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.
Teddy (California ) on 08/27/2020:
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 sang along to music in my cold shower this morning, I think it helped distract me from the cold lol, and it's fun trying to sing while you're body is trying to make you breath in and out so fast!
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!
I came across the whole notion of cold showers on this website and I thought the people here were crazy. Then, this morning, for no particular reason (in 'Forrest Gump' parlance), I turned my shower water cold and took the plunge. Yeah, it was a heck of a shock to my system, but after about a minute or two, I started warming up automatically -- likely my own body temperature responding to the cold. After I got out, I felt great. Now, it'll take a few days of this to see if this really benefits me or not, but I've already seen two effects:
a) For some reason, my skin is tingly all over and I can't explain it.
and
b) I was early to work today because of the limited time I spent in the shower (hot showers have always encouraged me to just linger under the steam for as long as possible). Before, showers would last 20 minutes. Today, I was in and out in less than 10 -- and more than adequately clean.
I'll write back again to report my progress. Happy scrubbing!
Cold showers are great for waking up in the morning and actually lifting one's mood. Takes a bit to get used to (heavy breath intakes and shivering) but after you step out you feel alive and then, as you warm up ... awesome! I have been doing them for 4 days now - do it slightly "cool", to get used to it, then cool it down even more. I make it about a 3-4 minute affair. Seems to have cured morning "head fog". If you're new to it - get ready for a rush.
I must admit, I was very apprehensive as I am not a fan of cold water but all the posts here worked me up. I started with my feet and legs, then arms as I was afraid the shock directly on the heart would send me into cardiac arrest. (I always was a bit of a pain wuss) The horror! It was like being attacked by an army of evil, miniature trolls wielding tiny frozen ice piks. It was especially amplified in the head area. The HORROR but I refused to give up, reminding myself that the body will adjust its temperature, effectively turning my tortured skin into a barrier between me and the evil trolls.
I couldn't take it, and opened my mouth to scream in surrender when amazingly, a loud horribly off key opera roared forth. T'was just the ticket. I sang like never before, turning round and round reaching a singing ferver when something strange began happening.
The water didn't hurt anymore and in fact, began to feel wonderfully refreshing. The singing continued and I actually began enjoying the whole experience! I washed and sang feeling energized as I pictured the evil trolls swooshing away down the drain.
After jumping out of the shower, I vigorously dried myself off delighting in the wakeful feeling of aliveness that soared my spirits. I shall see how long this lasts and seriously consider attempting another one before bed tonight. Thanks all for this wonderful site!
Oh and a question...is there a time limit for the cold shower before it starts to adversly affect one?
JUANITA WADE (BASKING RIDGE, NEW JERSEY) on 11/26/2007:
Hi, I just want to say that i am so glad for this site. I tried the cold showers and really love them, i have been taking the cold showers for a month and really love it. After I get out of the shower, i feel so good and have lots of energy.
So I will not be going back to hot showers, i am hooked. Thank you for the site.
The cold shower therapy works really well for lifting my mood and making me feel alive. I am doing many other therapies, but I believe that the cold showers are the reason I have been so happy the last few months and have experienced moments of amazing joy that occur out of the blue and for no particular reason. I get cold easily and so starting this therapy made me question my sanity. I have to say that I started with cold showers in August of this year and that it is much easier to take cold showers in the summer than now! Even in the summer however, I was never able to stay in the shower until I felt warm. Now that it is winter, if I am even slightly chilled before I get in the shower, I will take a warm shower and gradually throttle it down so that I end the shower with a cold rinse. I think having the bathroom warm is important if you are going to try this therapy.
I am excited and shocked to see that other people are having the same experiences as me in taking cold showers. I feel completely awake, but calm after a nice fresh dip. I have even had experiences of mild euphoria. My method mirrors many others. Start with cool water rand increase to cold. I've experimented with different temperatures and found, however, that if the water isn't cold enough I just shiver. When the water is colder the blood starts moving and I internally heat up. This is where the good stuff is. Has anyone else had that experience? Not cold enough water making you shiver? Anyway.... Cold showers are no joke. They take time to get used to, but after a while of taking cold showers a morning hot shower starts to seem slightly decadent.
I tried the cold shower therapy first thing this morning. God it was great, once the initial shock was over, i got out of the shower and was tingling all over. I feel great today, i had little sleep last night and was groggy and felt horrible. thank you, i'm going to be trying this again tomorrow. The worst thing about it was different parts get hit by the water, so just as you thing your getting used to it, BAM an un showered bit gets hit by freezing water. At least the bathroom felt really warm when i got out
People think i am crazy having cold showers. but i am doing it for about 6 months and i feel great. i don't feel sick and i feel energized. i just wear a shirt in the cold and nothing has happened to me. I tell people i am a new breed of human beings. Now i know that there are other people like me. WE ARE KNOWN AS THE ICE PEOPLE. WE WILL RULE THE WORLD.
