Wellness

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Whole Body Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is a curative health treatment involving extremely low temperatures (below -130oC/ below -266oF), for short periods of time (1-3min). Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) is a hypothermic application designed to reduce musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. WBC stimulates the sympathetic nervous system via alpha-adrenergic receptors, causing dramatic peripheral vasoconstriction. This induces adaptive changes correlating with effects of analgesia, reduction of inflammation, and increases in serum markers of tissue repair.

Preliminary Overview: Clinical Relevance of Whole Body Cryotherapy

KRYOLiFE_Preliminary_Overviwe_Clinical_Relevalance_of_WBC

Alan G. Christianson, NMD

Abstract

Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) is a hypothermic application designed to reduce musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. WBC stimulates the sympathetic nervous system via alpha-adrenergic receptors, causing dramatic peripheral vasoconstriction. This induces adaptive changes correlating with effects of analgesia, reduction of inflammation, and increases in serum markers of tissue repair.

Research conducted over the last two decades, primarily in Europe, has established therapeutic efficacy of WBC in a wide range of clinical areas. The largest focuses of research have been pain management and athletic performance. It has been shown to effectively reduce pain and swelling and improve physical performance. Due to the numerous adaptive physiological responses, WBC has also been studied as an adjunct treatment for: atopic dermatitis, cardiovascular health, depression and Multiple Sclerosis.

Introduction

WBC utilizes the analgesic and therapeutic effects of cold water and ice, and greatly increases the beneficial effects while reducing the discomfort and treatment durations. It originated in Japan in the early 1970’s and is currently in use worldwide.

Countries using Whole Body Cryotherapy

  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • France
  • Italy
  • Turkey
  • Slovenia
  • Czech Republic
  • Hungary
  • Romania
  • Moldova
  • Russia
  • Belarus
  • Ukraine
  • Kazakhstan
  • Qatar
  • Australia
  • Canada

The first demonstration unit installed in the US was April 2009. The first commercial unit went in place February 2010. WBC became a media topic in early 2011 due its successful implementation by the Nike athletes under coach Alberto Salazaar. It gained national attention when positively featured on the Dr. Oz show in March of 2011. At the time of this writing, approximately 25 units are now in operation in America. The users include professional sports teams, athletic trainers, pain management clinics and med-spas. (Antra Getzoff of Millennium ICE, personal communication January 20, 2012)

This article is to serve as an introduction to WBC and to review pertinent literature demonstrating its therapeutic effects.

Whole Body Cryotherapy – The Three Levels of Influence

Whole-Body-Cryotherapy-an-overview-of-benefits

Historical Overview

The word ”Cryotherapy” originates from the Greek words: “cryo” = cold, and ”therapeia” = cure. Hence, Cryotherapy is a curative health treatment involving extremely low temperatures (below -130oC/ below -266oF).

Modern ”Whole Body Cryo Therapy” (WBC), also referred to as ”Air Cryo Therapy” (ACT) and “Cryosauna,” is rooted in the practice of Dr. Yamaguchi of Japan who, in 1978, started using freezing treatments of short duration on his rheumatoid arthritis patients’ skin surface for pain management purposes. With these cryo-procedures, Dr. Yamaguchi found he could significantly reduce the soreness and pain his patients usually felt during manipulation of their joints, because the rapid decrease of temperature of the outer layer of skin led to the immediate release of endorphines and therefore less sensitivity to pain.

In the 1980’s, while continuing his research, now on the effects of Whole Body Cryotherapy, Dr.Yamaguchi and his associates came to this conclusion: that rapid short-term freezing of the skin’s surface to a temperature of -1oC/32oF while inside the cryo-chamber has a more beneficial effect on the human body than its gradual cooling while immersed in an ice bath, where the lowest temperature possible is 5oC/41oF.

As a result of thorough and sustained research, Dr. Yamaguchi further formulated that Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) affects the body on three different levels:

  • The Biochemical level – the circulatory system
  • The Energy level – the energy meridians
  • The Information level – the nervous system

The Biochemical Level

We start with the Biochemical Level, which is basically the physical level, and the most understandable from the standpoint of modern medicine. Almost all treatments and effects of modern medicine on the human body are on this level.

