1. Why do we need a Far InfraRed (FIR) Sauna?
As released by The Australian in the news in May 2006: AusDiab2005 study done by the Melbourne-based International Diabetes Institutes:
The diabetes epidemic costs taxpayers $3 billion a year and one-quarter of hospital beds are filled by patients with the disease.
- It shows that high blood pressure and kidney disease-associated with excess weight and diabetes- is growing fast, affecting approximately 400,000 adults a year.
- The Australian waistlines grew by an average of 2.1cm and their weight by 1.4kg in the five years and affected almost all age groups, both male and females.
- More than two-thirds of the 6000 participants who died from cardiovascular disease had diabetes or its precursor condition pre-diabetes.
The Australian August 8th, 2006 stated that
About 1.4 million Australian have some form of diabetes. However Diabetes Australia predicts that number will rise to 1.7 million by 2010. An Australian study of 3900 people with Type 2 diabetes found 50 % had impaired kidney function.
2. What is wrong with us?
Today, with water and airborne pollution, toxic chemicals, heavy metals and poor dietary and exercise habits, the therapeutic internal cleansing with regular sweating is critical to maintain a healthy body and mind.
This combination of the scientific theory and people's gluttony in eating made for high consumption of animal food. The result has been an epidemic of heart and blood related diseases, which has earned its place as today's number one killer.
Elevated levels of commonly used chemicals are currently being detected in human sera. Many compounds have been shown to accumulate and remain stored in body tissues.
According to the EPA, our bodies accumulate 210mcg of just plasticizers (phthalates) everyday. Others have demonstrated that most of us have between 400 and 800 chemical residues stored in the fat cells of our bodies. TThe problem is excretion. Most of these potentially harmful chemicals just sit there and cannot be metabolized. An incredibly large proportion of the population is suffering from toxic illness.
What is the best way to get rid of toxic chemicals including pesticides, heavy metals and hydrocarbon residues?The answer is the far infrared sauna.
The answer is the far infrared sauna. The heat of far infrared sauna penetrates almost two inches beneath the skin and can melt fat deposits there. When fat is discharged from the skin in the form of sweat, the fat carries out with it heavy metals that cannot be discharged by either the kidneys or the lungs.
The skin is our largest eliminative organ. It is generally considered that the skin should eliminate 30% of the body wastes by way of perspiration.
These chemicals are often toxic to the immune system, nervous system, endocrine system, and liver. "Sweating the toxins out" reduces chemical stress on the body and generally leads to improved health."
3. What is the far infrared ray?
Solar energy from the sun covers a broad energy band including infrared, visible light, ultra-violet, x-ray and gamma rays. Only a small mount of these solar rays are visible as colours. The greatest amount of the sun's energy output is in the infrared segment of the spectrum. This band of light is not visible but can be felt as heat.
The infrared segment of the electromagnetic spectrum is divided into three segments by wave frequencies and wavelengths. Wavelengths are measured in microns (mm), which are one millionth of meters: near infrared: 0.76-1.5mm; Middle: 1.5-5.6mm; Far: 5.6-1000mm... A narrow spectrum between 4-14 microns has been shown to have particularly beneficial effects on the human body. (Far Infrared by Valerie H. Free, USA) Near and middle infrared rays are a kind of heat.
(More information for this topic in Sauna ABC)
4. Is the far infrared ray safe?
YYes, hospitals use the infrared incubators for newborn babies and sports clinics use infrared lamps to aid the recovery of injuries.
Far infrared rays are the healing and safe rays of the sun's spectrum, responsible for photosynthesis and it is not the same as UV rays or microwaves. Without this wavelength, plants would be unable to make energy, and consequently, there would be no life on earth.
5. What are the benefits derived from the far infrared ray? (Far infrared box verses a simply a heat box)?
Among the total spectrum of solar rays coming from the sun, the far infrared ray is the safest and the most beneficial. For example the visible light spectrum, with very short wave lengths, is reflected away from the body. When near infrared wave's heat organic substance the surface gets hotter than the interior and the exterior gets heated by conduction from the surface. By contrast, far-infrared penetrates deeply with a very uniform warming effect.
That is why if the heaters do not generate far infrared ray, they will not give you the same effect as our far infrared heaters. At the Melbourne show recently, a lady told us that she got completely different feeling from her sauna after sitting in one of our Health Mate saunas for some minutes.
