Recharge Your Immune System: 8 Simple Steps to a Healthier and Longer Life by Mari A. Moore

Author:Mari A. Moore [Moore, Mari A.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2020-03-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9: Step 5 – Pour Cold Water on Yourself – Literally

If you’ve seen the “ice bucket challenges” on the Internet before, you may think that it’s silly. But many people have actually been doing this for their health even a long time ago.

This is called “cold therapy.” It includes immersing, pouring, or showering yourself with cold water.

Cold Therapy Effects on the Immune System

The immune system has a vessel network called the lymphatic system. This runs throughout your body, which cleanses all bacteria and wastes from the cells.

When the lymphatic system slows down or the lymph fluid becomes insufficient, toxins will build up. This will result in pains, colds, injections, and other diseases.

Cold therapy contracts the lymph vessels to pump the fluids flushing out the wastes. Then, the leukocytes attach and kill the wastes in the lymph fluid.

Cold water triggers the lymphatic system to function properly, which lets the immune system do its work efficiently. This keeps your body healthy.

It also helps improve blood circulation and reduces inflammation which are two factors that also affect the immune system. When blood flow is stimulated, the immune system cells can travel effectively through all parts of your body.

Different Cold Therapy Methods

Here are the methods to cold therapy and how to do them effectively.

Immersion

This method is best for athletes and other experienced active people. For cold therapy immersion, you’ll need a bathtub filled with ice cold water.

Some people have a high tolerance against the cold and would handle submerging in cold water even naked. If you need to use some clothing, it’ll be fine as well. The toes usually get cold quickly compared to any other body part. You may need to invest in some shoes made from wetsuit material to keep your toes warm.

Remember not to submerge yourself too long in the ice bath. For first-timers, 2-3 minutes of immersion is enough. It’s best not to go over 10 minutes unless you have a doctor’s approval.

The downside of this is that it’s not really water-efficient. You’d be using a lot of water for this every time you do it. Also, making your own ice bath can take much of your time, plus the cleaning process after that.

Cold Shower

Another method of cold therapy is taking cold showers. During this method, you won’t need to shower continuously in cold water.

Start with a warm shower. Then, switch to a cold shower for a short time, roughly around 1-2 minutes. Dry off quickly and put on warm clothes.

If you could handle cold showers directly, about 5 minutes would be enough. Put on warm clothes or a bathrobe right afterward.

Cold Water Dousing

Dousing may be the best option among the three. It’s water-efficient and easy to do.

To do this, take a large bucket and fill it with cold water. You can go as cold as you can tolerate.

Stand in the shower and pour the contents of the bucket from your head down. This should be done fast. This is best done in the morning.

In some parts of the world, dousing is done outside surrounded by nature while barefoot.

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