Types of therapy
At Paracelsus Recovery, we use the most cutting-edge therapies as part of our holistic treatment approach. Cryotherapy in a cryotherapy chamber is one such therapy. The aim of cryotherapy is to use controlled cold exposure to promote healing and recovery.
What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy in a cryotherapy chamber, also referred to as whole-body cryotherapy (WBC), is a treatment that involves exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures for therapeutic benefits. It is one of the various types of cold therapy used in a medical or wellness context. During treatment, you step inside the cryotherapy chamber, or ‘cryochamber’ for short, which is filled with liquid nitrogen or electrically cooled air (usually between -100°C to -140°C) for 2–4 minutes.
Cryotherapy in a cryotherapy chamber is the coldest form of cold therapy available. Because of the way cryotherapy works, it can reduce body temperature safely and more efficiently than ice water, such as is used in cold water immersion therapy. This extreme cold, which is a dry cold rather than a wet cold you experience in cold water therapy, triggers the body’s natural healing response: reducing inflammation, increasing blood circulation, and releasing endorphins. Immediately after the session, it is common to experience a sense of enhanced aliveness and elevated mood. However, with repeated use, the long-term benefits of cryotherapy make it a hugely beneficial addition to mental health or addiction treatment programmes.
How is cryotherapy helpful?
There are many reported therapeutic benefits of using a cryotherapy chamber which make it helpful in treating a wide range of health conditions. While cryotherapy has been most commonly used for the physical benefits, such as reducing joint pain or inflammation, it is being increasingly used as part of mental health and addiction treatment. Thanks to a growing body of research into its effectiveness in improving mental health, its wide-ranging and holistic benefits are now coming to light. For example, the extreme cold causes blood vessels to narrow, reducing blood flow to the skin and extremities and helping to reduce inflammation and swelling in injured or sore areas. The cold shock also activates the nervous system, releasing “feel-good” hormones and adrenaline, which help to improve mood, lift energy, and relieve pain. Cryotherapy can also trigger a metabolic boost due to the body having to work harder to regulate temperature. Upon exiting the chamber, your blood vessels dilate, causing a rush of oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood back to your tissues, which enhances healing, muscle recovery, and circulation as a result.
Due to the myriad of benefits, cryotherapy chamber treatment can be used to treat a wide range of conditions and issues. These include chronic conditions, sports injuries, obesity and metabolic syndrome, substance use disorders, and various mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and stress. Cryotherapy is also used for anti-ageing purposes due to the increase in collagen when exposed to the cold. While cryotherapy is generally considered safe, it may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with certain medical conditions like high blood pressure, heart problems, or nerve disorders. And despite its promising benefits, cryotherapy is not a replacement for therapy, counselling or medical interventions; it is best used as a complementary treatment alongside more conventional therapies.
How is cryotherapy included in my programme?
Due to a large body of research into acupuncture, it is widely considered to be evidence-based. While most commonly used as a treatment for chronic pain, there is also evidence of acupuncture’s efficacy in treating various mental health conditions. For example, it has been found to be beneficial for those suffering from generalised anxiety disorder and as an adjunct to antidepressant medication for those suffering from depression. In addition, acupuncture has been shown to be more effective than medicine therapy for treating chronic pain with depression and research into treating insomnia with acupuncture has been promising.
An increasing number of studies have found that when treating addiction, acupuncture therapy is a highly effective complementary tool. It can help relieve cravings, aid in the detoxification process and increase overall feelings of calmness and relief from stress. Acupuncture also increases endorphins which are our body’s natural stress-fighters and pain killers. Research shows that by raising levels of endorphins in the body, symptoms of withdrawal become more tolerable.
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