Far infrared therapy has been touted as a way to detox, improve blood flow, alleviate pain and boost your overall sense of well-being. When most people think of far infrared therapy, they think of saunas. But now, this light therapy is being incorporated into mats for easy, convenient use anytime, anywhere.
But are far infrared mats worth buying?
9 Health Benefits of Far Infrared Therapy
Far infrared mats can offer many benefits, both physical and mental.
#1 – May Improve Circulation
Far infrared therapy may help improve circulation. As the heat warms your muscles and tissues, the body responds by boosting your blood flow.
Better circulation means that more nutrients and oxygen reach your vital organs. It also means that more white blood cells are transported throughout the body and waste from your organs is easily removed.
#2 – Can Help with Weight Loss
Far infrared therapy heats up the body, elevates your heart rate and has a similar effect to a cardiovascular workout.
While far infrared alone cannot help you reach your weight loss goals, it can help accelerate your efforts.
Research shows that far infrared therapy can help you burn up to 600 calories per hour and keep your heart rate elevated after your session.
The body burns more calories because the heat increases your body temperature, forcing it to work harder to cool itself.
#3 – May Improve Cardiovascular Health
Earlier, we talked about how the heat from far infrared therapy warms up your muscles and boosts your blood flow. It’s this response that can help improve cardiovascular health.
Improved blood circulation causes your blood vessels to dilate and your heart rate to increase. This helps strengthen the heart, helping it pump more efficiently. When this happens, heart rate decreases, blood flow improves, blood pressure is reduced, and your blood vessels become more pliable.
#4 – Can Help You Relax and De-stress
Stress can cause tension, which can make your muscles feel tight and stiff. Far infrared therapy’s heating effect can help melt away that tension to help you feel more relaxed.
Relaxation can help:
- Lower blood pressure
- Slow your heart rate
- Improve digestion
- Reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone)
- Further improve blood flow
- Help alleviate pain
- Balance or normalize body functions
Stress is a silent killer. Taking time to relax and de-stress can help reduce the detrimental effects of stress.
#5 – May Help with Pain and Wound Healing
The improved circulation and relaxing effects of far infrared therapy can help ease your pain and even improve wound healing.
Improved blood flow to injured areas promotes the body’s natural healing processes. Cells and tissues also get the oxygen and nutrients they need to start the healing process.
In some cases, tension can cause pain. The relaxation effects of far infrared can help alleviate the tension that causes pain and discomfort.
#6 – Convenience
Far infrared mats offer a convenient way to take advantage of far infrared therapy.
The portable nature of these mats means that you can take them anywhere and use them anytime:
- While traveling
- During or after yoga sessions
- On your lunch break in the living room
- Your home office
- At a friend’s house
If you don’t have the space for a conventional infrared sauna, an infrared mat is a great alternative.
#7 – May Help with Detoxification
As far infrared light helps heat up the body, it causes the sweat glands to release toxins and cellular waste. Sweating is a natural way to help detox a variety of toxins, including uric acid, heavy metals and cholesterol.
Far infrared rays are believed to be more effective than other treatments at removing heavy metals from the body.
#8 – Gives You Glowing Skin
The detoxing and circulation-enhancing effects of far infrared mats can help your skin keep its youthful glow. Remember, better blood flow sends more oxygen and nutrients to your organs. Your skin is the largest organ in your body.
Far infrared light helps with lymphatic drainage and detoxification. It helps even out your complexion while improving cell turnover rate and giving your skin a healthy glow.
#9 – May Lower Blood Pressure
Laying down on an infrared mat for an hour has been shown to help regulate and normalize blood pressure while improving blood viscosity. This is all thanks to the circulation-enhancing effects of the mat.
Keeping your blood pressure in check can help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious health issues. There is some evidence that normalizing blood pressure levels can also benefit the brain by slowing the progression of white matter hyperintensities (brain abnormalities).
Our Favorite Far Infrared Mat Models
Now that you understand the benefits of far infrared mats, you may be wondering which one you should buy. There are several to choose from, which can make your decision feel overwhelming.
We’re going to share our three favorite mats to help you make an informed decision.
