14 Health Benefits & Uses of Infrared Therapy

If you’ve heard of infrared therapy, you probably think of pain relief, detox, or maybe calorie burning.

But did you know this powerful technology has over 13 proven health benefits—most of which are completely under the radar?

And here’s the best part:

You don’t have to book expensive spa sessions or medical treatments to get the benefits.

Infrared therapy devices are now available for safe, at-home use – without breaking the bank.

👉 See the 7 Top-Rated Infrared Therapy Devices to Relieve Pain Faster

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What is Infrared Light Therapy?

The natural, non-invasive, and painless Infrared light therapy, also known as Low-Level Laser (LLLT) and photobiomodulation, is experienced by us as heat and is the invisible part of the sun’s light spectrum.

It’s the heat you feel when you get in your car after it’s been parked outside. It’s the warmth you feel on your skin when you relax on the beach.

We all naturally radiate infrared heat every day (even when we hug someone)

In 2025, Infrared (IR) technology advances allow you to enjoy the amazing health benefits of sunbathing – without the skin-damaging UV radiation.

What Does Infrared Heat Do to Your Body?

Infrared light penetrates deep into your body (2-5 cm) all the way to the inner layers of your skin, to your muscles, nerves, and bones.

Infrared rays then boost local blood circulation, which brings more healing nutrients and pain-relieving components to the area, while promoting a detoxifying sweat.

Research in the last decades has proven that this particular frequency of light offers a powerful healing boost to your body on a cellular level.

Below you’ll discover the complete list of science-backed health benefits of infrared therapy and the staggering amount of infrared heat health uses available to you today.

14 Proven Benefits of Infrared Light Therapy 

Why is infrared good for you?

Well:

Near and Far-infrared therapy technology allows you to harness all the powerful benefits of the sun – without being exposed to UV light and without any side effects.

In fact, it’s so safe it’s used to keep babies warm in the NICU, and our bodies naturally radiate it!

Ready to know every way in which you can use infrared light therapy?

Let’s go.

1. Pain Relief (Muscles/Joints/Nerves)

I’ve personally found infrared therapy to be a game-changer for muscle soreness and joint pain.

And I’m not alone – athletes, physical therapists, and even doctors have been using it for years.

Acupuncturists also use it(mainly via TDP lamps like this one).

What it helps with:

• Muscle pain
• Joint inflammation (including Arthritis)
• Sciatica & Neuropathy
• Sports injuries
• Bulging/herniated discs

Science Says:

Just one example: A University of Sydney study reviewed 16 trials with 820 patients and found that infrared therapy (also called infrared physiotherapy) reduces pain immediately and can keep working for up to 22 weeks – even for chronic neck pain.

How to Use It at Home:

• For back pain: Infrared heating pads or red light therapy panels, or infrared massagers.
• For arthritis & joint pain: Infrared heating wraps or infrared gloves, an infrared heat lamp, a red light therapy wrap
• For full-body relief: Infrared saunas.
• For Fibromyalgia – a home infrared sauna – to treat your entire body at once while detoxing from toxins.

See the 7 Best Infrared Therapy Devices Here

2. Full Body Detox

Did you know infrared saunas are 7x more effective at removing heavy metals and toxins than traditional steam saunas?

Infrared heat raises your core temperature, causing you to sweat deep from the cellular level – where toxins like lead, mercury, and cadmium are stored.

The results:

•  A deep sweat at a cellular level, where toxins reside (such as cadmium, lead, and mercury).
• Enhanced metabolism, blood circulation, and tissue oxygenation.

Toxin detoxification can be extremely helpful for Fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease, chronic fatigue, colitis, any auto-immune disease, and even ADHD.

And the best part?

These amazing results are produced at lower temperatures than a traditional steam sauna and can be much better tolerated by people who can’t withstand the high heat of steam rooms.

Even Lady Gaga swears by infrared sauna therapy for detox and pain relief!

How to Use it at Home

• Home infrared sauna – either buy a good one or build one yourself for under $100! (instructions here)
• Portable infrared sauna – a portable sauna is great for those who prefer keeping their head out.

See 9 Incredible Infrared Sauna Benefits

3. Calorie Burning & Weight Loss

Here are a few amazing facts about infrared therapy and weight loss:

First: While you are relaxing in an infrared sauna, your body is actually working hard.

It’s working to produce a lot of sweat.

This hard “work” results in calorie burning.

Science Says:

A study from Binghamton University found that people who used an infrared sauna 3 times a week for 30 minutes lost 4% body fat in 4 months—without changing their diet.

That’s a 7-pound loss for a 175-pound person—just by sitting in a sauna!

And, according to a Journal of the American Medical Association report, you can burn as many calories as you would be jogging or rowing (200 – 600 calories) – in a single far infrared sauna session.

You will also lose “water weight” from sweating so much. You’ll gain back the “water weight” once you hydrate.

👉 See my full post about infrared sauna for weight loss!

How to Use it at Home

• Infrared sauna treatments – you can get them at your local spas, but purchasing your own FIR sauna will save you a ton of money in the long term.
• Portable infrared sauna 

Remember to drink up before, during, and after – no exceptions!

