Updated: August 26, 2020

The practice of taking cold showers in the morning is extraordinarily revitalizing and has been used therapeutically all over the world for thousands of years.

Cold Shower Therapy is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy with numerous health benefits, such as treating anxiety and depression, improving circulation, and toning skin.

Ancient Ayurvedic Remedy

Gurudev Khar Khalsa, a Kundalini Yoga teacher in Los Angeles, sent us this information on the healing power of cold showers back in 2004. It is still helpful and relevant today, 16 years later.

"Cold Water Massage Therapy is the one of the healthiest and most inexpensive of therapies.

Instructions

• Simply massage the body with almond oil before taking a shower.
• Shower in cold water until your body temperature rises and no longer feels cold, but toasty and warm.
• Make sure the bathroom is heated.
• Never get out of a cold shower into a cold room.

*** Please note: Cold showers should not be taken during a woman's time of menstruation. A woman needs extra rest and gentleness during her menses. Taking a cold shower is too much for the reproductive system during menstruation. A lukewarm shower is recommended.

Generally speaking, hot showers are not good as they tend to depress the various physiological systems of the body.

Cold Shower Health Benefits

Cold showers have the following positive effects:

• Brings blood to the capillaries, therefore increasing circulation throughout the body.
• Cleans the circulatory system.
• Reduces blood pressure on internal organs.
• Provides flushing for the organs and provides a new supply of blood.
• Strengthens the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.
• Contracts the muscles to eliminate toxins and poisonous wastes.
• Strengthens the mucous membranes, which help resist hay fever, allergies, colds, coughs.

Many health problems are reduced or even eliminated over time by providing proper circulation of the blood to the affected area using the cold shower massage.

"Ishnan" is the term used in the old days when people in India referred to cold showers (very cold showers).

"Ishnan" is the point at which the body, by its own virtue, creates the temperature that it can beat off the coldness of the water. This happens when the capillaries open with the onset of the cold water. They close again during the course of the cold shower and it is at that point that all the blood rushes back to flush the organs and the glands.

This process allows the glands to renew their secretions and "youth" (i.e. young glands) again returns to the body."