Perhaps you’re familiar with the polar bear plunge, where individuals willingly jump, run, or dive into icy cold water.
Such events are typically done as fundraisers and aren’t a routine activity. However, some people participate in cold plunge therapy, a healing technique that can be helpful for a wide variety of conditions and ailments when done correctly and with guidance.
If you try it, you’ll be following in the footsteps of history, as people such as Hippocrates and Thomas Jefferson were advocates of cold water therapy.
What Is Cold Plunge Therapy?
Cold plunge therapy, also known as cold water immersion or cold water therapy, is the practice of immersing yourself in cold water for a short period of time for healing purposes. Based on research, it appears that the temperature of the water may be adjusted depending on your tolerance, what you hope to achieve, and your health status. (Yes, there can be health risks, which are covered later.) Common temperatures used in cold plunge therapy can range from the high 30s to 59 degrees Fahrenheit….