Taking a cold shower a few times a week is gaining popularity as a way to improve health. According to some experts, a cold shower can improve your body and mind in several unexpected ways.
The History of Cold Therapy
Cold water therapy or cold water immersion (CWI) has been a source of health promotion in various cultures worldwide, and documentation of its beneficial effects dates back to 3500 B.C. when Edwin Smith Papyrus wrote about cold being used for therapeutic purposes. Ancient Greeks used cold water for relaxation and socialization. Hippocrates even made the statement that “the water can cure everything.”In the 20th century, Edgar A. Hines Jr. helped to explain how CWI works in the body and how it affects blood pressure and the autonomic nervous system, which plays a significant role in heart rate variability. By the early 2000s, cold water was known to help athletes recover from exercise and reduce inflammation.
