Hydrogen-Rich Water Bath – Benefits based on Research Studies

by PEMF-Devices.com | Jun 8, 2023 | Hydrogen Therapy, Wellness Technologies

Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) is a therapeutic form of water infused with molecular hydrogen. HRW is prepared by bubbling Hydrogen gas in water, the water absorbs some of the molecules of H2.

Research shows several benefits of drinking molecular hydrogen infused water and inhaling hydrogen and hydrogen-oxygen gas. Hydrogen-dissolved water has shown to reduce oxidative stress and boost cell health. Bath water can also be infused with molecular hydrogen. The effects and benefits of a hydrogen water bath are many fold. Let us review the research studies and clinical trials utilizing hydrogen-rich water bath, and learn about the benefits of HRW bath.

Hydrogen-rich water bath allows hydrogen to permeate the blood through the hair pores, sebaceous glands, and sweat pores in the skin, resulting in the dilatation of the subcutaneous capillaries under the skin, thus increasing subcutaneous blood flow. Therefore, hydrogen-rich water bath is capable of increasing anti-oxidative activity in the blood and can improve lipid metabolism.

Heals the Skin & Reduces Visceral Fat

HRW bath can aid recovery of skin blotches and cleanse the skin better than regular water. Blotchy skin conditions include eczema, rosacea, and shingles and stressed skin due to weather, stress, etc.

Visceral fat found under the skin, is not easily noticeable and is known to raise the risk of several metabolic diseases.

In this clinical study from Japan, it was shown that application of HRW bath for 10 minutes a day for 1-6 months resulted reduced visceral fat and skin blotches. The study utilized hydrogen-rich water with a hydrogen concentration of 0.3 ppm (300-310 μg/L) in a tub with 180-200 L of normal tap water. The results show that the skin blotches became remarkably smaller with HRW bath therapy. Abdominal cross-section revealed that the visceral fat area decreased from 47 to 36 cm, and the abdominal circumference decreased from 91 to 82 cm, in of those bathing in hydrogen-water. After 6-month hydrogen-water bathing, the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level was decreased by 16.2% and the fasting blood glucose level improved.​1​

Removes Keratin Plugs and Cleanses & Hydrates the Skin

In another clinical study from 2018, scientists used warm (40°C), 0.09-0.23 ppm, hydrogen-rich water taken orally and in bath to study its effects on capillary blood streams (blood circulation), skin moisture, and keratin plugs in skin pores in healthy users. They found that cleansing effects of warm hydrogen water bath were superior to normal warm water. After hydrogen warm water bathing, the numbers of cleansed keratin plugs increased 1.30 to 4.47 times compared to normal warm water. It was also found to promote the capillary blood streams more markedly than merely through warmness due to normal warm water. ​2​

We think the study could have fared better with higher concentrations of H2 in the water. It must also be noted that raising the temperature of the water will adherently result in release of hydrogen from the water. However if the size of bubbles is very small (nano), the hydrogen concentration will be maintained at a much higher level.

Reduces Inflammation and Boosts Blood Quality

In another study, HRW bath was found to have benefits for both healthy individuals as well as those suffering with connective tissue disease, collagen disease, polymyalgia rheumatic (muscle stiffness and pain), rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory skin conditions. The scientists utilized 338-682 μg/L (0.338 – 0.682 ppm) hydrogen-rich water for the HR bath, 10 minutes daily for up to 4 months. Water used in the bath was infused with hydrogen for 60 minutes, followed by 10-minute bathing. They found that the serum blood test displayed improved anti-oxidant capabilities, reduction in inflammation and improvement in skin appearance. The study shows that hydrogen-rich water has both short-, medium- and long-term effects on the increasing anti-oxidants and reducing C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a marker used to test inflammation. They concluded that the effects of hydrogen-rich water bathing can be beneficial for long-term health maintenance, i.e., has anti-aging effects. ​3​

Warm and hot baths are known to improve blood circulation to the heart. It has been found that daily hot tub therapy for 3 weeks can lower blood glucose levels in patients with type-2 diabetes. A warm HR water bath can be even better. A clinical study in 2021 from Japan shows that HR water bathing (41 °C, 10-min bathing) can improve the heat retention after a hot bath and also boost the thickness of capillaries increasing blood circulation in the entire body. ​4​

Improves Sports Performance

A collaborative study by scientists from Hungary and Serbia suggests that whole-body bathing in HRW is a safe therapy that reduces muscle damage and can ease sore muscles after high-intensity strength-training exercise. ​5​

Reduces UVA induced skin damage and wrinkles

In a trial using HW-bathing (0.2-0.4 ppm) every day for 3 months, the therapy was found to significantly improve wrinkles on the back of neck on 90th day as compared to 0 day. The scientists also concluded that HW bath may serve as daily skin care treatment to repress UVA-induced skin damages by ROS-scavenging and promotion of type-I collagen synthesis in dermis. ​6​

Conclusions

As we can see hydrogen-rich water baths are an exciting frontier of hydrogen medicine research. The clinical evidence for this easy-to-apply and safe therapy shows that it can be beneficial for a host of skin problems as well as cardiovascular and rheumatic conditions.

How to Make HW Bath

To have a rejuvenating H2 water bath, simply bubble H2 from your Hi Tech Hydrogen IInhalation Machine in a bathtub of water to saturate it with H2.

References

1. 1.

   Asada R, Saitoh Y, Miwa N. Effects of hydrogen-rich water bath on visceral fat and skin blotch, with boiling-resistant hydrogen bubbles. Med Gas Res. 2019;9(2):68-73. doi:10.4103/2045-9912.260647

2. 2.

   Tanaka Y, Saitoh Y, Miwa N. Electrolytically generated hydrogen warm water cleanses the keratin-plug-clogged hair-pores and promotes the capillary blood-streams, more markedly than normal warm water does. Med Gas Res. 2018;8(1):12-18. doi:10.4103/2045-9912.229598

3. 3.

   Tanaka Y, Xiao L, Miwa N. Hydrogen-rich bath with nano-sized bubbles improves antioxidant capacity based on oxygen radical absorbing and inflammation levels in human serum. Med Gas Res. 2022;12(3):91-99. doi:10.4103/2045-9912.330692

4. 4.

   Kato S, Takada Y, Miwa N. Heat-retention effects of hydrogen-rich water bath assessed by thermography for humans. J Therm Biol. 2021;95:102805. doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102805

5. 5.

   Todorovic N, Javorac D, Stajer V, Ostojic SM. The Effects of Supersaturated Hydrogen-Rich Water Bathing on Biomarkers of Muscular Damage and Soreness Perception in Young Men Subjected to High-Intensity Eccentric Exercise. Bosch A, ed. Journal of Sports Medicine. Published online October 15, 2020:1-5. doi:10.1155/2020/8836070

6. 6.

   Kato S, Saitoh Y, Iwai K, Miwa N. Hydrogen-rich electrolyzed warm water represses wrinkle formation against UVA ray together with type-I collagen production and oxidative-stress diminishment in fibroblasts and cell-injury prevention in keratinocytes. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2012;106:24-33. doi:10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2011.09.006