When inside the cryo-chamber, where ambient temperature is usually around – 170 oC/-274oF, the human body is rapidly exposed to extremely low temperatures and the skin’s surface is quickly cooled to approximately -1oC / 32o F for a short period of time (2.5 to 3 minutes). When the skin surface temperature reaches freezing for even a few moments, cold sensors in the skin send a very strong signal to the brain that the organism’s life might be in danger. In an innate response to protect the body from the critically low temperatures that could lead to hypothermia and death, the brain gives orders to all peripheral parts of the body to constrict the muscles and tissues in order to send blood to the core of the body.

Why does this happen? Because the temperature in the body’s core must be constant and equal to 98.6 oF, as even slight changes to this temperature could eventually cause death. So upon receipt of signals from the skin’s cold sensors of the freezing temperatures in the cryo-chamber, the brain center has a clear warning that maintaining the necessary core body temperature will be impossible if blood circulation in the outer layers of the skin is allowed to continue. Therefore, all survival resources are mobilized, and blood is sent into the body’s core to begin circulating in an ”internal cycle” to protect the vital organs. One immediate effect is that arterial blood pressure increases by about 10 points. For example, if the systolic pressure (upper number) was 130 points (or millimeter of mercury) before the treatment, it may reach 135-140 afterwards for a short time.

But much more is happening as the blood circulates in the ” internal cycle.” It is also being enriched with oxygen and all the necessary enzymes and nutrients. Several successive treatments will even lead to an increase in hemoglobin count. The blood becomes enriched in accordance with the best capabilities, as all resources and reserves are activated to ensure the functions of life while the body does its best to survive under the perceived critical conditions.

What else is happening at this time? As the internal organs are surrounded and nourished by the enriched blood, all crucial life processes are accelerated. In other words, during WBC, if the performance of any of the organs was low or impaired, these deficiencies are remedied as much as possible with all the required components, so the bolstered organs can begin to recover. And if, in the body’s normal, ”non-survival” mode of operation, some deficiency was not considered critical, this new, unusual and ”perceived-as-dangerous” environment mobilizes the body for self-defense, and it identifies and seeks to address any and all deficiencies. Accordingly, all internal organ problems are reduced or eliminated under the strong, rich blood flow effects.

We also know that in a specified period of time the whole range of body cells are replaced with new ones, and the dead cells are eliminated through the lymph system. Extreme cold also contributes to the efficient elimination of the dead cells which would otherwise make sluggish many other workings of the body.

After 2.5 to 3 minutes of WBC, when clients step out of the cryo-chamber into the warmer air, signals to the brain indicate this new temperature change, and all peripheral tissues then expand, including blood vessels, muscles and skin tissues – as opposed to the constriction that occurred in the beginning of the treatment when the skin surface temperature was rapidly cooled to -1oC /32oF.

What is happening at this point? Under the temporary higher blood pressure caused by WBC, blood is now released from the ” internal cycle” and flows back out to the peripheral tissues, filling all the remote corners of the body from which it was withheld during the low temperatures. When this enriched blood reaches peripheral tissues, they are enhanced in the same beneficial way as the internal organs were during the treatment. In fact, this beneficial process continues in the body for 6 to 8 hours after the treatment.

In summarizing, we can say that the enriched blood creates favorable conditions for internal organ regeneration, for expelling of toxins from subcutaneous layers, for the cell renewal process, replacement of damaged cells and elimination of dead cells from peripheral tissues – i.e. rejuvenation of the body at the cellular level.

While these processes are initiated by brief exposure of the skin surface to extremely low temperatures, it is important to understand that tissue is not actually frozen during the procedure. Only the illusion of a severe cold impact is created when very cold air temporarily touches the skin where our cold sensors are located. This is one of the essential differences between the Whole Body Cryotherapy and the Ice Bath. This is very important to understand so let’s go in a bit more detail.

Why Cryosauna (WBC) is Better Than the Ice Bath

The Ice Bath has been regularly used in professional sports today for the rehabilitation of athletes with injuries. But the Ice Bath affects the body in a completely different way than does the Cryosauna, which has now been shown to be much more beneficial and with no negative side effects. So what are the different effects of the Ice Bath and Cryosauna?

First, during the 15-20 minutes of ice bathing, tissue freezes quite deep and frozen muscles temporarily lose capacity, as muscle tissue needs time to return to normal – not to mention that after the Ice Bath the body needs rest. So regardless of the time of day when the Ice Bath took place, the athlete cannot get back to practice earlier than the next day. In contrast, Cryosauna does not actually freeze muscle tissue, it only creates a powerful illusion that the body freezes. So a further advantage is that, only 5 0r 10 minutes after the Cryo-treatment, an athlete can continue to work out or perform, completely energized and able to make full use of the day.