HigherDOSE PEMF Infrared Mat
HigherDOSE is known for their infrared sauna blankets, which are loved by celebrities and wellness gurus all over. Now, they also offer an infrared mat that uses Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) technology.
PEMF has been shown recharge the cells in your body and activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
HigherDOSE’s mat is also an amethyst mat. It combines the benefits of far infrared therapy, PEMF and crystal therapy to help improve your overall well-being. In fact, this mat has nearly 20lbs. of crystal. The 100% pure amethyst crystals are encased in fabric tubes across the mat.
Lay down on the mat, do some after-yoga stretching on it or just sit and rest for a while. The recharging effects of the mat can help restore your energy levels while reducing pain, alleviating tension and promoting a deep state of relaxation.
The mat, which is about the size of a yoga mat, can be used just about anywhere. The control panel easily connects to the mat and allows you to make adjustments based on your personal preference.
The mat offers eight settings, which range from 8Hz to 64Hz. There’s also a 60-minute timer, so you can lay back and enjoy your session without worrying about the time.
Why We Love This Mat
- It’s easy to use
- The integration of PEMF helps recharge cells
- Crystals amplify the effects of PEMF and far infrared light
- Deeply penetrates the body for deep relaxation
- Multiple settings to choose from
- Use it for stretching, relaxing, napping or meditating
What Could Be Better?
- The mat is thick
It’s difficult to find anything wrong with this mat.
If we had to find one nit-picky thing to complain about, it would be the thickness of the mat. The reason the mat is so thick is because it has so many layers of different materials.
Overall, HigherDOSE’s mat is one of the best out there, and it can help you enjoy the benefits of far infrared therapy from the comfort of home.
HealthyLine
HealthyLine’s mesh infrared heating pad offers full body relief in a king-sized mat spanning 80” x 76.” The dimensions of this mat are ideal for use on a king size bed, and this mat is designed for sleeping.
The far infrared technology heats the body, allowing you to drift off into a complete state of relaxation while you sleep.
Other standout features of this mat include:
- 441 of jade tourmaline
- Adjustable temperatures
- Automatic-off feature
The mesh lining of this mat holds the gemstones securely in place while activating pressure points in the back, shoulders and legs for tension relief.
Far infrared rays penetrate deep into your tissues and muscles to alleviate pain, tension and sore muscles.
Why We Love This Mat
- Its generous size gives you plenty of space to relax and recharge
- Jade and other gemstones amplify the far infrared rays while activating pressure points
- Automatic timer allows you to relax without worry
- Control panel makes it easy to adjust settings
- Backed by a 1-year warranty
What Could Be Better?
- No PEMF function
The only real complaint with the HealthyLine mat is that it doesn’t offer PEMF. While this isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, it is a nice feature to have for cell recharging and reenergizing.
MediCrystal
The MediCrystal mat combines the benefits of far infrared with crystal therapy and hot stone therapy. The company is an FDA regulated manufacturer, so you can be sure that the mat offers a quality build.
Adjustable temperatures and a variety of size options make this mat a versatile choice.
The MediCrystal mat comes in the following sizes:
- 32” x 20”
- 40” x 20”
- 48” x 22”
- 59” x 24”
- 71” x 24”
- 71” x 32”
- 75” x 39”
- 75” x 59”
Each mat contains 14lbs of 2-7mm tumbled Brazilian gems. When these stones heat up, they release negative ions and help enhance the effects of far infrared therapy.
One added benefit of this mat is that it uses an EMF-free heating system.
Why We Love This Mat
- Offers far infrared, hot stone and crystal therapy
- Easy to use
- EMF-free heating system
- Available in a wide range of sizes
- Digital controller allows you to adjust and set temperatures
- Storage bag is included
What Could Be Better?
- The mat is heavy
Our biggest complaint with this mat is that it’s heavy at 27lbs. The weight is mostly due to the gemstones included in the mat. The added benefits of the gems are worth the extra weight.
Final Advice
Far infrared mats, in our opinion, are worthwhile. They provide the benefits of far infrared therapy in a convenient, portable package. These mats also offer other beneficial therapies, including PEMF, crystal and hot stone.
These are our favorite infrared mats because they offer all of these benefits and more – and they allow you to take advantage of far infrared therapy anytime, anywhere.
