Chronic pain and skin ailments are common among adults worldwide, and around the world, it is believed that 1.5 billion people are suffering chronic pain. In the United States, about 50 million adults have arthritis, and it is estimated that 80% of people will suffer back pain sometime in their lives. For these ailments and more, there is an emerging new treatment: cryotherapy. This branch cryogenics is already taking off, and although new, several health benefits in varying areas have been observed and documented, and more may be discovered as this medical treatment matures.

Cryogenics and Health

Cryogenics is the storage of anything in very low temperatures, and this technology has been adapted recently for medical use. A cryogenics chamber can now house a living patient who seeks relief from pain and other ailments, and these machines can be used by nearly anyone, as long as they do not have conditions such as very high blood pressure or a pregnancy. Consulting a doctor before use is recommended for safety.

According to Medical News Today, using cryogenics for therapy takes some getting used to, but once a person is ready, there are a number of health ailments that can be addressed using a cryo chamber.

What are the benefits of this treatment? As varied as the ailments it can treat. Physically, inflamed muscles, joint pain, back pain, and arthritis can all be addressed and soothed, as the cryogenics chamber acts as an advanced ice pack. Using a cryogenics chamber can also boost the body’s metabolism, as the cold forces the body to warm itself up, and this boosted metabolism endures for hours afterwards, and can contribute to weight loss. Even mental ailments such as dementia can be treated, seeing as the condition can be caused by a physical ailment: inflammation and oxidative stress. Similar psychological conditions caused by inflammation, such as anxiety and even depression, can also be treated in a cryogenics chamber.

Cancer, too, is an ailment that cryogenics may help doctors fight against. As stated in health Line, doctors are looking into the possibility of cryosurgery, where cancer cells are frozen and surrounded with crystals of ice. Low-risk tumors are currently the test subjects for this new technology.

Cryotherapy, and the use of cryogenics, is new but growing fast. It is estimated that as of 2015, the global cryotherapy market was valued at $2.5 billion (U.S.), and by 2024, the cryotherapy market could reach $5.6 billion dollars. As more benefits of this new technology are found, the value may increase even more, and hospitals and doctor’s offices everywhere may start adopting these cryogenics machines for treating a wide variety of ailments.