Summary
Dr. Joseph Mercola interviews Brian Richards, founder of Sauna Space, about near-infrared sauna therapy and its advantages over far-infrared and traditional Finnish saunas. They discuss how near-infrared light penetrates several inches into the body compared to just millimeters for far-infrared, providing both radiant heating and photobiomodulation benefits simultaneously. Richards explains the history dating back to Dr. John Harvey Kellogg's electric incandescent light bath from over 130 years ago. The conversation focuses heavily on photobiomodulation, the biological benefit of near-infrared light exposure. Mercola explains that 95% of the body's melatonin is produced in mitochondria in response to near-infrared light, not in the pineal gland as previously believed. They discuss EMF concerns with various sauna types, noting that many far-infrared saunas have problematic electric field levels despite marketing claims. Richards describes his protocol of 25-30 minutes in a near-infrared sauna at 150-160 degrees, achieving a 3-degree core temperature increase and losing 1-2 pounds of water per session. They reference Dr. Rhonda Patrick's research on sauna frequency, emphasizing that four sessions per week produces significantly better outcomes than one.
Key Points
- Near-infrared light penetrates several inches into the body versus just millimeters for far-infrared, providing deeper radiant heating
- Photobiomodulation from near-infrared light stimulates mitochondrial melatonin production, which accounts for 95% of the body's total melatonin
- The incandescent bulb sauna concept dates back 130 years to Dr. John Harvey Kellogg's electric light bath
- Many far-infrared saunas have dangerously high electric field levels despite marketing claims of low EMF
- Near-infrared saunas can achieve effective sweat and core temperature elevation at lower ambient temperatures (150-160 degrees) than Finnish saunas (170-200 degrees)
- Finnish longitudinal studies show using sauna four times per week produces significantly better health outcomes than once per week
- Sauna Space bulbs emit roughly 40% near-infrared and 40% mid-infrared with about 15% far-infrared
- Near-infrared is the only wavelength that penetrates bone tissue, potentially reaching brain tissue for neuroprotective benefits
Key Moments
Near-infrared light penetrates inches into the body versus millimeters for far-infrared
Brian Richards explains that near-infrared light penetrates several inches into the body, with one NASA study showing penetration of up to 20 centimeters. Far-infrared only penetrates a few millimeters. This deeper penetration allows near-infrared to heat biological tissue more efficiently from within.
"And so it absorbs this light in different ways. Near-infrared light tends to penetrate several inches into the body. There's actually one NASA study that showed that water-filtered near-infrared penetrated like a ridiculous amount, like 20 centimeters into the body, you know, five or six or seven inches. But on average, it's several inch penetration once you get out to this long wavelength."
95% of melatonin is produced in mitochondria from near-infrared light exposure
Dr. Mercola explains that 95% of the body's melatonin is produced in mitochondria in response to near-infrared light, not in the pineal gland as previously believed. This subcellular melatonin acts as a powerful antioxidant, catalyzing the production of glutathione and other protective enzymes.
"the vast majority of all of it, if you could sequence it, is near-infrared. And the benefit of that near-infrared is it increases melatonin in what's called subcellular melatonin."
Finnish studies show four sauna sessions per week dramatically reduces all-cause mortality
Brian Richards references long-term Finnish population studies and Dr. Rhonda Patrick's review showing that sauna use four times per week produces significantly better health outcomes than once weekly, including dramatic reductions in all-cause mortality.
"Rhonda Patrick study that you referenced, the stunning benefits of sauna. And these long-term finished studies, they show that what you need to do is use it four times a week and even once a week is really not as amazing as three or four times a week. So having a sauna at home."
Most far-infrared saunas have dangerously high electric fields despite low-EMF marketing
Dr. Mercola and Brian Richards discuss how many far-infrared sauna companies falsely claim low EMF while only addressing magnetic fields. Electric fields in tested units measured up to 60,000 millivolts, which Richards compares to meditating in a polluted environment.
"There is one company that I actually measured with Brian Hoyer, as it were. We were together at a conference and it was low in magnetic field, which was great. That's a great improvement. But the electric fields were, like you say, they were through the roof. They were in beyond millivolts and hundreds of millivolts into the volts range. And I had one that I measured that I was given to try. It was tens of thousands of millivolts. It was 60,000 millivolts. Yeah, it was like 10 volts. That's like a lot."
Near-infrared sauna achieves full sweat response at lower ambient temperatures
Richards describes his protocol of 25-28 minutes in a near-infrared sauna, losing 1-2 pounds of water and achieving a 3-degree core temperature increase at much lower ambient temperatures than Finnish saunas. He argues this makes near-infrared saunas more accessible for people with health conditions.
"And so for what it's worth, I think the near-infrared sauna provides a much more tolerable, accessible experience that still achieves what you want to achieve. And by that, I mean, do you sweat and do you elevate your core body temperature? Me personally, I get into my sauna cold. I don't preheat it. And I only use the four bulb Faraday sauna. So I have four bulbs and I usually lose one to two pounds of water in about 25 minutes. In 28 to 30 minutes, I lose two pounds of water."
