The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Beautiful Skin
Posted by Charlie (Biloxi, Ms) on 12/29/2009
★★★★★
I have been forced to take cold showers this winter because my underground gas line collapsed to my house and I can't afford to get it fixed. I have been taking a cold shower every mornig and night for almost three months and let me tell u it is brutal. However, my skin has never looked better and I have not had a blackhead or acne since I started taking the cold showers. I love it. I may never take another hot shower again.
Cold Shower Tips
Posted by Lisa (Lafayette, Lah) on 09/10/2011
Dear Dr. Fleckenstein:
I have your book, and as I read it, the one thing that stood out is your constant reference to your belief that we have evolved from specks in the ocean to the complex, awesome human beings that we are now. You repeat that over and over, and in my opinion, it makes it harder to take anything else that you say seriously. You can't really believe that nonsense. God did not make specks in the ocean that aren't still there today. We are made in his image, and He certainly isn't a speck.
Now, as for cold showers, I have begun taking them, and they are invigorating. My hair is definitely shinier. Thank goodness I'm not a speck, or a shower of any temperature would just wash me right down that big ole drain.
Cold showers, after a warm one, are highly recommended for more energy, and whatever it does inside my complex, wonderfully, fearfully made body that I can't see!
Fountain of Youth
Posted by Gerald (Sydney, Australia) on 06/07/2009
★★★★★
I have taken a cold shower in the morning for over ten years, and can attest that I suffer less cold and flu symptoms than other workers in my office. In fact when the flu virus strikes Sydney each winter, I am normally the only one unaffected.
When I am in the shower I also do some stretching. I hold onto the top of the shower screen and stretch my spine, to release stress. Which is great, because I have a stressful job.
For years I have told others my theory about the benefits of cold showers, but am usually met with derision. So I am glad I found on this website a community of like-minded enthusiasts. I had my blood tested and my white cell count is three times higher than average. So I am sure that a wider scientific study would verify the health benefits of the cold shower.
Gerald.
Fountain of Youth
Posted by Rob D. (San Francisco, CA) on 05/04/2009
★★★★★
I feel sad for a very odd reason. Why on earth did I not find this simple cold water shower cure earlier. I suffered from a lot of diseases all life and this cold water shower cured this. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND A MUST FOR EVERYONE WHO WANT TO STAY HAPPY AND HEALTHY.
Anxiety
Posted by Sandy (San Rafael, CA) on 01/30/2008
★★★★★
About two months ago I was having yet another anxiety attack in the middle of the night. I got up and Googled and wound up at your site. Thank goodness! I read all the testamonials for Cold Shower Therapy. I tried it and much to my amazement I have felt so much better! I am grounded,emotionally stable and strong. My skin feels fabulous, my hair is soft and shiny, I am energized and also relaxed. I have tried so many treatments for severe depression,anxiety and panic attacks. CST has helped me beyond my wildest dreams. Yes, I now sleep so well that I am having amazing dreams as well. Thank you for this great resource and community !!!!!
Anxiety
Posted by Leon (Wichita, Kansas) on 12/28/2008
I agree. The Western medicine is atrocious. The only side effects I get from them is insomnia, weight gain, nervousness, and irritability. But most of all it tastes bad. I am glad to embrace the Eastern way of handling the problems with my body through taking cold baths and nasal cleansing. It works. It worked for Neiman in the Bible (leprosy), it worked for Father Sebastian Kneipp (tuberculosis), and it works for me (asthma and allergies).
Beautiful Skin
Posted by Peter (Dresden, ME) on 05/08/2007
★★★★★
I have been taking cold showers (first hot, then cold) for 35 years. I am constantly searching for the coldest water although our water here in Maine comes from 250 feet underground and it is pretty cold. I have sometimes been in showers where I cannnot stand in the water, but I can let it stream full onto my face and body. I dread going south, even to New York or Washington D.C. because the water is lukewarm. One of the benefits besides those already mentioned is greatly improved skin tone. I'll be 66 next month and my skin is the same as it always has been. I see friends of mine whom I wish would take cold showers because I can see by their complexion that they have poor blood circulation. This is a great way to stay healthy and it's FREE!
