“Water is the driving force in nature.”
– Leonardo Da Vinci
Building on yesterdays post, I’m going to describe some of the many benefits of hydrotherapy:
- Improved Circulation: Cold water forces blood to migrate to the organs, while hot water causes blood to move towards the skin’s surface. Alternating between hot and cold, gives you the best of both worlds; as it stimulates circulation throughout the entire body.
- Increases mental clarity: As previously stated, cold water causes blood to rush to the organs. Your brain being one of those organs. I cannot even begin to describe how alert and honed my mind feels during a contrast shower. It’s like NZT, except a thousand times cheaper and available right in your own bathroom.
- Relieves depression: According to science, cold water stimulates the brain’s production of Norepinephrine; a chemical that combats depression. (Side note: after taking a contrast shower, I usually start randomly laughing. Most likely because of the increased Norepinephrine levels).
- Prevents acne: Hot water opens pores, while cold water closes them. By ending a contrast shower with cold water, your pores will be sealed and safe from getting clogged.
- Reduces joint pain: Taking a contrast shower is basically like wrapping your whole body in IcyHot. It’s great for relieving sprains and backaches, and can even prevent arthritis.
- Maintains healthy skin: Hot water will eventually dry out the skin, by alternating between hot and cold you greatly reduce damaging your tissue.
- Boosts energy: The Japanese Shinto (pictured at the top of this post) used to practice Misogi as a daily ritual. While their procedure was done for religious purposes, it had practical benefits as well. Because of the increased circulation and mental stimulation that contrast showering provides, the body also receives a major surge in energy. For several hours after showering, I feel incredibly alive and vital.
If you have any hydrotherapy related questions, post a comment, send an email, or shoot me a Tweet. I’d be more than happy to answer.