Benefits of Sauna Blankets + Heat Healer Review

Heather Dessinger

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Heat Healer sauna blanket wrapped around Heather

If you want to experience the benefits of sauna therapy at home but don’t have room for a large sit-in sauna, you might be wondering if sauna blankets are really the space-saving, budget-friendly solution they seem to be.

As someone who absolutely loves my daily sauna sessions and didn’t want to completely miss them during an extended road trip, I decided to buy one and find out. That wasn’t my only reason, though – I’m testing products for future gift guides and I wanted to know if sauna blankets are truly worth making the list.

Spoiler alert: They’re perfect for people who want a portable, compact, more affordable way to get a deep, therapeutic sweat going.

In this article I’ll cover the benefits of infrared heat, how to use a sauna blanket, and why I chose Heat Healer.

Infrared sauna blanket with cotton liner on bed

What is an infrared sauna blanket?

Sauna blankets are designed to fold around you like a sleeping bag while they generate far infrared wavelengths. They typically come with a control unit that allows you to choose the temperature and session time that works best for you.

Far infrared wavelengths are part of the sun’s invisible spectrum. They’re technically considered light wavelength but instead of seeing them we experience them as heat.

Infrared heat has long been used to keep babies warm in the NICU, and our bodies radiate it naturally. (1) In a therapeutic setting it’s considered highly beneficial due to its ability to penetrate deeply into tissues and induce a detoxifying sweat.

What are the health benefits of infrared sauna therapy?

While I’m not aware of any studies done with sauna blankets specifically, there’s a lot of research available about how our bodies respond to infrared heat in general. This article dives into the benefits in more detail, but here’s a quick overview:

1. Detox support

Skin is one of our bodies five main detox pathways, and according to this study many toxic substances appear to be “preferentially excreted through sweat.”

When we sweat, our bodies are able to excrete “hard to remove” compounds like xenobiotics (BPA, PCB’s, phthalates, DDT metabolites, dioxin, etc.) and heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury. (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Exercise is an excellent way to get a good sweat going, as is sauna bathing.

2. Supports Blood Flow & Metabolism

Sauna therapy is sometimes called passive cardio because it raises your heart rate in a way that is similar to exercise, or as this Harvard article puts it, “the high temperatures can drive heart rates to levels often achieved by moderate-intensity physical exercise.”

The elevation in heart rate causes an increase in blood circulation, which in turn facilitates the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to our organs, muscles and tissues. When our bodies work to cool off during a session it also temporarily increases our metabolic rate – in other words, it burns calories.

While I still incorporate daily exercise because it has other benefits like building muscle, I love that I can nourish my organs with oxygen-rich blood and burn calories while laying down and watching a TV show.

3. Eases Muscle Soreness

Infrared heat penetrates into sore muscles and joints, increasing the flow of nutrients (glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, and oxygen) to the area while carrying away lactic acid and other metabolic byproducts.

4. Supports Collagen & Elastin Formation

In this study, far infrared wavelengths supported the production of collagen and elastin. Collagen is the main protein that contributes to skin suppleness, while elastin is the main protein that contributes to elasticity. (8)

5. Stress Relief

Sauna therapy is thought to have a balancing effect on the production of cortisol, aka the “stress hormone,” and it also stimulates the release of “feel good” endorphins and neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. (9) (10)

6. Deeper Sleep

According to this study, sauna bathing increases slow wave sleep, which is commonly referred to as deep sleep.

How To Use A Sauna Blanket

Unlike my walk-in infrared sauna which required the help of an electrician to install, setting up my Heat Healer sauna was super simple. Here’s the basic process:

