Cold Shower Benefits: Ancient Rituals and Modern Health Boosts

Fountain of Youth

Posted by Andrew (London, UK) on 03/22/2007
★★★★★

Cold showers have had a very positive effect on my health. Can't do without them now and hot showers almost seem repellent to me. The following has occurred since i started taking them 3 months ago: better circulation, less sweating, no colds/flu/infections,clearer mind, cleaner skin (blackheads have cleared up), no body odour...miraculous. I can vouch for cold showers and best of all it's totally free! I am definitely an addict.

Cold Shower Tips

Posted by Ryan (Lansing, MI) on 01/11/2007
★★★★★

I am LOVING the cold showers (in addition to the baking soda/molasses/acv cocktail, which is amazing as well).

I just wanted to share an insight: I'm still acclimating to taking cold showers, although I'm really starting to enjoy them. Something I HAVE noticed that may help others who can't imagine a cold shower is to slowly reduce the temperature of the water and, when it feels uncomfortable cold, to spray it on your underarms. Just put them right up by the shower head so they are taking the brunt of the spray. I don't know if it's the nature of the skin there, it's proximity to your vitals or what, but it takes the body "sting" out of the cold temperatures. Just a few seconds of armpit cold and you can start to enjoy the energy of it all.

Hope this helps others:)

Anxiety

Posted by Roxanne (Miami, FL) on 08/31/2006
★★★★★

I took my first cold shower today, after reading about cold shower benefits on your website. It really does feel good! I was a little scared and started with lukewarm water. Brought it down as most as I could tolerate it. But man, the other people are right - it really does give you a ton of energy! I suffer from depression, anxiety and panic attacks, and this shower seemed to my anxiety in check. Thank you!

Energized

Posted by Fernando (Miami) on 02/07/2006
★★★★★

one of my new year's resolutions was to take cold showers in the morning. today is the 31st day in a row and I am hooked. I recommend it to everyone. I read somewhere that cold showers were good for the health. I feel alert, energetic and empowered. from now on it's cold showers until the day I die. "it is all in the mind "I tell myself constantly while taking the cold shower. Forget hot water.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Geoff (NSW Australia)
★★★★★

I have been taking cold showers for 4 months and can't believe how good I feel when I get out. My friends & family have commented on how bizarre it is, but I just feel so much better. I appreciate knowing that I'm not the only one on this planet doing it.

Mental Health

Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 09/10/2021
★★★★★

Hello there fellow posters!

This tough Kiwi farmer is doing the Hard Yard in raising money for farmers' mental health concerns.

(You should be aware that it is winter Down Under eh?)

You can check her out right here.....

Cheers,

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/coronavirus-covid-19-woman-does-cold-water-challenge-to-bring-relief-to-stressed-out-farmers/YGUWJWEFQOINAXSUVKFPPKFGVE/

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Spirittlk (Phoenix, Az) on 08/26/2020
★★★★★

I LOVE my cold showers. I started doing the Wim Hof Method over a year and a half ago and ever since take a cold shower followed by a little warm, and it has made me strong minded, trained me to instantly relax, and I've been very healthy as well. I even go in the creek when its 35 or 40 degrees now when I can and get in my cold swimming pool several times a week in the winter. Wonderful for the body and soul!

Fountain of Youth

Posted by Indigobeauty (Daly City, CA) on 07/13/2009
★★★★★

I have been taking cold showers for mths, i never really kept track but over 5 mths i would say. I have notice many benefits. My stress level has dropped, my skin never becomes dry, my hair is shinier, and my insides feel they function better.

Cold Showers During Menstruation

Posted by Alexa (Boston, MA) on 07/07/2009
★★★★★

With all respect to Gurudev Khar Khalsa, the medical literature does not confirm that cold showers are contra-indicated during menstruation. One can shorten the cold shower a bit if one wishes - but cold water certainly is not unhealthy during that time.

I should know - I am a woman who is enthusiastic about cold water has been taking cold showers her whole life and has two healthy children. Besides, I am a physician who wrote a book about all kinds of water cures and natural remedies.

Keep up the good work!

Alexa Fleckenstein M.D., physician, author.

Mood Enhancer

Posted by Heidi (Ogden, UT) on 03/02/2009
★★★★★

Cold Shower:

While I was in the shower, it wasn't so great. I could only take the water on the front of my body, and not ice cold, but cool. Then I moved and let the water go over my shoulders. My back is really sensitive, so I didn't go there, but when I put my head under the water and allowed it to flow through my hair and over my scalp! oh! that felt so good! I did that over and over again. mmm. then got out and toweled off, and now I feel terrific. Really tired, as if I could sleep deeply (but I have work, so...)

But I'm relaxed and warm, and my emotional state is calm and level. I plan on repeating this every day. I can feel the vigor and alertness, yet I'm relaxed. Calm and alert.

Yeah, I can live with this!

Mood Enhancer

Posted by Sarah (Nailworth, Glos UK) on 10/20/2008
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I have been an avid reader of your site since i found it. I use many of your suggestions such as acv, bsm and baking soda for a cleanser. I heard about cold showers and depression and decided to give it a try.

The main reason i tried it was because one day I was with a friend and we do wind each other up a bit and hurl joking insults at each other, but this one day i got really down about some of his comments as i suffer from depression and menopause i was feeling very vunerable. I could not get over his jokes and as much as i tried to reassure myself that he did not really mean them they still hurt and I was in tears for days. I thought i would take a cold shower to see if it cheered me up.

