Drug Rehabs That Use Sauna Therapy and Cold Plunge

It is not uncommon for drug rehab centers to offer new and innovative treatments when it comes to addressing a person’s addiction and improving their overall well-being. Two such therapies that are growing in popularity are those of sauna and cold plunge therapy in drug rehab, which are often used in combination to increase each other’s effectiveness.

Read on to learn more about the benefits these therapies provide, any associated risks that are involved, how to find an addiction treatment center near you that offers them and more.

While it is not always common to find sauna and cold plunge therapy in drug rehab centers, these types of therapy can serve a great purpose whenever they are offered.

Sauna therapy or sauna treatment involves being exposed to high temperatures while in a small, confined space. Saunas are typically heated to around 150° Fahrenheit, though this will vary depending on the type of sauna.

Cold plunge therapy, on the other hand, involves submersion in cold water for a short period. Usually, the water is between 50 and 59° Fahrenheit, though beginners may want to start a little warmer.

The purpose of these therapies, especially when used together, is to increase a person’s overall wellness and sense of well-being. This can be incredibly beneficial during addiction treatment as many people who start in recovery treatment are experiencing periods of very poor physical health and mental health.

One of the main benefits and purposes of sauna and cold plunge therapy in the context of addiction treatment is that they can aid in the detox process, which is usually performed at the start of treatment to help people achieve sobriety.

In addition to this, some find that they can also aid in stress relief and ease the symptoms of anxiety and depression, helping to address a person’s overall wellness and reducing their likelihood of relapsing.

There are a few different types of both sauna therapy and cold therapy, though some are more commonly utilized during addiction treatment than others.

There are three main types of sauna therapy used in rehabs:

• Finnish sauna therapy – this type of sauna therapy is sometimes called traditional sauna therapy or dry heat sauna therapy and uses a wood-burning stove or electric heater to create dry heat, as opposed to heat created by steam
• Steam therapy – this type of sauna therapy utilizes wet heat, or steam, in order to produce heat within a small room or confined space
• Infrared sauna therapy – this type of sauna therapy is unique in that it applies heat directly to the body, as opposed to heating the surrounding air of the room itself

There are also a few different main types of cold plunge therapy:

• Cold water immersion – this type of cold plunge therapy is the most common and involves submersion in cold water up to the neck, usually in a small bathtub or a natural body of water, such as a lake, when available
• Contrast water therapy – this type of therapy, on the other hand, involves alternating between immersion in cold water and hot water, usually beginning with hot water immersion and switching to cold
• Cold showers – this type of therapy is easy to take part in, even at home, and can serve as a great way for people to start with cold water therapy before they begin cold water immersion therapy

Both sauna therapy and cold plunge therapy provide health and addiction recovery benefits, with these benefits even stronger when both therapies are used together.

While the physical benefits of these therapies often attract athletes and fitness professionals, they can also help people struggling with substance abuse.

Physical health benefits may include:

• Promotes a stronger and healthier immune system
• Promotes weight loss
• Improves blood circulation
• Increases blood flow
• Promotes muscle recovery and faster healing from muscle soreness

It is important to note the mental health benefits of sauna and cold plunge therapy as well, as people living with addiction often have co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, depression, and mood disorders.

Mental health benefits may include:

• Improves the function of the nervous system
• Relieves stress and anxiety in both short-term and long-term
• Reduces cortisol levels
• Promote relaxation
• Promotes better sleep quality
• Boosts mental clarity, focus, and concentration

By providing both physical health benefits and mental health benefits, sauna and cold plunge therapy can work together to improve overall recovery outcomes.

The benefits of sauna and cold plunge therapy can work to ensure that a person has a greater chance of addiction recovery, less chance of relapse in the future, and an improved overall quality of life.

During addiction treatment, sauna therapy and cold plunge therapy are used primarily during the detoxification process, which usually occurs at the very beginning of treatment and is intended to help people achieve abstinence from all substances.

Both sauna and cold plunge therapy play crucial roles in the detox process, starting with sauna therapy which boosts sweat production and enhances lymphatic drainage.

When followed by cold plunge therapy, detox is enhanced even further as leukocytes are stimulated and the immune system is given a boost as both inflammation and pain are reduced simultaneously.

Withdrawal symptoms experienced during detox will depend on the specific drug but can include things like anxiety and depression, fatigue, and a general feeling of being ill or unwell.

Sauna and cold plunge therapy can help with these uncomfortable symptoms by improving circulation and blood flow, increasing energy levels, promoting healing and improving the immune system, and reducing a person’s overall stress levels.

Sauna and cold plunge therapy are also quite effective at enhancing the body’s natural methods for detoxification, reducing the need for medications and other unnatural detox mechanisms.

Ways that the body naturally detoxes through bodily functions include sweating, breathing, blood flow, stool excretion, and urination, among others.

