During this heatwave, which feels like a remake of the film "Groundhog Day," everyone is seeking relief from the heat, whether in the air-conditioned aisles of supermarkets or through a fan. While some lower their body temperature with freezing showers, some women are placing ice cubes somewhere other than on the back of their necks or in their wine glasses: in their underwear. No, this isn't modern-day witchcraft, nor is it the result of some far-fetched theory found online. This seemingly icy, age-old practice has a very serious name: the sitz bath.<\/p>\n
Cold<\/a> is part of many wellness routines and does more than just cool the body during heat waves. While it may cause a few shivers and gasps of surprise, it's incredibly beneficial for the body. Some women plunge their heads into bowls of ice-cold water to firm their skin and tighten pores, while others do it to stimulate their vagus nerve<\/a> . Those less sensitive to the cold<\/a> finish their shower with an icy blast to boost circulation and go to bed with light legs. It's no coincidence that athletes undergo cryotherapy sessions in capsules at -110\u00b0C.<\/p>\n Cold is also useful in underwear. While women are more familiar with hot water bottles than freezer packs during their period, they would do well to try applying something cold between their legs. And no, this isn't a new technique for solo arousal or to awaken sensations similar to those triggered by vibration. The benefit is quite different.<\/p>\n The sitz bath, the official name for this unusual practice, involves applying cold to the perineum for 10 to 30 minutes each day to lower body temperature. This name is misleading, as the sitz bath doesn't involve life-size basins, but simply a removable pouch resembling a sanitary napkin that delivers the cold. A recent invention for a much older practice. In China, the sitz bath has been part of the culture for millennia. Women in the Middle Kingdom would splash themselves with cold water from the perineum to the groin.<\/p>\n While in Fifty Shades of Grey, the unpredictable Christian rolls an ice cube down his partner's body until it reaches the crucial point, the sitz bath has a different purpose. According to its proponents, the sitz bath primarily serves to regulate our internal temperature and, consequently, reduce inflammation in the body. For several years now, our body temperature has been fluctuating wildly, rising in tandem with the environment. As several studies indicate, our body temperature has increased by six-tenths.<\/p>\n The sitz bath is said to create a mini thermal shock and a return to normal through a kind of chain reaction. Other cited benefits include effects on the immune system, a boost of energy, and improved sleep. The sitz bath may also eliminate toxins, relieve menstrual cramps, and even improve digestion. These positive effects were documented by France Guillain, the leading figure in the French practice of the sitz bath, in her book "The Sitz Bath: One Hundred Years After Louis Kuhne."<\/a><\/p>\n In this sweltering heat, which makes it feel like we're living in the Southern Hemisphere, turning your underwear into an ice floe is rather welcome. It's almost more effective than a fan or a portable heater, especially in this place which quickly resembles a sauna with the slightest prolonged stop on the subway bench.<\/p>\n However, specialists are not convinced by this approach, which they consider empirical. They temper the method and point out that no serious scientific study has examined the sitz bath. In the pages of the media outlet \u201cAll\u00f4 Docteur,\u201d<\/a> Dr. Odile Bagot reminds readers that the arguments in favor of sitz baths have never been proven, except through anecdotal evidence. \u201cThe only medical benefit of applying cold to the perineum might be in cases of inflammation in this area (for example, after an episiotomy, in the presence of a hematoma or hemorrhoids),\u201d she writes.<\/p>\n The media outlet Dopamin Paris, for its part, points out that studies on cold overlook certain anatomical realities of women, particularly hormones, the menstrual cycle, and also the nervous system, which is structured differently. While cold can certainly improve overall health, it can sometimes be perceived as a threat by the body. It is synonymous with stress and activates the "fight or flight" response.<\/p>\n Placebo or genuine wellness discovery, the sitz bath still has its mysteries. However, those who have tried this holistic method have only good things to say. Perhaps the best way to find out is to try it for yourself while wearing cooling underwear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"During this heatwave, which feels like a remake of the film "Groundhog Day," everyone is seeking relief from...","protected":false},"author":8340,"featured_media":445093,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5639],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-445089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bien-etre"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bain-derivatif-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bain-derivatif-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bain-derivatif.jpg","author":{"name":"\u00c9milie Laurent","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/cropped-2f5d8c00d5d5c27f8ce4d9b3f9015467-96x96.png"},"categories":[{"term_id":5639,"name":"Well-being","slug":"bien-etre","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5804,"taxonomy":"category","description":" The Well-being section of The Body Optimist shares practical advice on staying active, sleeping better, managing stress and understanding everyday aches and pains. Written for women of every size and body type, it starts from a simple idea: taking care of your body works best through enjoyment and consistency, not pressure or guilt.