  1. Lay the sauna blanket flat on your bed, couch, yoga mat or carpet. Comfy, insulated surfaces help hold the heat in place so they’re recommended over hard floors.
  2. Lay a towel inside the blanket to absorb sweat during your session. If you buy the optional cotton body wrap, lay it on top of the towel for extra comfort. Place two smaller towels near the opening. One goes under your neck to absorb sweat and the other goes on top to help hold in heat by the opening – you can also use the top towel to dab sweat away from your face.
  3. Plug the sauna blanket in and set it your desired temperature and session time. Let it heat up for about 15 minutes
  4. While it’s warming up, put on loose cotton clothes from top to toe. You need to wear socks but gloves are not needed.
  5. Hydration is super important, so pour yourself a large glass of water and grab anything else you might want during your session – a phone to listen to podcasts, your TV remote, etc.
  6. Enter the sauna blanket from the top and wriggle your way down until you’re comfy. Entering this way allows the sauna blanket to retain more of the heat that has been generated during warm-up.
  7. Enjoy your session for up to 60 minutes. Always listen to your body and feel free to end a session early if needed. More is not always better, and if you haven’t been sauna bathing regularly you may need to start small and slowly increase your session time.
  8. Take a shower to rinse away all the stuff you just eliminated via sweat.
  9. Wipe down your sauna blanket. Allow it to completely cool before folding it up to put away. It should only take about 15 minutes.

Here’s a video from Heat Healer which shows the process from beginning to end. Your instructions might be slightly different if you choose a different brand, but the general idea will be the same:

Why I chose Heat Healer

Made with light weight, durable amide fabric – which is the same material used in an astronaut’s spacesuit – Heat Healer creates a luxurious sauna experiences with its spacious, low-EMF design and even heat distribution. Here’s what won me over:

Jade + Tourmaline for Even Heat

When a local friend of mine tried another popular sauna blanket brand, she found that the blanket didn’t heat evenly and she had to shift around during her session to avoid zones that felt uncomfortably hot. It was an older generation model so maybe that issue has been worked out now, but even heating was one thing I looked for in customer reviews.

Heat Healer is made with a carbon fiber heating element that produces infrared heat in the range of 6-14 microns. It also contains 96 smooth jade and tourmaline stones that are arranged to evenly absorb and release infrared heat.

Low EMF

I have tested a lot of products that are claimed to be low-emf. Some are . . . some, not so much. When my Heat Healer arrived, I grabbed my trusty EMF meter and took a baseline measurement of my bedroom. Most areas have some level of background EMF, so I needed to get that number before I turned the Heat Healer on and measured the increase.

The baseline was hovering between 0.03 – 0.04, and when I placed the EMF meter on the pre-heated blanket that reading changed to . . . nothing, it didn’t change at all.

After a quick jump while it recalibrated after moving, it returned 0.03 – 0.04 milligauss. In other words, the Heat Healer did not produce any measurable increase in EMF reading.

I have repeated this experiment several times in different ways. In one series I measured the readings in a specific spot and then laid the Heat Healer in the same spot. The readings usually went down when the meter was placed directly on the Heat Healer, but sometimes they went up VERY slightly, most likely due to fluctuations in overall EMFs in the room.

Bottom line: My readings showed my sauna blanket to be either ultra low EMF or zero EMF. When I tried this experiment with another popular brand, the readings increased by 0.49 milligauss. That’s still pretty good but significantly more than the Heat Healer.

Temperature Range

Sauna bathers can set the temperature anywhere from 86-176 degrees fahrenheit. I usually set mine at one 158F, which is the max my large sauna can reach.

If I don’t have a lot of time for self care on a particular day, I’ll set the temperature higher so that I can get a deep sweat going quickly and shorten my session time. Heat Healer doesn’t recommend that beginners exceed 158F°, though, and I agree. I’ve been sauna bathing several times per week for many years and I’m very heat adapted, but 158F° is plenty hot and still my preferred temperature zone.

Overall Design & Materials

Heat Healer is a little longer and wider than most blankets – 75 inches long and about 69 inches in circumference during use. The company says it can fit individuals up to 6’6″ and 300 pounds, but I was skeptical when I first unfolded it so I asked my 6’2″ husband to climb in. It fits him comfortably while also fitting me without feeling too big. 

I also like that the top flap is extra wide because it adds a bit of a calming “weighted blanket” sensation during my sessions.

The materials are high quality, too. It’s made with amide fabric, independently tested by the renowned Swiss certification organization, Société Générale de Surveillance, against over 197 common toxic substances. Other sauna blanket manufacturers often use polyurethane “leather,” which may offgas the solvents and glues when heated.