Anxiety
Posted by Ella (Loon Lake, Washington, Usa) on 09/20/2010
Dear Igor from Russia, I have done hot and cold showers for many years. I have found that 3 minutes hot to 1 minute cold is just about right. Do this at least 3 times and each time increase the hot and then increase the cold. You will be surprised how much hotter and how much colder you can go. I aways end with cold and go at least 3 to 4 minutes longer on the last cold. You will feel amazing! When you are sore from working out or working hard, do the hot and cold, most of the time you will have no soreness when you are through. The hot opens the vessels and lets the blood flow freely and then the cold constricts the vessels and pushes all the old blood and toxins out, replacing it with fresh oxygenated blood, so you want to do this a few times to get all the pain causing toxins out. When ever you take a cold shower you want to do a few times of hot and cold to get the most benefit out of it. I hope this is helpful.
Anxiety
Posted by John (Arlington, TX)
★★★★★
I started taking cold showers after I developed panic disorder, general anxiety disorder, and moderate depression. Cold showers have been the best distraction out of any other distraction to get a panic attack to go away. It feels so good when I take a cold shower that it is like an addiction to me. I feel instant gratification both physically and mentally when I take cold showers. They our the best to get rid of negative thoughts, minor physical pains from within the body, fear from a panic attack, and anger. At first I tense my muscles together so I can get use to it and then I let them un tense and let the water flow and it feels so great. Also I feel that my body is working better and I am a lot more alert and awake. I always feel like I am regenerated afterwards no matter how much I am going through. It is an intense body high. I would recommend this to anyone who suffers from anxiety, depression, or addiction problems. Remember when you take any of these three away you need to replace them with something else and cold showers is a great safe alternative that works wonders!
Fountain of Youth
Posted by Jaymie (Newport, Nc) on 12/18/2010
★★★★★
So I tried my first cold shower on perpose this morning...... WOW!!!!! I do have to say though, I feel great! I started out in the warm water and then gradually decreased the hot. It was not easy, but I felt so alive when I was done. I can't wait to do it again tomorrow!!!
Depression
Posted by Shannon (Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada) on 08/02/2009
★★★★★
I recently started taking alternating hot/cold showers. I start off quite warm then gradually make it as hot as I can for about 3 minutes then switch to cold for about 1 minute. I do 3 cycles and gradually make the hot hotter and the cold colder each cycle. I've only been doing this for 2 weeks now but the chronic headaches I've had for 30 years have lessoned (only 1 in the last 10 days-absolute heaven) and I've mysteriosly lost 8 lbs. (I'm quite obese) without changing my eating habits. The fact that it has been stinking hot the past 2 weeks and I'm sweating to death with no air conditioning could also be a factor for the weight loss! LOL My body temperature stays cooler for a few hours after my shower, even in this 30+ weather. I've also been doing some awesome meditations, listening to binaural beats and watching subliminal videos so it could be a combination of everything.
When I went to my Dr. last week and he asked how I was, I told him he'd better sit down. I've suffered (and I do mean suffer-suicidal thoughts daily) chronic depression for the last 17 years. I've gone off meds 3 times - once for 4 years even- but always end up crashing and need to go back on. Anyways back to the Dr. appt... I told him I had been HAPPY!!!! for 7 whole days and I hadn't cried since Sunday. The reason I cried was because I didn't know how long this would last. Had a bum day yesterday but not too bad today.
I thought it could be the combination of all the above or just my meds kicking in after trying 3 different kinds in 2 months. Not until I read all these posts did I think my showers could actually being contributing to my emotional well-being. Being 45, back in college with a bunch of 20 year olds, dealing with my disrespectful, pot smoking 17 year old son, chronic headaches and migraines, depression, hormone hostage (peri-menapause)... well I can use all the help I can get. I've also developed tennis elbow from being on the computer most of the day for school and homework. The showers haven't helped with that yet so I'm going to try emmursing my arm between my 2 kitchen sinks in hot and cold water.
