Dear Wellness Seeker,

Cryotherapy is defined as body cooling for therapeutic purposes. Cold applications have been used successfully for treatments of various conditions since Hippocrates time. Scientific papers express the fact that it is effective to help with a wide range of conditions: from small trauma to autoimmune disorders.

Historically, more than two hundred years ago, German scientist and papal priest Msgr. Sebastian Kneipp jumped into the icy water of the Dunai river in order to cure his pneumonia and proved that even hard disease can be treated by whole-body stimulation and further self-healing.

Contemporary whole-body applications of cold therapy have started since the 70s of the last century when in Japan, Dr T. Yamauchi elaborated a new method of cryotherapy by using extremely low temperatures (down to -180^oC) for the treatment of arthritis. Since that time more than 500 centres all over Europe started to implement whole body cryotherapy for different health-related purposes.

Different systems have been used for whole-body cryotherapy, the main being the cryo-sauna (with the use of liquid nitrogen) and the aero-cryotherapy chambers (with the use of dried cold air) in which the whole body including the head is exposed to very low dry temperatures reaching values of -110^oC. Such an application of cold therapy has proved to be safe and therapeutically effective nowadays. It should be noted that cold applications of this magnitude, affect only body surface temperature and have no direct influence on body core temperature as centralization of blood flow, keeps all inner organs temperature within normal ranges.

Exposure of whole-body cryotherapy causes alternating cycles of dilation and constriction of the blood vessels after the procedure, with a massive release of vasoactive substances as a normal reaction to extreme cold exposure. The procedure has no negative effect on the blood flow of the heart and has a well proved good tempering effect for the whole body.

The main therapeutic effect of this method is related to the positive effect that it exerts, on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system, as well as on the peripheral microcirculation. It also exerts an analgesic effect which is related to the reduction of the activity of certain inflammatory molecules. Another positive effect of whole-body cryotherapy is the decrease of the muscle tone and peripheral nervous system with further relief of muscles cramps.

People exposed to whole-body cryotherapy, note increase of general tone and mood after a single session that is related to the massive release of endorphins through activation of certain neuro-endocrine pathways, e.g. hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system as well as adrenal stimulation with an increase of cortisol response reactions. The latter is responsible for immune system optimization. In addition, the skin looks youthful, fresh, toned and glowing.

Lifelong diseases as psoriasis, neurodermitis, bronchial asthma as well as fibromyalgia, Bekhterev’s disease and Alzheimer can be brought to remission by whole body cryotherapy proper approach.

There are certain contraindications for whole body cryotherapy, so it is obligatory for our guests to be consulted by our medical professionals before starting the procedure.

Whole-body cryotherapy is performed in special chambers in Chenot Palace Weggis with separate cabins of -10^oC, -60^oC and -110^oC consecutively. A medical professional will check the blood pressure of the guests before the procedure and together with the guest will fulfil a special questionnaire in order to reveal possible medical contraindications. Prior to the cold exposure, guests wear minimal clothing, gloves, a woollen headband cover­ing the ears, a nose and mouth mask, and dry shoes and socks to reduce the risk of cold-related injury. Then they enter the first chamber at -10^oC where they stay for less than 30 seconds and proceed to the -60^oC chamber where further adaptation and drying up skin surface takes place for up to one minute in order to be ready for the final -110^oC adventure! In this last chamber, guests will stay up to three minutes and follow the commands of the operator performing some slow movements and stretching. Upon time limit will leave backwards the chambers totally different – tonified, energised and happy!

To your Best Health,

Dimitris Venizelos – Physiotherapist

Your Chenot Wellness Team