Infrared Wellness: The Science, Experience, and Benefits of Light, Heat, and Salt

There’s something almost ancient about the act of sweating for renewal. Across cultures and centuries, humans have sought heat as medicine — from Nordic saunas to Japanese onsen (an onsen (温泉) is a Japanese natural hot spring, and more broadly, the ritual of bathing in those mineral-rich waters for health, relaxation, and community). Today, that timeless practice meets modern science through infrared saunas, red light therapy, and salt therapy — tools that restore balance not just to the body, but to the nervous system itself.

At Holistique, we see these therapies as invitations — not trends. They merge physiology with presence, science with soul. Let’s explore how they work, what the research says, and why the experience matters just as much as the evidence.

The Science of Infrared Saunas

Unlike traditional saunas, which heat the air around you, infrared saunas use light waves to gently warm the body directly. This light — specifically far-infrared radiation (FIR) — penetrates below the skin’s surface, promoting a deeper, more cellular level of heat.

What the Research Shows

• Circulation and detoxification: FIR therapy increases peripheral blood flow, aiding detoxification through sweat and improved cardiovascular efficiency (Beever, 2009).

• Muscle recovery and pain relief: Studies show reduced muscle soreness and improved joint mobility in people with chronic pain conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia (Sutkowy et al., 2014; Masuda et al., 2005).

• Cardiovascular benefits: Regular use has been linked to reduced blood pressure and improved endothelial function (Laukkanen et al., 2018).

• Stress reduction: The gentle, enveloping warmth activates the parasympathetic nervous system — our “rest and digest” mode — promoting deep relaxation and better sleep (Beever, 2009).

References:

• Beever, R. (2009). Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors: Summary of published evidence. Canadian Family Physician, 55(7), 691–696.

• Masuda, A., Kihara, T., Fukudome, T., et al. (2005). Repeated thermal therapy improves outcomes in chronic pain and fatigue syndromes. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 74(5), 288–294.

• Laukkanen, J. A., et al. (2018). Sauna bathing is inversely associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in middle-aged Finnish men. Age and Ageing, 46(2), 245–249.

• Sutkowy, P., Woźniak, A., & Ruckemann-Dziurdzińska, K. (2014). Therapeutic application of infrared radiation in medicine. Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online), 68, 865–873.

The Experience

The moment you step into an infrared sauna, time softens. The air remains gentle — not suffocating — as warmth seeps slowly into the muscles. Breathing deepens, tension dissolves, and the mind begins to quiet. Many describe it as meditation through heat — a physiological stillness that feels like exhale made visible.

The Subtle Science of Salt Therapy

Salt therapy, or halotherapy, traces its roots to European salt mines where workers were observed to have remarkably healthy lungs. Modern halotherapy uses micro-particles of pharmaceutical-grade salt dispersed into the air to simulate that environment.

What the Research Shows

• Respiratory health: Salt particles can support mucociliary clearance, reduce airway inflammation, and help ease conditions like asthma, allergies, and bronchitis (Chervinskaya & Zilber, 1995).

• Skin health: Studies suggest improvements in eczema and psoriasis symptoms due to salt’s natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties (Keller et al., 2017).

• Stress and mood: The rhythmic sound, negative ions, and sensory stillness of halotherapy environments have been shown to improve relaxation and mood (Roszkowska et al., 2021).

References:

• Chervinskaya, A. V., & Zilber, N. A. (1995). Halotherapy for treatment of respiratory diseases. Journal of Aerosol Medicine, 8(3), 221–232.

• Keller, R., et al. (2017). Halotherapy as an adjuvant treatment in atopic dermatitis. Dermatology and Therapy, 7(3), 387–395.

• Roszkowska, A., et al. (2021). The effect of halotherapy on well-being and stress reduction. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 58, 102723.

The Experience

In a salt room, every breath feels textured — cool, mineral-rich, alive. The quiet is palpable, broken only by your own rhythm of breathing. The salt-laced air carries a faint oceanic scent, evoking ancient landscapes and the natural purity of breath itself. It’s less about curing symptoms and more about reclaiming the calm in every inhale.

Red Light Therapy: Energy, Regeneration, and Renewal

Red light therapy (RLT) — sometimes called low-level laser therapy or photo-biomodulation — uses specific wavelengths of light (typically 600–900 nm) to stimulate the mitochondria, the “powerhouses” of our cells.

What the Research Shows

• Cellular energy: Red light enhances ATP production, improving cell metabolism and repair (Hamblin & Demidova, 2006).

• Skin rejuvenation: Proven benefits for collagen synthesis, wound healing, and reduction of fine lines (Avci et al., 2013).

• Inflammation and pain relief: Anti-inflammatory effects have been observed in joint pain, muscle recovery, and chronic inflammation (Barolet et al., 2016).

• Mood and circadian balance: Exposure to red light in the evening may support melatonin regulation and sleep quality (LeGates et al., 2014).

References:

• Hamblin, M. R., & Demidova, T. N. (2006). Mechanisms of low level light therapy. Proceedings of SPIE, 6140, 614001.

• Avci, P., Gupta, A., Sadasivam, M., et al. (2013). Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring. Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 32(1), 41–52.

• Barolet, D., Christiaens, F., & Hamblin, M. R. (2016). Infrared and red light therapy for inflammation. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, 34(10), 500–508.

• LeGates, T. A., Fernandez, D. C., & Hattar, S. (2014). Light as a central modulator of circadian rhythms, sleep, and affect. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 15(7), 443–454.

The Experience

Red light therapy feels more like being bathed in sunrise than undergoing treatment. The warmth is soft, the glow restorative. It’s not just what it does to the skin — it’s what it reminds you of: renewal, vitality, and light as nourishment.

The Holistique Perspective

Infrared, salt, and red light therapies remind us that healing is both biological and experiential. Each invites you to slow down, to engage the body’s natural repair systems while quieting the noise of modern life.

We see these not as replacements for medicine, but as rituals of regulation — modern sanctuaries for nervous system recovery, emotional balance, and cellular vitality.

Healing isn’t only about what you remove — it’s about what you allow. Heat, light, and salt simply make room for the body to remember what balance feels like.