The secret is that ice bath therapy does more than stimulate your nervous system. It creates a natural all-around robustness to your well-being that cannot be recreated with other therapies.
Seemingly, ice bath therapy is having a renaissance. Still, you might be surprised that ice bath therapy has been used in some cultures for centuries to enhance overall wellness and specifically to support the mental health of those who use the treatment.
Suppose you’re looking for a natural way to enhance your well-being and boost your mood; look no further. This ice cold water therapy is widespread for a good reason - its potential to improve physical and mental well-being. We’ll explore the effects of ice baths on mood enhancement and their contribution to overall mental wellness.
Get ready for an endorphin rush that just reading about ice bath therapy will give you. After all, the perception of cold makes you think differently, so imagine what immersing yourself in freezing conditions can do for you. But first, some history…
ICE BATH THERAPY - A POTTED HISTORY
According to academic literature, The ancient Greeks utilised freezing cold water for therapies, relaxation, and socialisation; in the 4th century BC, Hippocrates documented ice bath therapy for medicinal purposes and painkilling benefits.
In Hippocrates’ research “On Airs, Waters and Places”, Hippocrates states that “the water can cure everything,” further emphasising its value when the water is very cold or freezing. Cold-water immersion or ice bath therapy was used as a treatment for fever, with the Roman physician Claudius Galen (130 AD - c. 216 AD) advocating its use.
The school of thought appears throughout history, specifically hundreds of years later, in the findings of the Scottish physician James Currie (1756-1805), who utilised a form of ice bath therapy for his own ills and the fevers of his patients.
Currie researched the impact of freezing cold water on patients’ physiology by investigating and reflecting on the positive results of reduced body temperature, pulse, and respiration. Currie recorded the first known records of the effect of human temperatures on health, disease, and unknown conditions by carrying out experiments in a “cold water cure establishment” he owned to prove the value of hydrotherapy.
Scroll forward a few hundred years to Wim Hof - “The Iceman,” Hof has set multiple world records for cold exposure in his efforts to endorse ice baths as a positive way to boost mental health, increase immunity and promote the best possible sense of well-being through the practice.
WHAT CAN ICE BATH THERAPY DO FOR YOU?
We are sure you’re sold on ice bath therapy by now, but to answer the question - What can ice bath therapy do for you? In more scientific terms, here is a list of the positives:
1. ENDORPHIN BOOST FROM ICE BATH THERAPY
Ice baths can unleash a flood of endorphins. Endorphins are natural chemicals hormones your body releases when it feels pain or stress. These transformative chemicals are responsible for feelings of enhanced well-being.
Plunging into icy water or taking ice bath therapy triggers the release of endorphins; these natural mood enhancers leave you with a euphoric sense of contentment and even joy, and what’s more, it’s instant. The effect takes hold the minute you finish a therapy session.
2. BETTER CIRCULATION AND VITALITY ENJOYED AFTER ICE BATH THERAPY
After you immerse yourself in cold water (right up to your neck) or participate in ice bath therapy, your blood vessels constrict, moving blood flow from your extremities to your core. Once you step out, your blood vessels dilate, increasing blood circulation through your body.
Stimulated blood flow allows more oxygen and nutrients to reach your brain, giving you a massive cognitive boost, enhancing your mood and revitalising your state of mind, lowering your blood pressure, and promoting a sense of well-being.
3. ICE BATH THERAPY SOOTHES INFLAMMATION - ALLEVIATING PAIN
Ice bath therapy is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties. An inflamed body is susceptible to infection and disease. Reducing inflammation can help alleviate discomfort and pain; while there are many ways to reduce inflammation, ice baths are an immediate way to experience a sense of relief.
When physical discomfort subsides, naturally, your mood lifts, creating a positive feedback loop in your brain. Continued ice baths increase the amount of endorphins in your system, creating an increased sense of wellness.
4. CONQUERING STRESS AND BUILDING RESILIENCE
While it may sound contradictory, immersing yourself in an ice bath is a stress buster. The initial shock triggers your autonomic nervous system in direct physical response to extreme cold. Stress is divided into the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).
When the body is exposed to stress, even self-inflicted stress, the SNS reacts in what is known as a “fight or flight” response, releasing hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. With regular ice bath therapy, your body adapts and becomes resilient to stressors. In turn, you will notice a reduction in your overall stress levels, leading to a positive outlook on life and vastly improved mental and physical wellness.
Regular ice bath therapy makes your nervous system wake up, significantly increasing alertness and mental clarity. Ice baths are perfect for brain fog, promoting focus and a heightened mental state, positively impacting your mood, boosting productivity and leaving you feeling reinvigorated and rejuvenated.
It’s no secret that ice bath therapy has been around for centuries and has many benefits, notably those related to mental wellness. Ice bath therapy offers much, from endorphin release to improved circulation and vitality, reduced inflammation, and conquering stress.
Regular ice bath therapy can help promote a positive outlook on life, leading to vastly improved mental and physical wellness. Wim Hof, “The Iceman,” has advocated ice bath therapy for the last few years, promoting the practice as a positive way to boost mental health and immunity.
So if you want to enhance your well-being and boost your mood, consider trying ice bath therapy. Speak to the team at RP-X to learn more about IceTubs and how it could be of benefit to you. Reach us at info@rp-x.com or 01234 862 762
