Cold Showers - The Ultimate Cure?

[runningbird]

I am learning so much about the health benefits of cold showers. This one doctor lists a myriad of conditions that they can help with: A Doctor’s View on Cold Showers « Cold Showers. I'm also surprised at this info on the hazards of hot showers: Hot Showers Release Toxic Chemicals « Cold Showers.

I've been ending my showers with cold water for about a year now, but I am still pretty well addicted to hot water. I do find, however, that I feel "icky" if I just take a plain hot shower. Anyone else here take cold showers?

[Gabo]

Wow, this is a really cool insight!
I always assumed hot showers would be better at killing germs and bacteria.
I enjoy cold (or at least cool) showers, so I'll try to stick to them now!

[ginkgo]

I take cold showers when the weather is warm. This is common knowledge about the hot water having more toxins in it. I use a water purifier, but if you use tap water for tea, get the water cold and then heat it up for this very reason. I had read that years ago. It takes a minute or 2 for your body to get used to the cold water.

Also on a site with advice for teen girls and cutting, it tells how cold showers are a good alternative to cutting. It has a link to a red belt karate master, Gogen Yamaguchi (The Cat) taking a cold shower under a water falls for personal growth and self mastery.

[Hyperchiller]

I got a cold from doing this during winter. So I'd say start in Summer and ease into it during winter.

If you do it in the morning - it's the ultimate waker-uperer.

[Beuford]

It's winter where I live now. Not painful winter like it is in some places. It is usually only "I'd be a bit more comfortable if I turned on the heater" not "It is freezing I'll turn on the heater". But still, I have my showers right up hot recently and I've having dried up skin on the face isn't nice and it starts to happen about 5-10 minutes after the shower. So now, I still have the really hot shower, but for only about a minute or two then I turn it down as far as I feel necessary then I turn it on cold and just rinse my face for about a minute. Not as dry now.

[runningbird]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

I take cold showers when the weather is warm. This is common knowledge about the hot water having more toxins in it. I use a water purifier, but if you use tap water for tea, get the water cold and then heat it up for this very reason. I had read that years ago. It takes a minute or 2 for your body to get used to the cold water.

I believe the effect described is different than the danger of drinking hot tap water. Hot tap water can have trace amounts of lead or other elements from the pipe. However with a hot shower, it is not that the water has more chlorine than a cold shower, but way more gets into your system because you inhale far more vapors.

As an alternative to cutting - the endorphin rush is probably similar. One thing that slightly disappoints me is that I don't seem to get as much of an endorphin rush as I used to. It's still significant though, and it is summer, so the water is a little warmer.

[Aware]

I don't enjoy hot showers anymore, in the last couple of months I have been having cooler showers and the temp that is is usually left at in the gym(what i would have used before) now feels way too hot for me, I always turn it down and at the end I try to go quite cool with the temperature. I like cool showers. Yes, I do feel some what "icky" if I have a hot shower all by itself. I will read the link you posted but I think hot showers can be ok too, I just don't like 'em.

[andrew112]

I used to take ice cold showers. When I say ice cold showers, I am talking about turning the temperature gauge all the way down past the cold end so that it does not go any further. I used to take them every single day, which was pure torture, but for some reason I felt accomplished after doing that.

[Daffy Duck]

Geez... looking at his list of benefits, it seems cold showers can cure almost anything! Does he have research to back it all up?

[runningbird]

There are quite a few studies on cold water therapy out there. Note that he doesn't claim (at least in this list) that cold showers will cure any particular conditions, but that they make various improvements within the body.

[Daffy Duck]

Interesting. I may take some time and see what I can find. I'll report back here if I find anything.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

Interesting. I may take some time and see what I can find. I'll report back here if I find anything.

It should be like cold water off a duck's back.

[Nex]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

Geez... looking at his list of benefits, it seems cold showers can cure almost anything! Does he have research to back it all up?

You'd be surprised by all the sort of things a placebo can do.

[runningbird]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

Interesting. I may take some time and see what I can find. I'll report back here if I find anything.

There are some here: Cold Showers: What’s the Evidence? « Own Your Health

There is also an article about glutathione, what David Perlmutter, M.D. called "perhaps the most effective and beneficial antioxidant in the nervous system": Increase Glutathione Levels « Cold Showers

[runningbird]

Originally Posted by Nex

You'd be surprised by all the sort of things a placebo can do.

A placebo is an inactive pill. This is a huge, direct physiological stimulus.

[Daffy Duck]

Originally Posted by Angela

It should be like cold water off a duck's back.

Rbird, thanks for the links. I think he was using "placebo" as in the power of suggestion, or the "placebo effect."

[chrisrushton]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

Geez... looking at his list of benefits, it seems cold showers can cure almost anything! Does he have research to back it all up?

I had a laugh to myself that he'd say it was a cure for cancer then read it. Turns out it's the first thing he mentions. I'd really like to see his research that backs those kind of claims up.

Next thing he will be claiming it's a cure for aids too!

[runningbird]

Oops! "Alexa" Fleckenstein is a woman, of course. :slaps forehead:
Just had to correct myself.

[chezzy62]

Wow, this is really interesting. I have never taken a cold shower, because I find it extremely uncomfortable. Next time I take a shower, I will end it with slightly colder water. Thanks for posting this information!

[Eric Roosevelt]

Just don't take them too close to bedtime or you could find it hard to fall asleep.

[Nathalie]

It sounds like a great way to wake up!

I've been going to the pool first thing in the morning, and the water isn't that warm. Does that count? It definitely wakes me up, that's for sure.

[oscardelben]

I'll try to take a cold shower. I'm curious.

[borntosucceed]

I love my cold showers. When I was still living in Germany I hear a lot about Kneip therapy: Self Healing Techniques, Kneipp Therapy, Water Therapy, Natural Healing Guide, Medicinal Plants, Therapeutic Teas, Aromatherapy, Floral Essences, Homeopathy, Herbs & Spices, Natural Beauty, Therapeutic Baths, Nature's Remedies, Garden Pharmacy, Ailme
I remember at the Lake of Constance that had a small pool filled with icy cold water and people where walking in it.

Sauna's are also popular and you alway either take a cold shower and jump into a spa filled with icy cold water. Your body feels so fresh after.

[JRhodes]

It was actually so hot in England a few weeks ago I was taking an ice cold bath everyday! I don't know if it did my health any good but I didn't appear to do any harm and most importantly it kept me cool.