Personalized sauna and cold plunge therapy plans are typically incorporated as part of a larger comprehensive treatment plan during addiction treatment.

Sauna and cold plunge therapy are not meant to treat addiction by themselves but are to be integrated into treatment plans along with other traditional rehab treatments.

Traditional treatments that are used alongside sauna and cold plunge therapy are counseling, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), support groups, relapse prevention support, and more.

It is crucial that therapy and counseling are provided alongside sauna and cold plunge therapy so that people can address their mental health as well as their triggers and other challenges they are facing related to their substance use.

Behavioral therapies are often used in addiction treatment, with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) being particularly popular and effective.

Incorporating sauna and cold plunge therapy into a treatment plan should always be based on each individual, as these therapies may not be appropriate for some patients.

Furthermore, patients who participate in these therapies will want to pay close attention to their individual health, experience level, and any side effects that they experience.

Because sauna and cold plunge therapy come with possible health risks, it is especially important to ensure that the facility you choose is of good quality.

When looking for a high-quality rehab center that has sauna and cold exposure therapy, you should keep an eye out for the following factors:

• The facility should hold accreditations from reputable national organizations, such as the Joint Commission.
• The staff should be experts in the field of addiction recovery treatment, holding appropriate licenses and certifications.
• Any staff members performing sauna and cold plunge therapies should have special training and expertise in these methods.
• The facilities should be clean, comfortable, safe, and accommodating.
• The facility should have a positive reputation in the community, as well as high ratings on search engines and social media.

It is always a good idea to visit rehab facilities in person before seeking treatment and have questions ready to ask any staff members that you meet with. These questions will vary but may include:

• What evidence-based treatments do you offer in addition to sauna and cold plunge therapy?
• What happens if I have a bad reaction to sauna or cold plunge therapy?
• What types of special training or certification do your healthcare providers carry?
• Do you offer both inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment?
• How long is a typical stay at your facility?
• Am I allowed to have visitors while in treatment?
• Can I stop sauna and cold plunge therapy if I am uncomfortable or do not enjoy it?
• Do you offer multiple levels of outpatient treatment, such as intensive outpatient treatment or partial hospitalization?
• Are your facilities and treatments separated by gender?
• Do you offer treatment for teens and adolescents?

Any reputable rehab facility must offer treatment plans that are customized for every individual, as everyone who enters rehab is unique and has their own unique needs.

Treatment plans involving sauna and cold plunge therapy should also be customized, as people have different levels of experience as well as possible medical conditions that can affect the duration and frequency of their treatment.

Cost considerations are often one of the biggest concerns that people have when starting treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, especially when specialized services are involved.

The cost of drug rehabs that offer sauna and cold plunge therapy can vary depending on factors like location, levels of care offered, and types of payment accepted.

Without health insurance, outpatient treatment can reach hundreds of dollars per day in costs, with inpatient treatment at times reaching several thousands of dollars per day at some facilities.

Insurance is often an option when paying for drug and alcohol rehab, though specialized services and alternative therapies like sauna and cold plunge therapy are not always covered.

There are also several types of insurance – private insurance, state-funded insurance, and military insurance – so always check in advance to make sure that the facility accepts your specific insurance policy and plan.

It is also a good idea to check whether any facility you are interested in offers any type of financial assistance or payment options to help make treatment more affordable and cover the sauna and cold plunge therapy costs.

Types of financial assistance that may be offered include payment plans, discounts, and sliding fee scales based on income level.

While sauna therapy and cold plunge therapy provide numerous benefits, they are not without risks as well. Any use of these therapies in addiction recovery should be closely monitored by healthcare professionals.

Some of the risks of sauna and cold plunge therapy can be very serious, even life-threatening, and patients should always be made aware of these risks.

Sauna and cold plunge therapy side effects and risks include:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Cardiovascular health issues
• High body temperature (hyperthermia)
• Low body temperature (hypothermia)
• Risk of drowning
• Light-headedness
• Claustrophobia
• Cold shock response and other cold injuries
• Heat or cold intolerance

Rehab centers can help to mitigate any associated risks by first and foremost offering close monitoring throughout each type of therapy.

Staff members should also be made aware of any risks and receive special training, and patients who are at high risk may want to avoid these therapies altogether.

People should always be aware of potential risks and side effects of sauna and cold plunge therapy, and alert their medical team of any pre-existing health conditions that they have been diagnosed with.

In addition, any side effects experienced should also be noted and discussed, and anyone with severe side effects should seek prompt medical attention.

Here are questions that are frequently asked about sauna and cold plunge therapy for substance abuse treatment.

If you or a loved one is seeking out a drug rehab facility that offers sauna sessions and ice baths, contact us at RehabNet.com at any time for assistance.

We have helped thousands of people across the United States who are struggling with addiction to find the help that they need, as well as the specialized services that they require or are interested in.

To learn more and to find the help that you need in your area, simply call us today or fill out our contact form to get started.