Got the Blues? Try a Cold Shower

Shevchuk said that, throughout the evolution of mammals and primates, individuals got plenty of exercise and were exposed to frequent changes in body temperature, such as when forced to swim in cold water while hunting or when chasing prey in very hot weather.

He links these temperature jolts to the phenomenon of homeopathy, whereby small doses of something harmful may actually promote healing by stimulating the body's repair and recovery systems. Electric shock and deep brain stimulation treatments operate on a somewhat similar principal, only with frightening potential side effects, such as memory loss and cognitive impairment.

Cold showers could also have adverse effects, particularly for heart patients and other already at-risk patients, so Shevchuk advises those who wish to try out the treatment to check with their doctors first. The recommended approach is to take a cold shower -- around 68 degrees -- for 2 to 3 minutes once or twice daily, preceded by a five-minute gradual adaptation to the temperature.

The approach could explain the discovery by psychiatrist Thomas Wehr of the National Institute of Mental Health that people who chronically suffer from depression in the summer benefit from frequent cold showers. Traditional Chinese medicine has also prescribed cold-water swims or baths as mood-lifters.

Related Links:

How Stuff Works: Depression

Jennifer Viegas' blog: Born Animal

The Mayo Clinic on Depression