All I can say is WOW. I must admit although i had lost the will to live I honestly thought I was going to die in the shower and decided I am not only depressed, I am bloody bonkers.

I was convinced i was going to die from heart failure, shock and hypothermia all at the same time.

But after I stopped shivering and my teeth stopped chuttering I realised I was going to live after all and actually started to enjoy it. That was only this morning and I have been in such a good mood all day i cant wait to try it again tommorow.

My face has also been glowing all day without any make up and I cant stop looking in the mirror, maybe it's just because i feel better but it has took years off me.

I have got curly hair and heard it is good for curly hair as mine is going a bit frizzy. I will give you an update in a couple of months to see if it helps . I am one of the few women who love my curly hair and would not touch a straigtener. Everybody comments on my hair and how nice it is but lately with the onset of the menopause it seems to have died so i would love to see if something this simple gets it back to normal.

Anxiety

Posted by Mike (Toronto, Canada) on 01/08/2008
★★★★★

I use the cold shower therapy everyday now, I try to do it at least twice a day. I also practice falun dafa which results me in good health also. Two power combination. I have more energy, more alert, less anxiety and less depression. It is uncomfortable at the beginning but well worth it.

Best Time to Take Cold Shower

Posted by Putranto Sangkoyo (Jakarta, Indonesia) on 10/15/2007
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I am very delighted to read all the good positive stories about cold water shower healing. Allow me to share my story.

I am a Moslem (from Indonesia), and the month of Ramadhan (fasting) was just over. For those not familiar with this, Moslems fast for 30 days during the Ramadhan month, every day, wake up at dawn (around 3 AM), have meal, fast during the day (no drinking no eating no sex), and break the fast at around 6 PM.

I have this problem with my right leg knee, it gives me pain when I bend during a prayer. For one month of Ramadhan, I "practiced" the cold water shower each time I wake up, at around 2:30 AM. After that, I pray (the so called "night prayer"), and have meal. To the best of my knowledge there is no reference in Al Quran about taking shower at "night", although there is the so called "night prayer" which is not obligatory, but very strongly advised for Moslems, and it takes time somewhere between 2:30 and 3:30 AM. We call it the "last one-third of the night".

I just felt I had to heal myself this way, because I heard many times especially from elders and those "natives" coming from rural villages, of cold water shower "healing", which normaly takes time between 2 and 4 AM.

Many people here say, it's not healthy to take shower at night, before 12 AM, but it's healthy if taken after say, 1 AM. Some martial arts practitioners here do take shower after evening/night training, at around 1-2 AM or later. I had a friend who literally couldn't walk, not paralyzed but pain in both his legs (thigh), was eventually healed, could walk (and run) normally again after spending about a month or so taking cold water shower from a well (using bucket / dousing) every night (at around 3 AM).

Back to myself, after 30 days of night cold water shower, I do feel better now. I can bend my knee again, with less pain.

Perhaps someone have an explanation about the "state" of water during the night, especially between 2 and 4 AM ?

Best Time to Take Cold Shower

Posted by Pascale (Limoges, France) on 08/30/2020

This 3 a.m. thing makes me think that this is the exact time the liver regenerates.

I heard this from a Chinese traditional medecine practitioner.

The liver filters your blood all day, retaining chemical residues, normal blood residues and also the products from negative emotions. These are like poisons. Around 3 A.m. the liver has to excrete them, to clean itself ; this is why at that hour, especially if our liver is malfunctioning, we wake up with uneasy sensations, anxiety, bad dreams, etc...

Some other people on this topic have made the link between bad sleep and the liver. There is also obviously one with acne and skin that many people noted. Skin is the excreting "organ".

My take is that the cold shower greatly helps the liver if taken at that time of night.

Beautiful Skin

Posted by Steve (Santa Rosa, CA) on 10/01/2007
★★★★★

I have been taking cold showers for about a month. I also started a self massage with almond oil, especially on scalp. Hot showers and baths now feel like they drain energy. I take cold showers in the morning and at night. My hair and skin look and feel wonderful! I will never take hot showers again, unless I am coming out of a cold lake or something.

Anxiety

Posted by Jon (Monongahela, PA) on 09/30/2008
★★★★★

Oh God...this is the most greatest thing in the world. I embrace the Eastern philosophy of medicine which talks about natural and organic treatments to the ailments that we all suffer. Unlike Western medicine that gives you toxic pills to swallow only to treat the symptoms and not to cure you. I feel great. I've never been so happy and energetic in my life and I feel like I'm high all day long...of course with out the impairment of psychotropic drugs. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED...yeah, there is the hesitation associated with jumping into a swimming pool, but please, just "bite the bullet" and do it.....every day.

THANK YOU EARTHCLINIC.COM!

Mood Enhancer

Posted by Gwen (Baltimore, MD) on 06/26/2007
★★★★★

Let's keep it moving. I am still taking the cold showers. I went on a retreat, and felt like i would be cheating if I took a hot shower just because it was available. Well, I tell you I have no regrets. I love taking cold showers. The problem I have is getting out of the shower because it feels so great once you get started. I have been feeling wonderful, full of zest for life. More positive thougths. I search this site everyday. I am looking to hear more from you all. Keep the faith, we are ahead of the game/gang.