Therapy mats have become extremely popular in recent years, in part because they are convenient ways to deliver therapy at home and in clinics, without needing to possess a great deal of specialized knowledge. From mats designed to stimulate acupressure points, to mats delivering pulses of electromagnetic energy, healing mats are being utilized more and more. From homes to office settings, to therapy clinics and beyond, therapy mats are immensely popular in wellness spheres.
One of the more popular mats currently on the market is the Far Infrared therapy mat. These mats deliver a specific type of light therapy that can more effectively penetrate the body than other heat methods, and has a strong history of use in sports medicine and other physical exertion arenas. So what exactly is an FIR mat, and how does the Biomat’s FIR technology compare?
Biomat: A History and Evaluation
The Biomat is an FIR therapy delivery system. Biomats are offered in several sizes and at different price points, to accommodate a range of FIR therapy needs and preferences. How did Biomats come to be? Biomat technology has been developed by Richway and Fuji Bio, a company with years in the health and wellness industry. The Biomat was developed in response to the increased interest in creating wellness tools that tackled common healthcare needs and issues, without conventional routes such as medication. The first iteration of the Biomat came on the market in 1997, and in the more than 20 years since, Biomats have increased in popularity, and the scope of the therapy has continued to increase.
What is it that makes Biomats so much greater than their competition? Although FIR therapy devices are all largely comprised of similar basic materials and based on the same technology, Biomat’s approach to delivering FIR therapy utilizes a multi-layered mat that utilizes electromagnetic energy, fabric, and stones to penetrate the body. The multi-layered approach to Biomat’s technology is part of what makes it an ideal FIR therapy source: each player builds on the other to create a mat that delivers FIR therapy without using a specific light source, which allows mats to be rolled up and moved around quickly and easily.
What Is FIR Therapy?
Far Infrared therapy is a type of heat administration that has been used to more effectively apply heat to the body in order to stimulate relaxation responses and soothe pain and inflammation. Far Infrared therapy is a unique type of therapy delivery, as it utilizes a specific type of radiation to deliver heat to the body. Before the term “radiation” raises too many hackles, it is important to remember that radiation (or light) exists on a spectrum, and one end of the spectrum is extremely harmful, while the other is not. FIR radiation falls on the side of the spectrum that is not harmful, providing less light to the body than UVA and UVB rays, which have been linked to harm.
While applying a warm compress is effective in relaxing muscles and promoting healing, heat generated via FIR technology is different from the heat delivered in traditional means, like traditional saunas. FIR saunas deliver heat via light energy, rather than heating the air around a person using a sauna. The difference is substantial, as many consider FIR therapy far more comfortable and enjoyable than traditional warming methods, including warm compresses. With improvements in relaxation in a more comfortable delivery method, FIR is posed to create a truly magnificent change in the therapy industry, and can bring a powerful therapy method to homes and even businesses without a great deal of investment, attention, or effort.
What Does FIR Therapy Treat?
Far Infrared Therapy is not a traditional therapy, the way that physical therapy is a type of therapy, but it has been used in clinics and rehabilitations centers for decades, due to its efficacy rate in alleviating pain and subsequently improving healing times. What exactly does FIR therapy treat in clinical and professional applications? There are three primary conditions that experience a significant from the use of FIR. These include:
- General pain. Pain as a whole responds well to heat, particularly if the pain is a result of tight muscles, spasms, or other issues in the muscles and soft tissue. Far Infrared therapy can be used to successfully minimize pain responses to a post of issues, including sports injuries, surgical injuries, and even simple exercise pain. FIR therapy is an excellent therapy candidate for general pains and aches.
- Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by phantom pain and exhaustion. Pains can be ongoing, presenting in the form of constant, ongoing soreness in the muscles, or may be sharp, stabbing pains found in various areas of the body in unpredictable patterns. There is still much that is not known about fibromyalgia, which can make finding an effective treatment avenue difficult. FIR therapy can help alleviate some of the pain, tenderness, and discomfort associated with a fibromyalgia diagnosis.
- Inflammation has been linked to countless chronic conditions. Treatment for inflammation can be difficult, however, as inflammation is actually a natural, normal, and healthy immune response. It is not until inflammation reaches a chronic (or ongoing) state that it becomes problematic, and necessitates intervention. FIR therapy can offer an ideal form of intervention for inflammation, allowing wounds and other chronic issues to heal more quickly than they would be able to otherwise.
These are the most common uses of FIR therapy, but there are plenty of other uses that have gained traction in recent years. Due the nature of FIR therapy as a source of heat, FIR has also been used to improve circulation and aid in simple cardiovascular issues. Although it is not used as a comprehensive treatment for any one disease or condition, FIR therapy does have a far-reaching range of use, and can be used as a supplementary treatment for numerous ailments ranging from a muscle tear to circulation issues and chronic disease.
