AromaSteam is more Sanitary than an Infrared Sauna

If the Infrared Sauna is to be used regularly in a public place or by the whole family, the overall cleanliness needs to be taken into account.  It is recommended by nearly every manufacturer  of Infrared Saunas, that the user sits on towels.  It is more comfortable, but also reduces absorption of perspiration containing the body's waste products into the wood - for re-emergence later on.  AromaSteam creates a much more sanitary environment than an Infrared sauna.  The tough plastics can be easily and quickly washed down with cleaning products purchased from any supermarket or alternatively with a natural cleaning solution made from tea tree oil.

Time on your hands?

 All heat stress related treatments broadly work in the same way.  One of the body's natural defense mechanisms is to create a fever.  This acts by stimulating the immune system and stunts the growth of infection.  Saunas replicate this natural body defense mechanism by creating an artificial fever (also known as Hyperthermia) which raises the body's core temperature.  The body tries to cool its self down by perspiring which subsequently evaporates and has a cooling effect.  This perspiration is important as it contains toxins that are being purged from the body.

Infrared Saunas

Infrared Saunas work in a low humidity and relatively low temperature (around 120F) compared to a classic Finish Sauna (180F).  When the user perspires as the body's core temperature rises, the low humidity of the Infrared sauna allows the perspiration to evaporate thus cooling the user down.  In this situation, the release of toxins is quite slow and therefore an Infrared sauna session must be quite long to get the required amount of detoxification done!

Steam Saunas

A Steam Sauna and in this case AromaSteam is different.  It operates around the same temperature as an infrared sauna (120F) but with 100% humidity.  The elevated humidity does not allow the perspiration to evaporate and cool the body down.  This causes the body's core temperature to rise faster, resulting in more sweating and thus faster and more efficient release of toxins. 

The contrast is that Infrared sauna session times vary from 30-50 minutes compared to similar benefits being achieved in 12-15 minutes in an AromaSteam.

A nurturing environment

Keen Finish Sauna users are quick to distance themselves from Infrared Saunas in terms of overall benefits.  They claim that the Finnish Sauna offers a "spiritual experience" that is poles apart from the Infrared. Whilst we at AromaSteam aren't quite so vociferous in dismissing Infrared - as they do offer the user a good number of benefits.  In our experience we do think that the Infrared sauna can somewhat of a banal and sterile experience compared to an AromaSteam session. Compare a rich steam experience with scented moist heat enveloping you with sitting in a wooden box next to a red light bulb!

Radiant Heat much more effective ?

The issue of penetrating, radiant heat is often trumpeted as a miracle and far superior to "heating the air" method of Classic Finnish Saunas or Steam Baths.  There is no doubt that Infrared heat works as it have been long used in lamp form by health professionals for joint pain or arthritis.  The important point here is that to get this penetration, the user must be within 12" of the heat source.  In the case of heat lamps, the lamp is positioned at the point where the problem is.  In the case of an Infrared sauna and in particular cheap ones when there are not so many heat sources, this requires the user to either manoeuvre themself or remain the same position for long periods whilst the "penetration" takes place.  If the body part is not directly near a heat source, we go back to just heating the air again which in an low humidity, low heat environment can be frustratingly slow.

It is worth remarking that AromaSteam in its 15 year history has had its fair share of arthritis, fibromyalgia and pain management successes itself, using just water without the need for unusual heat sources.

Infrared Saunas and cheap to buy and even cheaper to run.

If you have been shopping around from an Infrared Sauna you will have seen an enormous spectrum of prices of available on the open market.  Like a hot tub it is hard to differentiate one product from another.  There are established manufacturers such as Healthmate, Sunlight, Polar and Cedrus with a long track record of sales and up-to-date designs and better wood selection and technology. Cheaper "no-name" versions tend to be much cheaper and importer by traders/entrepreneurs eager to catch on to an existing market.

In any market I am always wary of no-name brands, as the expertise and experience in terms of knowing what to ask when specifying products can be extremely variable resulting in a final products that can compromise the performance and longevity of the products produced.  This could be heat up time, the placement and quality of the heat sources as well as woods that are not suitable for use in the sauna.

AromaSteam is a quality branded product with over 15 years track record in the market and sold all over the world, but still offering exceptional value for money for a steam sauna.   Sunlight Saunas 1-2 person unit select II in Cedar is $3799, Cedrus FSII 1-2 person unit is $5495 and Polar's Infrared 1-2 person saunas is $4018.  Compared to the price of the AromaSteam of $2375, it compares extremely favourably.

 Running costs per minute for AromaSteam and Infrared Saunas are approximately the same, about as much as a hair drier.  However as AromaSteam's heat up time is 8-10 minutes, and then a 12-15 minute session time compared to an Infrared Sauna's heat up time of 10-20minutes and then a 30-50 minute session length, AromaSteam costs half as much to run as and Infrared Sauna.

 Detoxification and joint pain the only benefit?

Where AromaSteam really comes into its own compared to Infrared Saunas is in the additional benefits that can be gained from using a steam sauna.  AromaSteam will do all that an Infrared Sauna will do as well as relieving a whole host of other conditions.  Steam saunas have long been used for their respiratory benefits, breaking down catarrh, blowing away colds and relieving conditions such as sinusitis by rehydrating all the air passages.  This can be done with or without the need for Aromatherapy oils.  Steam has long been used as relief of Asthma and there is considerable anecdotal evidence that AromaSteam really helps with allergies, skin conditions and multiple chemical sensitivity.  Infrared as it is a  "dry environment"  cannot offer any of the above benefits.

No Specialist Installation

One of the major benefits of an Infrared Sauna, particularly with the smaller versions that only require a standard electricity socket is that they can be placed anywhere in the home as there is no plumbing and the product snaps together in about an hour without the need for specialist help.   Whilst most classic Finnish saunas or steam baths require specialist installation, AromaSteam follows the same installation principals as an infrared sauna.  It requires no specialist installation, plumbing, ventilation and only requires a standard electricity outlet.  Assembly of the AromaSteam steambath takes less than 15 minutes!