This article was originally published on Dan Goman’s official Substack platform.
Living in sunny Los Angeles, where we seldom need more than a light jacket, the idea of embracing the cold can seem almost counterintuitive. Like many people here, I love the warm climate and mild winters. Yet, there’s been a lot of talk about cryotherapy lately, sparking my interest despite my usual preference for staying warm.
Cryotherapy, or cold therapy, began in Japan in the late 1970s. Initially, it was developed to help alleviate pain and treat rheumatoid arthritis. The basic idea is to use extreme cold to prompt the body’s natural healing mechanisms. Over the years, this approach has expanded from simple ice packs and cold baths to sophisticated whole-body cryotherapy chambers.
The principle behind cryotherapy is straightforward: expose the body to freezing temperatures for a short time to reduce inflammation and pain and to boost overall well-being. This exposure causes blood vessels to constrict, reducing swelling and discomfort, while also triggering a flood of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Despite my initial reservations about the cold, the health benefits it promises were intriguing enough to consider giving it a try.
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