Cold Bath and its beneficial effects:

It has a temperature 0.5 C – 18.3 C young healthy person should use cold water for a bath as it is invigorating, more refreshing and very stimulating to the nervous system the circulation and the metabolism. It tends to improve the texture tone, firmness and colour of the skin and stimulates the circulation of the blood throughout the body. It stimulates the skin and increases the power of the body to react to variations in temperature. Cold bath should be taken as quickly as possible and body covered immediately ofter wards. The first effect produced by taking a cold bath is to chill the surface of the body and that of a shock followed by constrictions of superficial blood vessels, but the vessels dilate very soon giving the feeling of warmth and pleasure to the individual people living in the proximity of a river, lake or a stream usually take.

Cold baths benefit those persons who are strict in observing the essentials of life are of proper age, strength & structure & reside in suitable climate. Cold bath should be taken when the body feels light & active. Cold bath strengthens the body& conserves the heat. Cold bath should be avoided after coitus, before the food is fully mature, in case of vomiting, diarrhoea, inflammation of stomach & intestine, cholera, insomnia, after exercise, and in case of weak stomach & general debility.Cold baths should be avoided by those suffering from dyspepsis, diarrhoea or catarrah and those who are too young or too old. A cold bath should be taken when the body feels light and active.

• If it is desired to strengthen the body and conserve heat, a hot bath should be followed by a moderately cold one. When a cold bath is taken after exercise, the following rules should be observed:-
• The preliminary mass age should be harder than the usual but given with an ordinary oil rub.
• After exercise the massage should be moderate but slightly longer than usual.
• After exercise, the cold water should be poured over the body all at once.
• A cold bath should be continued as long as it is comfortable and well tolerated and there is no goose skin.
• After the bath, massage should be given in the manner to be as above. They quantity of food should be increased and that of drinks decreased.
• After the bath is over return of colour and body temperature should be watched and, if both quickly return to normal, the cold bath should be regarded as of moderate duration and intensity.