Although the infrared sauna seems more like a modern concept, its history dates back to 7000 BC. Sauna is a contemporary word used to describe a heating system that was created with an intention to profuse sweating. It’s the only word that has roots in the Finnish language which means a bathhouse. Today most of the languages have borrowed it to describe the heating units. By no means, Finland is the only country to use heat therapy, but it has a tradition that makes a landmark of their culture.
While you understand where the word comes from, read on further to learn further about its history and how saunas have played a significant part in wellness, health, and social practice throughout human history.
The early saunas and similar experiences
The first-ever sauna was built by the Africans to get rid of some infectious diseases. Saunas were rudimentary in their structure, but the methodology was very effective.
Whether it’s a highly sophisticated design of sauna today or the one made in East Africa a few centuries back, the design has the same intention. Over the course of evolution of the sauna, humans did their best to design heat structures to induce profuse sweating, to get rid of the health problems, and to optimize health.
Finnish Saunas
For the residents of Finland today, a sauna is not a luxury but a necessity. Almost every household has a sauna. According to statistics, there are nearly 3 million saunas in Finland that serve 5 million people. Sauna is the cornerstone of Finnish culture. The construction of modern Sauna is based on the Finish archetype.
The earliest known saunas were dug into the earth, and they were lined with stone. Such saunas date back to 2000 years. Overtime those structures have evolved. The initial structure was simple, heat and steam were created by pouring water on heated stones. Today saunas use electricity, hot embers, wood stoves, and hot stones. Ideally, the structures are made up of wood. This type of Sauna is very popular among Finnish.
Roman and Greek Bathhouses
Most of the spas today have roots in the Roman and Greek bathhouse. Early Roman and Greek communities used heat therapy to rejuvenate their minds and bodies. The bathhouses were considered as a cornerstone of society.
People used the bathhouse to detoxify and purify their bodies through intense sweating and promoted heightened states of health. Although the original intent was a purification of the body later these bathhouses evolved as social meeting places where social gathering, business deals, and political decisions were made.
How the modern sauna evolved
During the nineteenth century, the advent of electricity gave birth to the first infrared sauna. In 1893 Mr. Kellogg recognized the incredible healing effects of purification through sweating. He dedicated his life to holistic healing by improving traditional sauna therapy. Kellogg turned to the electric light bulb, and after a series of experiments, he created ‘Incandescent Light Baths.’ People entered into the cabinet like structure where they are exposed to the light bulbs that generated profuse sweating. The incandescent light bulb primarily emits infrared light, which penetrates deeply into the skin to produce excessive sweating and therefore detoxification. Below is the history of the infrared after that.
1893: The Incandescent Bath Lights discovered by Kellogg’ are shown at the World’s Fair in Chicago and earned popularity across the world.
1960s: NASA scientists examined wavelengths created through the infrared, which led to the discovery of near, mid, and far-infrared wavelengths, which moved the Sauna to its next evolutionary state.
1965: A Japanese doctor created a ceramic infrared sauna using far-infrared wavelengths. Only Japanese doctors used far infrared sauna treatment for their patients until the late 1970s.
1979: In the United States, the first full spectrum infrared sauna became available to the public.
During the last two decades, heating systems have been honed to create optimal infrared wavelengths that strengthen safety, promote comfort, and ultimately profuse perspiration. While modern-day infrared sauna provides a very luxurious experience, they are similar to traditional saunas in intent and design. They have evolved over the years, but the true goal remains the same: to help you stay healthy, both mentally and physically.