Cold Shower & Yoga

[MonkeyPeng]

I found this cold shower treatment on about.com. Sounds like it may be worth a try. Here is the link to this story and more info: http://chronicfatigue.about.com/

A Cold Shower - The Latest Treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Thursday June 5, 2008
Forget all those cliches about taking a cold shower - some researchers think that could be a way to treat chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS).

Researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine plan to test whether 3-minute cold showers (68-degress Fahrenheit/20-degrees Celsius), twice a day, help relieve the fatigue and pain of ME/CFS. So far, it's just a hypothesis, but it's got some interesting scientific background.

The think this treatment, called cold stress, could help by making several changes in the body, including:

Boosting HPA axis (stress response) activity
Increasing metabolism, which may speed muscle recovery and prevent post-exertional malaise
Brain-stem arousal to normalize serotonin levels
This hypothesis - especially the stress-response part - makes me think about something I learned in a college yoga and meditation class. The instructor told us to start deep breathing and focused relaxation while standing in a hot shower, then turn the water to straight cold for 30 seconds, making sure to continue deep breathing. The purpose of this, she said, was to induce a fight-or-flight stress response in your body (the sudden cold) and to train your body (NOT your mind) to stay calm during this process. She said it would help us stay focused and in control during high-stress situations, and I have to say, I believe it worked for me.

Could this same simple technique relieve the intense, debilitating exhaustion of ME/CFS, and maybe of fibromyalgia as well? The next time my fibro fatigue gets back, I think I'll do my own experiment.

Suggested Reading

Yoga for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Tai Chi for Relaxation, Energy & Strength
Treating Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

[Melissa70817]

Hot/Cold therapy does work...I have in severe pain gone from a heating pad to ice packs back and forth.  It does work but to do this every single day is too much.  I will use the heating pad for fifteen minutes and then the ice packs for fifteen minutes.  I can't remember right now with the brain fog but it has some sort of effect on the blood flow.

[kitonthemoon]

You're too funny.

I don't read much since ME/CFS.  My vision tend to gang up with my brain to confuse me.  Giggles.  

I bought a video by Karen Voigt (no sure I spelled her last name right), 'YOGA SCULPT". I''ve been doing it since 4 yrs ago..Very helpful to me and probably the easiest yoga stretching you'll find, not to mention it doesn't ask me go 'HUM..........HUM......HUM.

Enjoy that cool  a/c @ motel. !!!

Kit  

[MonkeyPeng]

yes, treatment is probably not the right word to use!  It may help ease the pain some but certainly isn't a cure.
I have been trying to get my mind interested in doing some light yoga. Borders has a book called Easy Does It Yoga that I  am thinking of getting. Maybe if I put it under my pillow it will work by osmosis! :)

[kitonthemoon]

I 'm also not sure about 'treating' CFS with yoga, and tai chi, but I do know they relax me .

[kitonthemoon]

I've read about it too......hate to say, I'm taking in this info with a grain of salt.   You'll find out that there're lot  treatments claims out there, few proven successful.  One reason why I'm no sure about this COLD SHOWER thingy.

However, I do vouch for yoga.......besides relexation, it helps to stretch my muscle so I won't wined up with atrophy.  I also do Chi-Gong intermittenly, for the same reason.  When I first started both, the pain was excruiciating afterwards, and I did feel more fatigued.  (because mitochondrial, why we, CFSers cannot tolerate exercise).  But, no pain, no gain, I decided.  

Hugs,
Kit