Figure 1.

Effects of far-infrared therapy. Far-infrared (FIR) rays enable multiple energy transfer as deep as 2–3 cm into subcutaneous tissue without irritating or overheating the skin and then accelerate blood flow, leading to an increase in shear stress, followed by an increase in endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity and nitric oxide production. Moreover, FIR or shear stress can regulate the expression of some circulating miRNAs in endothelial cells. Consequently, FIR therapy improves the symptoms of chronic diseases (e.g. cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease). (A color version of this figure is available in the online journal.)