Hello. Last time, I introduced the story of the Dodgers, the Major League Baseball team including Shohei Ohtani, incorporating hydrogen inhalation. Hearing that top athletes use it certainly raises expectations for hydrogen, doesn’t it? This time, I would like to discuss “hydrogen baths,” another method of taking in hydrogen.

After sports or exercise, lactic acid tends to accumulate in the muscles, making it easy to feel fatigue and sluggishness. Furthermore, long hours of desk work or stress from the job can tense the body and cause blood flow stagnation. Oxidative stress is suggested to be involved in these conditions, and a hydrogen bath may support the mitigation of this stress. By dissolving hydrogen into the bath water and bathing, hydrogen is thought to be absorbed through the skin and respiration, which may lead to relaxation and fatigue recovery.

There are several types of hydrogen baths available. The electrolysis method is easy to introduce. The pressurized dissolution method seals high concentrations of hydrogen into the hot water, making it suitable for those who want to feel the effects strongly even in a short amount of time. There are also single-use types using aluminum, which are popular as an easy way to incorporate hydrogen while traveling or during a busy daily routine.

The hydrogen bath is useful not only after intense exercise but also as a self-care method to soothe a tired mind and body after work. Those who have experienced it often share comments like, “My body feels lighter,” “The tiredness in my feet has eased,” “I slept soundly after bathing,” and “My skin feels moisturized.” I myself conducted a “single-leg hydrogen foot bath experience” for friends during my stay in Japan, and everyone was surprised by the difference, as the submerged foot felt light compared to the other.

Just as hydrogen inhalation may assist athletes in recovery, the hydrogen bath is also a strong ally for conditioning the mind and body as part of daily self-care. By incorporating it into your routine, it may contribute to your performance and concentration on the following day.