At first, it sounds crazy – can a cold shower really prevent colds and flu? But Dr. Alexa Fleckenstein, author of HEALTH 2 0: TAP INTO THE HEALING POWERS OF WATER TO FIGHT DISEASE, LOOK YOUNGER, AND FEEL YOUR BEST (McGraw-Hill 2007) says that a few seconds of cold water after your hot shower is scientifically proven to make you healthy – even if you’re in the cold water for less than 30 seconds a day.
Here are 6 ways that a short cold shower protects you from colds and flu:
1. A brief cold water shower will decrease your body’s “reaction time” to cold. The cold shower “teaches” the blood vessels in your skin to clamp down faster, so you are losing less warmth in draft or cold exposure. Especially, during the winter months while it’s cold outside, you’ll stay warmer, longer.
2. Gamma interferon and interleukin-4 are two important virus-fighting cytokines (immune system proteins) A new German study has shown that cold water exposure helps these two disease-fighters work better together, resulting in fewer viral colds.
3. A cold shower increases lymphocytes in the blood. Lymphocytes produce antibodies, which help fight germs.
4. A cold shower makes you breathe deeply. (A big gasp when the cold water hits the skin!) A deep breath opens closed or clogged alveoli (small air sacs in the lungs) which are then less prone to bronchitis and pneumonia. And deeper breathing means more oxygen for the whole body.
5. A cold shower increases blood flow in all organs, especially skin, heart and lungs. The pharynx/larynx ( organs of the throat) also benefit from the increased blood flow, and are better able to kill viruses.
6. And a cold shower lifts your mood. Depressed people get more colds – probably because depression lowers immunity. A brisk cold shower has been proven to lift the mood and lower stress, both of which jumpstart the immune response – which kills flu and cold germs!
Remember that cold water therapy works only if done regularly, and also needs a few weeks (about six) to work. Start with just your feet and hands in the cold water, and gradually work your way up to your whole body. It feels great!
IMPORTANT: Check with your doctor first. Contraindication include uncontrolled high blood pressure, and narrowing of the arteries.
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I prefer cold baths over cols showers because I can sit in the cold water and sponge over my whole body more effectively. It is also known to be good for asthma because it opens the lung airways. My doctor wants to look up information on cold baths/cold showers to prove how effective it is. I have been using cold water bathing since July 23, 2007. I have not been on medication for my asthma since Jan 22. I have not been in a pharmacy since Dec 31, ’07. This cold water treatment is very powerful and effective.
Dear Leon,
Cold shower or cold bath seems, in this case, more a question of taste.
The easiest way for your physician to get information about cold water and health is in my book because, unfortunately, a lot of the literature is in German.
But here is one article that gives an idea how the cold water might work on asthma, on the molecular level: http://rparticle.web-p.cisti.nrc.ca/rparticle/AbstractTemplateServlet?journal=cjpp&volume=76&year=&issue=&msno=y98-097&calyLang=eng
I would be interested if you also made changes in your diet since last July? Avoiding all dairy because of its mucus-producing and inflammatory properties usually also reduces asthma and hay-fever symptoms.
Did you note other effects of the cold water? Less colds? Better mood? Better sleep?
Water greetings!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
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sounds really good, i will try it for the next showers
greetings
Bernhard
http://leetsil.fh-forum.org
Let me know how if there are any effects. I’ll bet there will be!
Roanne
Now I changed my mind–I like the cold showers better because I can shower my whole body and it still have the same effect as the cold bath and I believe I can get more of the thereputic effect of it than the bath. My allergies are better under control and so is my asthma. I was taking cold showers when I stopped my asthma medication on Jan. 22, 2008. So I should keep on taking cold showers. Yes I do sleep better and my body is less susceptible to colds and flu. I ‘ve had neither of those.
Now I get it. The cold baths certainly helps me. So now I prefer cold baths over cold showers. I can clean my whole body and my breathing is better, I sleep better, and I am less sick. Prehaps never get sick. Even though I get this runny nose constantly, probably from the cold air.
Well let’s put it this way–I bathe in cold water. I love it. It is good for my health and is very therapeutic. Sometimes I take baths other times I shower. But they both have the same benefits.
Can we use this therapy on babies?
Rose – I will ask Dr. Alexa Fleckenstein, my cold water expert, to reply to your question
Dear Rose,
Yes, you can apply cold water to babies.
When my son was four months old, I started him. I filled his little pink tub with cold water, cradled the naked boy in my hands and very quickly dunked him in. It took a second or so.
He took a deep gasp but never cried. He was so astonished about what had happened and so busy with thinking that he never had time to protest.
Can’t remember when I stopped it – but certainly I would not force a protesting toddler under cold water.
Now that our son is a young man, he follows the family tradition and ends each warm shower with a cold one. He became a healthy outdoors man.
