Bring On The Cold

Many Ohioans like to complain about the cold. But what if you knew the cold could reduce inflammation, improve your sleep, help you manage pain and even look better? Well, iCRYO is coming to Cincinnati and it claims to do just that. Though new to the area, this concept has been used in Europe for decades. Numerous medical studies support the health and wellness benefits of cryotherapy.

Cryotherapy, sometimes known as cold therapy, is any form of treatment using freezing or near-freezing temperatures. During this process, a person will expose themselves to subzero temperatures, typically -150F, for roughly three minutes. Cryotherapy is used for a variety of reasons, including the reduction of pain and inflammation. Studies have shown it reduces arthritis pain, reduces symptoms of depression and promotes sleep. It is a common component in sports injury recovery. Cryotherapy is incorporated to enhance health and wellness regimens, and benefits beauty regimens and weight loss.

Mary Beth Schell learned about the benefits of cryotherapy from her sister, Tricia Carrigan, who was living in Germany. Carrigan, a molecular biochemist, shared insights on how the cold was incorporated in the German lifestyle. The German people believe not only does the body rest better at a colder temperature, but also that cold temperatures help flush out the lymphatic system. Carrigan adopted cryotherapy and she was able to decrease the medications she used to control the symptoms of her allergy-induced asthma. With regular cryotherapy sessions, she was able to avoid the use of steroids altogether.

Carrigan’s success with cryotherapy caused Schell to investigate. She decided to bring iCRYO Health and Wellness to Cincinnati. Having a background in pharmaceuticals, Schell was impressed by the medical research behind iCRYO therapies. iCRYO’s holistic approach to healing the entire body matched Schell’s commitment to a healthy lifestyle. iCRYO will open its doors in mid-May. As the first iCRYO franchise in Ohio, they will offer a variety of cryotherapy modalities.

iCRYO will offer:

• Whole-body cryotherapy, a non-invasive therapy that triggers the body’s natural fight or flight response to accelerate recovery and decrease inflammation throughout the body
• IV infusion delivering vitamins and minerals directly to the bloodstream
• Body sculpting to reduce the appearance of cellulite and destroy fat
• Cryo facials, which improve blood flow to the skin to encourage the restorative process
• Infrared saunas to cause the body’s core temperature to increase, thus eliminating toxins
• Compression therapy — using compressed air to massage the limbs and speed recovery, as often used by athletes and those individuals who are on their feet all day

“We want people to see our services as something they want to incorporate into their lives,” explains Schell. She and her team of five specialists look forward to bringing these benefits to the Cincinnati community. “We are really committed to the results.”

Schell hopes to partner with fitness facilities, athletic programs and many others. “I look forward to being able to give back to the community.”

Clearly, with all these benefits, it is doubtful anyone will be complaining about the cold!

iCRYO is located at 3673 Paxton Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45208.

For more information, go to icryo.com.