This invention relates to a therapeutic device for treating a human or animal body, comprising an array of infrared-emitting elements in an attachment means for attaching to the body part to be treated, said infrared-emitting elements being in the form of sintered ceramic plates and made from a mixture of infrared-emitting oxides having specific spectral luminance covering at least a part of the 3-7 micrometer wavelength spectrum and having a peak wavelength between 3 and 7 micrometers, that provides an effective means to healing the body. A locally administrable heating means may be used for escalated healing effects.