Potential Drawbacks to FIR
FIR therapy can be extremely useful for a host of condition, but is not without potential risks and side effects. Because the heat delivered by FIR therapy is delivered via light, it has the potential to penetrate more deeply and involve more systems than heat delivered via a hot water bottle or other heat source. Consequently, people who are actively ill or pregnant should avoid using FIR therapy. Pregnancy can be negatively affected by heat of all types, with many practitioners encouraging pregnant women to avoid hot shower and submersion in hot baths. FIR has the potential to accomplish the same negative effects as hot baths, saunas, and showers, and is therefore best avoided by anyone who might react negatively to a hot submersion bath, shower, or sauna.
FIR does deliver heat via light, which means it does have the ability to administer burns. Although this is certainly not a common effect of FIR therapy, the therapy should be administered properly and while you are alert and aware (or, if using during sleep, while adhering to all company recommendations) to prevent the possibility of sustaining burns or other injuries.
The BioMat: The FIR Difference
Biomats are made by Richway, a company with an established reputation in health and wellness spheres. What sets the Biomat apart from many of its FIR competitors? The construction of the mat itself. Although there are plenty of different ways to generate FIR heat, Biomats utilize a combination of fabric and amethyst crystals to generate FIR heat. This construction provides an FIR field that is pure and effective, without sacrificing materials or cost.
There are numerous therapies on the market that claim to accomplish similar results as the Biomat, which can make selecting a specific type of therapy difficult. Biomat FIR therapy is a great option for anyone who is looking to take advantage of the many healing abilities of Biomats. From joint pain to muscle strain, FIR therapy delivers penetrating warmth without administering an electromagnetic field, and utilizing gemstones that have been linked to decreases in EMF exposure, such as tourmaline. Although many therapies that utilize these technologies have a proven safety record, some people remain suspicious of all technology that utilizes electromagnetic energy or possesses EMFs. Biomat FIR mats can alleviate some of these concerns while providing a powerful therapy that can soothe joint pain, muscle spasms and other soreness, improve circulation, and improve relaxation.
Biomat Options: What Customers Can Expect
Like most therapy mats, Biomats come in different sizes and at different price points to accommodate different needs and budgets. The most inexpensive Biomat product available is the Biomat Mini. This miniature mat is designed for smaller-scale use, and for use with smaller-statured people. The Biomat Mini uses the exact same technology as standard Biomats, but offers that technology in a more compact area. Mini mats can be used to target specific areas of the body, such as the lower back or legs, rather than delivering FIR therapy all over the body. At under $500, this is also the most cost effective Biomat option currently on the market. The Biomat Mini uses alternating rows of amethyst and tourmaline to make sure the number of negative ions being generated approximate the same number of negative ions found in the larger offerings.
The Biomat Professional is the standard Biomat model available on the market right now, and offers a larger surface area from which to experience FIR therapy. The mat is six feet long, and allows you to receive the benefits of FIR therapy all over your body. This mat can be better for people who are looking for a more comprehensive application of Far Infrared therapy. Priced at a higher starting point than the Biomat Mini, the Biomat Professional is created for a single person to use it during each FIR session.
Biomat Single and Biomat Queens are the next step up in Biomat technology, in that they are designed for use during rest, rather than being used as a targeted treatment. Nevertheless, both of these mats adhere to the same strict quality standards set forth for all Biomat models. The single Biomat is designed for use with a single person, while the Queen has two separate sides that can be controlled independently to support the comfort of both people sharing the bed. If the bed is being used by one person, both sides can be used on the same settings for a comprehensive Biomat experience.
Is the Biomat an Effective Healing Tool?
The Biomat can be an extremely effective healing tool for people searching for a safe and effective way to eliminate pain, soothe muscle spasms, easy joint discomfort, and even improve circulation. Although there are other mats currently on the market that possess more intensive therapeutic effects and boast a stronger energy field, FIR therapy certainly has its place in the annals of general health support, and can be of tremendous help to people with ongoing muscle discomfort, soreness, and pain. Although FIR therapy is not designed to take the place of standard medical treatments, it can be a powerful supplemental intervention.
When compared to other FIR therapy mats, the Biomat does come out on top. As an affordable mat with several different options, a larger-than-average treatment surface, and multi-layered FIR therapy technology, Biomats have long been trusted as safe and effective FIR therapy devices, and are likely to provide all of the FIR intervention an individual needs.
Although Infrared saunas have grown in popularity, these devices can be expensive and difficult to store. Biomat’s basic products are malleable and easy to transport, making them an ideal, affordable way to utilize the therapeutic effects of FIR therapy, without the inconvenience and expense of larger, more complicated FIR therapy devices. Biomat products are safe, effective, and affordable and although they do not provide the same in-depth treatment abilities as many other types of healing mats, FIR Biomats can provide an inexpensive and manageable foray into the world of health and wellness mats.