Safety of Infrared Radiant Energy

By Dr. Aaron M. Flickstein Safety of Infrared Radiant Energy Is Infrared Radiant Heat Safe For Me?

What exactly is radiant heat? No need to worry - - it has nothing to do with either ultraviolet radiation (which gives you a sunburn and damages your skin) or atomic radiation (the kind from a nuclear bomb).

Radiant heat is simply a form of energy that heats objects directly through a process called conversion, without having to heat the air between. Radiant heat is also called infrared energy (IR). The infrared segment of the electromagnetic spectrum is divided into 3 segments by wave length, measured in microns or micrometers (a micron = 1/1,000,000 of a meter):

0.076 - 1.5 microns = near or close infrared
1.5 - 5.6 microns = middle or intermediate infrared
5.6 - 1000 microns = far or longwave infrared

The infrared segment of the electromagnetic spectrum occurs just below or "infra" to red light as the next lowest energy band of light. This band of light is not visible to human eyes but can be seen by special cameras that translate infrared into colors visible to our eyes. We can, however, feel this type of light which we perceive as heat. Our sun produces most of its energy output in the infrared segment of the spectrum. Our atmosphere has a "window" in it that allows IR rays in the 7 - 14 micron range to safely reach the earth's surface. When warmed, the earth radiates infrared rays in the 7 - 14 micron band with its peak output at 10 microns.

According to Dr. Tsu-Tsair Oliver Chi in his summation on the mechanism of action of infrared devices tuned to the human body, these rays are selectively absorbed by the tissues needing a boost in their output. The internal production of infrared energy that normally occurs within our tissues is associated with a variety of healing responses and may require a boost to a maximal level to insure the fullest healing response possible in a tissue under repair. After boosting a tissue's level to maximum, the remaining rays pass onward harmlessly. This phenomenon is called "resonant absorption".

The sun is the principal source of radiant energy that we experience daily. Have you ever been outside on a partly cloudy day of about 50 F [10 C] and felt quite comfortable when suddenly the sun was obscured by a cloud? Although the air temperature had not had time to drop, you felt chilled, as the cloud would not let the warming infrared rays through to reach you.

Our bodies radiate infrared energy out through the skin at 3 - 50 microns, with most of their output at 9.4 microns. Our palms emit infrared energy at between 8 - 14 microns. Palm healing, which has a 3,000 year-old tradition in China, has been based on the healing properties of these natural infrared rays. The Yogis in India also use such palm healing and recommend it especially for relieving eye strain.

Interesting Fact: Infrared is used to warm babies in hospital nurseries.