When a man gets too excited, we tell him to take a cold bath to cool off. Interestingly, if he followed that advice, he would get more energy from the experience, including more testosterone. You can temporarily calm him down, but you will make him stronger for the next time. All over the world, people have used cold water baths or showers as therapy for a wide range of ailments. In the 1800s, ice bath treatments were medically prescribed to patients as hydrotherapy to cure everything from broken bones to psychological disorders.

While hydrotherapy has largely been superseded by pharmaceuticals in Western countries, the practice of ice water immersion continues. People in northern climes go from the sauna to jumping into snowdrifts to invigorate their bodies. The annual polar bear clubs plunge into frozen lakes each year. Athletes are increasingly turning to this method to help speed recovery time after the great physical stress of competition.

As the body senses cold water, it responds with a survival response designed to protect vital organs. Blood vessels near the surface of the skin are closed off and blood flow is directed inward to keep the center of the body warm. When the body re-emerges from this cold environment, the blood rushes back into all the small blood vessels. The effect is to help eliminate cell damage caused by exercise and keep inflammation under control. Athletes recover faster from exercise and show greater stamina if they take an ice bath between training routines.

This process also seems to produce a variety of other positive benefits for the body. As the body warms up after experiencing the cold, it releases antibodies as part of the recovery process. This stimulates the immune system and helps protect the body from inflammation and other diseases. To add more power to men in this stage of recovery, the body releases testosterone, so all those brave souls bragging about their manhood after getting into an icy shower or a snowdrift after a sauna may be in the truth. If the man has paternal desires, he will be interested to know that cold baths can drastically increase sperm count. Could this be a case of the cold beating the pill?

The recovery process also triggers the body to access fat stores, known as brown fat, which can accelerate weight loss. Cold water treatments close the skin pores and hair follicles, which helps prevent the skin from drying out as quickly as a hot shower would. The result is skin that looks like finer, shinier hair. The invigorating aspect of a cold bath stimulates almost every part of the body, including the brain. As the body rushes to recover from the effects of ice cold water, it sends signals to the brain that improve mood and can be a tool to help combat depression.

The amount of time you spend in a cold shower or bath is up to you and depends on the temperature of the water. Fifty degree water will feel cold and you may be able to tolerate it for ten to fifteen minutes. A thirty-nine degree shower will feel even colder and you may find that three or four minutes is all you can tolerate. This isn’t just an instant dip in and out of ice cold water. Stay in the cold water for more than two minutes to stimulate the optimal recovery process.

A word of caution is warranted; If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, or suffer from an illness that triggers a fever, we recommend that you avoid the added stress of cooling your body. If you are unsure, consult your doctor before trying this technique. If you’re clear on doing so, keep hot water in the tank once a week and let the chills help improve your performance.