A composition and a method for increasing intracellular nitric oxide is provided. The composition comprises a far-infrared ray releasing substance composed mainly of an oxide mineral for releasing a far-infrared ray, wherein the composition promotes generation of the nitric oxide via irradiation of the far-infrared ray from the far-infrared ray releasing substance. In another aspect, the method comprises setting an effective amount of a far-infrared ray releasing substance in a place close to a cell with an appropriate distance, and incubating the far-infrared ray releasing substance with the cell for a specific period, wherein the appropriate distance lies in an irradiation range of the far-infrared ray releasing substance.