Biohacking Recovery with Cryotherapy
Biohacking involves using technology, nutrition, and various techniques to improve physical and mental well-being. Cold therapy is among them! Cryotherapy is a physiotherapy procedure based on the brief contact of the body’s skin with a gas cooled to a temperature of -140°C. The procedure promises to speed up muscle recovery after workouts, making it popular among athletes. It also reduces inflammation, improves circulation, and even increases endorphins, helping with chronic pain and arthritis. What are its features, and why do more and more biohackers resort to this therapy – we tell you further.
Contents
Highlights
- Cryotherapy exposes the body to ultra-low temperatures for healing benefits.
- Whole-body cryotherapy lasts 2-4 minutes at temperatures near -140°C.
- Cryotherapy speeds muscle recovery, reduces pain, and swelling post-workout.
- Local cryotherapy targets specific body areas to treat skin and joint issues.
- Cryotherapy aids treatment of psoriasis, eczema, arthritis, and cellulite.
What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy or cold treatment – the effect on the body of ultra-low temperatures. The impact of the procedure is achieved due to the body’s natural reaction to cold. The first of these is a powerful release of endorphins, which can be compared to a full-fledged workout in the gym. The second reaction is vasoconstriction. The blood vessels constrict under the influence of cold, and after returning to normal temperature, they unclench. This simple manipulation contributes to removing toxins from the skin, which helps visibly improve its condition. It is not for nothing that cryotherapy is used for cellulite.
Even now, in Toronto, for example, cryotherapy, that is, the impact of negative temperatures on the body, is becoming more popular than Crossfit. Every morning, hundreds of people dive into the icy Lake Ontario. They say it improves mood, burns weight, and strengthens the immune system.
Extreme temperatures are widespread in the biohacking universe as a cure for bodily ailments and a way to increase the body’s mental and physical resilience.
How the procedure takes place
In the classic version, cryotherapy is performed in a bathtub filled with cryogenic gas. A person is simply immersed in it up to the neck for 2-3 minutes and then climbs out. The bath’s temperature reaches -140 C, but the body is not overcooled. During the procedure, the gas affects only the superficial layer of the skin, in which heat receptors are quickly restored.
If you are interested in the procedure, we advise you to consult a doctor about the best option. Such cryotherapy is the prerogative of medicine.
The procedure is carried out to improve immunity and disease prevention and, as a bonus, gives a good cosmetic effect. In cosmetology, the technique is used locally. With the help of special equipment, the master separately conducts cryotherapy on the face, abdomen, hands, thighs, etc.
This method will not help with a weak immune system but perfectly cope with skin defects. For example, with cellulite at the second stage.
Where cryotherapy is used?
- In medicine and biohacking, cryotherapy treats psoriasis, bronchial asthma, eczema, burns, injuries, allergies, and low immunity. In fact, cryotherapy can be used to treat any disease in which the causative agent can be eliminated with a cold. It is also an excellent way to strengthen the body and immunity in general.
- In cosmetology, it treats cellulite, reduces skin turgor and normal sebaceous glands, and removes benign neoplasms, narrow pores, and wrinkles.
Indications:
- reduced skin turgor
- benign neoplasms
- fine wrinkles, loose skin
- cellulite
- acne
- age spots
- dermatitis
- psoriasis
- eczema.
Cryotherapy methods for biohacking
Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC)
Whole-body cryotherapy is the process of exposing the entire body to temperatures near freezing. From treating injuries to improving skin health and aiding in weight loss, this method of cold exposure therapy has gained popularity due to its ability to improve overall health. Cold temperature stimulates collagen and elastin production, which results in improved skin texture, reduced signs of aging, and even the treatment of certain skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
The entire body (except the head) is exposed to ultra-low temperatures. When blood vessels constrict, blood is redirected from the extremities to the core to protect the organs. The body is then energized with oxygen and anti-inflammatory proteins, and excess white blood cells are flushed out, increasing the metabolic rate.
After a cryotherapy session, blood vessels dilate, sending oxygen-rich blood and endorphins back through the body as it tries to return to its normal temperature.
The body undergoes a metabolic response that can burn up to 800 calories during the session and recover afterward. Because of the extremely low temperature, an entire body cryotherapy session is only 2-4 minutes long.
Local cryotherapy
Local cryotherapy is when a part of the patient’s body is covered with cooling elements or blown with a cooled air stream. The procedure’s effectiveness depends on the temperature level in the area of the skin’s cold receptors (0.17 mm). The maximum signal of the receptors causes cooling to the subterminal level of -2°C. Cold receptors begin to signal when cooling is less than +2°C. The period of subcooling of the skin surface from 32 to +2°C is called the preparatory phase of the procedure. This phase lasts about 2 minutes; at this stage, the effect of cryotherapy is close to zero. The minimum duration of the procedure is 2 minutes. The entire procedure exposure is selected individually for no more than 3 minutes. Heat dissipation during the procedure is 10 times higher than the calorific capacity of the human body, and the patient cannot adapt to cryotherapy, so the choice of exposure does not depend on the patient’s fitness. The anatomical features of the biohacker, primarily the thickness of the epithelial layer of the skin, play a determining role. The greater the thickness and total heat capacity of the epithelial layer, the more extended the patient’s safe stay in the treatment cabin will be.
