[imark3000]

A case of science proving common senseRead following recent Times article. I used to hate cold showers but found myself loving them after I got my PD !

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/lif...cle3082740.ece

Cold water cure?

GOT the glums? Jumping into a cold shower could give your grey matter just the boost needed to spark it into a festive mood, claims an American brain-scanning expert.

Nikolai Shevchuk, a researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University’s radiation oncology department, believes that short, cold showers may stimulate a part of the brain stem called, appropriately, the “blue spot”, or locus ceruleus.

This region is the brain’s primary source of noradrenaline, a chemical that may mediate depression, Shevchuk says in a research paper scheduled for publication in the journal, Medical Hypotheses.

He believes that regular cold showers may stimulate the blue spot by giving it a mild but intense sensory shock, thanks to the fact that we have a high density of cold sensors in the skin – around five times more than those registering warmth.

Shevchuk suggests that modern life lacks sufficient physiological stressors, such as sudden changes in body temperature, to keep our brains sparked up. He suggests that twice-daily cold showers of three-minute duration should do the trick. In another paper, published in Behavioral and Brain Functions in October, he says the practice may also alleviate chronic fatigue syndrome.

The theory may sound like a boost for the public-school philosophy of “snap out of it and buck yourself up”, but it has other antecedents. Research by the psychiatrist Thomas Wehr, of the National Institute of Mental Health, has shown that people who chronically suffer from depression in summer benefit from frequent cold showers.

Traditional Chinese medicine has also long prescribed cold water swims for lifting dismal moods. Shevchuk cautions, though, that you should check with your doctor first, in case the shock might be a little too much.

[GregD]

Originally Posted by imark3000

A case of science proving common senseRead following recent Times article. I used to hate cold showers but found myself loving them after I got my PD !

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/lif...cle3082740.ece

Cold water cure?

GOT the glums? Jumping into a cold shower could give your grey matter just the boost needed to spark it into a festive mood, claims an American brain-scanning expert.

Nikolai Shevchuk, a researcher at Virginia Commonwealth University’s radiation oncology department, believes that short, cold showers may stimulate a part of the brain stem called, appropriately, the “blue spot”, or locus ceruleus.

This region is the brain’s primary source of noradrenaline, a chemical that may mediate depression, Shevchuk says in a research paper scheduled for publication in the journal, Medical Hypotheses.

He believes that regular cold showers may stimulate the blue spot by giving it a mild but intense sensory shock, thanks to the fact that we have a high density of cold sensors in the skin – around five times more than those registering warmth.

Shevchuk suggests that modern life lacks sufficient physiological stressors, such as sudden changes in body temperature, to keep our brains sparked up. He suggests that twice-daily cold showers of three-minute duration should do the trick. In another paper, published in Behavioral and Brain Functions in October, he says the practice may also alleviate chronic fatigue syndrome.

The theory may sound like a boost for the public-school philosophy of “snap out of it and buck yourself up”, but it has other antecedents. Research by the psychiatrist Thomas Wehr, of the National Institute of Mental Health, has shown that people who chronically suffer from depression in summer benefit from frequent cold showers.

Traditional Chinese medicine has also long prescribed cold water swims for lifting dismal moods. Shevchuk cautions, though, that you should check with your doctor first, in case the shock might be a little too much.

That would be like hitting your thumb with a hammer because your toe hurts. I think I'll wait for further study in this area before I start taking cold showers on purpose.

GregD

[reverett123]

I just tried it and can report:
1) Three minutes is one hell of a long time!!!
2) I do think I got something out of it in the two minutes I was able to stand it. I went in starting my nightly freeze ups and now, ten minutes later, am doing considerably better than before. As they say in the trade, "Further research is warranted. Throw money!"

[reverett123]

I'm not going to push this tonight (big day tomorrow) but either it did something impressive or I have one heck of a placebo effect.

Banished the freezing that would have me well in its grip by now. Feel good, too. Probably due to getting out of that shower.

If this is a real effect, it would at the very least be a handy way of improving those first hours of the day and last ones at night.

Is it releasing extra noradrenaline from finite reserves or is it producing extra and adding to them? Or is it affecting the receptors or something similar? Lots of questions. But I can report that it gained me an hour of functional time on this attempt.

[lou_lou]

these hot and cold water showers are actually for detoxifying the body!

Water: The Best Home Remedy To Detox Your Body
Tess Thompson


The natural detoxification system of the human body consists of the liver, the kidneys, the digestive system and the skin. The system is often put to the test due to the inhalation of pollutants and the unhealthy foods we consume. Even your dentist can contribute to your toxicity if he/she uses mercury amalgam to fill cavities. These amalgams can enter the body while brushing or can shed on their own over time.

For these reasons, you should choose a detox product or an herbal detox program to cleanse your body periodically. You could time it after a hectic vacation or a period of overindulgence. Some simple modifications in your regular diet and the addition of home remedies for natural detox can also prove to be helpful in cleansing your body over time.

However, in search of a good detox treatment , we tend to ignore one of the simplest detox remedies that exists and is extremely easy to include in our daily lives, water. Water is the last word in home remedies for detoxification. It is the best natural cleansing agent and helps in dispelling toxins from the body in more ways than one.

Drinking water(not tap water!) provides the much needed hydration to the cells and body as a whole.

Hydration - If the amount of water in the body is insufficient, the cells start to draw water from the blood. This puts unnecessary pressure on the heart and can prove to be harmful in the long run.

Kidneys – Even short-lived dehydration can potentially affect kidney functioning. When the kidneys work too hard, the liver begins to take over. This initiates a chain reaction that affects other organs that help in detoxification. The net result is a heavier workload for the detoxification system as a whole. This can lead to conditions like acne, urinary tract infections, constipation and related medical disorders.

There is historical evidence that ancient cultures relied heavily on hot and cold baths and saunas for hygiene and health. All ancient cultures had bathing rituals for keeping their skin in proper condition.

Sweating is an essential part of the detoxification process. It is as essential as proper bowel movements. Sweat can change lipid toxins into water soluble toxins, and these water soluble toxins are then easily eliminated through the pores as sweat. Hot and cold baths and saunas open up the pores for smooth sweating.

Detoxification of the body is a continuous process. There is nothing that can be called a “quick detox” remedy or product. You have to be aware of the need of eliminating toxins regularly and properly. Home remedies can be easily ingested, and among home remedies, water is the easiest, most affordable remedy include in your daily diet.

If you enjoyed reading this article,
References:
http://www.detoxification.ws

[imark3000]

Thanks for the feed back. I must say that I discovered by sheer chance that cold showers (taken only after hard exercise) is good and enjoyable FOR ME.
This started in the summer when the water was not so cold but continued in colder weather. Recently the water has been very cold but I continued enjoying it against strong advise of my wife. For the last 3 days I got a cold , had to stop exercise and showers. I am aprehesive ! but I think will not be able to abandon these cold showers
---
Thank you dear Tena for your input ! by the way I take 4 glasses of water early in the morning an hour before breakfast ... I believe (you) it is good for me !
---
It must sound funny being proactive about one's health , but we have no other choice ! I lost faith in the medical health institution, great as it is, but has greater limitations.