Science & Research

At Elemental Healing we believe recovery should be grounded in evidence. Below you’ll find an overview of how infrared saunas, cold water immersion and hyperbaric oxygen therapy work and what recent scientific studies say about their benefits and limitations.

Infrared Infrared Sauna Therapy

Infrared Sauna bathing raises your core temperature and provokes a heavy sweat, stimulating cardiovascular and metabolic responses similar to light exercise. Heat triggers protective proteins and nitric oxide pathways that improve vascular function and reduce oxidative stress.

  • Heart health: Combining Infrared Sauna sessions with exercise can lower blood pressure and total cholesterol more than exercise alone. Long‑term Infrared Sauna users show lower rates of heart disease and stroke.
  • Peripheral circulation: Thermal therapies like Waon therapy can reduce pain and improve walking distance in people with peripheral arterial disease and may even promote new blood vessel formation.
  • Mental wellness: Surveys report happier mood, better energy and improved sleep among regular Infrared Sauna users. Small studies suggest relief for chronic pain and stress.
  • Safety: Stay hydrated, limit sessions to 20 minutes and avoid alcohol. Those with unstable heart conditions, acute illness or pregnancy should consult a doctor before using a Infrared Sauna.

Cold Water Immersion (Cold Plunge)

Immersing yourself in cold water for a few minutes causes blood vessels to constrict, slows metabolic activity and activates the autonomic nervous system. Once you warm up, circulation rebounds and stress hormones drop.

  • Recovery: Cold plunges may reduce inflammation and muscle soreness after tough workouts and improve sleep quality when practiced regularly.
  • Mood & stress: Studies report that even brief exposures lift mood, increase alertness and lower cortisol levels, with effects lasting several hours.
  • Precautions: Heart rate and blood pressure spike during the first minute of immersion. Limit sessions to a few minutes, warm up slowly and avoid Cold Plunge if you have cardiovascular or circulation disorders. Hypothermia and frostbite are risks with very cold or prolonged immersion.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

HBOT entails breathing pure oxygen in a sealed chamber at pressures up to 2.5 times atmospheric pressure. This floods the bloodstream with oxygen and sets off cycles of high oxygen and normoxia that stimulate cellular repair – a process known as the hyperoxic–hypoxic paradox.

  • FDA‑approved uses: HBOT is an established therapy for decompression sickness, carbon‑monoxide poisoning, nonhealing diabetic foot ulcers, severe infections, radiation injuries and related conditions.
  • Emerging research: Clinical studies suggest cognitive improvements after traumatic brain injury and symptom relief in veterans with post‑traumatic stress disorder when symptom reduction exceeds roughly 35 %. Preliminary trials in long‑COVID have shown mixed results.
  • Risks & limitations: Possible side effects include ear or sinus discomfort, temporary vision changes and rarely lung barotrauma. HBOT should only be administered at accredited facilities. Use for conditions like Alzheimer’s or autism remains unproven.