"I went from having no idea what an infrared sauna is to becoming a devoted sauna enthusiast," says founder Siw Hansson Kaulbach.
Six years ago, she created her own dream sauna. After a long period of illness, a visit to a spa gave her the idea of producing her own portable solution.
"I had been recommended to try an infrared sauna at a spa in Oslo. For the first time, I experienced a real boost to my health. The size, the cost and the journey there inspired me to create a product for use at home," she says.
A new person
Today, Hansson Kaulbach's own portable sauna has become an indispensable aid to good health, not only for her, but for satisfied customers too. The brand Radiant Health is the leading brand of portable infrared saunas in Norway and in the Nordic region.
"You no longer need to go to a spa or gym to sweat your way to better health. You can enjoy a sauna at home while reading a book or watching your favourite series. After use, you can fold it up and slide it under the bed."
She uses her portable infrared sauna three to five times a week herself.
"I sit in the living room watching a series while I sweat for half an hour. I feel like a new person every time I step out of it. I used to use it to improve my health, but now I mainly use it for detox."
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Traditional sauna vs. infrared sauna
Studies show that infrared saunas have a range of health-promoting effects, including pain relief, increased calorie burning, better skin, an improved immune system and a mild cleansing effect.
"The list is long. An infrared sauna is the type of sauna with a heat that penetrates five times deeper into the body than traditional saunas."
Siw is in contact with an ME doctor in England who takes fat biopsies of her patients and then sends them to use an infrared sauna regularly for a few months.
"All of the patients, at their next fat biopsy, have reduced the level of toxins in their bodies by 75–80 per cent."
Toxins accumulate in the fat cells.
"When you detoxify the body, you may also notice weight loss, as the body no longer needs the fat cells in the same way. Sauna is an effective way to detox the body."
Sales have largely relied on word of mouth following individual positive experiences.
"Whether people are struggling with illness or are healthy, they benefit from an infrared sauna. One customer told me she had a gym membership only to use the infrared sauna. When she got my sauna, she said I had saved both her life and her wallet. It is feedback like this from satisfied customers that makes the work meaningful to me."
The heat in the infrared sauna is around sixty degrees.
"The heat is much more effective than in traditional saunas. In an ordinary sauna, only the air is heated, whereas in an infrared sauna the heat rays penetrate the body. The heat is natural. It is the same type of heat that people radiate themselves. It is the same heat that comes from the sun, but it has nothing to do with UV rays," Hansson Kaulbach emphasises.
A healthier lifestyle
Many studies document pain relief in people with, for example, rheumatism and fibromyalgia. There has also been a lot of research into improved heart health through the use of infrared saunas.
"In a study where heart patients used a sauna over five years, mortality and the number of hospital admissions were halved in the group that used an infrared sauna compared with the group that did not," says Hansson Kaulbach, adding that it is a gentle way to raise the heart rate without straining the body.
However, if you have heart disease, she recommends consulting your doctor before use.
The founder sees the infrared sauna as part of a healthier lifestyle.
"I show my customers a lifestyle more than I sell them a product. I know what the product can contribute and I stand a hundred per cent behind it," she smiles.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is intended as general information only. Research on infrared heat and red light therapy is still developing, and individual results may vary. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Contact a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional if you have questions about your own health, diagnosis or treatment.