Started these 2 years ago-- I am now 73-- and take only cold showers-daily-- feel revitalized and have not had an illness since I started. These with my 3 day exercise regiment really has given me "new look" on life.
I have been taking cold showers for about five years now. I can't imagine starting my day without it. All my friends think I'm nuts, but I feel revitalised and everyone always comments on the sheen on my hair. (I'm not sure if this is related or not). However, I love it and thoroughly recommend it to everyone.
I started taking cold showers in the mid eighties as a method of punishment for partying too much. One day, my Chinese landlord got fed up with the comings and goings out of my place and turned off my water heater. I figured that IF I did not confront him about it he would not gimme any lecture. So... I continued taking freezing showers and I LOVED IT!!! While in the shower I used to shout - I LOVE ICE COLD SHOWERS...
Many years and dollars later, I concluded that there is no question in my mind that it was one of the best discovers I ever made. Everyday I feel vibrant and alive.
Taking a cold shower was recommended to me by a friend and I forgot about it until 2 days later. The idea came to me and I figured it was worth a try. After my first cold shower, the feeling was incredible! Very invigorating! It seemed to give me more energy and I noticed how much it was helping my skin. After the second day of taking a cold shower, I told my roommate that I was convinced that one of the secrets to success is to take cold showers!!! I explained to him that the effects of taking a cold shower last the whole day where a hot shower lasts for a half hour and makes me a little drowsy. He continued to laugh at me but that invigorating feeling still came after each cold shower. I get so much more out of a cold shower than a hot one. That's the bottom line. Its great to hear that so many other people benefit from cold showers too. Its been 5 days and I'm hooked!!
My family and I like to visit the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, a National Park in Missouri yearly. In this park are some rivers, the Black, Current, Jacks Fork to name a few. These rivers are fed by natural springs along their courses which makes the water 59 degrees year round. It is so invigorating to swim in this water although it takes a while to get used to it! I always have felt that this water invigorated me; I just couldn't and can't get enough of it! After reading your web site, I will try the cold showers here at home and hope that I will have the same feeling that the Current River gives me. Thanks for the information.
My Husband and I take cold showers for the exception on my menstrual days. Yes, it does wonders and we can handle life unexpected surprises or shocks because of our minds are vitalized and fully alerted, also relaxes us after a hot day in the E.P.Texas heat ahhh, try it and you sure will enjoy as well...
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.
I take a hot-cold shower 7 times as recommended by Dr. Schultz.
At first I thought this was excessive but it wasn't at all. Moreover, it encouraged me to involve myself in taking cold showers at all.
I found after 3 hot-colds that my body tolerated the cold much easier and by the time I got to the 7th time, I was able to endure the cold shower easily. The results are remarkable as it easily brings me out of depression and brings good cheer and optimism to my heart. Moreover, my energy levels are high and I can then take my exercise routine with no difficulty whatsoever.
There are too many good points about this discipline and I would encourage anyone to undertake this to do. If it is winter time and you feel really chilled out then it may be better to really arm up your body with a very warm shower until you feel enough strength for the first cold shower. And, it may be tough so do it for only a few seconds if you feel your body is weak. Then hot again until you feel strong enough to do the cold again for a few seconds. If after the third time you find it is chilling your body too much then I would not continue.
However, there is a distinction between a healthy body that can endure and enjoy the hot-cold routine and someone who may have a chill that has weakened the body so it is best to start the hot-cold routine during the summer or when you are feeling well rather than start it when you are tired, feel weak and lacking energy. Moreover, people who exercise have better circulation and can naturally enjoy the difference. I
have tried taking only a cold shower but my feeling is that there is a distinction and that the hot-cold may have an extra edge on getting a better circulation and it will certainly encourage non-participants in getting involved. If anyone has other thoughts or info on this I would be glad to receive their input.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Well, I guess I will be the first woman to say how great it feels to be having cold showers first thing in the morning.. My dad who is studying naturopathy began about 2 months ago to have cold showers in the morning then went back to bed for 10 mins for his body to warm up!! I have been doing the same for 3 weeks and I feel mentally more alert, with more energy and the funny thing is that when ever I feel a little bit hot, my body is craving to have another cold shower.. my complexion is looking so healthy and I don't have to use moisturizers any more.. I recommend for other women to try this. You will benefit so much from it.. so go for girls give ur self that cold shower!
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.
Cold Shower is the only type of shower there is!
