Over the past several decades, cryotherapy has undergone a rapid evolution. At one time, cryotherapy was largely used as a non-invasive treatment for select cancer types. However, as the benefits of recreational hypothermia became increasingly well-known, new ways of leveraging exceedingly cold temperatures became available.

Cryotherapy or targeted, rapid, and extraordinary cooling of the body or select body parts has since been used to eliminate unwanted fat stores, rejuvenate the skin and its underlying collagen layer, and expedite general health improvements. If you’ve ever fasted or used intermittent fasting to tackle a stubborn and recurring health issue, ramp up your weight loss, or improve your energy, then you know that the overarching goal of fasting is autophagy. Autophagy is a level of metabolic functioning in which the body begins to dissolve or eat its own tissues. During autophagy, damaged cells are removed and new, healthy cells are built to replace them. Apart from missing a few meals, recreational hypothermia is one of the fastest and most effective ways to achieve autophagy. Thus, there are many different reasons to obtain cryotherapy, and there are many people who can benefit from it

. Cryotherapy treatments are available in numerous forms and often performed with dramatically different intentions. For instance, although triggering autophagy is one possible goal of cryotherapy, there’s also a form of cryotherapy known as cryoablation that destroys cells rather than encouraging the body to consume them. Cyroablation can eliminate painful or unsightly skin tags and warts. When performed aggressively, whether at colder temperatures or for an extended period of time, cryoablation can additionally eliminate prostate, liver, and cervical cancers in some instances.

There’s also cryolipolysis or the targeted removal of fat using exceedingly cold temperatures. Commonly referred to as fat freezing, cryolipolysis freezes fat cells to the point of crystallization and causes them to die off. Moreover, it does so without damaging the surrounding skin, muscle, and connective tissues. Following cryolipolysis treatment, cells that have died off are broken down and removed by the body, and the treated area becomes visibly slimmer. Cryotherapy can also be used as a treatment for inflammation, pain, limited mobility, and more.

Are You a Good Candidate for Cryotherapy and Which Cryotherapy Procedure Is Right for You?

Knowing that cryotherapy can be successfully used to treat cancer, you might be surprised to learn that it’s also capable of resolving a number of far lesser ailments. In addition to eliminating warts and skin tags, and stripping off stubborn fat stores, cryotherapy can also:

• Reduce the symptoms and frequency of migraines
• Numb irritated nerves
• Alleviate arthritic pain
• Reduce atopic dermatitis and other skin issues

Whole-body cryotherapy is frequently used by athletes to eliminate or prevent post-workout soreness, expedite the healing of muscles, and stimulate enhanced metabolic functioning. Exposure to extremely cold temperatures on a regular basis is also known to increase the amount of “brown fat” that a person has.

This is the fat that helps you stay warm in cold temperatures. It also stores energy and assists the body in removing excess fat. In some instances, whole-body cryotherapy can also improve joint function. Thus, it can be an excellent, non-invasive solution to sore knees, hips, shoulders, and ankles, and it may even produce noticeable improvements in joint mobility and general physical movement. Some studies show that cryotherapy can also be an effective treatment for certain mental health issues. It is additionally believed to stave off the development of several age-related, progressive neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Thus, if you have a family history of these ailments, scheduling regular whole-body cryotherapy may be an effective way to mitigate this risk. If you’re looking for ways to supplement ongoing mental health treatments that involve the use antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anti-anxiety medications, or anti-psychotic drugs, cryotherapy could provide another natural and non-invasive tool for promoting mental health. However, it’s important to note that cryotherapy isn’t without its risks.

Although these treatments provide a vast range of pain relieving and general health benefits, they aren’t suitable for people with excessively high blood pressure, those with Raynaud’s Syndrome, or people with certain lung disorders. The absolute best way to find out if cryotherapy is a safe and worthwhile addition to your self-care routine is by scheduling a consultation appointment. Call us today at 205-352-9141 to get started!