“Magic in every drop of sweat” interview with the founder of Radiant Health
– If you’re going to do one good thing for yourself this year, there’s a lot of health benefits in infrared heat. With an IR SaunaPod Bamboo Stone at home, you have access to heat treatment, simply and effectively, says Siw Hansson Kaulbach, founder of Radiant Health.
The brand is a leader in infrared heat in the Nordics.
Almost 11 years ago, she stood on the quay in Oslo, waiting for her first 50 IR SaunaPods. Her dream was to create a sauna universe. Over the years, she has paved the way for a market where sauna culture was not as accessible in Norway as it is today.
– At least not infrared saunas. Many still don't know what it is, but I believe we are in a paradigm shift. Something is beginning to happen in people's awareness of health and taking better care of themselves in a hectic everyday life.
Setting aside one or more sauna sessions a week provides many positive returns.
– There's magic in every drop of sweat, and I'm not talking about witchcraft, she laughs.
Regular sauna use can prolong life
We are sitting at a window table at Oslo Raw, each with our own cocoa. This winter has brought cold shocks, heavy snowfall, and chaos in Oslo's streets.
Siw and I had a similar chat almost nine years ago, on a sunny day at Aker Brygge. Much has happened since then, but I ask the same question: What's the "fuzz" with infrared sauna? And who is it really for?
– Where to begin, she exclaims.
– Just getting the body going, getting the circulation flowing, sweating out toxins, and that amazing feeling of well-being afterwards – it feels magical.
In addition, studies support the feeling of magic when they show that regular sauna use can, among other things, improve heart health, mood, exercise effectiveness, provide faster recovery and pain relief – yes – it even seems to reduce morbidity and mortality in a dose-dependent manner.
Sauna boosts our own superpowers
Siw explains that sauna use mimics the same physiological processes that occur during exercise and triggers a number of protective mechanisms in the body. Studies have shown, among other things, that sauna use can help with low mood and mild depression. This is demonstrated by, among others, this randomized controlled study. In another randomized blind study, the antidepressant effect actually lasted for 6 weeks after a single hyperthermia treatment.
– Studies are interesting observations, whether they adhere to the gold standard or are observational studies with only 20 participants. It has been shown that heat has a positive effect on many things.
One of the things Siw finds particularly exciting is how infrared sauna can activate heat shock proteins.
– Imagine that we humans have built-in superpowers that are activated by heat!
Studies have shown that heat shock proteins play a prominent role in many cellular processes, including immune function, cell signaling, and cell cycle regulation.
– Heat shock proteins, among other things, repair damaged proteins and prevent aggregation (i.e., proteins clumping together and forming plaques) and can thereby protect against chronic and degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's.
To learn more about heat shock proteins and sauna use, listen to researcher and doctor, Rhonda Patrick, HERE.
Infrared sauna is for "everyone"
It was the founder's own experiences with infrared sauna at a spa in Oslo that led her to want to work further with infrared heat and make it accessible to "everyone".
– The "aha" moment I had the first time I encountered an infrared sauna, I still have every time I take a sauna, when I test new products, and when I work on product development.
From the very first drop of sweat, she experienced a "wow effect," which many others she talks to also describe.
– I felt so incredibly much better afterwards. Less pain, lighter in my body, and I felt happier – just like I'd had a good workout.
Initially, the founder primarily worked with patient groups who had various challenges, including musculoskeletal disorders, skin and metabolic issues.
– It was a natural place to start since I was a patient myself.
Read Siw's story HERE.
The infrared trend that has taken everyone by storm
Over the years, and especially in the last five years, interest in infrared heat, sauna, and light therapy has exploded, evolving to embrace all possible target groups.
– You have athletes, everything from recreational users to elite athletes, who want more efficient recovery. They integrate infrared sauna as a tool for optimizing their training routine. You have biohacking – here, infrared sauna is one of several important tools to promote health, or those who simply want to live a cleaner life and use the sauna to support the body's natural detoxification system.
– We are seeing a trend, a gradual shift, when it comes to beauty. From focusing solely on the external, there's more emphasis on beauty coming from within. Infrared sauna is used by many as part of their beauty ritual, and it's particularly exciting to see that infrared therapy can lead to increased collagen production in the skin.
Everyone, with few exceptions, can benefit from sauna. Siw is contacted by doctors, physiotherapists, and professionals who use Radiant Health's products in their treatment or refer to infrared sauna.
– More and more people are discovering infrared heat. It's very exciting.
Today, Radiant Health collaborates with nine different health and interest organizations.
Motivated by positive feedback
The founder has many dreams for the future.
– I'm not one to give up easily. The sky is the limit, she smiles, and says that she has held back for many years because she doesn't have the capacity to grow more.
– To grow more, I need to bring in more resources, and not least have a well-functioning system that can withstand the growth. That's a challenge right now.
The drive and motivation to grow even bigger are there, but not in terms of money or prestige. Just today, she spoke with a customer who didn't know what she would have done without an infrared sauna.
– She has fibromyalgia and struggles with muscles and pain, which has improved significantly with IR sauna. When customers tell about life-changing experiences, it gives me drive and motivation. All the positive feedback, it's magic, she says.
– I get a lot of joy from doing what I do – a real kick – when I'm brainstorming or creating something new, whether it's on the drawing board or visual, the communication around it, or content production. I'm involved in absolutely every process.
More red light therapy?
In 2023, Radiant Health launched an infrared sauna blanket with red light, the IR Sauna Blanket LumaRed. I ask if she plans to integrate more red light therapy into her portfolio.
Siw can reveal that she is working on many exciting projects, and is exploring many more markets than just the Nordic ones.
– Time will tell, she concludes, with a sly smile, before pulling her hat down over her ears and disappearing into the cold to pick up her children from kindergarten.
Text: Trine Dahlman
