Cold Showers and Wim Hof

[38yroldmale]

I’ve been trying Cold Showers with the Wim Hof method breathing. I seem to feel great for. 3-4 days and then worsen. I get stiffness in my lower back. I’ve read it might get worse before it gets better? I’ve read 3 weeks to reset your nervous system? Any input would be great!

[38yroldmale]

one thing i forgot to add. I started with 3-4 minutes showers, should I start slower? Maybe I need to work into it

[park_bear]

Low back stiffness may be due to facet joint Issues. The facet joints are joints that connect the vertebrae together located at the rear of the spine. I wrote about this here, scroll down to the section labeled "facet joints": tinyurl.com/ktv33aye

One indication that the issue is facet joints is the discomfort gets better after standing for a while.

[38yroldmale in reply to park_bear]

Thanks, they do improve after standing!!

[park_bear in reply to 38yroldmale]

Additional notes about facet joint issues:

• Parkinson's puts extra stress on the lumbar spine due to the tendency to bend forward.

• Traditional medical interventions are for symptomatic pain relief only, which is not useful in my opinion

• There's some evidence that platelet-rich plasma can rejuvenate facet joints. There are clinics that offer this treatment. I am considering it.

• Unhappy facet joints can make walking more difficult, which can look like Parkinson's progression, but it's not

• Facet joint troubles can also affect muscles in the lower torso, which can seem like dystonia, but is not

[MBAnderson]

scienceofparkinsons.com/tag...

[38yroldmale]

Thanks!

[Michel0220]

Hello. I have tried the cold showers last year (during the summer) but have stopped after a while (in the autumn when the cold water became really… cold). I am sure that there are health benefits to cold showers but it didn’t really help my symptoms. I did not really enjoy the cold showers (and dopamine is about enjoyment and rewards) so I stopped. However I do regular breathing exercises (not Win Hof’s).

[taxidermy1944]

I find a cold shower of about 2 minutes helps reduce anxiety and depression. I am not certain how long the improvement lasts but it is worth the effort. I have not had back pain or any side effects that I know of. With summer coming, the colder showers are going to be more frequent. It also gives increased energy.

I am going to try lion's mane mushroom capsules next.

[fnedorez70]

I am a little confused: I read the last report by Simon on the benefits of saunas on Neurological disorders and I recall his earlier write up about cold showers benefits. So which one is it?

[amykp]

I've read that the switch is good, meaning, a sauna (or hot tub) then a plunge into cold water. Supposedly, one thing it really helps is sleep.

I do it as many nights as I can, and it seems to help. I drop off in minutes and sleep like a log on those nights. But I live in Florida and have a hot tub and pool. We keep the hot tub really hot (like 106) and the pool not-so-cold, but a swim in 70-degree water FEELS cold after 106.

Anyway, the neuroprotective idea is both heat and cold shock proteins are good for the brain? I think you could mimic it with a really hot, then medium cold shower. To me it feels really good, actually. I think it helps to get overheated first.

saunamarketplace.com/sauna-...

I just read this article. They say (after heat) the cold water has to be below 66. I've done that too. Brrr. But it doesn't have to be icy, at least.

[Astra7]

Hi. Are you still doing this? I’ve done it for 2 weeks and I think it is helping. It’s pretty unpleasant though - I’m doing 2 mins cold shower after my normal warm shower. Or plunging in the cold pool for a few minutes.

I don’t seem to need my meds quite as desperately, but I still need them!!

[38yroldmale in reply to Astra7]

I’m not sure if you’re asking me but yes, I’m still doing it. I actually got a cold plunge. I sit in 39 degree water. Helps a ton!

[Astra7 in reply to 38yroldmale]

Wow - that is cold. How long do you do it for? Do you put your head under? My shower water is around 16C, and I do it for 2 minutes.

I really think it’s helping.

[38yroldmale]

I started with 3 minutes for a week, then 4 for a week and so on. I’m up to 10 min but that might be too long. 8 minutes is what I usually do.