Next, we need to emphasize that the body’s reaction to cryogenic temperatures (temperatures lower than -110 oC or -166 oF) in the Cryosauna is radically different from its reaction to low temperatures while submerged in the Ice Bath. The big difference lies in the fact that, when gradually cooled in an Ice Bath, the body’s response is to try to warm as much blood as possible in its core in order to to send it to the peripheral parts to maintain the warm skin surface. In other words, while in the Ice Bath, the body is struggling with actual, unrelenting, penetrating physical cold (not just signals from skin cold sensors). This process continues, trying to make the body capable of generating sufficient heat to maintain warmth in the peripheral body parts. But when the heat is no longer enough, the muscles start to congeal and freeze, beginning at the skin surface and continuing inward to the body’s center. For this reason, longer stays in the Ice Bath can cause hypothermia that can lead to death, as it is very difficult to stop this process once begun.

But in the cryo-chamber, the skin surface reaches temperature of -1oC/32oF in just 30-40 seconds while the temperature outside is -170 oC (this is impossible in an Ice Bath where skin temperature cannot drop lower than +5 oC/41oF ). This signal sent from skin to the brain about the new critical environment is so powerful that the brain understands immediately – there is no way to keep the peripheral parts of the body warm. Instead, blood vessels and capillaries undergo severe vasoconstriction to keep the body’s core temperature from dropping – triggering the processes described before – enrichment of blood and sending it to internal organs under higher blood pressure. This never happens in an Ice Bath.

Lastly, while in the Ice Bath, oxygen supply to the skin surface is interrupted, and it causes skin surface injury that can promote skin disease if the procedure is often repeated.

As we conclude this brief explanation of the Biochemical Level aspects of the Cryo-cure process, we should say that it is presented from a scientific rather than a medical point of view, as although many successful medical studies have been completed in Europe and Asia, the USA has ongoing, but not yet completed, studies for official referral.

The Energy Level

The second level affected by Cryotherapy is the Energy Level of the human body. It’s important to note here that modern Western Medicine has traditionally tried to distance itself from even the existence of the Energy Level when referencing organism viability. Only in the last few years has Acupuncture, which deals with the energy meridians of a human being, become a full medical component and Acupuncturists recognized as effective physicians. This recognition is a major step forward in modern medicine. At the same time, most Eastern Medicine is based, at least in part, on working with the human energy body.

The Energy Level of the human body is made up of a network of energy meridians, similar to the way the circulatory system in the Biochemical Level is a network of blood vessels, and similarly, as we will see in the next section, the Information Level is a network consisting of the nervous system.

The human body consists of 12 main meridians and many lateral meridians, together referred to as the energy network of a human body. The main meridians are located inside the body, while lateral meridians reach the skin surface. When the energy flow in any of the meridians is blocked, some organs do not receive enough energy to function properly. This poses a malfunctioning, and the organ starts to die. Unfortunately, modern Western Medicine can only diagnose organ failures when they are already seriously damaged, and disease symptoms appear at the Biochemical Level. So if we could diagnose or simply restore the energy flow in the human body before it reached this stage, as does WBC, many diseases would be prevented.

How does WBC stimulate this energy flow in the body? We know from any physics curriculum that if we take a sufficiently long wire (1 m. or more), and warm one end of it while cooling the other, the temperature difference leads to an electric current in the wire. Exactly the same thing happens to the human energetic system while using WBC. When the temperature on the skin surface drops to -1 oC / 30 oF while body core temperature is 98.6 oF, there is a 68.6 oF difference that is sufficient to cause a strong flow of energy in the meridians, thereby restoring energy flow where disruptions may have been present. In this case, WBC is used as a preventive and corrective method, and by stimulating the energy flow in the human body, it allows people to stay healthy longer.

Today, we cannot say that any method, including Acupuncture, can accurately diagnose potential discrepancies in energy flow, as relatively little research has been documented about it. However, energy flow restoration will be very beneficial even without knowing the exact site of disruption in the body. As a result of today’s lifestyle characterized by stress, immobility, bad eating habits, chemical and biological contamination, as well as physical injuries and surgeries, the energy systems of human beings are seriously damaged. Even scars inside and outside the body are barriers to the energy flow through the body. If our energy system does not function properly, and the body has the internal malfunctions and damages described above, then there is not enough energy, even at a very early stage, for prevention of an aging process, much less rejuvenation. Aging is the immediate result of insufficient energy supply inside the body. Restoration of the energy flow helps to restore the body physically, and can at least prevent its premature aging.

