Verified Claims
- Predicate devices include TDP-lamps, for which the FDA has allowed the following
indications: "... is an infrared lamp that emits the infrared spectrum to provide
topical heating for the purpose of elevating tissue temperature, to temporarily
increase local blood circulation, and to temporarily relieve minor muscle and
joint pain and stiffness. The lamps may also help to relieve minor pain associated
with muscle spasms, minor sprains and strains, and minor muscular back pain."
Specifications include total emission power of less than or equal to 250W, with an
emission wavelength of between 2 to 50 microns [2,000nm to 50,000nm].
The emission element uses "a rare earth ceramic plate." The intended application
is to apply this power by direct radiation to a local portion of the patient's
body.
FDA - K052063
- Another predicate device is the "CHUNG CHENG Far Infrared Ray healthful Lamp
(or Medical FIR Radiator) Model #CH-8810" which has an emission wavelength range of
between 4 to 14 microns [4,000 to 14,000nm] at a power of 800W,
using a "ceramic semiconductor" emission element. The FDA has allowed a similar list of indications, specifically:
"for the temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain and stiffness, the temporary
relief of joint pain associated with arthritis, the temporary increase in local
circulation where applied, and relaxation of muscles. In addition, the lamp may also
help muscle spasms, minor sprains and strains, and minor muscular back pain."
The intended application is to apply this power by direct radiation to a local
portion of the patient's body. [Dr. Weyrich notes that the range 4,000 to 14,000nm
is actually "middle IR" and not "far IR" - see below.
FDA - K053376
- Your health care provider can discuss other possible benefits of devices such as the above, but such usage is considered "off label" and as such cannot be promoted to the public. However, Dr. Weyrich can discuss the physics of such devices (warning - this is technical!)
- The Relax Sauna uses two FIR radiators similar to the above, with a total power of 1600 W that are arranged is such a manner that the radiant power is not directly applied to a localized portion of the patient's body, but is indirectly diffusively applied via multiple reflections from the inside walls of the sauna "tent."
- As an example, Dr. Weyrich estimates his total body surface area to be 2m2 or 20,000cm2.
Surface Area Calculator
if 1,600W of power were to be indirectly distributed equally over all of Dr. Weyrich's
skin using a "tent" that reflects far-IR radiation, this
would be 1600/20000 Watts per square centimeter, or 0.08W/cm2, which is 80mW/cm2
(or 40mW/cm2 if operated at half-power). These values are estimates - they may be
lower because energy transfer is less than 100% efficient, and may be locally higher
due to unequal distribution of the power.
- In comparison, a 250W TDP lamp similar to the one described above claims a local
intensity of between 28 to 34mW/cm2 over the affected skin area when using a treatment
distance range between 12 and 18 inches.
FDA - CQ222
- To put this into perspective, "at zenith, sunlight provides an irradiance of just over
1KW per square meter at sea-level. Of this energy, 527W is infrared
radiation, 445W is visible light, and 32W is ultraviolet radiation."
Wikipedia
Focusing on the infrared light energy from the sun, this can be converted to mW/cm&>2
as follows: 527W/m2 * 1000mW/W / (10,000cm2/m2)
= 53mW/cm2 which is similar to
the power emitted by the IR sauna and TDP lamps discussed above. The difference is
that unlike the sun, there is no ultraviolet light that can cause sunburn.
- How is Far-IR different from other forms of Infra-Red heating? The answer is in the
wavelength of the infra-red rays. All infra-red rays consist of electromagnetic
radiation that is subject to the laws of quantum physics. All electromagnetic
radiation can be described using what is called the wave-particle duality. It is
easiest to discuss this point of quantum physics if we focus on a phenomena we can
actually see - visible light. All light waves have a wavelength - and the different
wavelengths of light appear to us as different colors. Radio waves also are
electromagnetic energy, and appear to us as different spots on the radio dial.
YouTube
is an easy to understand introduction.
For example, the AM radio signals have a wavelength of between 188 to 556 meters
YouTube
Visible light has much shorter wavelengths than radio
YouTube
Wavelengths of the color spectrum range from approximately 380nm (violet)
to 700nm (red)
NASA.
Infra-red (IR) light has a longer wavelength than visible red light, but
shorter than microwaves or radio waves. According to Britannica,
The infrared range is usually divided into three regions:
near infrared (nearest the visible spectrum), has wavelengths between about
0.78 to about 780nm to 2500nm;
middle infrared, with wavelengths 2500nm to about 50,000nm;
and far infrared, with wavelengths 50,000 to 1,000,000nm = 1mm;
longer than 1mm is called "microwave".
Britannica
- According to quantum physics, different wavelengths of "light" interact with the
chemical world (and your body!) differently. Ultraviolet light tends to
cause electrons to move and chemical bonds to break, and therefore can promote
chemical reactions (including sunburn). Infrared light does not normally have
enough energy in each photon (quanta) to break chemical bonds, but does tend
to cause molecular bonds to "vibrate" in different ways, depending on the
particular wavelength of the light.
UCD
- Thus, it is reasonable to expect that different wavelengths of infrared light will have different physiological effects on the body, in particular effects on the properties of water, which normally makes up more than 50% of a person's body weight.
- Much more can be said on the subject of how different wavelengths of light can affect a person's physiology, but I would not want to be found to be making "unapproved health claims."
Unverified Claims
- TDP Lamp CQ222 - FDA Approved Therapeutic Heat Lamp
CQ222
- Reduces inflammation caused by sprains and strains
- Reduces dermatitis
- Reduces eczema
- Improving metabolism
- Strengthening immune system through the two aforementioned benefits above