Ice Bath Therapeutic Benefits

A 2023 study published in Biology that examined ice baths’ impact on the brain found that participants felt more active, alert, attentive, proud, and inspired and less distressed and nervous after immersing themselves in cold water 

Cold stimulation has also been found to activate the vagus nerve increasing our capacity for intuitive insight, and the anterior mid cingulate cortex which, when strengthened naturally supports the cultivation of persistence and resilience. This results in more positive responses to external stressors over time.

Neuroscientists at Stanford University found that by placing an electrode on this part of the brain, individuals would say things like, “I feel like a storm is coming at me, but I think I can go through it” or, “I feel like something is about to happen but I can handle it.” 

It is also observed that cognitive super agers – those people who demonstrate cognitive ability beyond what is typical for their biological age – have larger than average anterior mid cingulate cortices.

Cold thermogenesis improves the health of the mitochondria. The mitochondria within a human body’s 50-70 trillion cells are responsible for taking all the food that you eat and turning it into energy. The effectiveness with which we are able to make best use of our stores of energy directly influences the robustness of our immune system. 

No bodily system operates in isolation of another and our cold plunges have been shown to benefit our lymphatic and circulatory systems also which have obvious linkages to immune health. Studies have shown that regular cold water exposure leads to increases in red and white blood cell counts and platelets. 

It has also been identified that these benefits are magnified when used in conjunction with deep breathing exercises and meditation practices, which certainly make sticking out an ice plunge a more manageable challenge!

Cold thermogenesis may help improve your sleep quality. This is done by increasing the production of a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin is normally thought of as a ‘sleep’ hormone, but it’s more of a ‘light’ hormone, connecting with our circadian biology and our bio-photonic nature. Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland in the brain in response to early morning light. It is released later when the sun goes down to support the transition to sleep. 

Much of Now, the problem is, blue light exposure from devices such as smartphones, LED lighting, and tablets suppresses melatonin release making it difficult to fall asleep. An interesting study showed that cold thermogenesis appears to help improve this disrupted melatonin release when you’ve been sleep deprived for a while from blue light toxicity.

Suffice it to say, the benefits of cold water therapy is broad based, improving not only how we feel physically but how we feel emotionally, increasing mental clarity and focus, and supporting us to make the best of our lives. A true exercise in creating mind / body harmony.

Beyond the physical effects of cold water therapy, a recent study at Stanford University discovered that when we do challenging things – like sitting in icy cold water for 2 or 3 minutes – engages a part of the brain called the anterior mid-cingulate cortex. It is a piece of brain tissue residing immediately in front of the corpus callosum – which is the brain’s super highway of information exchange between the brain’s left and right hemispheres. The anterior mid-cingulate cortex is associated with the cognitive skill of resilience and perseverance. As it is strengthened, we set ourselves up to embrace challenge in moe positive and pro-creative ways