COLD WATER THERAPY
Chicky Read
It has often been said that those who live by the sea are healthier, happier and more content in life.
For a long time it has been thought that being in/near the sea has many health benefits. Historically, doctors instructed their patients to go to the seaside to improve various illnesses. ‘Thalassotherapy’ is the use of seawater as a form of therapy. In the late 16th century, English physicians recommended the healing effects of cold water for everything from heat stroke to melancholy. It was believed that a brisk shock of cold water stimulated the entire body.
Exercising in natural environments has been shown to have great benefits for ones mental health. This is because you are combining the benefits of exercise with the restorative effects of being in nature. Swimming in the ocean can be meditative, reduce stress and can be relaxing.
There are various reasons for how swimming in the ocean benefits your health. Cold water swimming is a form of exercise, and exercise has been proven to treat depression. The way in which our breathing is affected during swimming and diving, stimulates the system that controls organ function and quietens the brain and have effects on brain waves and hormones that influence the brain positively. The weightlessness of water can also have a calming effect on the mind or slowing down brain waves. It can help provide a distraction from life, giving a sense of mindfulness.
Hydrotherapy and swimming have also been shown to decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety. Hydrotherapy is a therapeutic whole-body treatment that involves moving and exercising in water and has been extensively used in rehabilitation.
Cold water swimming brings us close to the pain barrier, this activates temperature receptors under the skin that release endorphins. Endorphins are released when we're in pain to help us cope. Endorphins have therapeutic benefits for musculoskeletal conditions and skin discomfort.
Regular cold water swimming has also been found to lead to enhanced function of the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps with organ function, this has been linked to an increase in the release of dopamine, a hormone associated with happiness, and serotonin, which regulates our mood. Frequent exposure to cold water also has been shown to increase the body’s immunity.
If you are able to, try and do cold water swimming with a wild swimming group in the sea, lakes or rivers, but always remember to be safe. It will be greatly beneficial to make cold water swimming a habit, for your physical health and your mental health.