Tell us how your baby likes it!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
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This cold water therapy works. Still not on medication for asthma and still have not ordered any from the pharmacy. Doctors beware! There is a new way of treating asthma, and meds are not it.
Hi,
it’s me again. As i posted a views months a go, i have tried the Cold Shower “project” and after a few weeks I am realy addicted to have a cold shock, after the shower.
Thanks for the tips.
Greetings from Austria
Bernhard
By the way, i have published a new photoblog for my Homepage wich is available in english and german: http://photoblog.fh-forum.org/?lang=en
The cold showers is the best thing I ever taken. Still no flus or colds and I do sleep better. The best medicine of everything out there.
started to have cold shower last winter, and since I feel very fresh, even if temp is very low, after the shower may body feels like Radioactive fuel source.
(Riyadh/KSA)
The cold baths is a matter of taste. The practice of running water in your bathtub, irrigating my nasal passages, and getting ready for my day is the best routine for me. Still the benefits of cold showers are the same as the cold baths–less colds better sleep, more energy, stronger immune system, stronger lymphatic system, and healthier skin.
I love the cold shower! I take two a day, but I make them quick. About five minutes is all I care for. It’s amazing how quickly you can adapt to the cold. I walk around in a short-sleeved t-shirt in below-freezing temperatures now. It’s true that it elevates your mood. I always feel compelled to sing in a cold shower! My latest blog post covers this topic as well:
http://simplelivinghealthyeating.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/the-power-of-the-cold-shower/
I have a question. Since I have no preference, should I take my full shower in the cold water, or just end it in a cold shower?
Dylan,
In European Natural Medicine we recommend that the cold exposure is only a few seconds (around 20 to 30) – unless you are overweight. People with a bit of padding can endure longer periods in the cold water (that is why the photos of winter swimmers usually show only chubby guys; the slim ones opted out…).
It also depends on where you live. If you live in Florida or Hawaii or such, stay in the cold as long as you want. You actually will have a harder time harvesting the benefits from your cold shower. We here in Boston are blessed, of course!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
For over ten years I have had cold showers in the morning and can attest to being more flu resistant than anyone in my office. While every other worker gets hit, the most I suffer is a sore throat.
I also do a few stretching exercises with the cold water blasting on me. I hold onto the top of the shower screen and stretch my spine. This releases stress at the beginning of the day. Which helps because I have a stressful job.
I had a blood test and my white cell count was three times higher than average.
When I tell others my theory I am met with derision. Glad I found this website, which confirms the long term benefits of an invigorating cold shower.
Gerald, 43, Sydney Australia.
Gerald Mackenzie,
That sounds so good! I like how you combine cold shower with exercise. I always try to fit some movement into my daily chores because I am bored stiff by gyms.
Your high white blood cell count – that I really don’t understand. It depends very much on WHICH part of the white blood cells are high. If it is the overall count – it really should be lower in a healthy person. Can you check?
All the best wishes to downunder!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
I take contrast showers and I get more of the benefits than just hot or cold water alone. The benefits are more energy, less soreness, and a stronger immune sytem. I began practicing this on Aug. 28, 2009. Since then I have felt great. The contrast showers requires switching between hot and cold water. The effects of it are the body has more circulation and is more tolerable to stress and it boost the amount of lymphocytes and white blood cells in the body. I have never felt a better relief than trying this.
Dear Leon,
It is true that alternating hot and cold showers are even more invigorating than following a hot shower with a simple cold one. But alternating showers are also more stressful for the body (because you repeat the same circle over and over). Which means, they are not for everybody.
Good for you that you try new things!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Dr. Fleckenstein,
What about pouring a bucket of cold water on a top of the head? Would this shock therapy help an asthmatic child?
Dear Anna,
No, indeed, a bucket of cold water over the head could be harmful because some asthma gets worse with cold exposure.
Daily cold showers and cold washes can improve lung function in the long time. But the child has the best chance for better breathing, if he/she leaves out inflammatory foods – mainly all dairy (ABSOLUTELY all dairy!), and also fried foods, artificial coloring and preservatives. The child needs a diet with lots of vegetables and fruit, and a little meat and fish. Watch out for food allergies.
All the best for the child!
Alexa Fleclenstein M.D.
Thank you for such a prompt response. My son is actually very allergic to anything that contains dairy. We will try cold shower therapy, and hopefully, he will outgrow it in time.
Dear Anna,
If your son is so allergic, you might want to consider also ruling out a gluten problem. There are several tests – not always reliable. Best would be to leave out all gluten (wheat. barley, rye, oats) for a few months. Let him eat rice, beans and lentils instead.
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Hello,
Everytime I try a cold shower I get sick. It is very strange for me that all this people have benefits of having a cold shower.
After a few days of a cold shower I get the same symptoms as a cold and sometimes symptoms of pneumonia.
