Nervous System Regulation
Addiction is strongly linked to chronic dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system and impaired stress reactivity [13,14]. Controlled heat and cold exposure have been shown to:
• Lower baseline cortisol [3]
• Improve vagal tone and parasympathetic rebound [19]
• Stimulate adaptive stress responses that reduce sympathetic overactivation [5,8]
Outcome: Clients become more receptive to therapy, more grounded and more able to tolerate emotional processing.
[13] Sinha, R. (2008). Stress, drug use, and addiction vulnerability. Ann NY Acad Sci.
[14] Volkow, N. D., et al. (2016). Advances in addiction neurobiology. NEJM.
[3] Hannuksela, M. L., & Ellahham, S. (2001). Benefits and risks of sauna bathing. American Journal of Medicine.
[19] Carter, C. S. (2014). Oxytocin pathways and human behavior.
[5] Tipton, M. J. (2019). The physiological responses to cold exposure. Experimental Physiology.
[8] Huttunen, P., et al. (2001). Physiological adaptations to repeated cold exposure. European Journal of Applied Physiology.