Researchers from the University of Freiburg in Germany have found evidence that a daily bath helps alleviate depression.
The researchers tested the effects of thermal baths on 45 people with depression.
In a statement they said: “Hyperthermic baths seems to be a fast-acting, safe and easy accessible method leading to clinically relevant improvement in depressive disorder after two weeks.”
Although the exact reasons of depression are unknown, it is believed a disrupted circadian rhythm – or body clock - triggers depression.
The circadian rhythm is the physical and chemical changes the body goes through throughout the day.
45 subjects with moderate to severe depression as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and were asked to either exercise for 45 minutes twice each week or take 30-minute hot baths (at 104°F) and then relax with hot water bottles and a warm blanket for 20 minutes twice a week.
After eight weeks, the subjects were retested with HAM-D. Those who took regular warm baths in the afternoon scored six points lower on a commonly used depression scale, while the exercise group scored three points lower on average.