So, in summarizing WBC’s effects on the first two levels of the body, we can say that: WBC helps enrich the blood and supply it to all internal organs and peripheral parts of the body by making sure that the organs have all necessary ”building materials” for cell renewal. WBC also helps to supply the organs with the necessary energy to make full use of these materials – as without energy, no beneficial processes can occur. And in addition, remember that the organism is not exposed to real danger during the treatment, and there is no threat of damaging the tissues – only illusion of a survival threat is created.

The Information Level

Now we proceed to the third level – the Information Level, which consists of the intricate network of the body’s nervous system, through which electronic signals, self-analyzing questions and answers, and other detailed information are sent to and from all parts of the body. (Remember, on this level, the nervous system can be seen as similar to the circulatory system at the Biochemical Level, and the energy meridian system at the Energy Level.) This incredible communication system assesses the organism’s specific conditions, deficiencies, and immediate needs in order to know how to restore itself and remain viable.

For example, if cell division does not follow the pattern determined in the Information Level of the body, the cell begins to mutate. Cell mutation, of course, disturbs proper functioning of the body. One of the most prominent examples of this is the cell mutation in cancer, caused by incorrect cell regeneration. Furthermore, we have to acknowledge that even modern medicine does not know how the human immune system works, and there are actually two schools of thought about whether auto-immune diseases, where normal cell have mutated somehow and do not perform their needed function, are ‘real’ diseases. An auto-immune system disease is one in which the body cannot distinguish its own tissues and substances from a foreign element and attacks itself, thinking it’s defending itself against intruders that threaten the health of the organism. Another typical example of immune disease is Psoriasis. WBC has proved to be an effective method fighting Psoriasis, and significant results have been achieved in Russian clinics, confirming previous assertions.

How can WBC affect the immune system and rejuvenescence of the body’s information system? Similar to the brain signals in the biochemical system that are sent to the peripheral tissues causing vaso-constriction during WBC due to the significant drop in temperature – In the Information Level, the brain sends signals to all parts of the body through the nervous system in order to determine the extent to which each part of the body is compromised. This is done to allocate adequate resources that will ensure the viability of the organism, as this function of the brain does not distinguish between the important (critical for survival) organs and less important tissues and functions. The human brain will try to perpetuate all the organs and body parts, unlike this same survival process in a lizard, for example, which sacrifices its tail in order to save the rest of the body.

What exactly is happening here in the body during WBC? When the brain, in response to perceived critical conditions, surveys all body parts and analyzes the returned signals, it creates a complete up-to-date picture of the body’s state of health – which the brain requires to properly allocate resources to ensure the viability of the body.

Currently, there is no other known method in the world able to provide this kind of information-updating procedure that the body’s immune system and information system need to correct itself in early stages of malfunction. And currently, there is no medical research that even refers to the effects of WBC on the human Information Level. And because modern medicine does not know exactly how the immune system works; it does not know how to restore the immune function.

Conclusion

But the processes we have described here as a result of WBC have very impressive, if at present mostly empirical, evidence from people suffering particular biochemical malfunctions, auto-immune system diseases or energetic body impairment having reported considerable and lasting improvements after taking a sufficient number of WBC treatments. References to such cases can be found in various reputable sources, including well-known medical journals.

Whole Body Cryotherapy for Auto Immune Diseases

Whole-Body-Cryotherapy-for-Auto-Immune-diseases

The Cryosauna is Used to Treat Auto-Immune Diseases

What are autoimmune diseases?

(From http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/autoimmune-diseases.html)

Our bodies have an immune system, which is a complex network of special cells and organs that defends the body from germs and other foreign invaders. At the core of the immune system is the ability to tell the difference between self and nonself: what’s you and what’s foreign.

A flaw can make the body unable to tell the difference between self and nonself. When this happens, the body makes autoantibodies (AW-toh-AN-teye-bah-deez) that attack normal cells by mistake. At the same time special cells called regulatory T cells fail to do their job of keeping the immune system in line. The result is a misguided attack on your own body. This causes the damage we know as autoimmune disease. The body parts that are affected depend on the type of autoimmune disease. There are more than 80 known types.

How Common Are Autoimmune Diseases?

