The term “cryotherapy” (kryos = cold) refers to an alternative, non-drug therapy method in medicine in which cold is used therapeutically. Cryotherapeutic measures are used in numerous specialties, for example in dermatology and rheumatology. Cryotherapy is now also used in tumor therapy.
Cryotherapy is expected to have the following effects: pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, decongestant, muscle-relaxing, haemostatic, cell- or tissue-destroying due to narrowing of the blood vessels
- Analgesic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Decongestant
- Muscle Relaxing
- Stops bleeding by narrowing the blood vessels
- Cell- or tissue destroying
The cold can be used in various ways in cryotherapy: Tissue is frozen by applying very low temperatures locally. The application of extreme cold (-70°C to -200°C) is intended to destroy pathologically changed tissue. Cryosurgery is often used in dermatology in particular, where tumors, warts, molluscicles, excessive scars and other tissue are to be removed by means of freezing.
More recent approaches also use this extreme cold to treat tumors of other organs (e.g. liver cancer, prostate cancer). In this case the entire organism is exposed to the cold. This is done, for example, in cold chambers, where the temperature is about -110°C.
The aim is to positively influence certain metabolic processes. These procedures are used for chronic rheumatic diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), but also for mental diseases (e.g. anxiety and sleep disorders).
However, this therapy method is very controversial among experts. Here, a cooling of the underlying tissue is achieved locally (e.g. ice compresses). Especially in the context of sports medicine, cooling of the affected joints after injuries is often used to relieve pain.
In addition, cooling also has a decongestant and anti-inflammatory effect.
- This happens for example in cold chambers where the temperature is about -110°C. The aim is to positively influence certain metabolic processes.
These procedures are used for chronic rheumatic diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), but also for mental diseases (e.g. anxiety and sleep disorders). However, this therapy method is very controversial among experts.
- Hypothermia (lowered body core temperature) is also used in intensive medical treatment, for example after heart attacks or strokes. The low temperature is intended to reduce the energy requirement of the corresponding organs (heart, brain) and thus reduce organ damage caused by the temporarily reduced blood circulation.
All articles in this series:
