Why Did Winter Baths Become So Popular?

Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - When it is very cold outside, most of us hurry back to a warm home. During winter, we try to dress in warm clothes and appreciate the comfort of central heating, hot beverages, and thick blankets.

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Not everyone has the same needs and ideas, though. Winter baths are popular in Scandinavia and other countries.  Some people enjoy outdoor swimming and taking cold baths when the temperature is low. There is a strong tradition of open-air baths and cold bathhouses, most of which are open year-round, and the interest in ice bathing is rising.

Health Benefits Of Cold Baths

Is spending time in ice-cold water a way to courageously show that your body can withstand very low temperatures? The answer to this question is  - no, at least in most cases. There are many proven health benefits of regular cold bathing. Afterward, it is wise and healthy to go to the sauna.

Scientists at Oulu University in Finland have conducted several studies on winter swimming over the years. The results of their studies show that “cold bathing improved memory, decreased tension and increased energy thanks to temporarily altering blood circulation. Cold bathing is suitable for everyone, provided you don’t suffer from heart or circulation problems.” ¹

“All swimmers who suffered from rheumatism, fibromyalgia, or asthma, reported that winter swimming had relieved pains.” ²

Ancient Civilizations Practiced Cold Bathing

Many ancient civilizations were familiar with the benefits of cold-water immersion. According to a medical document known as the Edwin Smith Papyrus, written around 1,600 B.C., ancient Egyptians knew the therapeutic use of cold. The ancient Egyptian papyrus refers on several occasions to cold applications prescribed for skin irritation. “An ailment which I will treat with cold applications, cold applications,” the ancient Egyptian surgeon says. ³

Ancient Greeks discovered cold water improved athletic training and general well-being.  The “Father of Medicine,” Hippocrates, said water therapy reduced violence and inflammation, eased muscle pain, treated fevers, and boosted the immune system. Hippocrates saw in cold water a natural remedy readily available to all.

“The Roman Empire, known for its meticulous engineering and elaborate bathhouses, naturally adopted the Greek fascination with cold-water immersion. Roman bath complexes, like the iconic Baths of Caracalla, incorporated frigid rooms known as frigidaria alongside saunas and hot baths.

This temperature variation, believed to stimulate circulation and invigorate the senses, became a central element of Roman bathing culture, enjoyed by both nobles and commoners alike.” ⁴

During the Middle Ages, there was also interest in cold water therapy.

One who definitely promoted cold baths was James Currie, a Scottish physician who in December 1790, “witnessed the drowning of the crew of capsized American sailing ship. The sea was 5  ° C (41  ° F), and the crew perished from hypothermia. The event made a great impression on Currie and led him to undertake the first experiments to measure the effects of cold water on humans. He became the first to discover that cold water acts as a stimulus on the central nervous system; for example, he investigated whether the cold could cure fever.” ⁵

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So, we can end this by saying that people have practiced winter swimming for as long as anyone can remember, and our ancestors knew cold baths are in many ways good for health, but is it relatively recently most of us have re-discovered this ancient tradition.

It is also highly significant to remember that cold winter bathing is not suitable for everyone and should be avoided by people who, for example, suffer from heart problems. It is always better to consult your physician before plunging into cold water, even if it is only for a few seconds. Remember, the ice bath temperature is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius), and some may find it difficult to endure the initial shock of cold water.

Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer

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