spa/sauna + cold plunge pool to boost immune system

[lgodfrey]

Hi everyone,

I have recently become interested in the potential of spa/sauna followed by a dip in the cold plunge pool as a way of boosting the immune system, reducing depression and reducing fatigue - all of which can (apparently) help with CP/CPPS. As far as I understand, treatments generally don't provide a cure, but over (a long) time the body can gradually heal itself (often termed "burning out" on this forum). So, if it is up to the body to cure itself, I want to do everything I can to improve overall health, to give my body the best chance of healing itself. Having said that, I agree with this forum that scientific evidence should be used as a guide to which therapies are worth the time, effort and money.

I have read in numerous places that spa or sauna followed by a dip in a cold plunge pool "Enhances immunity. Cold water stimulates the release of cytokines and other hormone like substances that are vital to immune function." and "Recent finding: Breast cancer patients who underwent cold water therapy for four weeks experienced significant gains in their levels of disease fighting white blood cells, according to a German study." The wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauna#Therapeutic_sauna for therapeutic sauna (cycles of sauna followed by cold plunge pool) is full of alleged health benefits, but I am having difficulty finding scientific evidence to back up some of the claims. I have two main questions I guess.

1) Is there any clear scientific evidence that this hot spa/sauna + cold plunge pool therapy boosts the immune system?

2) What technique is required to bring about this therapeutic benefit? i.e. how long in the sauna/spa and how long in the cold plunge pool? How many cycles? How many times per week, once per day or once per week or somewhere in between? Should I submerge my head in the cold plunge pool or not?

I have been unable to find answers to these questions myself. Some of you seem to be very good at digging up scientific evidence for or against particular therapies, so I thought that some of you might be able to apply your honed research skills to this particular therapy, and help me answer the above questions. If this truly can help immune function and reduce fatigue over a period of time, I think it will be worth trying, in addition to exercise and supplements of course. If there is no scientific evidence for an increase in immune function, I wonder why it is so often quoted as if it were a well known fact?

Thanks for your help,
LG.

[webslave]

I would discourage cold plunge baths, which will only tense up muscles. chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome symptoms are worse in cold weather (eg winter):

http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17853032
http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17853027
http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10971269