There seems to be a lot of hype about the benefits of taking ice baths and cold showers. The interest has been generated by the amazing world records of Wim Hof AKA the Iceman: a super fit man from the Netherlands. I looked into his method and watched his videos, but I also wanted to research from other sources as I thought surely this cannot be a new thing.
According to the ancient Egyptian medical text Edwin Smith Papyrus, cold water therapy has been around since 3500 BC for therapeutic purposes. It was also used by the ancient Greeks in the fourth century BC for relaxation and socialisation. It was also used to treat fever in Roman times and in the early twentieth century, research was conducted into the effects of cold-water therapy on hypertension.
In more modern times, a lot of the research tends to be focussed more on recovery from sports fatigue and muscle injuries. To really gain benefits, it seems that it is necessary to go Full Monty and spend periods of time immersed in either cold water or an ice bath. At the moment, I don’t have the luxury of either of those, so I am taking baby steps and just starting with cold showers. I haven’t had a hot shower or even a warm shower for weeks, so I hope to get a cheaper power bill next month.
The benefits that I have been getting are noticeable but very different from what has been mentioned in the literature that I have been reading. My reaction to the cold water has changed immensely. Of course, it would make me shiver, but now I am enjoying it. I feel that it is invigorating, and it seems to not only make me feel fresh but also energize me. I think the greatest benefit is how it helps me with my sleep. I think it helps me through my body’s temperature regulation. I tend to feel hot before I sleep and then wake up in the middle of the night feeling cold. I think I still get cold in the middle of the night, but it doesn’t bother me at all.
I am thinking about taking the next step and doing ice baths, but I don’t want to rush into it. I also recommend that if anyone is thinking about cold therapy to make sure that you are fit enough to do it by asking your GP for his advice. I think there is a fine line between being invigorated and hypothermia. Let me know how you go in the comments and I will also monitor any other benefits that I receive from my endeavours.
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