Have you heard about Far-Infrared Rays (FIR) technology? If you haven’t heard about it yet, prepare to be amazed! No, it’s not another digital gadget to add to your iPad, phones and tablets collection. Far from it. Now, brace yourself for some science.
What is infrared?
Some of us may remember our physics classes back those days about electromagnetic energy. If you don’t, no worries, here’s a little reviewer. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, electric and magnetic forces can be detected in regions called electric and magnetic fields. These fields are fundamental in nature and can exist in space far from the charge or current that generated them.
A changing magnetic field produces an electric field, as the English physicist Michael Faraday, discovered in his work that now forms the basis of electric power generation. Conversely, a changing electrical field produces a magnetic field, as the Scottish physicist, James Clerk Maxwell discovered.
Maxwell formulated mathematical equations that incorporated light and wave phenomena into what is now known as electromagnetism. He showed that electric and magnetic fields travel together through space as waves of electromagnetic radiation, independent of matter.
Examples of electromagnetic radiation are radio and television waves, microwaves, infrared rays, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays and gamma rays. All of these waves travel at the same speed – which is, the velocity of light (roughly 300,000 kilometres or 186,000 miles per second!). They only differ from each other in the frequency (the number of waves, cycles or vibrations during one unit of time) at which their electric and magnetic waves oscillate.
Electromagnetic energy falls along a spectrum of various wavelengths, some of which are visible to the naked eye, such as the colours of the rainbow. However, there are frequencies along this same spectrum that are NOT visible. Infrared light (infrared energy) is one of these invisible frequencies.
Infrared was discovered in the early 19th century by British astronomer and scientist (also known for his discovery of the planet Uranus), Sir William Herschel. In an experiment to measure the differences in temperature among the colours in the visible spectrum, he discovered that there was an even warmer temperature measurement beyond the red end of the visible spectrum. The term “infrared” is derived from the Latin word infra which means “below”. The colour associated with the longest wavelengths (lowest frequency) of visible light is red. And because infrared has an even longer wavelength and lower frequency than red light, it is referred to as “below-red”, hence, “infrared”.
Within the range of infrared frequencies, there are 3 sub-categories:
Near-Infrared Ray(NIR)
– used in NIR spectroscopy to understand the chemical composition of different media we have on Earth
– used significantly in fiber-optic communication, where information is carried through NIR light rather than through electric cables
– According to the National Cancer Institute in the USA, NIR photoimmunotherapy uses an antibody-photoabsorber conjugate that binds to cancer cells. When Near-Infrared Light is applied, the cells swell and then burst, causing the cancer cell to die. Photoimmunotherapy is in clinical trials in patients with inoperable tumors
Mid-Infrared Ray(MIR)
-helps in the identification of many materials by their characteristic spectra
– used in airport security spectrometers to check for dangerous substances
Far-Infrared Ray(FIR)
– used in healthcare technologies, and this is what we’ll take a closer look at in this article
– in the infrared radiation band, only FIR transfers energy purely in the form of heat.
Amazing facts about Far-Infrared Rays
They are invisible and present in sunlight. Approximately 80% of the sun’s rays fall within the infrared range. Radiation from the Sun, or sunlight, is a mixture of electromagnetic waves that range from infrared (IR) to ultraviolet (UV) rays. It also includes visible light, which is in the middle of IR and UV in the electromagnetic spectrum. High-frequency UV rays can cause sunburn and contribute to cancerous growths on the skin, but the low-frequency far-infrared rays do not damage the skin.
The healing warmth of far-infrared rays (energy) can penetrate deep into the body, up to a depth of 3.5 inches. Therefore, its effect reaches not only the skin, but the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and others, that are all beneath the surface.
Far-infrared rays are responsible for photosynthesis, the process whereby plants harness light energy into chemical energy.
Modern scientific research shows that Far Infrared Rays stimulate body metabolism.
Not only is FIR absorbed by the human body, but it is also emitted by the body. The energy generated by the human body is approximately 50% in the form of far-infrared rays.
Far infrared rays healing has been used in the ancient traditions of China and India, in the form of palm healing. Our palms emit Far Infrared energy, from about 8 to 14 microns.
The military uses night-vision goggles that detect infrared rays generated by the body.
In their study of the non-thermal effects of FIR on human cancer cells (specifically Hep G2 or human liver cancer cell line), Dr. Kikuji Yamashita and his colleagues from the Graduate School of Health and Biosciences at the University of Tokushima, Japan, proved that FIR inhibits the rapid growth of the Hep G2 cells, and thereby serves as a tool against diseases induced by Hep G2.
Delivery of Far Infrared Rays (without the harmful UV rays from the Sun)
According to research done by Fatma Vatansever and Michael R. Hamblin, from the Wellman Centre for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, USA, the human body experiences FIR energy as a gentle radiant heat and is able to penetrate beneath the skin and resonate with cellular frequencies. They also state that there are 3 main techniques for the delivery of FIR radiation, namely: FIR saunas, FIR ray devices and FIR emitting ceramics and fabrics.
FIR Saunas
Vatansever and Hamblin reveal in their study that FIR saunas or cabins are frequently used in Japan where the practice is called “Waon therapy”. This therapy is extensively used not only in Japan but also in Korea, for cardiovascular conditions and diseases, particularly, chronic heart failure. FIR sauna therapy has been used to improve cardia and vascular function and reduce oxidative stress in patients with chronic heart failure. Other health issues that showed significant improvement through FIR saunas were Diabetes Type II, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Reduction of pain, stiffness and fatigue were observed during FIR sauna therapy.
FIR ray devices
The study shows that these devices help in the treatment of allergic rhinitis where the symptoms of eye itching, nasal itching, nasal stuffiness, rhinorrhea and sneezing, as well as smell impairment, were all significantly reduced and improved. FIR ray devices were also found to be a novel treatment to improve access blood flow and unassisted patency of arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis patients. In addition, the devices were found to reduce symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage in athletes after a simulated trail running race.
FIR emitting ceramics and fabrics
All ceramics have the property of emitting infrared radiation depending on their temperature. Small particles (nanoparticles and microparticles) of FIR-emitting ceramic material have been incorporated into fibers that are then woven into fabrics. These fabrics can be manufactured into various garments that can be worn on different parts of the body. Examples of the uses of these materials in which significant improvements were observed are:
Blankets containing FIR-emitting discs for improving the quality of sleep
Single FIR-emitting discs applied to the breasts of women who had difficulty producing sufficient breast milk during lactation
Gloves made out of FIR-emitting fabrics to treat arthritis of the hands and Raynaud’s syndrome
Belts made out of FIR-emitting fabrics for weight reduction, as well as to relieve menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea)
Bioceramic-coated neoprene garment for the treatment of cellulite on the legs
FIR-emitting socks for chronic foot pain in diabetics
Below are more links to scientific studies and clinical trials on the benefits of Far-Infrared Rays (FIR) technology:
As studies on Far Infrared Rays (FIR) technology continue to grow, we can foresee many future applications in the medical field and even in areas like education, music, performing arts, sports and so on. This amazing technology will definitely help a lot of people.
Infrared was discovered in the early 19th century by British astronomer and scientist (also known for his discovery of the planet Uranus), Sir William Herschel. In an experiment to measure the differences in temperature among the colours in the visible spectrum, he discovered that there was an even warmer temperature measurement beyond the red end of the visible spectrum. The term “infrared” is derived from the Latin word infra which means “below”. The colour associated with the longest wavelengths (lowest frequency) of visible light is red. And because infrared has an even longer wavelength and lower frequency than red light, it is referred to as “below-red”, hence, “infrared”.