Does the Wim Hof Method have a beneficial impact on physiological and psychological outcomes in healthy and non-healthy participants? A systematic review.
PloS one January 1, 2024 Omar Almahayni, Lucy Hammond 16 citations
A systematic review of nine studies on the Wim Hof Method (WHM)—combining breathing, cold exposure, and commitment—found that it may reduce inflammation by increasing epinephrine levels, which raises interleukin-10 and lowers pro-inflammatory cytokines in both healthy and non-healthy participants. Effects on exercise performance and respiratory parameters (minute ventilation, tidal volume, breathing frequency) were mixed. The review suggests WHM shows promise for modulating inflammatory responses, but more research is needed in people with inflammatory disorders and on the breathing method alone for exercise enhancement.