Overall, autoimmune diseases are common, affecting more than 23.5 million Americans. They are a leading cause of death and disability. Yet some autoimmune diseases are rare, while others, such as Hashimoto’s disease, affect many people.

Who Gets Autoimmune Diseases?

Autoimmune diseases can affect anyone. Yet certain people are at greater risk, including:

  • Women of childbearing age

— More women than men have autoimmune diseases, which often start during their childbearing years.

  • People with a family history

— Some autoimmune diseases run in families, such as lupus and multiple sclerosis. It is also common for different types of autoimmune diseases to affect different members of a single family. Inheriting certain genes can make it more likely to get an autoimmune disease. But a combination of genes and other factors may trigger the disease to start.

  • People who are around certain things in the environment

— Certain events or environmental exposures may cause some autoimmune diseases, or make them worse. Sunlight, chemicals called solvents, and viral and bacterial infections are linked to many autoimmune diseases.

  • People of certain races or ethnic backgrounds

— Some autoimmune diseases are more common or more severely affect certain groups of people more than others. For instance, type 1 diabetes is more common in white people. Lupus is most severe for AfricanAmerican and Hispanic people.

How Do Cryosauna Treatments Work to Help Autoimmune Conditions

(From:http://www.lifestreammed.com/resources/resources/cryotherapy/wbc_ClinicalRelevanceOf.pdf)

WBC treatments work by subjecting the patient‟s skin to controlled levels of gasiform liquid nitrogen. The treatment is conducted in a device called a cryochamber. Before treatment, the cryochamber is pre-cooled and dried, and the patient is given informed consent. Next, the patient disrobes inside the chamber, keeping on socks to protect their toes. Men also wear regular underwear to protect external genitalia. The floor of the unit elevates allowing the patient‟s head to be outside of the chamber so they can continue to breath room air.

Nitrogen gas is safe to breathe since it makes up roughly 80% of our atmosphere, however in a pure state it displaces oxygen. The patient‟s fingertips are protected by keeping their hands placed on a padded ledge around the top of the chamber.

During a session, bursts of nitrogen are circulated around the chamber, directed away from the patients skin. The bursts serve to maintain the therapeutic temperature. In a typical 3 minute session, 10 second bursts are released with 20-30 second pauses between them. The ambient temperature in the chamber is maintained at -200 to -250°F throughout the course of treatment.

Ideal treatment intensities cause a spontaneous shiver reflex to began just at the end of the session. The cryotherapist is able to adjust certain variables, to achieve a brief shiver reflex without the cold being too intense. These include: amount of pre-cooling, duration of bursts, duration of pause between bursts and the duration of the session.

Those who are older, less physically active and less tolerant of cold, can achieve this response with milder treatments and briefer durations. Those who undergo a series of treatments usually prefer colder treatments as their series progresses.

Immediately after the 2.5 – 3 minute session, the majority of subjects experience marked improvements in pain and joint discomfort and notice measurable reductions in joint edema. Most also experience endorphin releases normally experienced only after intense exercise.

Mechanisms of Action

The genome of modern humans experienced the majority of its evolution over the Pleistocene Epoch. This time period is demarcated by alternating glacial (ice ages) and interglacial (temperate) periods. The majority of time was likely spent in glacial periods, thus engendering many genetic adaptations to cold.

These adaptations are the likely reason that WBC induces homeostatic responses from most of the body‟s regulatory mechanisms.

The initial cold startle response elicits a strong sympathetic nervous system reaction. This causes a dramatic parasympathetic rebound.

The circulatory system undergoes dramatic peripheral vasoconstriction followed by strong rebound vasodilation. This improves peripheral vascular tone while reducing histamine release due to vascular permeability.

The neuromuscular system responds with a decrease in troponin I, creatine kinase and edema.

Positive immune responses include increased white blood cell counts, increased anti-inflammatory cytokines, and reduced pro-inflammatory prostaglandin.

In the endocrine system, WBC triggers an increase in noradrenaline, β-endorphins, adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) concentrations.

Are chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia autoimmune diseases?

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (feye-broh-meye-AL-juh) (FM) are not autoimmune diseases. But they often have symptoms of some autoimmune disease, like being tired all the time and pain.

CFS can cause you to be very tired, have trouble concentrating, feel weak, and have muscle pain. Symptoms of CFS come and go. The cause of CFS is not known.

