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Can Fam Physician
Vol. 55, No. 7, July 2009, pp.691 - 696
Copyright © 2009 by The College of Family Physicians of Canada
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Clinical Review

Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors

Summary of published evidence

Richard Beever, MD CCFP CI
Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver

Correspondence: Dr Richard Beever, Box 98, Fraser Lake, BC V0J 1S0; fax 250-699-6510; e-mailRichard.beever{at}northernhealth.ca

OBJECTIVE To review the literature about the health benefits of far-infrared sauna (FIRS) use.

QUALITY OF EVIDENCE A search of Web of Science, EBSCO, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid HealthSTAR, and EMBASE using the terms far-infrared and sauna, refined by limiting the search to studies of humans published in English, yielded 9 relevant papers (level I or level II evidence).

MAIN MESSAGE Far-infrared saunas are approved by the Canadian Standards Association and are sold to the public. The manufacturers claim numerous health benefits; however, the published evidence to substantiate these claims is limited. Four papers support the use of FIRS therapy for those with congestive heart failure and 5 papers support its use for those with coronary risk factors.

CONCLUSION There is limited moderate evidence supporting FIRS efficacy in normalizing blood pressure and treating congestive heart failure; fair evidence, from a single study, supporting FIRS therapy in chronic pain; weak evidence, from a single study, supporting FIRS therapy in chronic fatigue syndrome; weak evidence, from a single study, supporting FIRS therapy for obesity; and consistent fair evidence to refute claims regarding the role of FIRSs in cholesterol reduction.






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Copyright © 2009 by The College of Family Physicians of Canada.