The interesting answer to that question is that it depends. The traditional sauna is electric, wood or gas-fired. Some say that the presence of steam within a traditional sauna is important to improving sinus and respiratory function. Others think that throwing water on the heater is wrong. They say that the sauna is meant to be a dry heat.

In the real traditional sense the sauna is shared by the community and in most cases is located near an ocean or lake. The traditional sauna is actually Finnish. The traditional sauna is a wooden enclosure and those using it would throw water on the stones, so even today as attitudes change towards what the correct sauna practice is, that does not mean that it has been that way from the beginning.

The traditional sauna preheats anywhere from 140 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This high heat is required for heavy sweating. Both the infrared sauna and the traditional sauna make you sweat. The heat in an infrared sauna is less than that of its traditional counterpart.

I prefer the infrared sauna because the room is not as hot, yet I sweat just as much. The air in the infrared sauna heats to between 110-120F. The intense heat in traditional sauna can be too much for me. So yes I am a wimp when it comes to high heat. As long as I am sweating I feel I am getting the necessary detoxification and cleanse that I seek from using a sauna.

To me which one is better is dependent on which one you are most comfortable in. Both have similar health benefits, such as increased blood circulation and so on. Like anything else there are arguments on both sides. If you want to put a sauna in your home, infrared is the way to go because it is far less expensive in both installation and running costs. Either way saunas are a great tool for health and relaxation.

Paul Hegarty is the owner of All-About-Saunas.com your guide to Saunas

Do the Infrared Sauna Comparison and learn more about the far infrared saunas

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