Re: Cryogenic Chamber Therapy
This documentary (just released) features Wim Hof first demonstrating his unique ability to withstand freezing temperature using a breathing technique, He has climbed Everest shirtless and a ran marathon barefoot through snow.
Then under lab conditions we see him injected with dead bacteria, the experiment is to see if he is capable of suppressing his immune response using his mental state only.
He takes 25 volunteers, 12 of whom accompany him to Poland to roll around in the snow, swim under ice covered water etc..
They return to Holland where they show that using his breathing techniques, they are able to play football in -15 wind chill and then have baths in ice water.
The trained group are injected with the same bacteria, and so are the control group.
The results show that the trained group are able to suppress the adrenaline inflammatory response to the dead bacteria and the control group suffer fevers.
The doctors state that this shows you can suppress the autonomous nervous system with the power of the mind. However can't comment whether this would help chronic inflammation issues. such as arthritis. But they are amazed.
Wim Hof claims he has found a way to 'activate' a certain response in the body and that it requires this breathing and visualization technique.
I would just add, does Wim Hof smoke? He has a light cough which makes me wonder, i understand the dutch are a bit more tolerant with smoking.
I have never attempted such feats but i did spend a large part of my youth half naked in the freezing cold in the UK :P(and didn't get sick), I've jumped into a freezing river and the 'dip' pools at open air baths, but not routinely. And what's funny is now i'm older and don't leave the house half naked or waiting for busses in the rain, my tolerance is nil. I actually would be quite up for the activities in the video, and if it was feesable, i would be happy to make a weekly effort at home. I do wonder whether the group
adventure will have had more of an impact, and so is more effective, at training the group. It was commented by the researchers that he worked them hard and they really bonded, and from experience in these 'adventure hollidays', this counts towards alot.
13 minutes long
Wim Hof climbed Everest bare-chested and ran a half-marathon in Lapland without any shoes. So just how does he do it? This bizarre report reveals the science behind 'The Iceman'.
The wind-chill temperature is -15 degrees Celcius, and Wim Hof is playing football. Topless. Though this is doubtless one of his favourite pastimes, on this occasion 'The Iceman' is participating in a medical study by Radboud University in the Netherlands, training a group of spritely young volunteers to acquire his superhuman hardiness. "You're learning to train your mind so that you're in control" explains one apprentice as he dries off after an ice-bath in a car park. "It's a powerful feeling." But the benefits of Wim's meditation techniques turn out to be much more significant than simply not needing a coat. Could they transform our approach to dealing with disease?
For more info, but it's in Dutch.
_http://www.eenvandaag.nl/extra/wimhof/?npo_cc=na&npo_rnd=230441652
