The body’s circulation system sends blood, nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. When blood doesn’t flow properly to one or more parts of the body, poor circulation can develop. Typically, poor circulation affects your legs and arms.
Poor blood circulation can eventually lead to the following:
- Varicose veins
- Memory loss
- Cardiovascular disease
- Blood clots
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Dark under-eye circles
- Vision loss
- Headaches or dizzy spells
- Restricted blood flow to the brain
There are many ways to increase blood circulation, but many people are turning to heat therapy mats to get their blood moving. HealthyLine’s Inframat Pro combines five therapies into one simple gemstone heat therapy mat to not only improve circulation, but improve your overall sense of well-being.
The mat offers:
- Far Infrared (FIR) Therapy
- Hot Stone Therapy
- Negative Ion Therapy
- PEMFT Therapy
- Photon Therapy
Before we talk about the mat, let’s discuss a few important things: SpO2 levels, infrared therapy and negative ions.
What are SpO2 Levels?
SpO2, or blood oxygen saturation, measures the amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in the blood relative to the hemoglobin not carrying blood. In other words, it measures how much oxygen is in your blood.
For the body to function properly, blood oxygen saturation needs to be at a certain level. When levels are too low, you can develop hypoxemia. If it progresses further, hypoxemia (low oxygen in the blood) can develop into hypoxia (low oxygen in the tissue).
There are many ways to measure SpO2 levels, but the most common way is using a pulse oximeter.
Signs and Symptoms of Poor Circulation
When blood circulation is poor, oxygen and other vital nutrients aren’t delivered to all of the body’s organs and cells.
Signs and symptoms of poor circulation include:
- Leg cramps
- Fatigue
- Numbness, cold sensations or tingling in the hands and/or feet
- Calf pain
- Skin discoloration, ulcers or swelling in the legs
- Scratches, sores or cuts that heal unusually slowly
- Loss of appetite
- High blood pressure
- Erectile dysfunction
If you’re the type of person who always has cold hands and feet, there’s a good chance that you have circulation issues. If left untreated, it may develop into something more serious down the road.
But here’s the good news: there are alternative, natural therapies that can help. Negative ions and far infrared waves are two effective, safe options.
What are Negative Ions?
Negative ions are everywhere (even the air we breathe), and they play an important role in wellness. They work by attracting harmful positive ions and pulling them to the floor. As a result, you’re exposed to fewer airborne toxins.
How Can They Help Improve Blood Flow?
Negative ions help improve blood circulation by increasing the oxygen capacity of red blood cells.
Negative ions have also been shown to:
- Improve immune function
- Purify the blood
- Neutralize free radicals
- Rejuvenate cell metabolism
- Balance the automatic nervous system
- Improve oxygen flow to the brain
What is Far Infrared Therapy?
Far infrared (FIR) rays are necessary for all living things on the planet. FIR rays are rays of invisible light that come from the sun. This low energy therapy uses heat generated by waves of energy from the far end of the infrared spectrum.
And while FIR rays come primarily from the sun, they do not damage the skin or increase the risk of skin cancer. This safe and natural alternative therapy is often used to improve blood circulation deep in the tissues and alleviate:
- Arthritis pain
- Muscle pain
- Joint stiffness
- Spasms
FIR waves can penetrate up to three inches deep, producing a gentle heat that can alleviate pain while encouraging blood flow.
How Does FIR Improve Circulation?
FIR therapy boosts circulation because it causes blood vessels to expand.
The expanded blood vessels allow more blood to flow through.
While FIR therapy does induce heat, it doesn’t cause a significant rise in core body temperature or blood pressure. This means that this therapy is safe for people with cardiovascular issues.
The increased blood flow from FIR therapy is similar to regular exercise. Research has shown that some FIR therapies can increase blood flow from a normal rate of 5-7 quarts per minute to as much as 13 quarts per minute.
How To Use Far Infrared Therapy To Help With Poor Blood Circulation
There are many ways to use FIR therapy to improve blood circulation. Infrared saunas are one way, but they tend to be expensive and inconvenient (you have to make an appointment and travel there).
HealthyLine’s Inframat Pro (and their energy duvets) allows you to enjoy FIR therapy right from the comfort of your own home.
FIR mats can be heated to 140-158F for a deep, sauna-like effect.
HealthyLine’s mats come with controllers that allow you to adjust temperature ranges:
- 35-40C: Overnight use or for people who are sensitive to heat.
- 45-55C: Ideal for cycles of 2 hours or more. Allows for temporary blood flow increase.
- 55-65C: Ideal for cycles of 30-90 minutes. May alleviate tension and anxiety while improving circulation.
- 65-70C: Ideal for cycles of 30-60 minutes. Provides a sauna-level detoxification and circulation improvement.
Mats come in a wide range of sizes, and they include precious gemstones, including: amethyst, jade and tourmaline to boost the effects of FIR and negative ions on blood circulation. Jade and tourmaline are especially effective conductors of FIR and negative ions.
The Inframat Pro has up to 21 layers, each carry out a specific function.
The synthetic leather exterior makes it easy to keep the mat clean, while thermal insulation keeps heat from transferring to the surface the mat is lying on. There’s also a glass fiber layer to deflect electromagnetic waves away from the user and an electric discharge layer to improve the output of negative ions. There’s even a heat monitor to prevent overheating.
The Inframat Pro also offers some other therapies that can further help improve blood circulation and offer other health benefits.
- Photon Therapy: Uses light particles to correct bio-magnetic imbalances and reduce blockages in the body’s systems. Photon therapy has long been used to alleviate pain and inflammation.
- PEMF Therapy: Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy applies magnetic fields of a particular frequency to the body to restore the body’s natural biorhythms.
- Hot Stone Therapy: Just like a visit to a massage therapist. Heated stones increase blood circulation and help relax muscles.
All of these therapies, when combined, can help improve circulation as well as: insomnia, headaches, chronic fatigue, arthritis, fibromyalgia, breathing ailments and more. Regular use of the mat may help improve overall wellness and a sense of well-being.
While most people can benefit from the Inframat Pro, there are certain people who shouldn’t use it due to certain medical conditions.
These include:
- Pregnancy
- Bypass surgery
- Varicose veins
- Pacemakers
- Open wounds or thin skin
- Use of blood thinners
- Conditions that require the use of muscle relaxers
- Temperature sensitivity or decreased skin integrity
If you’re thinking about using the Inframat Pro but you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor first. Your doctor will tell you whether it’s safe to use the mat. You may be able to find another HealthyLine product to use if the mat isn’t a safe option.
HealthyLine also has an infrared blanket, which can also be used as a traditional infrared heating mat. The blanket includes jade, amethyst and tourmaline, which enhance blood flow and negative ion output. The blanket is softer than the traditional mat, so it can be used on top of your mattress.
HealthyLine actually offers a wide range of products that use FIR and negative ions to help improve blood circulation – and offer other health benefits.
The benefit to going this route versus a sauna is that you can use the mat anytime and anywhere. The mats are portable (although a bit heavy because of the gemstones), and they can be used on just about any surface.