They also use certified non-toxic, medical grade PVC to make the exterior waterproof for easy cleaning.

Generous Warranty

Most sauna blankets come with a 1 year warranty at best, but Heat Healer blankets come with a THREE year warranty.

Partially unfolded sauna blanket on bed with smooth jade and tourmaline stones visible.

How To Save 20% On A Heat Healer Infrared Sauna Blanket

It’s easy – just click here and use code MP20 for 20% off!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should not use a sauna blanket?

According to the company, “Do not use the Heat Healer if you are pregnant, under the age of 16 or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, make sure to check with your doctor first before using the Heat Healer.

Always read the Health and Safety Precautions and User Manual before using the Heat Healer.”

How often can I do a session?

Sauna blankets can be used daily, but I usually skip a session or two each week (either in my big sauna or using this blanket) due to my schedule.

Are you familiar with adaptogens?

Adaptogens are one of the most beneficial types of herbs for stressed, tired moms, but there’s a lot of uncertainty about what’s safe for pregnancy and nursing. I’ve created a free ebook for you – The Beginner’s Guide to Adaptogens – as a gift for signing up for my newsletter. 

I researched ten different herbs in the Botanical Safety Handbook and wrote several herb profiles that include benefits, safety info, and recommendations from an expert (ethnobotanist) on how to take them. As a subscriber, you’ll also get updates when I post new recipes and research, exclusive sales and coupons on my favorite products.

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Sources

  1. World Health Organization. Medical Devices: Radiant Infant Warming Unit
  2. Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D. Sauna Use And Building Resilience to Stress)
  3. Sears, Margaret E. (2012) Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury in Sweat: A Systematic Review
  4. J R Cohn and E A Emmett (1978) The excretion of trace metals in human sweat
  5. Genuis, Stephen J. et. al. (2012) Human Excretion of Bisphenol A: Blood, Urine, and Sweat (BUS) Study
  6. Crinnion, Walter (2007) Components of practical clinical detox programs–sauna as a therapeutic tool
  7. Richard D Lennox and Marie Cecchini-Sternquist (2018) Safety and tolerability of sauna detoxification for the protracted withdrawal symptoms of substance abuse
  8. Wunsch, Alexander et. al. (2014) A controlled trial to determine the efficacy of red and near-infrared light treatment in patient satisfaction, reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, skin roughness, and intradermal collagen density increase
  9. Geddes, Linda (2011) Saunas could heal your mood and your heart
  10. Kilpi, Eero (2015) Health Benefits of Sauna

Related Posts

About HEATHER

Heather is a holistic health educator, herbalist, DIYer, Lyme and mold warrior. Since founding Mommypotamus.com in 2009, Heather has been taking complicated health research and making it easy to understand. She shares tested natural recipes and herbal remedies with millions of naturally minded mamas around the world. 

Leave a Comment

30 thoughts on “Benefits of Sauna Blankets + Heat Healer Review”

    • Hey Michelle, when you go to the checkout page you will have the option to enter my code. It will swap it out for the one that is automatically applied and you’ll get the better discount. Hope that helps!

      Reply
        • Hi Caitlin, I just double checked and it’s working for me. If you add the sauna blanket to your cart Heat Healer will automatically apply their fall sale code to your cart, but when you go to the checkout page you should be able to enter my code (MP20) for a deeper discount. If that doesn’t work please let me know!

          Reply
      • I got the code to work! Crossed fingers all arrives well! I big purchase for this single momma who was trying to find a way to fit a sauna in a tiny Wisconsin place. I may end up living in this item until summer begins in June….check back after hibernation is over 😉

        Reply
  1. WOW! I just used your discount code to order my Heat healer blanket. Twice, the order form said my credit card was declined. (I redid the order when the first decline came through as I knew I had the credit) I KNOW my credit was good, so went online to my bank and there were 6 SIX charges for the heat healer!!!! Plus, there is no “actual sale” as my credit card was “declined”…so now what do I do? I contacted the company and told them what I have told you here, but now what?

