Helping News May, 2016 Issue 95
News from the Discovery Channel
2008
Cold Showers and Depression
News from The Discovery Channel: “Treatments for depression range from medicines that can come with scary side effects to electric shock therapy, but a new paper suggests a simple cold shower might sometimes cure, and even prevent, the debilitating mood disorder.” Now I understand why I always feel so uplifted and, well, happy, after my morning cold shower gush. A 2008 research study, reported by the National Institutes of Health, supports the use of cold water on the skin as one treatment for depression. Two reasons are proposed: First, our evolution from primate ancestors “trained” our bodies and brain chemistry to benefit from brief changes in body temperature, such as cold swims. Second, genetic predisposition means that some people are more susceptible to others to this “thermal stress.” Researchers hypothesized that brief cold showers “send an overwhelming amount of electrical impulses from peripheral nerve endings to the brain, which could result in an anti-depressive effect.” And that is in fact what the research supported: “Cold hydrotherapy can relieve depressive symptoms rather effectively. The therapy was also found to have a significant analgesic (pain reducing)effect and it does not appear to have noticeable side effects or cause dependence.”
So turn that shower dial to “cold” for a few seconds after your hot shower! (But check with your doctor first to make sure you don’t have any contraindications.)
More information coming...
