Ice Bathing – Is It Healthy and Safe for the Body?

The practice of cold water immersion—known in Poland as *morsowanie*—traces its origins to the dawn of physical medicine in antiquity. Hippocrates of Kos, a foundational figure in medical history, advocated for the therapeutic use of cold water to alleviate pain, reduce swelling, staunch bleeding, and lower fever. By the 16th century, Polish scholars such as Józef Strusz and Wojciech Oczko championed the health benefits of cold bathing, particularly for rheumatic conditions. During the Napoleonic Wars, military surgeons employed ice and snow compresses to facilitate limb amputations among soldiers. The late 18th century saw the rise of seawater bathing, marked by the invention of the first swimsuit and the *bathing machine*—a device designed to assist entry into cold water—alongside the establishment of early coastal resorts promoting the salutary effects of marine immersion. Modern medicine has since expanded these traditions, introducing cryotherapy (brief exposure to extreme cold for therapeutic purposes) and cryosurgery (the targeted removal of unwanted tissue, such as warts or hemorrhoids, via freezing). Cold also remains indispensable in laboratory diagnostics, enabling the long-term preservation of biological samples. Despite technological advancements, the tradition of cold water immersion persists globally. In Poland, *morsowanie* is practiced from late autumn to early spring, typically in water temperatures ranging from 8 to 12°C (though some enthusiasts opt for sub-4°C conditions). A 2021 survey by P. Kaniewska and L. Ossowska, involving over 400 participants, revealed that the primary motivation for 221 respondents was the desire to explore a novel health-promoting activity. Secondary incentives included testing personal limits (192 responses) and improving physical health or appearance (164 responses).