So, you might be wondering - do sauna blankets actually work the same as sauna cabins? The simple answer is - they work very similarly to infrared cabins - as they both emit Far Infrared Radiation (FIR) that can penetrate deep into your body and heat your body from within.The best part? You can enjoy these amazing health benefits at home, any time.

The best part? You can enjoy these amazing health benefits at home, any time.

The heat stress response also stimulates the release of certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, which can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, and promote relaxation in the mind and body.

Infrared sauna blankets are a new technology, which is why there is limited research on their efficacy. But when you compare the way they transmit heat, it’s exactly in the same way as infrared saunas - via FIR.

And when you compare the physiological effects of using an infrared sauna blanket, compared to using an infrared sauna or a traditional Finnish sauna, you’ll realize that they are the same. 

All 3 devices will result in:

• Rise in core body temperature
• Sweating
• Flushed Skin
• Increase in heart rate
• Temporary drop in blood pressure
• Release in “feel-good hormones” such as endorphins & serotonin

Here’s what sauna expert Dr Rhonda Patrick had to say about sauna blankets and how they compare with saunas.

Some health experts and biohackers, ranging from Andrew Huberman, to Peter Attia, credit sauna usage with being a multi-purpose wonder drug or supplement.

What are the benefits of using a sauna blanket?

• Increase Metabolism 🔥 
• Detoxification ♻️
• Pain Relief 💆‍♀️
• Improved Skin ✨
• Stress Relief 😌
• Improved Sleep 🛌
• Muscle Recovery & Boost Growth Hormone Production 💪
• Improved Brain Health & Function 🧠
• Improved Cardiovascular Health 🫀
• Boosted Immune System 🛡️

A. For Weight Loss & Increasing Metabolism

Using a sauna blanket increases your body’s calorie burn, mimicking the effects of light exercise. The elevated heart rate and increased sweat production boost your metabolism, helping you burn more calories at rest.

How many calories can you burn per hour? Between 300-600 calories per hour, depending on your body weight, metabolism and temperature of the sauna.

Larger people with higher metabolisms in hotter saunas can burn more calories compared to smaller people with lower metabolisms in cooler saunas.

While using sauna blankets isn’t going to be a perfect substitute for exercising, it can be used in conjunction with exercising for a greater metabolic boost, or for people who have difficulty doing physical activity.

B. For Muscle Recovery & Growth Hormone Boost

The heat helps increase blood circulation, which accelerates muscle recovery. Regular use can also boost growth hormone levels by up to 16x (according to certain studies) -  important for muscle repair and regeneration, making it easier to recover from intense workouts.

C. For Detoxification

Sweating is your body’s natural way to eliminate toxins. Regular sauna blanket use promotes sweating, flushing out heavy metals, chemicals, and other impurities from your body.

For example, one study found that the concentrations of toxic elements like mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead and nickel found in sweat collected during infrared sauna sessions were significant, demonstrating the effectiveness of sauna usage in detoxifying the body.

A. For Weight Loss & Increasing Metabolism

• Temperature: Medium-High
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Frequency: 3-4x per week

Sauna use increases the heart rate, which mimics light exercise and allows for calorie burn. It also stimulates thermogenesis (heat production), which can boost your metabolism at rest.

B. For Muscle Recovery & Growth Hormone Increase

Muscle Recovery

• Temperature: Medium (70-75°C/158-167°F)
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Frequency: 3-5x per week

If your muscles feel sore after a workout, regular sauna sessions can help in reducing DOMS and clearing lactic acid buildup. Moderate, sustained heat improves recovery without taxing the nervous system.

Growth Hormone Stimulation

• Temperature: High (85°C/185°F)
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Frequency: 3-5x per week

According to experts like Andrew Huberman, max growth hormone increase occurs after high-heat, post-exercise sauna sessions. But this effect diminishes over repeated sauna usage, which is why doing it once per week prevents adaptation.

C. For Detoxification

• Temperature: Medium-High (75-85°C/167-185°F)
• Duration: 30-45 minutes
• Frequency: 4-6x per week

Research shows consistent, repeated sweating helps eliminate toxins like mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead. Why do we recommend longer sessions of 30-45 minutes? This is because it was found that longer sauna sessions were needed to trigger deep sweating.

The benefits obtained from detoxing with saunas are cumulative - which is why it is better to use the sauna blanket more frequently. Do make sure that you hydrate yourself more, because of the frequent and more intensive sauna sessions.