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Uncover why skipping this one practice could be the real reason behind your daily burnout.

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My Longevity Experiment
April 27, 2025

Cryostimulation for Better Sleep: How Freezing Your Body Could Improve Rest and Mood

If you are determined to improve your sleep quality, you should seriously consider cryostimulation. Just one daily 5-minute session in a cryostimulation chamber, cooling your body to a bracing -90 °C (-130 °F), could make a noticeable difference.

A recent study led by researchers from the University of Poitiers in France found that this deep freeze practice significantly improved both sleep quality and mood. You need to be patient, though, because the benefits take a few days to show.

While you probably will not be installing a cryochamber at home anytime soon, this research could open the door to better treatments for sleep issues, chronic inflammation, and early signs of dementia. It might even become a vital tool for elite athletes looking to recover faster after major events.

How Cryostimulation Impacts Sleep and Mood

Researchers observed that mood improved and anxiety levels dropped among participants following cryostimulation sessions. As kinesiologist Olivier Dupuy from the University of Montreal explains, "Our sleep architecture analysis revealed a significant increase in the duration of slow-wave sleep during nights following cryostimulation compared to nights without cryostimulation."

You should know that slow-wave sleep is the deepest and most restorative sleep phase. According to Dupuy, "Slow-wave sleep, considered the most restorative phase of sleep, increased by an average of 7.3 minutes during the first two sleep cycles."

In the study, researchers monitored 20 healthy individuals with an average age of 23 years over five days. After completing their daily 5-minute cryostimulation chamber sessions, participants resumed normal activities, except they avoided alcohol, caffeine, and strenuous physical activity.

Each night, participants were connected to various brain and heart sensors to track biological activity and measure sleep quality. They also completed a sleep questionnaire each morning.

Besides the notable increase in slow-wave sleep, you will be interested to learn that mood improvements and anxiety reductions were especially strong in women. Dupuy highlighted, "Women and men did not have identical responses. This suggests that the dose of cold should be adjusted according to gender, although this requires further study."

What Cryostimulation Does Not Affect

It is important to note that not every aspect of sleep changed with cryostimulation. For example, there were no significant effects on how quickly participants fell asleep or the amount of time spent in REM sleep, the dream-rich phase critical for memory consolidation.

While the study used a small sample size and did not pinpoint the exact biological mechanisms linking intense cold to better sleep, the results are promising. Future research will likely explore variables such as time exposure and frequency of cryostimulation sessions.

You should also know that there is already strong evidence supporting whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) for benefits like calming the heart after exercise, reducing inflammation, and improving overall well-being. Now, sleep enhancement seems to be another advantage.

As Dupuy points out, "The use of cold for therapeutic purposes goes back to ancient Greece." He also emphasized, "One thing is clear: this is not a placebo effect. Other studies have demonstrated similar positive effects in elite athletes."

Your Call to Action for Cryostimulation for Better Sleep

If you want to harness the benefits of cryostimulation for better sleep, start by exploring cryotherapy centers near you. While you may not need daily sessions, regular exposure to cold therapy could help you enhance your sleep quality, improve your mood, and support your overall health. Always consult a healthcare provider before beginning any new therapy, especially if you have underlying conditions. By making cryostimulation a part of your wellness routine, you could dramatically improve your nights and your days.

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