Cold Shower Benefits: Ancient Rituals and Modern Health Boosts

Leg Cramps

Posted by John (Ventura, California) on 08/12/2005
★★★★★

For 23 years I have not been able to sit for more than 2 minutes and when I sleep at night I get terrible muscle leg cramps attack at night from 1 to 10 per month. The 3 lower disc in low back are badly degenerated. I discovered 3 weeks ago if I take a cold shower between 11:00 to 4:00 during the day I eliminated the terrible leg muscle cramps at night. The sitting problem is not resolved; however, the ligaments in the lower back do improve after the cold shower. I have tried ice pack therapy but does not work like ice cold shower therapy to eliminate leg cramps at night.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Jason (Belmar, NJ)
★★★★★

i am so happy that i literally stumbled across this web site. i have been a "polar bear," for the past seven years and it is the the greatest day each year. Not only do you get to raise money for a great cause, the Special Olympics, you get to jump into the icy cold Atlantic, 38F this year, and what a charge you get. i live right near the beach and i try to get up there as much as possible, especially in the winter. When i go i like to take a few handfuls of water and rub them on my face and head if it is not bitterly cold out. The feeling of the ice cold water on my face head and in my beard is amazing. i always believed that there was healing properties in the ocean, but i never knew that was such great benefits from cold shower therapy. i can't wait to start. Thank you so much.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Toussaint (Louisiana)
★★★★★

After three years of hot-cold showers in the evenings and cold-cold showers in the mornings, the only regret I have is visiting locations where the water just doesn't get cold enough... I've found no other remedy that awakens such innate energy and realigns my ability to focus and concentrate.

Fountain of Youth

Posted by Edwin (New York)
★★★★★

I have been doing cold shower therapy now for about 3 weeks; I shower twice a day. I feel great, look great, and feel a sense of well being all around. I also started using Pure Almond Oil, and my wife says that my skin never felt so soft...like a baby! I'm 51 years old and to have skin feel soft like a baby...well...you know the rest.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Robert (New York City)
★★★★★

I have been taking cold showers for 2 years and have found them to invigorate both my mind and body. I had heard that the Russians did a study demonstrating that alternating hot & cold showers could boost recovery rates by 20%. So, I started taking them after work-outs. It seems to boost mine. Additionally, I have noticed my skin to be much better. Fortunately, the water in NYC gets really cold. Presently, I am living in London for a while and I only have a bath tub, so after a warm bath, I get out and refill the tub with ice cold water and then submerge myself. This method really works well. Glad to see that others are just as crazy as me.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by A student (USA)
★★★★★

Cold showers have increased my mentality to greater heights. My grades have sky-rocketed since I began four weeks ago. I guess it stimulates the mind by creating an irregular natural sensation, so making it regular works wonders both mentally and physically.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Andrew (USA)
★★★★★

I ALWAYS take a cold shower first thing in the morning (before my 10 mile, cross country, bare-chested, run, and another one immediately afterwards. These are invigorating and extremely healthy. I have been told this by the doctor who gives me two thorough medical examinations per year.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Justin (NYC)
★★★★★

I've been taking cold showers for a year, the results have been tremendous. I don't take any vitamins, no herbs or supplemental vitamins and I haven't been sick once B''H. Any time I have a stomach ache or injury I feel the healing system in my body working more efficiently, helping me to heal quicker. After a really cold shower, and I have taken some cold ones, I feel invigorated and excited about life. Some in NYC where the water gets really cold or in the mountains in northern Israel where the water is absolutely chilling. I was laughing it was so cold. But I feel great, I trust my body and my immune system, I have confidence in my body's ability to heal itself. I feel my internal systems are functioning at their potential. Though, I have to admit, it is hard to motivate to go into a cold shower, but every time afterwards I say to myself it's so worth it. I tried to explain to my parents, okay big mistake, and they thought I was crazy, they're right. I hear the Seal song in my head, "we're never gonna survive, unless we are a little crazy". Get in there! justin

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Anonymous (USA)
★★★★★

I have a freezing cold shower twice a day, first thing in the morning and last thing at night, which I've added to my already extremely vigorous exercise routine, as well as sleeping in the nude, and I can't even begin to extol their virtues by saying how wonderful they are.

Multiple Ailments Treated

Posted by Danny (Mooresville, Indiana)
★★★★★

I have been taking cold showers for several years. I started taking them when I would shave in the shower with very hot water and then I would get too hot that I would turn the water completely cold and leave it on for the remainder of my shower. I find that it takes my headaches away and gives me more energy. When I go to hot climates like Florida I find it disappointing to take a shower because they don't have very cold water. I never knew there were any benefits to it until now, but if you try it you will find that you get used to it very quickly. Try it -- you won't be sorry!

Fountain of Youth

Posted by Mindy (Miami, FL)
★★★★★

In Miami, the weather is HORRIBLE...hot, humid, sweltering, blistering sunshine. Still, plenty of people here take hot showers. They look at me like I've lost my mind when I say that cold showers are awesome. I started taking cold showers earlier this year & I've noticed a few benefits. 1) The most obvious: it helps me to feel cool, fresh, & hydrated in this hot weather. Something a hot shower simply wouldn't do.

