The History of Cryotherapy
Author: Kravtsova Elizaveta
Cryotherapy, the therapeutic use of cold to treat medical conditions and enhance well-being, has a long and fascinating history. While the modern cryochamber—where temperatures can plunge below -120°C —may seem like a cutting-edge innovation, the roots of cryotherapy stretch back thousands of years. Over time, the practice evolved from simple ice baths in ancient civilizations to sophisticated medical procedures used for pain relief, recovery, and even cancer treatment.
Ancient Roots of Cryotherapy
The earliest recorded use of cold for healing dates back to ancient Egypt around 2500 BCE, where ice and cold compresses were applied to injuries and inflammation. Ancient Greek physicians, including Hippocrates (460–370 BCE), advocated for cold therapy to reduce swelling, relieve pain, and control bleeding. In Hippocrates’ work entitled “On airs, waters and places”, he makes the statement that “the water can cure everything,” further emphasising its value. He recommended the use of snow and ice to treat trauma, setting the foundation for what would later become modern cryotherapy principles.
Even the Romans got in on it. After sweating it out in hot baths, they’d plunge into freezing pools of water, believing it strengthened the body and boosted energy.
Ancient Roots of Cryotherapy
The earliest recorded use of cold for healing dates back to ancient Egypt around 2500 BCE, where ice and cold compresses were applied to injuries and inflammation. Ancient Greek physicians, including Hippocrates (460–370 BCE), advocated for cold therapy to reduce swelling, relieve pain, and control bleeding. In Hippocrates’ work entitled “On airs, waters and places”, he makes the statement that “the water can cure everything,” further emphasising its value. He recommended the use of snow and ice to treat trauma, setting the foundation for what would later become modern cryotherapy principles.
Even the Romans got in on it. After sweating it out in hot baths, they’d plunge into freezing pools of water, believing it strengthened the body and boosted energy.
John Floyer, physician
The Scientific Foundations: 17th–19th Centuries
The scientific exploration of cold as a medical tool began in earnest in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1665, English physician John Floyer published The History of Cold-Bathing, which documented the health benefits of cold immersion. Floyer’s work popularized “cold bathing” across Europe and was among the first to describe its physiological effects.
By the 1800s, physicians began using cold immersion as a formal part of medical treatment. Ice baths became common in hospitals and athletic training facilities, especially for treating sore muscles and joint pain. Doctors applied cold packs after surgeries, and athletes soaked in cold water to recover faster after games.
In the 19th century, cryotherapy had begun to take a more medicalized form. In 1845, English physician James Arnott pioneered the use of extreme cold for surgical purposes, applying a mixture of crushed ice and salt to freeze tumors and relieve pain. Arnott’s work laid the groundwork for cryosurgery, a technique that would later become central to modern cryomedicine.
The scientific exploration of cold as a medical tool began in earnest in the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1665, English physician John Floyer published The History of Cold-Bathing, which documented the health benefits of cold immersion. Floyer’s work popularized “cold bathing” across Europe and was among the first to describe its physiological effects.
By the 1800s, physicians began using cold immersion as a formal part of medical treatment. Ice baths became common in hospitals and athletic training facilities, especially for treating sore muscles and joint pain. Doctors applied cold packs after surgeries, and athletes soaked in cold water to recover faster after games.
In the 19th century, cryotherapy had begun to take a more medicalized form. In 1845, English physician James Arnott pioneered the use of extreme cold for surgical purposes, applying a mixture of crushed ice and salt to freeze tumors and relieve pain. Arnott’s work laid the groundwork for cryosurgery, a technique that would later become central to modern cryomedicine.
Lortat-Jacobs, physician
The Birth of Modern Cryotherapy: 20th Century Innovations
The 20th century saw rapid advances in cryogenic technology: the science of extremely low temperatures, which revolutionized medical cryotherapy.
In 1917, physicians in Paris, like Lortat-Jacobs and Solente, used liquid carbon dioxide to treat skin, followed by the use of liquid nitrogen in the 1940s, which made it possible to achieve temperatures as low as -196°C. Cryotherapy, particularly cryosurgery, became a standard treatment for many benign, pre-malignant, and malignant skin lesions.
The term “cryotherapy” became more widely used to describe various medical applications of cold, including post-surgical pain management and sports injury recovery.
The 20th century saw rapid advances in cryogenic technology: the science of extremely low temperatures, which revolutionized medical cryotherapy.
In 1917, physicians in Paris, like Lortat-Jacobs and Solente, used liquid carbon dioxide to treat skin, followed by the use of liquid nitrogen in the 1940s, which made it possible to achieve temperatures as low as -196°C. Cryotherapy, particularly cryosurgery, became a standard treatment for many benign, pre-malignant, and malignant skin lesions.
The term “cryotherapy” became more widely used to describe various medical applications of cold, including post-surgical pain management and sports injury recovery.
Japan in 1970s
Whole-Body Cryotherapy: A Modern Revolution
The form of cryotherapy most associated with wellness today—whole-body cryotherapy (WBC)—originated in Japan in 1978. Dr. Toshima Yamaguchi, a rheumatologist, was seeking a method to manage the pain and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis more effectively than the available medications, which often worked slowly and came with numerous side effects. He was already aware of the analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory properties of localized cold, such as an ice pack. He hypothesized that cooling the entire body could provide a more significant and widespread therapeutic effect. His key innovation was the idea that rapid, short-term freezing of the skin's surface would be more beneficial than the slower, gradual cooling achieved with an ice bath.
The potential of Yamaguchi's method gained international attention in 1984 when he presented his findings at a congress for rheumatologists. Practice spread to Europe in the 1980s, especially in Poland and Germany, where athletes and physical therapists embraced it for muscle recovery and performance enhancement. By the early 21st century, cryotherapy centers began appearing across North America, fueled by endorsements from professional athletes and celebrities.
The form of cryotherapy most associated with wellness today—whole-body cryotherapy (WBC)—originated in Japan in 1978. Dr. Toshima Yamaguchi, a rheumatologist, was seeking a method to manage the pain and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis more effectively than the available medications, which often worked slowly and came with numerous side effects. He was already aware of the analgesic (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory properties of localized cold, such as an ice pack. He hypothesized that cooling the entire body could provide a more significant and widespread therapeutic effect. His key innovation was the idea that rapid, short-term freezing of the skin's surface would be more beneficial than the slower, gradual cooling achieved with an ice bath.
The potential of Yamaguchi's method gained international attention in 1984 when he presented his findings at a congress for rheumatologists. Practice spread to Europe in the 1980s, especially in Poland and Germany, where athletes and physical therapists embraced it for muscle recovery and performance enhancement. By the early 21st century, cryotherapy centers began appearing across North America, fueled by endorsements from professional athletes and celebrities.
Cryotherapy Today and Beyond
Today, cryotherapy is used in a wide range of medical and wellness contexts. Localized cryotherapy is a standard treatment in dermatology and oncology, while whole-body cryotherapy is promoted for benefits such as faster muscle recovery, reduced inflammation, improved mood, and better sleep.
Scientific research continues to evaluate these claims, with mixed but promising results. Meanwhile, innovations like cryo-saunas, facial cryotherapy, and targeted cryo devices are expanding the boundaries of cold-based therapy.
Scientific research continues to evaluate these claims, with mixed but promising results. Meanwhile, innovations like cryo-saunas, facial cryotherapy, and targeted cryo devices are expanding the boundaries of cold-based therapy.
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