We may (albeit respectfully) disagree that immersion in cold water taxes certain hormonal organs involved in CFS. I say, “We may,” because I experienced symptoms similar to those associated with CSF but not exactly the same. I experience a great deal of fatigue and occasional muscle cramping and even injury; in addition, I had some mental sluggishness and a broad spectrum of gastrointestinal symptoms; in fact, the g.i. symptoms (cramping, constipation, excessive flatulence) were my primary complaint. After moving to the American Northwest coast, I found myself swimming twice daily in the cold coastal waters. Nothing I had ever tried during the previous ten years of suffering from the above symptoms had ever made me feel so vastly better–especially regarding the mental benefits. I soon found that if I was trying to remember something before my swim, I would surely remember it while doing my laps across the shallow, salty waters of the river coursing down the beach into the vast, onrushing tide.

I later discovered that taking kelp tablets virtually eradicated my symptoms overnight; therefore, I concluded I had (mild) hypothyroid, like my biological sister. But I have continued open water swimming since that very first time I tried it. Over five years have passed, and I must admit I have become somewhat of an addict to the effects of cold water. It not only gives one a rush; I think it offers one a gentle (certainly low-impact) stimulation and positive effects on one’s health…provided one enters into the activity–or, quite literally, immerses oneself–with an attitude of hope and confidence rather than one of reluctance and fear. I suppose that, in the final respect, cold water swimming, or “therapy”, can be likened to other controversial therapies, in that its results seem to defy predictions whenever the participant simply believes the treatment will do some good.

I use to soak in an ice cold (I’d literally pour the freezer ice machine box in the tub) bath I’d draw after an extremely long bike ride. It was torture at first, but the relief and effects (placebo or otherwise) afterward were always worth it.

After my intense 30-minutes of resistance work, I go into the sauna to increase the heat stress even more, and I leave as soon as I get really uncomfortable; 5-10 minutes. Then it’s into the steam room, i.e., lower temp but very high humidity. This really gets the sweat pumping. After a couple of minutes, I then go into the hot tub, so now the heat transfer efficiency is as high as you can get.

Usually, just a minute there, and then right into the cold tub, full submersion. When I began this over a year ago, I could take no more than 30 seconds. Now I’m up to five minutes. I do this at the end of each of my two weekly sessions.

It’s great. It’s like my treat after the workout. From a primal/evolutionary perspective, I imagine a very strenuous hunt, after which everyone jumps in the cold spring runoff to cool off.

The other great thing is how it is a total reset on energy. I leave the gym totally refreshed, totally cooled down, totally invigorated and energized.

I’ve been having cold showers twice a day for nearly a month now.

Its helped my depression & outlook in life. I feel more content & happier & a lot less stressfull.