Ishnaan: The Ayurvedic Healing Shower

7/29/2020

Ayurveda has mentioned the benefits of 'ishnaan' - cold showers for everything from immunity to circulation. Find out how this effective therapy can benefit you greatly.

Ishnaan is the therapy if you want robust energy, look good, feel good, be pain-free and have optimum circulation in the body. The great part about this therapy is that it does not cost a thing! and that you already have the 'items' needed to do this healing work....right in your shower.

Ishnaan is a form of hydrotherapy which taps into the power of cold water and gets your lymphatic system to 'wake-up' and start detoxifying. It has been used since ages in India for its benefits and even without knowing, all over the world!

And this therapy has been taking place since the beginning of time - since man walked on Earth. When cave men had to clean, they didn't turn on some warm tap water! They took bath in cold rain or valley or cold rivers...

Still, the whole world enjoys cold showers and its benefits, and many times without even knowing about it. Think about it - when people travel on camping trips and take shower in the cold lakes and rivers or even swim in the sea, then this is cold water therapy taking place! Yes, this is not in the 'shower' but the cold water has the same benefits whether you jump in the bath or cold lake.

So, hopefully, this article will inspire you to start this new habit daily or at least few times a week - instead of just when you travel on camping or hiking trips.

What Is Ishnaan?

Ishnaan is a cold water therapy - also called as yogic cold shower. Basically, you get into cold water and let the body detox. It activates the body's cleansing power by opening the capillaries and allowing the toxins to come out.

What Is Cold Shower?

Cold shower is shower with water temperature below 70°F (21°C).

What Are The Benefits of Ishnaan?

The benefits of ishnaan/cold showers are:-

Detoxifies the whole body - As the cold water hits the body, it contracts the muscles, lymph nodes and the internal organs causing them to flush out toxins and take in new, nourishing blood.

Gives glow to the skin & hair - Cold water tightens the pores whereas hot water opens the pores. Cold water helps the skin to contract, thus releasing the toxins and getting a clearer, tighter, glowing complexion. Cold showers also keep the scalp healthy by reducing any inflammation that might be there - thus reducing hair loss and also help in giving hair a shinier, lustrous look.

Helps circulation immensely - As the cold water hits our body, it brings blood to our capillaries. It also circulates blood which in turn causes our arteries to pump blood more efficiently.

Decreases uric acid levels - Jumping in cold shower and adapting to it has a positive effect on the uric acid levels.

Helps depression, anxiety and stress - How is this possible? As you dare to jump in the cold shower, your mind and body are obeying your command and going with it - hence, more self discipline is achieved. This in turn benefits the coping mechanisms and one's resilience in tragic or stressful times. Cold water also produces an anti-depression effect as it touches the nerve endings on the skin and sends zillion electrical impulses right to the brain - in turn, creating better mood and energy.

Helps the glandular system - The glandular system is comprised of the glands in the body and is the system that maintains all the communication via the hormones and modulates feedback to maintain homeostasis. But this is all possible only if the circulation is optimum in the body. This is why cold showers act as an excellent support to the glandular system.

Eliminates aches and pains - Again, due to the circulation boost and the toxins being able to come out, the aches and pains of the body are gone. This is why muscle soreness and pains are treated with cold baths or ice pads.

How Should I Do It?

Basically, you want to start by dry brushing so you can increase the benefits of this therapy. When dry brushing, remember to move the brush towards the heart from all directions. Then, take some oil like pure sesame or almond oil and massage few drops all over your body, including face and hair. Keep massaging till the oil absorbs into the pores. This helps protect the initial shock as the oil creates a layer between the skin and the cold water. This also helps beautify the skin and hair immensely. You can also add bit of castor oil for its high Vitamin E content and its healing ability to help lubricate joints as well as clean the body.

When you are done massaging, then make sure you are wearing some light cotton shorts as this protects the calcium and magnesium in the thigh bones and also, protect your reproductive organs, add cold water slowly. As you turn on the cold shower, DON'T just jump in - instead you are to massage the cold water slowly and rub your arms and feet till they feel warm. Do this for few seconds or few minutes, that is up to you and then step out of the cold water. Repeat again for 2-3 times more and then you are done! Rub with clean towel vigorously till you feel warm.