FM is a disorder in which pain or tenderness is felt in multiple places all over the body. These “tender points” are located on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs and are painful when pressure is applied to them. Other symptoms include fatigue, trouble sleeping, and morning stiffness. FM mainly occurs in women of childbearing age. But children, the elderly, and men are sometimes can also get it. The cause is not known.

Whole Body Cryotherapy in the Prevention of Alzheimers

Whole-Body-Cryotherapy-in-the-Prevention-of-Alzheimers

Translating whole-body cryotherapy into geriatric psychiatry – A proposed strategy for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease

Blazej Misiak, Andrzej Kiejna

Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Pasteura 10, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland


Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is the most common form of dementia, constitutes one of the leading causes of disability and mortality in aging societies. Currently recommended medications used in treating AD include cholinesterase inhibitors and the NMDA antagonist – memantine, but poorly counteract progression of the disease. According to current knowledge, the neuropathological process underlying the etiology of AD begins many years, if not decades, before the development of overt symptoms of dementia. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is regarded as the first detectable manifestation of cognitive decline. Nowadays, there is a general consensus that vascular alterations, oxidative stress and inflammatory response contribute to the development of AD. Following these mechanisms and tracing the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of cryostimulation, we postulate that whole-body cryotherapy (WBCT) might be utilized as a means of preventing AD. WBCT is a relatively safe and cost-effective procedure, which is widely applied in various medical specialties. Thus, there is an urgent necessity to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of WBCT in the prevention of AD in patients with MCI and healthy individuals.

Whole Body Cryotherapy – Converts White Fat to Brown Fat

Whole-Body-Cryotherapy-converts-white-fat-to-brown-fat

Cold Acclimation Recruits Human Brown Fat And Increases Nonshivering Thermogenesis


Abstract

In recent years, it has been shown that humans have active brown adipose tissue (BAT) depots, raising the question of whether activation and recruitment of BAT can be a target to counterbalance the current obesity pandemic. Here, we show that a 10-day cold acclimation protocol in humans increases BAT activity in parallel with an increase in nonshivering thermogenesis (NST). No sex differences in BAT presence and activity were found either before or after cold acclimation. Respiration measurements in permeabilized fibers and isolated mitochondria revealed no significant contribution of skeletal muscle mitochondrial uncoupling to the increased NST. Based on cell-specific markers and on uncoupling protein-1 (characteristic of both BAT and beige/brite cells), this study did not show “browning” of abdominal subcutaneous white adipose tissue upon cold acclimation. The observed physiological acclimation is in line with the subjective changes in temperature sensation; upon cold acclimation, the subjects judged the environment warmer, felt more comfortable in the cold, and reported less shivering. The combined results suggest that a variable indoor environment with frequent cold exposures might be an acceptable and economic manner to increase energy expenditure and may contribute to counteracting the current obesity epidemic.

Whole Body Cryotherapy – Stimulates Brown Fat to Burn More Calories

Whole-Body-Cryotherapy-stimulates-brown-fat-to-burn-more-calories

Yes, even human brown fat is on fire!

Barbara Cannon and Jan Nedergaard


Abstract

That adult humans possess brown fat is now accepted — but is the brown fat metabolically active? Does human brown fat actually combust fat to release heat? In this issue of the JCI, Ouellet et al. demonstrate that metabolism in brown fat really is increased when adult humans are exposed to cold. This boosts the possibility that calorie combustion in brown fat may be of significance for our metabolism and, correspondingly, that the absence of brown fat may increase our proneness to obesity — provided that brown fat becomes activated not only by cold but also through food-related stimuli.

Brown adipose tissue is unique in possessing the ability to directly transfer energy from food into heat (1). This is due to the equally unique ability of its characteristic protein uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) to allow for combustion of food energy in the brown fat mitochondria. Through this, brown fat produces heat for defense against cold — and may prevent obesity by allowing for combustion of energy, instead of storing the excess energy as fat. Brown adipose tissue has long been accepted as a metabolically important organ in small mammals (rats, mice), but only within the last five years has it been brought forward as a possibly metabolically significant tissue in adult humans.

Anatomically, brown adipose tissue in adult humans is found primarily in depots in the neck and around the clavicles (Figure 1). However, accepting the anatomical presence of the tissue is not the same as accepting that it plays an important metabolic role. Acceptance of brown adipose tissue as a significant factor in the metabolism of adult humans will be a stepwise process. Ouellet et al. (2) provide an important further step in this process. They demonstrate that brown adipose tissue in adult humans is actually metabolically highly active when it is stimulated physiologically, that is, even human brown fat is on fire.