    Reply
    • Hi Carol, this sounds like an issue with the payment processor rather than Heat Healer. I would contact your credit card company and ask them to troubleshoot. So sorry this happened. I’ve had it happen to me to and it had nothing to do with my accounts or anything – it was just a glitch that needed to be resolved on the processor’s end.

      Reply
      • My bank is saying that this company is possibly fraudulent, so they are declining it. They say that because there are some letters in front of the Heat Healers that is an indication of a fraudulent company. While I was on the phone talking to her, she was perusing the website and said it DIDN’T LOOK FRAUDULENT TO HER, although the 7 pending charges for the amount was suspect. She is going to unblock my card and I’m going to try again. Clearly, you have purchased through this website, and I trust your judgement regarding your blog posts. I did click on your link, and entered the discount code you gave, everything seemed fine except the 7 pending charges to my card, when I only attempted to put through the order 3-4 times.
        My bank is just trying to avoid having to pay out then refund back for a company that is not a valid one.
        I did contact Heat Healer and they responded quickly saying that my card was NOT charged and that no order from me went through.

        Off topic: did you ever do a post on healthy beds? I’m thinking of buying a twin bed but don’t want one that offgasses nasty stuff…
        Thank you Heather, we’ll get this figured out!

        Reply
        • That’s so weird, they’re definitely a real company with a really good product. On a personal note, I had to call my card company every week for awhile when trying to buy groceries because they thought the charge was fraudulent. It was SO WEIRD because I’d been buying groceries there for years and it totally fit my normal pattern. Anyway, sometimes their algorithms are just wonky and the multiple incomplete charges also sounds like an issue on their end.

          I have reviewed a couple of bed brands and am planning to purchase a couple more to test out and review in the future. You can find my current reviews here and here.

          Reply
          • last night about 10 pm I was FINALLY able to put through a successful order!!! YAY! I’m so glad to finally be able to have FIR therapy now. There is no place in the large metro area that is close by me that has it…odd, since we do have several day spas… I have been wanting to do FIR therapy for such a long time.
            Thank you for finding this product. I really hope it works as expected.
            And THANK YOU for the coupon. I’m retired now, so every little bit helps!

  2. Ok everyone! I received my heat healer in the mail yesterday and just finished my first sauna now (I’m still in the bag) and it’s PHENOMENAL! It arrived much quicker than expected, plenty of tracking information and easy peasy to use. THIS is the invention that I need in my life! I’m a single mom working her way up in abundance, living in a beautiful tiny one bedroom flat with my daughter with very cold Wisconsin winters. I’ve racked my brain over trying to find a way to get even the tent version to work in my space but it just wouldn’t work. Not only is this unit a great size—it’s PORTABLE and AFFORDABLE as I’m trying to save enough to buy a bigger space. I have a massive tool in my belt in surviving this winter head on. Highly recommend!!!

    Reply
  3. Do you have any idea how much this weighs? I was wanting to get one for travel but I would like to know how much it would weigh in my suitcase?
    Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Hi Heather! I was curious what your thoughts are on using the Heat Healer if you also use a red light therapy device. Thank you for your work!

    Reply
  5. Hello Heather,
    1st off, thank you for all of your dedication and information you have provided over the years — You have been instrumental in my Motherhood over the past decade and an invaluable source for my family.
    I was so excited to see this Heat Healer sauna, as I cannot afford other pricier sauna options out there at this time. I was just about to get in on the Black Fri sale and then noticed in your review that you list certified non-toxic, medical grade PVC as a material. I am not an expert, but I don’t think there is a PVC that is non-toxic so I am now hesitant in ordering one. I cant afford to bring any off-gassing materials into my home. Did yours have an odor? How is the PVC toxic free?

    Reply
  6. While I understand that this sauna blanket is low EMF, what is the electric field rating? Are electric fields the same or different from electro-magnetic fields? Any information about this?

    Grateful that this sauna blanket does not off-gas!