<\/p>\n When you return to physical activity, consistency matters more than intensity. A few ways to ease back in:<\/p>\n Everyday movement counts too: walking or biking to get around, taking the stairs and gardening all add up as physical activity.<\/p>\n Here, your body isn't a project to fix. We talk about exercise for pleasure, mood and health, never as a way to \u201cmake up for\u201d a meal or to lose weight, and every tip should work for you whatever your body type. The articles in this section provide general information and do not replace advice from a healthcare professional.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, such as brisk walking. It also stresses that some activity is better than none: every session counts, even a short one, and what matters most is finding a pace you can keep up over the long run.<\/p>\n Consistency is the first lever: go to bed and get up at similar times, weekends included. A quiet, dark, cool bedroom, less screen time in the evening and a dinner that isn't too late all make it easier to fall asleep. Loud snoring or waking up gasping for air is worth mentioning to your doctor.<\/p>\n Ongoing fatigue can have many causes: lack of sleep, stress or mental overload, but also iron deficiency, a thyroid disorder or depression. If it lasts several weeks despite rest, or comes with other symptoms, see your doctor to find out what's behind it.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Explore all our topics in the Health section<\/a>, follow moms-to-be in the Pregnancy section<\/a> and enjoy a varied way of eating, without restriction, with the Nutrition section<\/a>.<\/p>","parent":360,"count":1718,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":5639,"category_count":1718,"category_description":" The Well-being section of The Body Optimist shares practical advice on staying active, sleeping better, managing stress and understanding everyday aches and pains. Written for women of every size and body type, it starts from a simple idea: taking care of your body works best through enjoyment and consistency, not pressure or guilt.<\/p>\n When you return to physical activity, consistency matters more than intensity. A few ways to ease back in:<\/p>\n Everyday movement counts too: walking or biking to get around, taking the stairs and gardening all add up as physical activity.<\/p>\n Here, your body isn't a project to fix. We talk about exercise for pleasure, mood and health, never as a way to \u201cmake up for\u201d a meal or to lose weight, and every tip should work for you whatever your body type. The articles in this section provide general information and do not replace advice from a healthcare professional.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, such as brisk walking. It also stresses that some activity is better than none: every session counts, even a short one, and what matters most is finding a pace you can keep up over the long run.<\/p>\n Consistency is the first lever: go to bed and get up at similar times, weekends included. A quiet, dark, cool bedroom, less screen time in the evening and a dinner that isn't too late all make it easier to fall asleep. Loud snoring or waking up gasping for air is worth mentioning to your doctor.<\/p>\n Ongoing fatigue can have many causes: lack of sleep, stress or mental overload, but also iron deficiency, a thyroid disorder or depression. If it lasts several weeks despite rest, or comes with other symptoms, see your doctor to find out what's behind it.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Explore all our topics in the Health section<\/a>, follow moms-to-be in the Pregnancy section<\/a> and enjoy a varied way of eating, without restriction, with the Nutrition section<\/a>.<\/p>","cat_name":"Well-being","category_nicename":"bien-etre","category_parent":360}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8340"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=445089"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":445095,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445089\/revisions\/445095"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/445093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=445089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=445089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=445089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} The benefits of cold on this intimate area<\/h2>\n
What specialists think about this technique<\/h2>\n
What you'll find in the Well-being section<\/h2>\n
\n
How do you get back into exercise after a long break?<\/h2>\n
\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to get you started<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
How much exercise do you need each week?<\/h3>\n
How can you sleep better?<\/h3>\n
Why am I tired all the time?<\/h3>\n
What you'll find in the Well-being section<\/h2>\n
\n
How do you get back into exercise after a long break?<\/h2>\n
\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to get you started<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
How much exercise do you need each week?<\/h3>\n
How can you sleep better?<\/h3>\n
Why am I tired all the time?<\/h3>\n