant amounts of electromagnetic energy which as you well know comes with cardiovascular interference, migraine headaches, vision impairment, electromagnetic hypersensitivity and a host of central nervous system problems, leading to the question, do we want to counteract the benefits of hot dry heat with significant EMF radiation.
We won’t, if we make sure any sauna we use emits low or zero levels of EMF radiation.
What is a Low EMF Infrared Sauna?
An infrared sauna uses infrared light to directly heat your body up underneath your skin, whereas a traditional steam sauna relies on heating up the air around you in order to heat your body. An infrared sauna works somewhat similar to how the sun heats up our bodies. This makes the heat of the sauna easier to handle on those with health conditions. However, it’s also this technology that produces EMF radiation. Some infrared saunas produce extremely high EMF levels rating as high as 100mG and above.
While to date there are no zero EMF infrared saunas out there yet, there are infrared saunas that emit low EMF levels. Don’t be fooled though by certain brands marketing of low EMF infrared saunas. Not all so claimed ‘low EMF infrared saunas’ truly emit lower EMF. Look out for saunas with readings of 3mG (World Health Organization’s recommended maximum rating) or lower, the lower the reading the better!
The following five pass that test.
Clearlight Sanctuary Full Spectrum Sauna
Clearlight prides itself for a being a market leader in quality craftsmanship and innovation. Their patented True Wave Carbon and Ceramic Heater Technology produces some of the lowest EMF and EFL ratings in the market without compromising the health benefits of infrared technology.
Clearlight Sanctuary Sauna Series come with a patented full spectrum infrared heating system that delivers 20 times more power than its closest competitor in the market. Built from Eco certified Red Canadian Cedar or North American Basewood with tempered glass door, the state of art enclosure provides ample room to benefit from its medical grade chromotherapy delivered by 96 LED bulbs cycling through an array of 12 colors.
For those unfamiliar with chromotherapy, it’s a science believed to improve physical and mental well-being, decrease inflammation through wavelengths of colored lights.
True to its name, the full spectrum infrared heated front wall provides full spectrum warmth while far infrared heaters in the back and side walls, under the bench, and in the floor envelop your entire body in far infrared heat. Metal conduit wired, and multiple wire-grounded, the sauna rates as a low EMF infrared sauna since the highest EMF level the side heaters emit is measured at 1.5mG, half of the WHO recommended maximum of 3.0 mG. Conversely, the far infrared front wall heaters emit up to 8mG. The good news, though, is their distance from the bench effectively reduces EMF exposure to zero.
Cabins ranging from 1-person to 4-person units are also customizable with various add-ons.
Other than the US, Clearlight saunas are also available in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany and other parts of Europe.
Clearlight One-Person Essential Sauna
Another low EMF infrared sauna pick from Clearlight. The Nordic Spruce Wood Essential Sauna Model may not have all the bells and whistles of the Sanctuary, but with the same True Wave Far infrared heater technology, tempered glass panels and a lower price tag than Sanctuary, the sauna cabin provides ample space and is available in sizes for up to 4-person units. It is grounded, and provides the same medical grade chromotherapy.
And its low infrared EMF sauna rating is even lower than that of the Sanctuary since the heater on the front wall is absent. However, it does have the same under the bench, rear and side wall heaters all of which are low (1.5mG) EMF emitters. If desired, you can order the front wall heaters as an option.
Sunlighten Signature II Series
Sunlighten is another great brand focused on quality and innovation with a proven track record of over two decades in the market.
Their Signature II Series include proprietary SoloCarbon heating panels producing high concentration of infrared heat while keeping EMF levels at bay.
These series come in sizes of one person to up to five person saunas and is available in a choice of cedar or basswood. It is equipped with nine heaters that deliver a high concentration of far infrared heat. Its bench can be removed to provide space for practicing yoga or stretching. Features include chromotherapy lights, which are great for healing, and a programmable timer.
As for its EMF-emitting radiation, Sunlighten professes that its proprietary design includes ultra-low EMF technology that reduces EMF emission to “virtually no EMF”. Published independent testing results state the readings near the heating surface were less than 0.05mG, but how near is unclear. To be safe, Sunlighten places overall levels at those approved by World Health Organization of less than 3.0mG.
High Tech Health International Transcend TR-2 Two-Person Sauna
Crafted from solid poplar wood, the splinter-free TR-2 2-person sauna measures 122.5 x 112.4 x 196.9cm (48.25 x 44.25 x 77.5in). Its standard features are similar to those found on other 2-person saunas including a remote-controlled assay of 96 LED lights cycling through the primary and secondary colors to provide chromotherapy benefits; tongue-and-groove assembly; and infrared heaters. TR-2 also includes features like an ergonomic built-in bench backrest and a sound system.
Those infrared heaters go by the High Tech International trademarked name, Triple Field, and are designed with the company’s patented Clean Heat technology to reduce both magnetic field and electric field. However, although High Tech heralds them as “independently proven” to produce the lowest levels of EMF, no specific level numbers of EMF emission levels are listed. We’ve reached out to the firm to confirm the sauna EMF emission rates and will update here once the ratings are known.
JNH Four-Person Virtually-Zero EMF Infrared Sauna
With dimensions of 180.1 x 120.5 x 190.5cm (70.9 x 47.3 x 75in), the tongue-and-groove constructed Canadian Hemlock Wood Sauna offers the versatility of allowing room for four individuals to sit or for one person to go through yoga asanas or therapeutic stretching exercises. Three walls consist of super-insulating dual-wall panels which provide outside protection from outside blows from Mother Nature while absorbing the interior heat produced by its carbon fiber infra-red heaters. The fourth wall consists of a see-through panel of high heat-resistant tempered glass. Other features include a blue-tooth-capable two-speaker sound system and a digital control panel for customizing the temperature and duration of each session.
Heat is evenly distributed is by carbon fiber heaters mounted in strategic locations in the panels. This placement allows full surface heating, eliminating hot spots while providing full body coverage. JNH Lifestyles uses the words “virtually zero-free EMF” to describe these heaters due to their extremely low EMF levels.
In Closing
Thankfully, we no longer need to compromise between the benefits of infrared light and elevated levels of EMF produced by the same technology, as we now have the choice of low EMF saunas available in the market.
When deciding on infrared sauna, a low EMF rating is a critical factor to look for in an infrared sauna. Check for independent third party EMF level testing results posted on company’s website, and if there are none for those branding themselves as ‘low EMF’, ask why. Choose a sauna model that is safe and effective without the added risk.
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