Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is a medical treatment that uses extremely cold temperatures to freeze and destroy abnormal tissues or to reduce inflammation. It is applied locally or to the whole body, depending on the purpose.

📖 Origin of the Term:

“Cryo” – from Greek kryos (κρύος), meaning cold
“Therapy” – from Greek therapeia, meaning treatment

So, "cryotherapy" literally means "cold treatment".

🔬 Types of Cryotherapy:

Local Cryotherapy
- Applied directly to a small area
- Used for:
  - Warts
  - Moles
  - Skin tags
  - Precancerous skin lesions (e.g., actinic keratosis)
  - Some small tumors
Whole-Body Cryotherapy (WBC)
- Patient enters a chamber cooled to –110°C to –160°C for 2–3 minutes
- Used for:
  - Muscle recovery
  - Joint and muscle pain
  - Inflammation reduction
  - Wellness and mood enhancement

⚙️ Tools & Materials Used:

Liquid Nitrogen (–196°C)
Cryo spray gun, cryoprobe, or cryochamber
Protective equipment (gloves, socks, masks for WBC)

✅ Benefits:

Destroys damaged or abnormal tissue (e.g., warts, skin cancer)
Reduces pain and inflammation
Enhances muscle recovery
Boosts circulation and metabolism
Improves skin tone
May help in treating depression and anxiety (WBC)

⚠️ Risks & Contraindications:

Frostbite or skin damage if misused
Not recommended for people with:
- Severe high blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Cold sensitivity disorders (e.g., Raynaud’s disease)
- Pregnancy
- Open wounds or infections

🏥 Medical Uses:

Dermatology (warts, precancerous lesions)
Sports medicine
Pain management
Oncology (in some tumor treatments)
Rheumatology (arthritis)

🧪 How It Works:

Cryotherapy works by rapidly lowering the temperature of tissue to freeze and destroy cells. The cold causes vasoconstriction, reduces nerve activity, and triggers a healing response.

🗓 History:

First medical use in the mid-19th century
Liquid nitrogen was introduced in cryotherapy in the 20th century
Whole-body cryotherapy originated in Japan in the 1970s