👉 If you want to reduce cellulite – go for red light therapy. Here’s how to use red light therapy for cellulite.

4. Boosting Immunity & Cancer Healing

Ever wonder why your body raises its temperature when fighting an infection?

Fever is your body’s natural way of boosting immunity – by increasing white blood cell production and killing harmful bacteria.

Infrared therapy mimics this effect – without you getting sick first.

Some research even suggests that infrared therapy can slow down certain cancer cell growth.

How to Use It at Home:

Feeling a cold coming on? Jump into an infrared sauna to kickstart your immune system.

👉See how to Use Infrared Therapy for Immunity

What about cancer?

Raising core body temperature has been proven many times to inhibit the proliferation of certain cancer cells (including breast, lung, and tongue cancer), according to Medical Oncology in London.

According to Dr. Mark Sircus, best-selling author of many allopathic medicine books, the easiest, safest, and most effective way of treating most diseases, including cancer, is to increase body temperature with infrared therapy.

Dr. Sircus shares more about his clinical experience with infrared therapy:

My experience is that sleeping on a Biomat offers the best treatment for cold conditions and is instrumental in treating cancer because of the increased immune response

Read more about using Hyperthermia for cancer on the American Cancer Society website

5. Raising Low Body Temperature

As you probably know, 98.6°F is the ideal body temperature for overall health.

It keeps your blood flowing, metabolism strong, and immune system in top shape.

But if you’re constantly cold, sluggish, or low on energy, your body temperature might be too low – and that can seriously affect your health.

Science Says:

According to Dr. Sircus:

“98.6°F is the guarantor for good blood circulation and the mainstay for vitality and a strong immune system. Low temperatures (94.1°F – 96.8°F) are common in people with chronic illnesses. It’s not difficult to deduce that a cold person is an ill person.”

And it gets worse:

Low body temperature can contribute to obesity.

A study found that a lower body temperature = a slower metabolism, making it harder to lose weight.

How to Use it At Home

If you struggle with chronic low body temperature, infrared therapy is one of the best ways to safely raise your core temperature at home.

Try These Infrared Devices for Full-Body Benefits:

• Infrared sauna (or a portable IR sauna) for deep, whole-body warmth
• Full-body infrared therapy mat to gently raise your temperature while you relax.

These infrared devices boost circulation, reduce fatigue, and support immune function – so you’re not just warmer, but healthier overall.

6. Injury recovery

Infrared therapy is a secret weapon for professional athletes – including Tiger Woods!

World-class athletes (Tiger Woods is one of them) have been using phototherapy to speed up recovery from sports injuries for many years.

Physiotherapists and sports medicine specialists are well aware of the many studies proving that phototherapy reduces pain and inflammation caused by muscle injuries, spine injuries, and even broken bones.

It speeds up healing for:

• Muscle injuries (see study)
• Nerve damage (see study)
• Joint injuries
• Broken bones (see study)
• Knee pain

How?

Near-infrared light stimulates cell growth by 150-200% and increases blood flow to deliver more oxygen and nutrients.

How to Use it At Home

• For Knee Injuries – Use an infrared knee heating pad.
• For Nerve Damage – Try a red light therapy wrap.
• For Muscle Pain – use an infrared heating pad

7. Chronic Wound Healing

Here’s a mind-blowing fact:

According to many studies, cells exposed to near-infrared light (energy just outside the visible range) from LEDs – grow 150% to 200% faster than cells not stimulated by this light.

How does it work?

Near-infrared wavelength increases microcirculation and the formation of new capillaries.

The result:

The wound area receives more oxygen and nutrients to help with the natural wound-healing process.

👉 See exactly how to use near-infrared light to heal diabetic wounds, Venus ulcers, pressure ulcers, non-healing surgical wounds, and much more – in our post about wound healing at home

RELATED: The 5 Best Heated Eye Pads (for eye infections and dry eyes)

8. Lowering Blood Pressure

How can one hour of FIR therapy affect high blood pressure?

According to medical researchers from Germany, one hour inside an infrared sauna can significantly reduce your BP levels, total peripheral resistance, and cardiac ejection resistance.

How does it work?

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, infrared heat therapy lowers BP by promoting the same physiological process that happens when you do aerobic exercise.

Your core body temperature slowly rises and stimulates blood vessel dilation. This results in increased blood flow,  lower blood pressure, increased heart rate, and cardiac output – without you moving a muscle.

It’s exercising to reduce your blood pressure – without exercising.

However:

Any active symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath that would cause a person to avoid moderate exercise would also be a reason to avoid an infrared sauna.

How to Use it at Home

The 2 best ways to use infrared therapy to reduce BP levels are:

• infrared sauna treatments – see the 4 best infrared home saunas – reviewed and compared.
• Sleeping on a full-body Amethyst Mat

9. Peripheral Neuropathy

Can low-level laser therapy really help with neuropathy?

If you’re dealing with the numbing, burning, tingling, or excruciating pain of neuropathy, you’re probably wondering if there’s a way to get relief – without relying on drugs.

Good news: Yes, infrared light therapy works!

This simple technology, known as MIRE therapy (monochromatic infrared light energy), is clinically proven to be the most effective drug-free pain relief available.

Science says:

The key to the dramatic relief you’ll experience? It’s nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide is a powerful gas that’s critical for healthy arteries. It helps to:

• Relax your arteries
• Regulate blood pressure
• Fight free radicals
• Prevent blood clots

When you use infrared light therapy, it stimulates the release of nitric oxide – which helps boost blood flow, bringing essential oxygen, nutrients, and pain-relieving components straight to your tissues and nerves.

How to Use it At Home

• One of the best ways to treat neuropathy from the comfort of your own home is by using red light therapy wraps.

These wraps provide full coverage to target the pain and discomfort right where it hurts most.

Check out how to use red light therapy to relieve nerve pain and restore nerve function for real results.

10. Stress Relief and Sleep Problems

If you struggle with stress or sleep problems, infrared therapy can help balance your cortisol levels (your stress hormone) and release endorphins (your “feel-good” hormones).

Science Says:

Studies show that 4 weeks of infrared therapy can significantly reduce cortisol and even lower blood glucose levels.

How to Use It at Home:

• Sleep on a full body infrared heating pad for deep relaxation.
• Use an infrared sauna before bed for a calming effect.

11. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Infrared sauna treatments can treat and relieve almost all symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, including:

• Fatigue lasting for 6 months or more
• Memory and concentration problems
• Sleep problems
• Headaches
• Joint and muscle pain
• Digestion and immunity issues

Research and Studies

Science is just starting to investigate the effect of infrared heat therapy on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

For example:

This pilot study has found that FIR sauna can significantly reduce fatigue:

On a scale of 1 to 10, the average level of fatigue was reduced from 6.7 to 4.8. Negative mood, including anxiety and depression, significantly improved after therapy.

The heat from infrared saunas is powerful and deep, yet surprisingly gentle and easy to tolerate at the same time.

How to use it at home

Use an infrared sauna or portable far infrared sauna for 15 minutes every day, followed by a 30-minute rest under a few blankets – along with a large glass of purified water.

12. Fibromyalgia Pain

Infrared saunas have been shown to reduce Fibromyalgia pain (and other symptoms) by up to 78%.

The infrared heat is especially good for people with Fibro because the heat is powerful and deep, yet surprisingly gentle and easy to tolerate.

How to use it Home

Infrared sauna treatments – 15 minutes once a day (140 F), followed by resting under a blanket for 30 minutes

Infrared heating pads – can be used for localized pain. I recommend the UTK Infrared heating pads

13. Brain Injuries

5 recent studies found that near-infrared light regenerates damage for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) by reversing inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration.

With millions of TBI survivors and various other possible applications for NILT, this is one of the hottest topics in neuroscience today.

14. Allergic Rhinitis

Hay fever symptoms occur due to inflammation in the nose when your immune system “overreacts” to allergens in the air.

In this 2007 study, A WS TY101 FIR emitter was placed to face the patient’s nasal region at a distance of 30 cm. The treatment was performed for 40 min every morning for 7 days.

The results?

The symptoms of eye itching, nasal itching, nasal stuffiness, rhinorrhea, and sneezing were all significantly improved. No adverse side effects were recorded.

How to Use it at Home

You can use IAT (infrared allergy treatment) at home via a special infrared light therapy nostril device (a “nasal warmer”).

👉 See the top 3 intranasal light therapy home devices for quick allergy relief

After a few sessions with IAT, allergy symptoms can begin to ease and can be successfully managed.

Final Thoughts: Is Infrared Therapy Worth It?

After using infrared therapy myself, I can confidently say: Yes, 100%. It’s easy, safe, and incredibly effective for pain relief, detox, weight loss, stress relief, and more.

And the best part? You can do it from the comfort of your home – without spending a fortune on spa treatments or doctor visits.

Infrared light therapy is one of the most versatile, effective, and pleasant natural treatments under the sun – using the sun. :)

👉 See 32 more amazing infrared rays facts!

Feel free to message us on our Facebook page for any questions you may have! 😊

To your health and happiness,

Meital

Studies

Sears, Margaret E et al. “Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in sweat: a systematic review.” Journal of environmental and public health vol. 2012 (2012): 184745.

Ishibashi, J., Yamashita, K., Ishikawa, T. et al. The effects inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells by far-infrared radiation (FIR) are controlled by the basal expression level of heat shock protein (HSP) 70A. Med Oncol 25, 229–237 (2008).

https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/hyperthermia.html

Landsberg, Lewis et al. “Do the obese have lower body temperatures? A new look at a forgotten variable in energy balance.” Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association vol. 120 (2009): 287-95.

Motoi Ishiguro, Kazuo Ikeda, Katsuro Tomita, Effect of near-infrared light-emitting diodes on nerve regeneration, Journal of Orthopaedic Science, Volume 15, Issue 2, 2010,

Ebrahimi, T et al. “The influence of low-intensity laser therapy on bone healing.” Journal of dentistry (Tehran, Iran) vol. 9,4 (2012): 238-48.

Beever R. Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors: summary of published evidence. Can Fam Physician. 2009;55(7):691–696.