I’m thin, don’t have much fat, I go to the gym more than 3 times a week, go for a run once a week and do other sport. There are some weeks that I do more training than others of course.
I also take multivitamins, eat vegetables mostly in salads, and try to have good food everyday.
Dear Nelson,
The beneficial of a cold shower on the immune system sets in after about six weeks. If you take a cold shower here and there, it does not do you much good.
If you are getting sick after every cold shower, the following come to my mind: chronic sinusitis, overly long exposure, underweight, or-exercising, too cold body or too cold environment afterward.
Chronic sinusitis, and then letting cold water run over your scalp: Solution: Skip the scalp part.
Overly long exposure: A cold shower is no winter swimming. The goal should be twenty to thirty seconds a day, not more. If you do longer (especially if you are thin), it might be too much – you’ll end up suppressing your immune system, instead of strengthening it).
Underweight: You say you have very little fat. Since every single cell of your body protects itself with a membrane made out of fat, beeing too thin can be a problem. Try adding coconut oil, olive oil and nuts to your meals.
Over-exercising: The same applies here. In Ayurvedic medicine, for instance, one is not allowed to walk more than two hours a day. Everything more will excite the body too much and suppress immune function. – For us here in the West, overdoing exercise is an alien concept – you can’t overdo a good thing, can you? Yes, you can The wisdom of other healing systems (Ayurvedic, Chinese, European) all call for moderation – even in the joy parts of our lives.
Too cold body or too cold environment afterward: It is important that a cold shower is not done to a cold body – even if you only have cold feet. First warm yourself under a hot shower, then turn the handle to cold. – And make sure that your bathroom and bed are nice and warm, so that you are not getting cold then.
Let us know if you can improve the outcome of the cold showers, Nelson. All the best wishes to you!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Hello Alexa,
Thank you for your reply. I think I have sinusitis but not 100% sure. Two doctors found a deviated bone on my nose.
But I’ll follow your words. Thank you for your advice.
Regards,
Nelson
Dear Nelson,
Doctors always find “bones on your nose” – so they can operate. Just know that about 90 percent of the population have a deviated septum. It rarely is the cause for chronic sinusitis.
Dairy usually is the culprit, as an inflammatory mucus-producing food. So leave it out. Avoid sugars (and sweeteners, too). Rinse your nose with saltwater at least twice a day (find how to do it on my website under “salt water nose rinse).
That should do the trick. Let us know how you are doing!
All the best!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Several additional comments from my reading, hearing and experience. Please “true up” anything not fully accurate:
1) In taking a cold shower, place cold water into the mouth and hold it in the back of the throat during the 20 – 30 second interval. When done with cold shower, spit the water out and rinse mouth and throat again. This helps the water to feel less cold and the increased ventilation when the cold water hits removes toxins from the lungs.
2) Try to get cold water onto the sides of the rib cage. I have heard that this is especially useful for the lungs and stimulates the body’s heat producing response.
3) Another benefit of cold water on the skin is that because it is a major organ of elimination, the closing of the pores also forces out toxins.
I’ve been taking them since I was 17.I never even bothered with hot water-cold ones from the start.As well as the aforementioned,they simply make me feel more alive.Unfortunately I’d lived in Florida for the past fifteen years(I’m in my forties).Truly cold tap water’s unavailable,even in winter.I’ve always felt a marked difference.My skin’s still good for a smoker my age.However,I never feel as clean,alert, or vigorous here.When travelling I rush into a cold shower- first thing.It all comes back,gloriously.
Dear Erik,
Good for you – you are describing exactly some of the benefits of cold water!
Granted, the water is never as wonderful in Florida or California as in Maine or Minnesota, but this is the trick I use to get more out of a lukewarm shower: Don’t towel off! Linger for a few moments naked and let the air dry you. You could even do some exercises in your birthday suit until dry. This gives a greater stimulus to your immune system.
I am not your mom – but I have to ask anyway, Erik: Any possibility to might give up smoking soon? The cold shower is already such a great step in the right direction of health …
All the best!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
I discovered cold showers via Kneipp on the internet this year.
All through the Australian winter I had not a cold or cough. Now In the Oz spring I have a bad cold or “manflu” I took a clod shower yesterday and it seemed to make my cold worse.
Should I take cold showers when I have a cold?
I am a believer in cold showers as since I have been taking them me sinuses have been unblocked for the first time in my life.
I usually take my shower when still lathered with sweat from my 5 mile jog on my treadmill.
Should I or should I not take a shower now?
John,
Probably not, especially if you have a bad cold with fever. With a cold, a hot bath (perhaps with some Vick Vaporup or eucalyptus) is usually better than a cold shower. After the bath, make sure you don’t get chilly. Wrap yourself up warm, go to bed and get some extra sleep.