Women: Women are really encouraged to massage their breasts as this helps release the toxins from the breast tissue and can be a great preventive tool towards breast cancer.

Who Should NOT Do It?

Women who are pregnant or menstruating should not do it. People with rheumatoid arthritis or those with fever or heart disease should avoid too.

Anything Else To Maximize The Benefits?

Make sure to massage the lymph nodes under the armpits to stimulate detoxification. As I wrote, you can add castor oil which is one of the best healing oils in the world. Castor oil was used by Egyptians for everything - from beauty needs to using it as a laxative (circa 1550 BC, Ebers Papyrus). Adding it to sesame or almond oil for massage will greatly soften your skin, create a medium for toxins to come out from skin pores and prevent cold 'shock' as you step into the shower.

Another tip is if you need to wash with soap afterwards, then I really recommend a natural, organic, ethically crafted, high quality soap made with herbs and oils. You are doing this to reduce the toxins in your body - by using the wrong soap, you don't want to add on more chemicals again! to your skin (and then to your body as everything gets absorbed) and also, after oil massage, you don't want to create dryness for your skin. Just any good soap bar or even few drops of pure castile soap will do!

Good To Know...

According to Yogi Bhajan (the famous spiritual teacher who was a big proponent of cold showers) -

Putting cold water on forehead and hair will make you very sleepy.
Water between the eyebrows and upper lip will make you energetic.
Cold water below the lower lip for 10-15 minutes creates clarity and bright mind.
Cold water massage on upper arm (between shoulders and elbow), you are curing your stomach.
From elbow to 2 in above the wrist corresponds to digestive tract.
2 inches above the wrist to the start of the wrist is related to heart. The wrist is linked to liver & fingertips to the brain.
When the blood and the capillaries completely open up due to the cold, then you will feel warm and you can step out, towel dry and put on some warm clothes.

“When the marrow in the blood does not have the faculty to change itself, then it cannot be changed. The only last chance is that you can transplant it. That’s why people who do not take cold showers have arthritis, bone problems, marrow problems and artery problems. Every problem in the body is a result of your capillaries not opening and not getting flushed every day. Your glandular system is the guardian of your whole system.” -Yogi Bhajan

So, this is cold shower or hydrotherapy or ishnaan. It's free and available to use right now - what's the wait? Gather up your guts and give it a shot - it might just make you feel so good that you will become a regular 'visitor' of this therapy!

-Somyata

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14 Comments

Vicki Bean

2/21/2019 19:03:28

Hello dear Somya! It’s been a while since we last visited! This is a very good article and quite informative. I do have a question: on the “Good to Know” section is it possible just to place one’s wrist under cold water to get the desired benefit mentioned, etc. or is this speaking about as one is in the cold shower to hold the wrist under the shower head? Thank you for this article Somya and I hope you are doing well❣️

Somyata

2/21/2019 19:38:37

SO happy to see you here..:) I have just been too busy as you might know but I did not forget you at all..:)
I think as far as your ques. goes, it will work because if we look at word-to-word what he is saying, then it is ONLY the fact that cold water on this or that part of the body creates a certain reaction. Nowhere in my research did he say that this only applies when the rest of the body is under cold shower...
Here is the article that you will enjoy reading! Yogi Bhajan traveled to America a lot and had met famous people inc. Pope...etc....
Do let me know anytime! if you have any questions. -Somyata.

https://www.3ho.org/3ho-lifestyle/health-and-healing/hydrotherapy/ishnaan-science-hydrotherapy

Kim

7/9/2019 15:21:03

I've been hearing about this from many functional medicine/alternative medicine sites lately. I've been chicken (can a vegan use this word?) to try it. I think you may have convinced me, Somyata!

7/9/2019 17:40:45

Yes! You can use that word -words don't hurt but actions do, esp. in this case where we either support animal well-being OR we support slaughterhouses. Its one-way or the other and you and people like me should be proud for our self-discipline and guts to do the right thing - just by 1 choice, we are reducing (or not contributing) to animal suffering, reducing pollution, reducing world hunger, reducing water & fuel wastage! And YES! Its time to start the cold showers too! This is why I sent this article in summer time as now people will be willing to give this therapy a try..:) Somyata.

