Whole-body cryotherapy as a treatment for chronic medical conditions?
Tabisz, Hanna, Modlinska, Aleksandra, Kujawski, Sławomir et al. · British medical bulletin · 2023 · DOI
Quick Summary
This review article examines whole-body cryotherapy (WBC)—exposing your entire body to very cold temperatures—as a possible treatment for various chronic conditions, including ME/CFS. The authors suggest that because WBC appears to reduce inflammation in the body, it might help conditions involving persistent inflammation. However, they emphasize that current research quality is low and that proper clinical trials are needed before we can know if WBC actually works.
Why It Matters
This editorial identifies ME/CFS as a potential candidate for WBC treatment due to its proposed anti-inflammatory and pleiotropic effects, which could address the multi-system dysfunction characteristic of ME/CFS. The authors' call for rigorous research on WBC in ME/CFS highlights an emerging therapeutic avenue that researchers should formally investigate, potentially opening new treatment options for patients.
Observed Findings
WBC demonstrates potent anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory and clinical settings
WBC has been proposed as adjuvant therapy across multiple disease categories (inflammatory, neuropsychiatric, neurodegenerative, and multisystemic conditions)
Existing research on WBC effects in clinical settings is generally of low quality with inconsistent methodology
ME/CFS is identified as a multisystemic disorder potentially suitable for WBC treatment targeting inflammation
Metabolic effects of WBC remain unclear and require further study
Inferred Conclusions
WBC's anti-inflammatory properties make it theoretically suitable as adjuvant therapy for conditions involving chronic inflammation, including ME/CFS
Rigorous randomized controlled trials with adequate sample sizes and extended follow-up are essential before clinical recommendations can be made
Mechanistic studies are needed to understand how WBC exerts its clinical effects
Multiple chronic conditions—particularly those involving neuroinflammation—warrant formal investigation of WBC as a therapeutic approach
Remaining Questions
Does WBC actually reduce symptoms or improve function in ME/CFS patients in randomized controlled trials?
What This Study Does Not Prove
This editorial review does not provide clinical evidence that WBC actually works for ME/CFS or any other condition—it is a theoretical discussion based on existing literature. The authors explicitly state that current studies are low-quality and that no conclusions can be drawn without proper randomized controlled trials. This article cannot establish causation or efficacy; it only suggests WBC warrants further investigation.