6. Who is the pioneer of the far infrared sauna industry?
Since 1979, Health Mate sauna came into the market. That was the first manufacture and mass production of infrared sauna in the world. PLH Products Group of Companies, USA is the pioneer of far infrared sauna industry. Most of the researches have been done in 1980s and 1990s. Health Mate was the major player in those years. Most of our competitors just have a few years' history. So the literatures they are using for marketing their products are actually not coming from researches or studies of their own saunas, because at that time they simply did not exist.
Head office of PLH in Buena Park,CA, USA
7. What is the difference between the far infrared sauna and steam rooms?
Infrared Saunas offer more health benefits.
Both saunas and steam rooms can be used to relax and unwind. However dry saunas have an advantage over steam rooms by helping to rid the body of more toxic metals picked up from the environment. Of course, the kidneys take out many of these toxins but a daily sweat can help reduce the body's accumulation of lead, mercury, nickel in addition to cadmium, sodium, sulfuric acid and cholesterol.
The sauna is also more beneficial than the steam room if weight loss is desired because of the energy expenditure. Compared to the steam room, the sauna places a greater demand on the body in the terms of using up calories, thus assists in fat loss. (Susan Jones, Ph.D in Lets live magazine, June 1994, USA) The heart needs to work harder to send more blood to the capillaries under the skin. It helps to improve the heart function. The energy required for that process is derived from the conversion of fat and carbohydrates to calories.
It is running at lower temperature. It's more comfortable. With CD/Radio, you can relax.
Far infrared sauna is therapeutically different from the wet air of the steam room sauna. It is lower temperature with dry heat which is far more comfortable. The majority of people prefer the more tolerable heat.
Since this sauna employs the very low end of the infrared spectrum, it causes the user to sweat at temperatures just under 65 degrees centigrade, a temperature that is much safer for the aged and for people with weak hearts.
It is low running cost. (25 to 40 cents per session varies from different models.)
It generate 2-3 more sweat in FIR sauna and eliminating much more toxins out you body.
It is portable. It is free standing. It takes about 30 minutes to set up. It needs only one normal power point. No electrician or plumber required.
(More information for this topic in Sauna ABC)
Heating up your body with inside or heating up the air?
8. What are the health benefits of a far infrared sauna?
The Health Benefits are:
- Deep cleanse and detoxification
- Reduce muscular stress, tension and physical fatigue
- Give comfort and relaxation of aching body
- Improve whole body conditioning and wellbeing
- Relax and improve sleep
- Burns calories
- Improve skin tone
We can supply an independent doctor’s research report if required.
9. Why does Health Mate Sauna offer the best heaters?
To provide a new standard of effective heat for the body, Health Mate Saunas use infrared energy, also called radiant heat. This heat is produced by infrared rays, a form of energy that is just below visible light on the spectrum. This technology was actually developed by NASA and is exclusive to Health Mate and Sun Spirit products. NASA has tested and proved that the far infrared heat would be the ideal way to maintain cardiovascular conditioning in American astronauts during long space flights. (Near or middle infrared, which below 5.6 microns is not effective on the human body. So it is important that an infrared heater emits far infrared ray.) The radiant heat penetrates to a depth of 35-40mm, soothing and relieving muscles and tissues. At lower, more comfortable temperatures, infrared heat can generate two to three times the sweat produced in conventional saunas. Radiant heat works on the body directly from within. Normal sauna heaters simply don’t offer the same results.
The heaters designed are specifically for the human body. It enjoys good reputation of high efficiency, accuracy and reliability of its heaters.
Health Mate saunas use a ceramic heater core coated with incoloy, a metal alloy effective in high temperature applications. The incoloy coating distributes the heat evenly throughout the heater, ensuring a consistent far infrared wavelength. The heater housing, in conjunction with the heater, maximizes far infrared generation toward the front of the sauna while minimizing any energy loss through the back of the sauna.
Our heaters are specially designed to evenly distribute far infrared rays and to have almost infinite lifetime. The large reflecting panels placed behind the heaters are designed to reflect the specific far infrared wavelengths emitted from our heaters for maximum results. The result is that you can benefit from the far infrared that modern science can offer while enjoying a sauna session.
Our heaters have the most effective ceramic elements inside coated with metal alloy. The ceramic elements are specially processed to emit the wavelength at the most beneficial level to human body. This structure not only ensures the constant emission of far infrared ray but also make the heaters lifetime longer than any other infrared heaters in the market. That is why the factory warranty is life time.