Thanks for reading and I will definitely be checking out more of this website and referring my friends to it.
Fountain of Youth
Posted by Jan (Seattle, WA) on 02/02/2009
★★★★★
I read years ago that the late Katherine Hepburn who lived to age 96 took two cold showers daily her entire life, as I recall inspired by her grandmother as a child. I found this quote from a close friend of her online that shows the zest Hepburn had for life; I suspect her cold showers were a great impetus for her good health and long life.
Fountain of Youth
Posted by Leon (Wichita, Kansas) on 10/31/2008
★★★★★
The cold shower has improved my body and my health. I am so full of energy and do not have any allergies or asthma. I feel great. No medication, no flu shot, and no pharmacy trips need. Ever. I am WATER-CURED.
Fountain of Youth
Posted by Richard (Toronto, Canada) on 10/08/2007
★★★★★
I have a diploma in Acupuncture and Chinese medicine and just thought that I would share some Chinese medicine theory with you.
According to Chinese medicine, one way to remove bad energy (Chi), also known as anything that ails you--pain, fatigue, insomnia, headaches etc--one way is using cold showers. It forces the blood (a mixture of good and bad energy) to rise to the skin, and the bad energy (toxins) goes out (similar in theory to heat transfer); accelerated breathing due to the cold water pulls "good Chi" in, and a person feels rejuvinatated afterwards.
As far as better skin, hair, breathing, etc, in Chinese medicine, the "channel" that contains the lungs also contains the skin and hair.
The Lung Channel is the first line of defense against illness, therefore, anything that "tonifies", or strengthens, the Lung Channel also strengthens the immune systems; the strength of which is demonstrated by the condition of the skin and hair. Cold showers, used properly, are a tonic for the entire body.
Best Sleep Ever
Posted by Leon (Wichita, KS) on 09/01/2007
★★★★★
I take two cold showers a day so that I can take a cold shower in the morning to stay awake all day and a cold one at night to sleep at night. It really helps me to avoid naps and it helps me to stay asleep at night.
Fountain of Youth
Posted by Susan (Huntersville, NC) on 08/14/2007
★★★★★
I'm having a hard time finding a beginning to describe what cold showers has done for me!
First of all, this seems insane for me because I'm such a cold natured person. But since I've tried this i find that I'm not so cold anymore! I work out every day and play tennis twice a week, but first let me say i'm in my mid 40's, i have 4 children (two in their 20's and two are not yet school age) so keeping fit and appearance are very important to me! I've always been told i look half my age, but what i've noticed more than anything is my skin!! The improvement in tone is just amazing to me.
The first few days (after showering in the cold) i just kept looking at my face in the mirror. Only after a few days of cold showers i noticed a difference in the way i felt, my energy, metabolism, skin, and my pain!!! i had a hip injury almost 8 months ago and i've been doing strengthening exercises and therapy to help this slow healing process, but after taking the showers i've had almost NO pain!! that has been the most amazing part to me.
I'm hooked. I'll never go back to warm showers (except when necessary) I only wish i had known about this years ago! But i can tell you, it's never too late!!!
Anxiety
Posted by Bryon (Cincinnati, OH) on 07/09/2007
★★★★★
I started cold showers about three or four weeks ago and I love them now. They seem to help me get rejuvenated in the morning and I have had less anxiety. Everyone should try them.
Fountain of Youth
Posted by Brandon (San Angelo, Texas) on 03/27/2007
★★★★★
We haven't had hot water at our house for almost a year now because the gas bill was too high. So we decided to go without. I was forced into taking cold showers. In the summer, the water was cold, but not freezing, so when I got out, I was very cold. Winter is just ending and the water has never been colder. It's so cold I almost can't breathe out when I'm under it. Still, as soon as the water turns off, I'm instantly warm and inexplicably comfortable. I've never felt better.
The shower itself is torturous for the first few minutes, but when it's over I feel amazing. I can't explain why I feel so warm immediately after the shower. I don't even shiver, I feel perfect. It's two things in one. It's a thrill/challenge, and it's therapy. I'm addicted to both the rush and the incredible comfort that immediately follows.