    Reply
    • I just received this Heat Healer “sauna” blanket. Even with the heat setting turned all the way up to 174F, warmed up for at least 20 minutes, I feel pleasantly warm but not hot, yet with no sweat. Even after an hour of cocooning within it. I am accustomed to traditional saunas and infrared saunas, and normally with this temperature I would be drenched and uncomfortable. However this one is not heating up properly. I am in touch with Heat Healer support and have applied their advice, which includes hydrating, warming up the device, making sure it is plugged in properly. Maybe I will have to send it back because it is not working according to my expectations. It is behaving more like a fancy electric blanket rather than a “sauna” blanket. Maybe this particular unit is malfunctioning.

      Anyone else have this experience with this device?

      My face is not even flushed. No sweat on my face as seen in Heather’s photo above. Disappointed.

      Reply
      • I’m so sorry to hear that! I’m very heat adapted (regular, almost daily sauna use for many years now) and the Heat Healer is plenty hot for me. It does sound like something’s not right if you can stay in yours at that temp setting for an hour. Hopefully they can help you troubleshoot or send a replacement if needed. If there’s anything I can do to help feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]

        Reply
  7. Hi Heather. I just wanted to clear a few things up about using the Heat healer:
    I know you are supposed to drink extra water if using such things. I just wondered HOW much more? I have to drink about 100oz of water because of diabetes and pretty severe dehydration, so should I add another 33 oz? Or just ‘wing it’?
    Also, although I guess this is answered in the post: Showering after: just rinse off or a deep shower, maybe using bentonite clay to rinse off the toxins?
    Just want to make sure I do it right.
    I just got mine and am really looking forward to using it…@ 158* for 15 minutes for the first time.

    Reply
    • Hi Carol, I hope you love it! Unfortunately because I am not a healthcare provider I can’t answer your first question. Please check with your doctor about how much additional water would be needed.

      Regarding showering, I rely on water to rinse away the water-soluble toxins and soap to rinse away the fat-soluble ones. 🙂

      Reply
  8. I saw somewhere in one of these articles that you take it when you travel(if I remember correctly) and use a dry brush or lymphatic brush took but I can’t find the that specific info again. Can you share with me again? Is this the blanket you travel with and what lymphatic tool do you use? TY

    Reply
  9. I’m curious about what another poster asked that hadn’t been answered- I noticed in your review that you list certified non-toxic, medical grade PVC, but how is PVC non-toxic? And does the outside of it (that has the PVC) heat up as well, or is it cool to the touch on the outside?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Lina, the PVC material they use has been tested against RoHS and SGS standards for toxicity – they sent me the report to review.

      SGS (https://www.sgs.com/) is the gold standard and measures against over 197 ‘potential substances of concern’.

      According to Heat Healer the PVC is necessary because it ensures the sauna blanket remains waterproof while also maintaining flexibility and heat resistance.

      Reply
  10. I must say, my first session with the Heat Healer was less than I expected. I followed the instructions carefully.
    First, the controls and the plug-in are at the bottom, so you can’t see the time or temperature at all.

    Nothing was mentioned that the HH won’t begin heating until the start button is pushed, so you need to add in the **estimated** time to get to the temperature you want. (You have to guess this time)

    There is nothing to indicate your ‘session’ is over, so there is no way to know if you’re done unless you get out and check the time.

    Those are the issues I found with the HH itself.

    Next, I started at 158* for 15 minutes, but added another 5 for heating up…probably not enough time to get to that temp., but anyway.

    The temperature never got that hot at all…I tend to be a “sweat-er”, but barely got hot at all. By the time I felt that the heat was dissipating, checked to see that the time was at 0, I had maybe the essence of moisture, but that was it.
    I’m kind of disappointed, but I’ll try it again in a couple of days. I will give I time, but if things don’t improve lot, I will be very disappointed.

    I bought HH for both of my daughters, who have many health issues. One can’t use it at all due to her not being able to regulate her body temperature at all…she is VERY uncomfortable in it…
    Not sure if my other daughter used it as yet, she hasn’t contacted me to let me know how it went.

    Reply
    • Hi Carol, I’m sorry you were disappointed with your first session. Here are a few things I’ve found helpful.

      I warm up the HH and then reset the timer to my desired time when I get in. No guessing that way. 🙂

      If you are very heat tolerant, try preheating the blanket for longer than 15 minutes. You can also take a shower and/or bath before getting in to get a sweat going more quickly.

      Reply