Wim Hof Method

[Gaz227]

I was talking to a friend about my latest health problems ,out of the blue he says Wim Hof , excuse me was my reply, he said try it , they claim to have great results with Auto Immune illnesses . So has anybody tried this method of breathing and cold treatments, I downloaded the app for a look and a little more investigation i’m Not a big fan of the cold showers etc but will try anything , as they say any port in a storm , your thoughts .

[Telian]

Like you never heard of it Gaz will be interested to hear of any feedback. Me too about the cold showers - just the thought.....

[Gaz227 in reply to Telian]

I’ve been trying the cold showers for. 5 days now , first day I could only step in for 15 sec and that was me done , i’m Up to 4 minutes on the 5 th day and i’m Actually enjoying them once i’m In , and I have to say when you get out you feel so charged up. Also doing the Wim Hof breathing method first thing every morning and again feel really positive. Will report on it after another week or so, i’ve Also dropped my pred by 3 mg no pain down to 12 👍.

[Telian in reply to Gaz227]

You’re doing well and I hope the treatment continues to help you. Yes please let us know how you get on.

[Gaz227 in reply to Telian]

I’m seeing my Rhuemy on Thursday this week , I will be interested to hear his thoughts on the Wim Hof method are .

[Beanie57 in reply to Gaz227]

Hi there I’m just looking at this for my sister. Just wondering now your getting on? She experienced her whole body shaking during the one breathing session she has done , not sure if this good sign or bad. She generally only has a tremor in her Left arm on movement.

[Gaz227 in reply to Beanie57]

Hi , I’m about 3 weeks in now and my breathing retention averaging 3 mins it was only 1.5 mins when I started , I find when I get the breathing right I get tingling in my fingers and feet plus a little light headed which after watching lots of videos on the subject is normal. The cold showers are getting a lot easier also , I don’t go straight to cold, I lower it gradually till it is literally on freezing cold setting , can’t stay there for more than 30 seconds and if it hits my forehead you get instant brain freeze but as silly as it sounds that’s when I get the most benefit . Not to sure about your sisters shaking and tremor tell her to take it slowly, I am seeing a neurologist on Tuesday for some symptoms that need investigating , but I am definitely in a better place than 3 weeks ago managing to do flow yoga every day , it’s a good start after the state I was in , I think consistency is the answer try and make it a habit . As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day . Best of luck let me know how it goes 👍😀

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The Germans swear by alternating warm and cold baths/showers for benefitting the immune system. Whether it helps a/i disease I don't know.

But I have to say - I'm sceptical!!

[SnazzyD]

I’m mixed. I wouldn’t recommend cold shower shock for anyone with poor adrenal function on low doses of Pred. He lost me a bit when he said on YouTube something about getting more oxygen to the brain with “head breathing”. Well, we’ve only got one breathing hole and that’s in the head and oxygen is absorbed through the lungs. I’ve often practised breathing inflating one section (upper v lower) of the lungs separately, just to give them a stretch. The type of breathing with holding is common to many other disciplines so it doesn’t feel very revolutionary. Putting my body through stress of hyperventilating to the point of feeling woozy isn’t my thing but perhaps some find a benefit.

[PMRCanada]

In my experience hot/warm water is very beneficial (I go in our hot tub often). Same with our local pool, but if the water is colder my deep water exercises seem to be more difficult to do??

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PMRCanada]

Yes, I found my muscles seized up if the pool was below about 27C! I've got into the pool to start an aquafit class and got straight out again!!

[HeronNS]

I have a vague memory of someone posting about trying cold treatment on either this or Patient forum and I think the result was they would never do it again. Personally I react very badly to cold, it actually makes me ache, whereas warmth has the opposite effect. Maybe it feels so good when you stop applying cold you think you are really feeling better than before!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

Constance did cryotherapy in Germany didn't she? But that isn't quite the same - it's intense low temps for a very short time. The Wim Hof stuff is rather longer and not so cold.

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

Ah, maybe that was it. Cryotherapy rings a bell.

[fmkkm]

Hi all, here is a controlled study that showed 29% reduction in absence from illness using hot/cold.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[HeronNS in reply to fmkkm]

But the subjects were screened for any serious health conditions, were employed (therefore probably younger than many of us) and over a few months any difference noted at the beginning became insignificant, including effect on cytokine production. "Our findings show that routinely showering (hot-to-) cold for at least 30 days resulted in a reduction of self-reported sick leave from work but not illness days in adults without severe comorbidity." So where does the 29% reduction fit in?

Also, does our immunosuppressant medication potentially alter our responses to this therapy?

[fmkkm in reply to HeronNS]

Hi, yes, it is a bit confusing. I was thinking it doesn’t prevent illness but decreases the severity maybe?

[Gaz227 in reply to HeronNS]

That’s a very good point HeronNS about our immune suppressant drugs , I wonder if by using the Hof method you could wean off your meds quicker ? Or would the drugs such as pred stop you from using the Hof method properly as he claims to be able to control his immune system . There are people on his crazy mountain trek climbs with conditions such as lupus it would interesting to find out what he encourages them to do with regards to there daily meds , I will go on his website and if there is a contact box I will put the question 👍

[GerriMc]

I can’t bear the cold. I do have a friend who has fibromyalgia and cold showers were recommended for her. Don’t know that she has had any great success though.

[HeronNS in reply to GerriMc]

I remember some years ago having crippling foot pain and the doctor suggested that application of cold would help. I found the opposite. With warmth the pain went away never to return.... I think cold is useful to prevent swelling from an injury, to prevent damage and scarring from a burn, that sort of acute short term thing. But in general I personally find warmth more healing.

[Gaz227 in reply to HeronNS]

I think the first 48 hours of most injuries ice is best , but when my back aches which has been a long term osteoarthritis thing warmth every time for me

[GerriMc in reply to HeronNS]

I agree!