Whole Body Cryotherapy Reduces Oxidative Stress

Whole-Body-Cryotherapy-Reduces-oxidative-stress

Effect of short-term cryostimulation on antioxidative status and its clinical applications in humans

Elzbieta Miller · Lukasz Markiewicz · Joanna Saluk · Ireneusz Majsterek


Abstract

Whole body cryostimulation (WBCT) is becoming popular in medicine and sport as an adjuvant form of treatment since late 1970s. Only a few works concerning antioxidant protection after WBCT have been published. The aim of this study was to determine the eVect of a ten 3-min-long exposures (one exposure per day) to cryogenic temperature (¡130°C) on the level of total antioxidant status (TAS), activity of selected antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and main non-enzymatic antioxidant—uric acid (UA) in WBCT study group (man n = 24; female n = 22) and non-WBCT control subjects (man n = 22; female n = 26). Moreover, we evaluated the lipid peroxidation measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances products. Their blood samples were collected twice at an interval of 10 days in both study group and control subjects. The activity of antioxidant enzyme and lipid peroxidation was assayed in erythrocytes, while the concentration of uric acid was measured in plasma. After completing a total of ten WBCT sessions a signiWcant increase (p < 0.001) of TAS and UA levels in plasma (p < 0.001) in comparison to non-WBCT was observed. Our data showed that there was statistically signiWcant increase of the activities of SOD in erythrocytes obtained from WBCT study group compared to non-WBCT controls after 10 days of treatment (p < 0.001). It was concluded that expositions to extremely low temperatures use in cryostimulation improve the antioxidant capacity of organism.

Keywords: Whole body cryostimulation · Antioxidant therapy · Total antioxidant status · Lipid peroxidation

Infrared Sauna

An infrared sauna is a type of sauna that uses infrared lamps to emit infrared light experienced as radiant heat, which is absorbed directly by the skin. Here are some benefits associated with using an infrared sauna:

  1. Detoxification: Sweating induced by the infrared heat helps the body eliminate toxins and heavy metals, promoting detoxification.
  2. Pain Relief: Infrared heat can penetrate deep into tissues, providing relief from muscle aches, joint pain, and inflammation. It’s often used to alleviate symptoms of conditions like arthritis.
  3. Improved Circulation: The heat from infrared saunas dilates blood vessels, promoting better circulation. This can help reduce blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.
  4. Relaxation and Stress Reduction: The gentle heat of an infrared sauna induces relaxation by promoting the release of endorphins (feel-good hormones) and reducing cortisol levels (stress hormones).
  5. Skin Health: Infrared saunas can improve skin tone, texture, and elasticity. The increased circulation and sweating help cleanse the pores and enhance overall skin health.
  6. Weight Loss: While not a primary method for weight loss, using an infrared sauna can support weight loss efforts by increasing heart rate and calorie burning similar to moderate exercise.
  7. Enhanced Immunity: Regular use of infrared saunas may strengthen the immune system by stimulating the production of white blood cells and enhancing immune response.
  8. Convenience and Comfort: Infrared saunas operate at lower temperatures than traditional saunas, making them more comfortable for longer sessions and suitable for individuals who may find high temperatures difficult to tolerate.

It’s important to note that individual experiences and benefits may vary, and using an infrared sauna should be done cautiously, especially if you have any underlying health conditions. Consulting with a healthcare provider before starting sauna sessions is advisable, especially for individuals with cardiovascular issues or other medical concerns.

Our Process to a Speedy Recovery

Our goal is to get you better as quickly as possible. From online appointment bookings, to streamlined home exercise programs, we’ve crafted a process that get’s you back to life pain free as quickly as possible.

Call or Book Online 24/7

The first step to a speedy recovery is booking your initial assessment with one of our highly trained practitioners. For your convenience we offer 24/7 online appointment bookings or you can call our clinic during office hours

Initial Assessment

Your practitioner will learn more about your injury, provide you with a comprehensive assessment, and treat you on day 1. They will then customise a treatment plan around your goals and timeline

Ongoing Care

In addition to any subsequent visits, you will also be given a home exercise program with videos outlining the techniques of your exercises so that you can speed up you recovery and prevent future injury

New
Patients
Welcome

We always warmly welcome new patients to our office and accept all major insurance companies. Give us a call or fill out the form to request an appointment.

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