Using your cedar hot tub for cold plunge therapy

While there are many benefits to your cedar hot tub, one of the most-talked-about things we’re hearing about from athletes and athletic therapists all over the globe doesn’t involve heat at all! We’re talking about cold plunge therapy, and how this breathtaking practice is finding its way into spas, homes, and gyms everywhere.

What is cold plunge therapy?

Simply put – it’s the practice of taking your body from a very hot environment into a very cold one…very quickly. Usually a steam room or sauna is used to heat the body up, before submersing yourself in a cold plunge tub – whether you decide on a few seconds or a few minutes is up to you!

What are the benefits of cold plunge therapy?

Going from hot to cold quickly numbs the nerves surrounding your muscles and joints. This causes the body to release endorphins, which can aid in eliminating muscle and joint stress. The cold water also quickly causes the blood vessels to contract, and reduces joint and muscle swelling.

Another benefit often associated with cold plunge tubs is that it can help to increase the body’s immune system. The cold water stimulates the body into producing a hormones called cytokines. Cytokines are widely known to boast the body’s immune system, and help to protect against virus and bacteria that can cause colds and flues. The restriction of the blood vessels is also known to be beneficial in lowering blood pressure.

The Chinese and Romans practiced cold therapy for 1000’s of years, though you will now commonly see this practiced as Nordik spas and physiotherapy clinics worldwide.

Add a cold plunge tub to your own backyard

With the help of an Arctic heat pump, you can easily switch your cedar hot tub back and forth between hot and cold settings, allowing you to use your hot tub for BOTH heat and as a chiller tub for cold plunge therapy.

Our chiller tubs utilize an Arctic Air Source Heat Pump specifically designed for water refrigeration units to do the cooling. An external circulation pump and filter results in the refrigerated water being circulated through the tub. The refrigeration unit also has its own digital temperature controller, thus not requiring a separate external controller, allowing you to use your cedar hot tub to heat and cool.

Arctic heat pumps have been developed not only for pool and spa use, but for in your home, too! To learn more about Arctic heat pumps all over your home and business, visit the Arctic Heat website to learn more.

Northern Lights has been crafting cedar hot tubs and cedar barrel saunas for over 25 years – contact us anytime, our team of experts can help you find a solution that works best for you and your cedar hot tub!

Get the best of both worlds in a cedar hot tub that heats AND cools

Maybe you live in a location where it’s not unusual for a day’s temperatures to reach 95-100 degrees in the summer…and even evenings only “dip down” to a (still hot) 80 degree range. In extreme heat cases like that, the water in your hot tub would still heat up… even with the heater turned off! For a good part of the year, a chiller tub would be a wonderful addition to your yard, where you could happily enjoy a refreshing dip in tub with cooler water.

But then, winter arrives, the days and nights get downright cold – and a classic cedar hot tub is the only place you want to be.

But what if your cedar hot tub could do BOTH?!

cedar hot tub

Enter the Arctic Heat pump! Arctic Heat Pumps are the only heat pumps in North America that can both heat AND cool your hot tub, as well as operate in low temperature conditions (as cold as 20ºF) and still be efficient. Best of all, a heat pump will save you 60-80% on energy costs compared with a traditional electric heater.

The Arctic heat pump is a great way to make the most out of your cedar hot tub (or chiller tub), and get year-round enjoyment out of your investment. And that’s not all it can do, too – Arctic heat pumps have been developed not only for pool and spa use, but for in your home, too! To learn more about Arctic heat pumps all over your home and business, visit their website to learn more.

Northern Lights has been crafting cedar hot tubs and cedar barrel saunas for over 25 years – contact us anytime, our team of experts can help you find a solution that works best for you and your cedar hot tub!