Wounds, burns, ligament diseases, joint diseases, migraine, multiple sclerosis, neuralgia, degenerative joint diseases, rosacea, seborrhea, and atopic dermatitis are indications for local cryotherapy.
Benefits of cryotherapy
Benefits for athletes
Whole-body cryotherapy has become a powerful training and recovery tool for professional and amateur athletes alike. Before a workout, it helps to enhance performance. After intense workouts, whole-body cryotherapy sessions help you recover better by relieving fatigue and muscle soreness. In addition, such treatment is used to treat sports injuries because of its ability to suppress pain for several hours and relieve swelling and inflammation.
Natural healing
Ultra-low temperatures are the newest and most effective way to trigger self-healing mechanisms. Cryotherapy activates the body’s natural defenses, so it is completely safe. Cryotherapy provides powerful anti-inflammatory effects and pain relief.
Wellness and beauty
Cryotherapy makes all the body’s systems work to their full potential. Short-term (1 to 3 minutes) cooling in a cryosauna of the top layer of skin with a depth of no more than 0.5 mm helps to accelerate metabolic processes, reduce anxiety and fatigue, improve sleep, and stimulate the immune system.
Endorphins rush
Cold air feels more comfortable than cold water or ice baths because, at ultra-low temperatures, the air contains no moisture. As a bonus, the cold triggers the production of endorphins, called “feel-good hormones,” which make you feel euphoric.
The safety of cryotherapy
This treatment is typically well tolerated, but even if cryotherapy sessions are very short, they still may be too extreme for some people.
When to avoid?
- individual cold intolerance
- thrombosis
- cardiovascular diseases
- any oncological diseases
- pregnancy and lactation period.
Side effects
The complications may include:
- Bleeding, cramping, or pain after cryotherapy around the cervix.
- Bone fractures.
- Nerve damage resulting in loss of feeling.
- Swelling, scarring, and skin infection.
Precautions to be taken
- For cryotherapy to be effective, the gas temperature should be at least -140 C, and the duration of exposure should be 2-3 minutes.
- For medical purposes, it is recommended that the person wear as little clothing as possible during the therapy.
- For cosmetic purposes, therapy is not recommended for acute skin diseases, even psoriasis.
- To achieve a pleasing effect, passing a course of 5-7 procedures is necessary.
How should I prepare for cryotherapy?
- Don’t skip the water! Whether you plan on undergoing whole-body or localized cryotherapy, drink plenty of water before treatment. Cryotherapy can dehydrate your body, so it’s important to replenish those fluids beforehand. Experts recommend drinking at least 8 ounces of water every hour you’re awake in the hours leading up to your treatment.
- Don’t eat a big meal right before going into the chamber. A full stomach can be uncomfortable when relaxing in a cold environment, and the extreme cold slows the digestive process. If you’re hungry, eat something light, like a piece of fruit or a yogurt, an hour or two before your session.
- Don’t drink alcohol. We know, we know. It’s tempting to want to have a glass of wine or a beer before your appointment to help you relax. But trust us. You will want to avoid alcohol before cryotherapy. Alcohol dilates blood vessels and can make you more sensitive to cold temperatures. It can also dehydrate you, which is the last thing you want before cryotherapy.
- Don’t shave! Shaving can irritate your skin, making it more sensitive to the extreme cold of the cryotherapy chamber. If you must shave, do it a few hours before your treatment and avoid any areas exposed to the cold, like your legs or arms.
- Avoid lotions, oils, or other products on your skin. These can act as a barrier between your skin and the cold air, making it harder for cryotherapy to work effectively. If you have dry skin, hydrate thoroughly before your treatment. Likewise, be sure to arrive makeup-free. Wearing makeup can clog your pores and make it more difficult for the cryotherapy chamber to work magic.
Summary
Cryotherapy has been used in medicine for several decades. During this time, the technique has repeatedly proven its effectiveness in fighting a variety of diseases. Modern cryogenic therapy is an improved technique that allows for a wider use of cold exposure. It is still based on liquid nitrogen, which is why this procedure can not be called innovative.
Cryotherapy is one of the “time-tested” techniques: simple procedures that can guarantee stunning results. If you are interested in the procedure, we strongly advise you to consult a doctor first because it can have some rare side effects.
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