Cold Therapy and Its Effects on Our Nervous System

The modern time presents a lot of different stressors that we encounter in our everyday lives. Be it the noises in cities, air pollution, the omnipresent microplastics, or perhaps stress at work, at home, or on social media, in the long run, this kind of low intensity stress numbs our nervous system unless we balance it out with positive stress. The resulting numbness leads to a reduced ability to perceive our own body, and thus, paradoxically, our nervous system becomes numb and oversensitive at the same time.

Thanks to specialised fields of study, such as neuroscience and biology, we realise more and more that the human body is comprised of many different systems. And it is none other than the nervous system that controls all others. The lead organ of this system is a brilliant piece of white-grey matter, our brain. It controls everything. Our brain consists of very specialised cells called neurons. The nervous system as a whole gives us the ability to feel. We are able to see, hear, and react thanks to it. It gives us the possibility to choose whether we dive in an ice cold lake or draw back, whether we eat or fast, whether we shall be happy or unbearable, read a book or go to sleep. This system creates our emotions, thoughts, fantasies, ideas, and memories. If we think about it, it shows us the reality composed of various reactions, to which it then reacts. It is a sort of reflected image of ourselves.

We can say that our autonomic nervous system consists of two branches:

• Sympathetic nervous system: The sympathetic branch is responsible for the fight-or-flight response. If there is too much need for this response, it is harmful for our organism. That is when we have to engage the parasympathetic nervous system. If we immerse ourselves in an ice cold lake, for example, the sympathetic branch is activated, but as soon as our body begins to adapt to the cold and our breathing slows down, the parasympathetic branch is activated.
• Parasympathetic nervous system: This system helps us with the general maintenance of our organism, such as food digestion. Being able to activate the parasympathetic branch is very beneficial to us. In a stressful situation this can be done by taking a distance. We can slow down, calm down, and take a deep breath. In cold water we can also slow down our breathing and practise chanting - producing a long-drawn constant tone whose vibrations stimulate the vagus nerve and activate the parasympathetic branch.

The great news is that we can intentionally and positively influence our nervous system and thus improve the quality of our life. Our brilliant neurons can be trained to do almost anything, any skill we wish. This means that every one of us can transform completely. If you work on yourself and acquire new skills, you may notice that you have changed so much in the last ten or even just five years. It is quite probable that you now have more in common with the people around you than with yourself a few years ago.

Brain plasticity

What I find truly fascinating about the human brain is its adaptability. If you walk with cold for a long time and practise cold therapy regularly, you repeat the same pattern over and over again. It is the same when you are learning any other skill. This activity is like a code that is being stored in your memory. When you do yoga, martial arts, or any other sport, your brain is being shaped by regular and repeated practice. This phenomenon is called neuroplasticity, and I suppose you have heard of it before. My kendo sensei (master) always tells me that every little activity and the way I approach it has an effect on how I do everything else. So if I take the tram and need to grab the handle, I do it as if I were gripping a sword. When I am walking down the street, I walk erect, as is preparing for a duel. I am always alert and calm. 

All the little daily activities train your brain and nervous system in the direction you want. What you do over the course of a day, how you walk, how many times you get up to do some squats or splash yourself with cold water, how often you go out to get some air… This is why our health truly depends on us and no one else. We have the ability and possibility to train our nervous system ourselves, becoming more resilient to both external and internal factors.

Every neuron is capable of creating 10.000 connections with other neurons. This network changes according to our most frequent activities. When you learn a new move or step once in a cold shower, the neural pathway created is only temporary. It is made with chemical compounds surrounding the neuron. If you repeat the action, however, and practice the cold shower or another activity day in day out, the chemical compounds turn into a structure. With time, as you keep practising on a regular basis, the connections between different parts of your brain grow stronger. This brilliant mechanism changes the structure of your brain, your nervous system and with it, the way you perceive reality and react to it. You change.

For example, if you practise ice baths regularly, there will come a time when your nervous system will be so resilient that it will allow your body and mind to become one. You will literally fuse into a single organism. This sense of unity can occur in different situations, and let me tell you, if you experience it in a cold lake, you will never forget it. Cold therapy is not only about physical and mental benefits, for many it has a spiritual dimension as well.

CAREFUL!

Once again I repeat: If you want to stay with cold for a long time and discover the treasures hidden inside you, you must proceed with kindness, gentleness, and humility. If you force anything, your nervous system may break down. You will create more stress for your body than if you did not practise cold exposure at all. Keeping this in mind, do not be afraid to make mistakes. If you happen to overdo it, do not beat yourself up. Take a moment to reflect upon it and then keep going. You will do better next time.

If you want to be long-time friends with the cold, I suggest you track yourself. At Systers, we have prepared a cold protocol for you, which can be obtained here. All you have to do is print it out, start practising, and write everything down. You will see how helpful those notes will be in the future.

I wish you a fun journey in cold, may it bring you more peace, balance, and energy in our life.