Health Mate latest version heaters are M type heaters that insure the gentle warm the human body more efficiently and effectively from the inside, evenly throughout the entire sauna interior for maximum results.
10. Why Western Red Cedar is the best timber for sauna use?
Cedar wood and its oil have been used for 3000~4000 years to prevent or cure illnesses throughout the regions. The early Europeans used cedar wood oil to help heal the sick and to prevent outbreaks of disease. Europeans used cedar wood oil to cure indigestion, flatulence, leprosy, bubonic plague, smallpox and fever. In the 17th century, English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper had observed that cedar wood was a remedy for heart failure, coughs, and shortness of breath, tuberculosis and menstruation.
Western Red Cedar produces natural oil and extractives that act as preservatives to protect the wood from insect attacks and decay-causing fungi. Cedar wood is renowned for its resistance to bacteria and fungi, along with its ability to deter most insects, moths, and pests. Cedar wood’s structure creates interior air space that gives it a higher insulation value than most woods. It also boasts very low shrinkage value, making it suitable for a variety of uses in high-moisture areas such as saunas. The Cedar timber is renowned for not warping or twisting, and is also an excellent heat insulator.
Not all saunas, however, are created equal. We believe that quality products only come from quality materials. We fresh-air-dry (NOT artificially kiln-dry) our Cedar for minimum of 3 weeks to preserve the wood’s natural state. Then we inspect and handpick all clear & vertical grain (NO flat grain) Cedar.
No one else in the industry has the capacity to choose Cedar wood like we do. That’s why no one can come close to the quality of Health Mate sauna.
11. What is the difference between Health Mate brand and Sun Spirit brand?
Since 2002, the cheaper copy saunas from Asia have come on to the market. They use the cheaper timber HAMLOCK from Asia. The Health Mate Brand has been on the market for many years (since 1979 ) with Canadian western Cedar. As you may know that the Canadian Red Cedar is much more expensive. So the factory picked up the Canadian pine to create the new brand Sun Spirit. The quality of the workmanship is the same as Health Mate Sauna, same heaters and control panel and power box
12. Is Health Mate Sauna expensive to run?
No, it has a low running cost depends on the size of the saunas; the cost can be varying, from 25cents to 50cents per session.
13. How professional people recommend the use of Health Mate sauna?
To start with you can use the sauna 2-3 three times a week at low temperature. You will find your favorite temperature after a few sauna sessions and stay longer and use more times each week. Usage every day for 30 minutes is a good base, do this at least 3 to 4 times per week, you’ll see how well you perspire, and in no time understand how good you’re feeling.
14.Why Health Mate Sauna can remove more toxins from your body at lower temperature?
Since humans are bio-accumulators, numerous toxins that cannot be removed immediately after entry and are stored in our body. For example, when toxic gases such as sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide or toxic substances such as lead, mercury or chlorine meet large water molecules, they encapsulated by the clusters of water. Where these toxins are accumulated, blood circulation is blocked and cellular energy is impaired.
However, when a FIR wave is applied to these large water molecules, the water begins to vibrate. This vibration reduces the ion bonds of the atoms which are holding together the molecules of water. As the breakdown of the water molecules occurs, encapsulated gases and other toxic materials are released.
Scientists in Japan report that in the FIR wave treatment of clogged capillary vessels, a similar process occurs: heat expands the capillaries and then initiates the start of a process to dissolve hidden toxins
Far infrared ray offers deep penetration.
Understand, not all the saunas offer the same effect.
15. Is Health Mate Sauna easy to assemble or disassemble?
Yes. Health Mate is the easiest sauna for setting up. No need for any special tools. It is portable. No need for a plumber or electrician. It just needs a normal power point.
16. Is the branding important?
Yes, it is, that is the goodwill coming from a company in existence for long time. If you think about the top brand in the car industry, you may think of say, Mercedes Benz car, it's the same in sauna industry. Health Mate has been a leader in the sauna industry for the past 30 years, and in that time with the quality of product, after sales service and innovative design, they have become the brand name, which others are judged by. You will not go wrong with Health Mate brand with a 30years proven history.
