Cold Shower Benefits: Ancient Rituals and Modern Health Boosts

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 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!

Cold Shower Tips

Posted by Jeff (Madrid, Spain) on 09/26/2008

That's interesting about the underarm area you mentioned...I had a hard time hitting that and the shoulder area...thanks for sharing the tip!

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Kevin (Rochester, NY) on 09/16/2008

Great visual! I never thought to sing opera in the shower. I'll have to try that. ha.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Coldwater (West Park, Fl) on 08/04/2008
★★★★★

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.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Kathy (Woodbridge, VA) on 08/01/2008
★★★★★

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!

Cold Baths

Posted by Matt (Murfreesboro, TN) on 07/05/2008

You can't get the flu from being cold, whether the coldness was induced by bath or shower; hence the influenza "virus."

Cured Chronic Diarrhea

Posted by Zvonko Spasic (Belgrade, Serbia) on 05/14/2008
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Cold showers helped me to become stronger.

When I was little, stomack problems often troubled me. Diarea, for example. Whenewer it was cold you could se me running home or to the nearest bathroom. Sometimes I would not eat anything for houres, so I would not have the need to go.

Also, I had a few embarassing moments because of my problem, but nothing to seiouse.

Then, one day I came across the idea of a cold shower, because I saw the Russians runing in to the frozen lake after being in a sauna for 15 minutes, as a tradition. There were children, little boys and girls among them. I remember thinking:"Those must be some strong people.".

Then it also came to me that we, in Serbia, have a simillar tradition, but without the sauna and as a part of oure religiouse heredity. Those are definitly strong people, because most of them are members of serbians ellite police force. That made me step up. I wanted to become stronger... And I did.

I have been taking relatively cold showers for a year and a half now. I have stomack problems very rarrely now and they are more under my controle.

I rarely get a cold now, although i hade a few ones only because I took a cold shower and went in to a, not so warm, room. So be carefull. Don't make the same mistake. That would be stupid,as was I. Also, my whole body functions much smoother... I can't explane it, but it feels good.

Then I made another step. I joined the Serbian tradition and jumped in to the lake in the middle of winter, alongside the members of the police force and some more people like me. It was freezing. Despite the air themperature, wich was 12 degreas (Celsius), the water was 3-4 degreas (Celsius, don't know how much is that in Farenheits). It felt like my mind separated it self from my body and alowed it to run on authomatic for a few seconds.

When I came out off the wather I expected to get a flew or something, but I was just fine, and had a simbolic lunch with the other guys who jumped.

Anyway, cold showers helped me plenty. With my body and mentally. The coldnes takes youre thoughts from the things that are on youre mind and leave you in a peacefull state. Try it... If you like it, continue, and begin with babysteps. Sorry for the gramar mistakes and for writing this much. Greatings...

Cold Shower Tips

Posted by Nadia (Chicago, Illinois) on 05/06/2008
★★★★★

I read on the youtube comment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYxHagZ4W5E that almond oil mixed with water will be absorbed to the skin and not leave you oily afterwards. It says almond oil has good minerals.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Joe (Brooklyn, NY) on 04/15/2008
★★★★★

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!

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Nate (Los Angeles, CA) on 04/08/2008
★★★★★

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.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by John (Stockton, CA) on 11/05/2005
★★★★★

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!!

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.

Helps Bipolar Depression

Posted by Trevor (Cambridge, NY) on 08/04/2005
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

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!

Best Sleep Ever

Posted by Deepak (Valencia, Spain) on 07/15/2005
★★★★★

I have been taking cold showers since the last two years(summer and cold winters), the feeling is simply unbelievable. After the shower, you have so much of energy injected into you keeping you fit till the end of the day and at night another shower before you sleep, giving you the best of sleep throughout the night, which i would like to recommend to everybody that this is one the most effective and cheapest investment towards health. There is nothing like being healthy.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Randy (Belleville, Illinois) on 07/11/2005
★★★★★

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.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by Maria (El Paso, TX) on 06/06/2005
★★★★★

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...

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.

Invigorates Mind and Body

Posted by John (Lacrosse, WI)
★★★★★

In the summer of '81, while working at Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park, I was faced with what I thought was an unbearable situation. The hot water heater went out in the dorms. This meant, of course, that we had to take cold showers--and I mean COLD, since the water source was Swiftcurrent Lake, which couldn't have been more than 38 degrees.

Well, on my initial encounter with the hyperborean liquid, I turned eighteen shades of blue. But, oddly enough, I (and my coworkers in the dorm) got used to it; in fact, we grew to like it. It felt incredible to vigorously rub down after the shower, looking out at the snow-capped peaks through an open window. I felt like the Fates had suddenly whispered to me a great secret. A week later, when the hot water system was fixed, I kept up with the Spartan regimen, and have maintained the habit since.