Elderberry juice and hot teas (linden, elderberry flowers, sage – they all are good) in that situation. And if your nose is stuffed, Andrographis paniculata gives very good results (as drops or pills, at least three times a day).
A cold showers stimulates the immune system and works as prevention. Once you have a cold, heal first. Then, if you feel better, return to your cold showers.
Get better!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Doctor,
Too late. I took my cold shower and do feel better. Its bedtime here in OZ I’ll find out in the morning when I awake.
I’ll try the elderberry juice and I am a big tea drinker.
Cheers
Just a quick reminder that online medical advice should never replace consultation with your medical provider. Check with your doctor or clinician before engaging in any treatment.
I started taking a 30 second cold rinse after my regular warm shower in June of 2009 and now go 2 minutes with the cold rinse. I am generally in excellent health but in the past have always managed to get one cold per winter season. Since starting the cold rinse regimen I have not had a cold or other bacterial or viral illness.
Dear Mike Shafer,
That is exactly what happens with cold showers – thank you for telling us!
It is actually not necessary to go for two minutes – 20 to 30 seconds usually are the goal. But who am I to interfere if you are having fun?!
Alexa Fleckenstein.
i have really bad asthma… if i sit in a cold shower will it help me a little bit….
The high humidity in the shower helps your breathing. But that is not going to the root cause of asthma. If you have bad asthma, the first thing you should do is to eliminate all dairy from your food. And better all sugar, too. Dairy and sugar are highly inflammatory foods that keep your lungs in an “asthma mode” – and then any tiny trigger like smoke, smog, dust, mold, throws you into another attack.
It will be difficult in the beginning without cheese, yogurt, butter, milk, and so on. But within short time, you likely feel much better. I myself had bad asthma about twenty years ago – I never could go anywhere with my assortment of inhalers. Now I haven’t seen an inhaler in ages …
The hard part is to find new foods. Think fresh (vegetable, herbs, fruit). Think rice and beans. Think sardines.
Good luck with it!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
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This is a news for me. Now I am really thinking in why our older generations had a better health than us. They never had geezers or machines to make water warm to take baths but they were more stronger than us.
Dr Alexa! Can I ask any personal questions in private? how to contact you?
irtizaali,
On my own blog (just google Alexa Fleckenstein blog) you will find a contact address. – Right you are: People used to be healthier! Our children will be the first generation who will be unhealthier than their parents AND poorer, too.
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Older generations were stronger because at birth only the strongest would suvervive, there was no tecnology or medicine to help weak babies to survive. Also people were stronger for many other factors, like old lifestyle (no stress) and diet. It is a narrow thinking saying it was all because of cold showers.
Dear Nelson,
I never said that cold water is the only reason why former generations were healthier. You are right in pointing out some of the other factors. One big factor was that people worked physically in farming or manufacturing, and often walked many miles every day because of limited transportation.
Water is only one of the Five Health Essentials. The others are: movement, fresh foods, herbs and balance.
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Hi Alexa,
I totally agree with you. I was commenting on Irtizaai’s comment.
And I already stated in this blog before, cold showers won’t work for me and probably for many other people. I have neck pain now just because of cold air and the same will happen if I get a cold shower. Also, I have dry skin and other rashes after living in UK, whenever I go back to Portugal my skin gets so much better just after 3 days and I blame the cold for that. Some people are not meant to work well with any kind of cold and I think that does not mean we are less healthy than the rest (hopefully).
I just started on sauna for the first time last week (3 sessions now) and it may be just a phase, but I think my skin is getting better. No, I’m not taking cold shower after sauna and I do not intend to do it at the moment at least.
Dear Nelson, I have no idea if the cold makes all the difference – or not. It could also be the better food in Portugal. Or a less abrasive laundry detergent. Or healthier milk products. – Too many confounding factors!
But a splash of cold water in your face? I don’t think it would hurt you! And from there, I would experiment further.
But I would use virgin coconut oil on your skin – works wonders!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Hello there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha
plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!
vintage baby shower,
There you get me! I could answer about every medical question you could come up with. But in your case, I don’t have the faintest idea what you are talking about!
Somebody else to the rescue??
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
I’m curious to find out what blog platform you are working with? I’m experiencing
some minor security issues with my latest site and I would like to find something more safe.
Do you have any solutions?
Wow, sounds kind of extreme, I have had to take a few cold showers at the gym when the hot water was down. It’s quite a shock on the old body. My thoughts are that this is not a good thing to do if you have a cold or flu.
zep,
Yours is a good observation: It is NOT a good idea to start with a cold shower when one is acutely ill. A sick body cannot handle the cold stress, and it takes indeed about six months of a daily cold shower before the protection against colds will become measurable.
Thank you for pointing this out (it is mentioned in our water book – but we can’t bring all the details on this website).
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Sounds true considering that those who take bath in warm water feel cold immediately after bath
Well observed, Benard!