Will four days of cryotherapy heal me? I went to an intense wellness retreat to find out

I went deep and it wasn’t what I expected.

I’ll say this right from the jump – I’m a wellness industry sceptic. As a young (ish) mum with not one but two chronic illnesses, I’m often told the cure to one of my (entirely incurable) autoimmune diseases, Addison’s, is just a quick credit card swipe away.

So, naturally, my hackles rise at even the sniff of a false health claim. On the other hand, meditation has changed my life for the better, walking in nature is my therapy and there is something almost magical about a sound bath, (trust me, just try it).

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So, there I was, equal parts sceptical and optimistic, walking into Eden, a remote health retreat nestled in the Currumbin Valley at the Gold Coast. Thanks to its lack of reception, I would be without the comfort of my nightly TikTok scroll. But I was there to unplug and suss some wild new wellness therapies.

Cryotherapy, hyperbaric chambers and something called ‘Zerogravity Dry Float Therapy’ were all waiting for me in Eden’s new vitality centre. Yep, I went deep, so you can decide if you want to take the (cold) plunge with me.

I was walking into Eden with some particularly crummy symptoms. I was still navigating an arduous post-thyroidectomy hormone replacement saga that was flaring up my Addison’s. As someone who usually loves a good workout, I promised myself I would spend the next four days tuning into what my body wanted and doing only what felt good.

So, after politely declining the suggested 5.55 am wake-up and hike on day one (don’t worry, no one came knocking at my door. All activities are entirely optional), I staggered into the dining space at about 8am for a hot breakfast and a cup of tea.

One of the main focuses of the retreat is to offer guests a taste of stimulant-free living. It provides an impressive selection of teas (including some with caffeine) as well as ‘low caff’ coffee, which I was completely satisfied by.

Used to breaking my fast at around 11 am at home, I was frustrated to find my appetite hadn’t woken up in time for the delicious-looking pesto scramble sitting in front of me – maybe it was the gluten-free bread on the side, or perhaps it was the anticipation as I was about to step into a negative 85 degrees chamber in a bikini.

Cryotherapy

If I was suss on any of the treatments, it was the cryotherapy. How exactly would freezing my tits off for three minutes help anything? The beautiful spa director honestly didn’t know either, but she assured me I would love it. And she turned out to be right. I made it two full minutes before bursting out of there, only to be greeted by a rush of endorphins, a warm congratulations from my guide and a fully relieved headache. What kind of witchcraft was this?

‘Cryotherapy’, which refers to the use of cold to treat injury or ailment, dates back a very long time (possibly as far as the ancient Egyptians). But this iteration, where the whole body is exposed to freezing temps for very short bursts, is quite new. It was invented in Japan in the 1970s and the supposed health benefits are impressive if true. They include reducing inflammation, increasing collagen production, and, interestingly, the treatment of migraine headaches.

There is some evidence to support cryotherapy helping to relieve headaches, and although mine was only gone for about four hours (I suspect this is mainly due to the constriction of blood vessels as a response to the freezing temperature), it was still a welcome reprieve. Of course, as shocking as this may be, cryotherapy does not cure Addison’s disease so it did creep back that evening. 

Let’s be clear though – a cure was not the promise, just my secret wish. In fact, no one I met during my time at the retreat claimed to be able to cure anything. Eden is actually very clear that the entire point is to offer sanctuary, nourishment, and hopefully, a clear mind ready to take the lessons you learn there back into your daily life. 

Zerobody Dry Float Therapy 

After some truly blissful pool and spa time, I was fired up for my zero-gravity dry float. If you’ve been in one of those sensory deprivation tanks where you’re immersed in salted, body-temperature water in a dark dome, this ain’t that.  

Here, you’ll lie on a soft, plastic-covered platform that slowly descends as you’re gently enveloped by 400 litres of body-temperature water. But thanks to the plastic, it never actually touches your skin. There is no lid enclosing you (incredible news for the claustrophobic among us) and you can use an eye covering and even earphones for meditation while you float. 

I was in there for 30 minutes, but it honestly felt like three, and I floated out as if still suspended. There’s nothing especially shocking about why this would make you feel phenomenal; it’s a thirty-minute full-body meditation experience designed to activate your parasympathetic nervous system (the rest and digest one that helps you stay chill), and it gets a thumbs-up from me. 

AirPod Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber

I’ll be straight with you and say I kind of totally cheated with this one. Relaxing in the spa before my treatment, I spoke to a fellow guest who told me his ears popped and the initial pressure and discomfort he felt was almost enough for him to abort-mission. “Then it fades, and you just feel good,” he assured me. But that was enough for me to think maybe, given my health conditions, I would give this one the once over before locking myself into a chamber of mystery. 

Apparently, the chamber is designed to increase your oxygen levels by up to 35 per cent. A fact which, after running past my mother with an extensive background in healthcare, was met with a single raised brow. 

Upon voicing my resistance to my guide, I braced for a pushy spiel on why I simply must try it (a common experience of mine when dabbling with the wellness industry). Instead, I was relieved to be met with a kind smile and an “Absolutely no problem, would you like to try the meditation chair instead?” .

This is the thing about the staff at Eden. Their focus always seems to be on nurturing rather than coercing, and they’re entirely guided by what feels good to you. That alone gets two thumbs up from me.

The 02 breathing and meditation chair

I’m so glad I got to try this one. I laid back in a chair with a rolling massage and some oxygen being gently pumped out of a device that sat near my nose. Over 20 minutes, I was gently rocked by the chair, and guided through a visualisation practice through my headphones. What’s not to love? 

So, was I healed?

Look, I wish I could tell you that this was a turning point in my health journey, but the reality of chronic illness is that it’s complicated, multifaceted and in my experience, rather insubordinate. What I was so grateful for, was the chance to try some of the hippest new therapies in the alternative wellness space, coupled with the stuff I know helps me (calm, nature and meditation) all while in a safe and nurturing environment. 

Despite being very evidence-based when it comes to my chosen therapies, I’m also eternally open to anything that makes my body feel good, and we know that some of these therapies are too new to have been researched to the extent they deserve. But being at Eden, even for a short time, has left me with a sense of peace I didn’t walk in with.

And this place is one of the most beautiful I’ve seen. Everywhere you look there’s a breathtaking view, and a kookaburra or two enjoying the serenity. So no, my Addison’s has not spontaneously healed, as evidenced by my near-immediate visit to my endocrinologist upon return.

But did I walk out of Eden feeling 600 per cent calmer and markedly more peaceful than when I walked in? Absolutely. It’s a pretty special place, and it’s little wonder why most of the other guests I encountered there were repeat visitors.

Hannah was a guest of Eden Health Retreat. You can find out more about it here.