2) I'm a young woman who is very conscious of her appearance and cold showers have definitely made an improvement in both my skin & hair. My skin has more of a glow to it, I smell more pleasant, and I'm silky all over! Hardly any more blemishes. My hair is more silky, lustrous, & manageable.

3) Cold showers are a simple, cost-effective, holistic approach to health. I have fewer illnesses & my allergies, while still there, aren't as severe as they used to be. My sinuses don't bother me as much anymore. I feel more comfortable & clear-minded after I've had a cold shower.

Anxiety, Depression

Posted by Juliette (Reston, Va) on 05/14/2012

I used to be on a cold shower kick and loved but but got out of the habit going to try it again thanks for posting!!

Frozen Shoulder

Posted by Teresa (Bentonville, Ar) on 09/05/2010
★★★★★

15 days ago I came down with all the symptoms of frozen shoulder. This is an extremely painful condition in the shoulder that makes it feel sort of like its falling off. Every movement hurts, and no movement hurts. Sleep is all but impossible, because its so hard to find a place to rest your arm that does not hurt. This condition can last for 8 months to 3 years, and may not go away at all. My sister had frozen shoulder several years ago, so I'd seen the condition first hand with her. After 4 days of frantic searching, I'd found the cold showers remedy. I started taking them 3-4 times a day when I realized it was helping with the pain. Its been 15 days, I'm down to 2 cold showers a day. My mobility is getting close to normal. I missed my second shower yesterday, and the night time pain was back so at 4 in the morning I'm cold showering again. I will not miss again for a while. I told a nephew who is overweight about it, he has severe hip pain, and he said its really helping him as well. Just water... Go figure!

Increases Sex Drive

Posted by Ed (Newfield, Maine, Usa) on 12/26/2009
★★★★★

I have been reading this site for over a year and started taking cold showers (CS) right after. this info may help. first I take my CS at 5am i set my alarm and wake up every morning just for my CS. after i go back to bed to warm up. i do this because after some time in bed my body is warm all over. no cold hands, feet, other body parts. next i do as many pushups as i can. i think this is very important the body core temp up and makes the CS much more easy to take this gets my hart and breathing rate up. Just before this i turn the shower to full hot. after exercise i turn the shower to cool and get in and soap up. after 30 seconds i turn it colder then another 30 and turn it full cold. i try to stay in the coldest water for 5-8 minuets. i turn alot to get front and back. in winter my water gets down to 53f.

I wish more people would say what water temp they use. I seem to be more into this in winter than other times.

a few times i want the water to be even colder so i will take in a bucket of ice or snow water and after my CS i will pore it over myself as i lie in the tub. one more thing, i would like to know about others but for me i find i must have a high sex drive for this after sex i am not in the mood for a CS for 2-3 days then i am good until i have sex. i am 55. i live in a very cold area and the CS helps me deal with the cold weather.

Lethargy

Posted by Sarah (Nottingham, Uk) on 10/10/2009
★★★★★

I was introduced to cold showers by a forceful boyfriend who absolutely insisted that they'd be good for me. I was suffering from a lack of energy and couldn't motivate myself to do anything, with the result that my studies were suffering badly. At first I was very reluctant to stand under cold water for 15 minutes and he more or less had to hold me under the shower. I'm so glad he did. I now have more energy, more motivation, my skin and hair glow, and my apetite has reduced with the added benefit that I'm now 10lb lighter.

I normally take one cold shower when I wake up (washing my hair as well as my body) and then a second cold shower (without washing my hair) before I go to bed. I know haven't had a hot/warm shower for over four years.

EC: Good idea to take your temperature after such a long shower!

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/depression2.html#COLDSHOWERS

[WARNING!] 09/22/2007: Remy from Buffalo, NY writes: "Please tell website users that they have to be very careful if they have low body weight and use the "cold shower" method to alleviate depression. I have low blood circulation and several health problems because I am suffering and loosing to an eating disorder. Cold showers can be dangerous!

For people who are "underweight" it may be a good idea by slowly decreasing the temp. each time you take a shower, followed by taking your temperature afterward.

Core Temp. Side Effect
95 Shivering
90 Confusion
85 Lethargic
80 Coma
78 Death

Measuring the length of the shower is important, as the longer you expose your self to cold water, the lower your body temperature will drop. I hope this helps, and as always; if you think you may have an eating disorder, you may have one, or develop one!"

Skin Care

Posted by Morus (Sunnyville, OH) on 06/21/2009

Maybe you should give cold showers a try. If you google "cold shower therapy" it should tell you alot of the benefits-including better skin, etc. I know one time, my family lost power for about a week, so we had no hot water. I had to take freezing cold showers all week, and i was really surprised at how good my skin looked. At first i thought maybe i was just drinking alot of water, but now i realize that it was the cold showers. it's definetly worth a try!

Cold Baths

Posted by Joe (Brisbane, Australia) on 06/14/2009

Funny you mentioning this asian fellow. I still have the cut out from the original telegraph /times (?) article in my lockbox at home. I can scan it for you.