Cold therapy, also called cryotherapy, uses exposure to cold temperatures to cool the body’s tissues for therapeutic reasons. There are several ways to apply cold therapy, including:
cold showers, (which involve lowering the water temperature below 60 degrees for two to three minutes at a time) cold spray, cold water immersion and ice baths.
Here are some of the benefits of cold therapy.
• Immune Boost
Cold water can stimulate the blood cells that fight off infection (leukocytes). One study in the Netherlands found that people who switched to cold showers for 30, 60, or 90 seconds for 90 days called out sick from work 29% less than people who didn’t switch to cold showers.
• Combat symptoms of depression
Limited research is available about the effects of cold-water therapy on depression. But the research that exists shows some positive results. In one clinical study, participants who took daily cold showers for several months reported decreased depression symptoms. Additional research suggests that cold water may boost your mood and decrease anxiety.
• Improve circulation
Cold water strains your body — it goes into “survival mode,” working hard to maintain its core temperature. This stimulates your body to increase blood flow circulation.
• Increase metabolism
Your body expends energy trying to stay warm in a cold shower. The result may be a small amount of calorie burn and increased metabolism. But don’t plan to throw your healthy eating and exercise plan out just yet — research on this benefit is limited.
• Relieves localized pain
Cold therapy alleviates pain by reducing inflammation and interferes with your brain’s perception of the pain.

• Tags:
• Complementary Therapies