17. What is the warranty policy?
Life time warranty on all heaters, 2 years on electronic parts, 1 year on CD/Radio. This is factory warranty policy. If the marketing companies offer lifetime warranty or 8 years warranty but the factory’s commitment is only one year to their parts, it just does not make sense
18. Is Health Mate an international brand?
Yes, it is. It has over 50 dealers worldwide. It is called Health Mate everywhere; unlike others who go to Asia to order the product and simply create different brands. They can do that business today and give up tomorrow. Or they can even change the manufacture without notice to the customers
19. Does Health Mate Sauna have safety certificates?
Yes, it has been tested by the top credit labs in USA and has the certificates of USA, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
20. Do you have public liability insurance?
Yes, it is. It has over 50 dealers in the world. It is called Health Mate everywhere, not like someone go to Asia to order the product simply create a name. They can do that business today and give up tomorrow. Or they can change the manufacture without notice to the customers.
21.Does Health Mate sauna have colour therapy lighting?
Yes, it offers great start light (not the mood light). It is American optical light box with 4 different settings. It is optional item. It is built into the roof, rotating in different couloirs. It looks like stars in the sky at night. We call it start light. It is great color lighting. Most of the competitors are simply using colored lights.
22. Who is the manufacture of Health Mate Sauna?
PLH Products Group of Companies, USA. It is the first company to do mass production and marketing far infrared sauna in the world. It is the biggest supplier in the world with 100,000 square meters plant. It employs over 600 people. In USA, it has more than 300 dealers with biggest market share.
23. How to shop around?
When you do your research, you are certainly not looking for the cheapest sauna. If it if cheap, you need to find out why it is cheap. Here are some important factors to consider when you are shopping for infrared saunas
24. Who are you buying from?
Be aware whom you are buying your sauna from. Try to stay away from sellers that import their saunas from unknown sources, especially the ones that sell exclusively on Internet. Do not buy the sauna simply cheat or good marketing material.
25.Who is the manufacturer?
If the seller is not able to provide you with the manufacturer’s information, you should pass and shop elsewhere. You never know when the seller changes the manufacturer, and you end up with nowhere to get the support from. One marketing company changed 3 different kind of sauna within one year. How you can get your product serviced if you are the customer?
26.Does the manufacturer carry Certifications issued by Australian Government?
If you buy a product that has no certification, you are putting yourself at risk with your local building inspectors or your home insurance company
And finally you should test one against the other, ask for a trail, and then you’ll see for your self, if the heaters work to your satisfaction, is the wood the style and odour you like. We believe you’ll notice a huge difference between a Health Mate sauna and other brands, a fact many clients tell us after testing ours.
Fact from Fiction
Is Cedar toxic?
No, Cedar wood has been used from 3000 -4000 years ago to prevent or cure illnesses. Not one case has been reported to any government agencies or research institutions worldwide regarding to the health problem related to using Cedar wood sauna. Just ask the Finnish, most of whom grew up in Cedar clad houses and know that it is the premium wood to use in building. Please note: Canadian Red Cedar is much more expensive than the spruce
Is the size of the heater's surface important?
Some of our opposition claim that their heaters are larger in size than anyone else, which is correct, but the size of the heater does not determine the volume of the infrared ray it can generate, or the area it covers. If you are in a room, the light bulb is on, it can generate light within the whole room or it only generates the light with the same size of its surface. That is common sense. We have a testing report that can prove that other brand heaters generate only half of what our heaters produce. The volume of the Far Infrared ray cannot be judged by the surface of the heaters.
The most important factors are
“the far infrared ray” and “the reliability”, not the size of the heater’s surface.
Does your Health Mate heater generate instant heat?
Yes, it does. It generates the far infrared ray when the temperature goes to 38 degree or above. (Even it is off for a few minutes.) It generates instant heat
Do flat heaters have better wavelength?
No. industry-recognized scientific research has reported that the flat heater emits higher wavelengths than our heaters. On the other hand, think about the material it uses for the flat heater, it can not be reliable as Health Mate heaters.
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THIS FOLLOWING INFORMATION COMES FROM U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION WHO RECALL THE POOR QUALITY CARBON HEATER SAUNAS.
Recall Alert
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
The heating unit and fuse can fail, leading to overheating of the saunas. This defect can result in a serious fire hazard to consumers.
There are many saunas around, but none quiet like Health Mate.
Think about your health, think about far infrared sauna.
Think about quality; think about Health Mate and Sun Spirit Brands.
