Hot and Cold for Health

Take a cold shower to feel
energized & ready to rock your world.

It's that time of year where tissues, hot tea, and blankets are in high demand as our immune systems are working hard to stave off the ever-morphing rhinovirus, aka: the common cold.
Here's a simple way to help your body's defense system kick into turbo drive.

1. Take a hot shower to warm your body deeply.
2. Take a deep breath and harness your bravery.
3. Set the water to cool/cold for 30 seconds. Squeal "Eeek!" as needed.
4. Turn the water back to warm/hot for 3 minutes. "Ahhh."
5. Return the water to cool/cold for 30 seconds. "Eeek!"
6. If you have the stamina, time, and sense of adventure continue alternating between hot "Ahhh" and cold "Eeek" for a total of three times, ending on"Eeek."

For best effects, have the cold water run on all of your limbs, abdomen, back, and anterior neck and chest. Rinse your head when you are ready, it's breathtaking and the ultimate "Eeek" of all. Once you begin contrast showering regularly you will find yourself craving the flushing effects this hydrotherapy process provides.

Don't let the rhinovirus get you down!

Generally speaking, hydrotherapy promotes the body’s innate ability to heal itself and return it to a state of balance. Hydrotherapy techniques are meant to stimulate the function of white blood cells, change the body’s pH, increase movement and secretion of metabolites, expand and contract blood vessels to move blood and lymph, reduce inflammation, help to regulate blood pressure, and increase peripheral circulation. If it's not apparent, understand that these are all really good things that help your body maintain optimum health.

If you read my previous blog post on contrast bathing for the limbs, then the concept of providing a circulatory whip for your blood and lymphatic systems will be familiar.

Please use your common sense when applying this technique and consult your doctor first if you have concerns about whether this is appropriate for you.

This guy was the founder
of modern hydrotherapy

If you are inspired by this topic and old books, as I am, you can view the 1898 publication of Life of Vincent Priessnitz Founder of Hydropathy here.

Be well & see you in the clinic.
Dana



Sources:  

•  Another blogger's testimonial of her experience with cold showers: http://www.englishmuse.com/2012/06/cold-showers.html
• http://wellwire.com/health/cold-flu-health/hydrotherapy-immune-booster
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincenz_Priessnitz
• http://www.topnews.in/healthcare/content/-21270scientists-chart-sequence-99-cold-virus-strains