Cold Shower Benefits: Ancient Rituals and Modern Health Boosts

After reading all the enthusiastic reactions I put a poll on my energy-related website. Over 300 people responded to the question If they took warm or cold showers:

3% takes cold showers
5% starts warm and ends cold
92% takes warm showers

I think using the words "fresh showers" sounds better than "cold showers". I also would like to know if there are more and stronger arguments like: does it makes you loose weight? Does it improve your love-life? (the blood that leaves your skin has got to go somewhere!) Greetings, Arno

Hello all,

It's been 9 months or better since I found this site and started taking cold showers.
I am so glad I found this site and was brave enough to start the cold showers.

I did know to start off with my feet because many years ago we owned horses and one of the mares got injured out in the pasture. It was a huge gaping injury on the upper part of the front leg. The vet's instructions were to run cold water on it for 15 minutes, twice a day. Since I wasn't working at the time, it would be my job to do until the sore healed.

The mare would have had a fit except I would run the water over her feet first for a few minutes then work my way up to the sore. She would stand still for all of it that way. It took quite a few weeks to heal. It not only healed but the large hole closed up and it was hard to see a scar from it.

So by that, I knew it would be easier for me to start on my feet and work upwards. Starting at the feet, legs, arms, head and body. I even wash my hair in the cold water. I have less hair fall out using cold water along with a good natural shampoo.

I will usually stay in the water completely from 10 to 15 minutes. I do get a slight headache while I am washing my hair under the cold water but it stops as soon as I finish.

I have started using the baking soda scrub before I start my shower. I get the wash cloth wet and add a little liquid soap then sprinkle baking soda on the cloth and do a gentle scrub all over & making sure to not forget the back of my hands. After I get all finished, I turn on the shower and begin. I've never had such smooth skin as now.

Also you had a poster some time ago, say that the cold shower made his hair curly and he wasn't sure if it was the cold water or not. It does that to mine too. I've always had straight hair until the cold showers and now it's very curly right after the shower and stays semi-curly after it dries.

I'm 65 years old and have to say I've always been very healthy. I haven't had to go to a doctor in years. My doctor moved from our area several years ago and I've not looked for a new doctor because so far I haven't needed one. I thank God for my good health and for leading me to this site.

My hot water tank malfunctioned recently so I had to take cold showers. At first I dreaded the idea but have since found that tepid showers invigorate my spirit and lighten my mood. I'm bipolar and have crushing depressive episodes. Believe me when I say that I feel my cold showers mitigate the effects of my dark moods and project a feeling of well being and joy throughout my whole body and mind!

I decided to finish every normal 'hot shower' with a blast of totally cold water, after reading a book by an old healer by the name of Jethro Kloss. Anyway, I am a bad asthmatic, and used to get sick around 6 times per year. When I got sick it really affected my chest, with huge amounts of mucous, and real bad asthma.

Now I rarely get sick (it boosts the immune system as well as circulation), and if I do it's usually just a mildly sore throat. I wish I could better explain the massive difference this has made. Even if you feel sickness coming on, a cold shower will often stop it in its tracks.

WORKED TEMPORARILY

I take cold showers everday but I noticed that I dont get the same feeling like I use to. Its almost winter here so the water is definitely cold. I don't get the warm tingly feeling anymore. Am I doing something wrong?

I heard about cold showers jumpstarting circulation and I have gradually been working up to a cold shower by ending a warm one with cold water. It seemed a strange and painful punishment but it was free, and who doesn't love free? I haven't stayed in it long enough to feel lasting benefits, but I have noticed I have no need to go back to warm water and it's much better coming out of a shower when the room feels warm instead of cold. It almost starts feeling good. I will definitely continue.

It definitely helps with cold weather. I've been taking cold showers for 5 years now (I'm 27) and it is rare that I have more than a short sleeve shirt under my jacket during the winter. People say that I'm crazy and that I'm going to catch a cold but the last time I had a cold was 6 years ago. To be honest, I'm a little scared of my addiction to cold showers. It is my morning "coffee" and it gives me the energy throughout the day. Now -I'm very resistant to cold weather but I became more sensitive to warmer temperatures. I often find myself in a room with others wearing 2 or 3 layers; I'm wearing a shirt and I'm hot. Not to mention what girls tell me: "your body is on fire" or "you're burning" ..:) I actually decided to do a google on "cold showers" to see if there is any harm, and that's how I found this place ps: yes...it does help with weight loss. Combine that with some exercise and you'll have a beautiful toned body.

I just wanted to share with all of you that I started taking ice cold showers out of necessity. During my pregnancies I've always had problems with circulation in my legs, bloating, soreness, etc. Well, where I live at the moment I can't find any support hose and I heard that cold showers were good for improving circulation. Well, I cannot begin to explain the benefits, "good" just doesn't cut it. Before the showers, I couldn't be on my feet for long during these hot summer days and the pain was unbearable. Now, after my ice cold shower in the morning, I'm on my feet all day and have absolutely no problem. Never felt better. I do take a catnap, but that's normal when you're preggo!

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.

Cold showers are fun. I take them every morning and I sleep great at night. The cold showers really help my immune system and my autonomic nervous system. It also regulate my brain chemistry. I tried the dip showers, but the cold is lots better for me. I tried taking them twice a day but I decided to take them in the morning.

Although I was a bit skeptical of taking a cold shower, since I was so used to taking warm ones for my entire life, I decided to give it a shot. My grandma, who is practically 70 years old and in amazing shape (mentally and physically) may I add, takes cold showers every time she showers. She recommend this process to me, claiming like many others that it would make me more energetic, positive, and healthy for my mind and body.

I first tried it a few weeks ago before I went to sleep and it felt so calming. The shower helped me feel asleep quicker and it literally left my body feeling refreshed, clean, and happy. In the morning, when I would have to wake up quite early for sports tournaments, I would rely on cold showers, and they 100% made me play better, act better, and it increased my concentration.

I completely recommend anyone, no matter your age or health to at least try cold showers. It may change or life!!

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!

I am convinced the cold shower works. When I take a cold shower every morning I feel the rush of exhileration and blood circulation when I get out, which is why I feel warm. Still my health is among the best in the world. No medication and no allergies or asthma. Period.

Cold showers are extremely good for the body. They help to drive a fresh supply of oxygenated blood to the site of infection or blockage. Every single person should finish off a shower or bath with cold water. It is highly beneficial.

WOW..I hadn't been able to afford fuel to run the furnace that heats my water for a week..hence I have been taking cold showers. I have felt rejuvinated and awake...and that feeling has lasted all day. GOOGLED "cold shower remedy" found this site and Wasn't amazed to find out that it wasn't in my head, my better mood and all around helth is atributed to my cold showers...YAY ME...so now when I get the fuel for the furnace I will continue to take them!