Linda Marshman

8/27/2019 08:10:34

Love, love love your articles and receipes they are so informative. Be Blessed.

8/27/2019 12:14:09

Oh thank YOU! You are so sweet and I am just so glad you are part of this. Let me know if you have any other ques. I will reply asap. I just replied to your co. oil ques..:) Somyata.

Michael

6/24/2020 16:34:31

Hello,
I have been taking cold showers now for two years on and off. I stop because I consistently get inflammation in my tonsils (left one typically). When this happens I feel like I have a mild cold for a few days. I haven’t practiced the massaging with Almond oil and going in and out of the water. I will try that next. I love taking cold showers and will continue I just know that something is isn’t right and how can I change it?

The Garden Recipe

6/24/2020 21:13:22

Hi - Thanks for signing up to The Garden Recipe newsletter and Welcome! to more health and delicous recipes!

OK. The fact that you get tonsils is not due to cold showers - it is probably due to something you are eating and are allergic to. When that thing is going in your body, it is creating an inflammatory response.

You need to make a Food Chart - where you record for a month exactly what you are eating daily, what ingredients are in the recipe and then write down when you got tonsils. Now, over a month,this will give answer. Look at this chart and review it and it will show you exactly what FOOD/FOODS to avoid. Hope this helps! Good luck! BTW, how did you find the site? -Somyata.

KiwiPiper

7/28/2020 11:53:00

Hi! Wonderful article, I’ve been doing all the research I can on the subject and most websites literally quote yogui Bhajan, so I know it all by heart. This was more in depth. I would just like to know the specifics, like, how often to dry brush or how one washes the hair if it doesn’t get wet. I would appreciate any information, thankyou!

7/28/2020 13:18:45

Hi. Thanks for your wonderful comments. People always tell me how detailed my articles are yet they don't feel tensed or overwhelmed while reading them. That makes me so happy! I am glad you liked the article and found it detailed.

OK. As for your question, for dry brushing, you can do it everyday if you like as it is great for moving the lymph system and detoxification. This is great for breast health. If you feel lazy or don't have 5-10 mins each day, then, make a schedule to do it at least 3-4 times a week. An act so simple and FREE can help save you millions in health bills down the road. So, that is my answer. Use a nice bamboo brush and do it.

As for washing hair, I think you mean about how to keep hair clean vs. how to care on days when you are doing cold showers and don't want to get them wet? Well, for NOT getting them wet, just wrap them up and you can wear a plastic cap. For days you want to shampoo, cold showers are GREAT for hair/scalp health and they also stimulate the brain circulation. Simple wash them as you would any other day! Hope this helps. Let me know if any question.

Unlike most other health sites, here you will get your questions answered very fast and you will get to-the-point answer for your health query. Make sure to stay connected by subscribing to newsletter if you haven't and if you like, to youtube channel. It will help you a lot more. Have a great day! -Somyata.

Janie

11/12/2020 02:48:07

Hi there, I have been cold swimming regularly but it was recommended I stop when it gets too cold as I am mostly Vata & that it would exacerbate the Vata in my body... What do you say..? Thanks.

11/12/2020 18:54:00

Hi Janie - I would love to help with the question but that question would require me to do further research and is outside of the article. If you are interested, then, you can pay, and I can get back to you with detailed answer. I will also include some more points to help you further regarding vata diet, and what else you can do to enhance your health. Do note this is for 1 question - https://www.thegardenrecipe.com/store/p2/You-Pay-You-Ask.html

I hope this helps! -Somyata.

Jason Gomez

11/17/2020 08:44:53

Thank you for posting this amazing wisdom! I began cold water training in 2012, I have never experienced any negative side effects, only super powerful healing benefits. Cold water or ice water is the real flu shot to invigorate and charge the immune system.

11/17/2020 11:38:46

Thanks Jason for your sweet comment! And you are SO right! - cold water shower, ishnaan, as we call it in Hindi, are a therapy - no less! BTW, have you heard of Wim Hof? You might be interested - he does the same with like..ice cold water.

Have a great day! Enjoy checking out more articles and do try some recipes! Now, you can also check out articles and recipes too, by the categories. Do let me know if you have any questions, anytime! -Somyata.

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