The problem with anecdotes is that the brain is a hell of a drug. I work in clinical trials and it’s amazing at the list of side effects participants get when

The problem with anecdotes is that the brain is a hell of a drug. I work in clinical trials and it’s amazing at the list of side effects participants get when they are in the placebo arm. And it’s not even small numbers. It’s not unusual for 20-40% to have side effects like drowsiness, tingling sensation, muscle pain, jitteriness, euphoria/dysphoria, feeling of being too hot/cold, headache, stuffy nose, tinnitus, frequent urination, diarrhea/constipation, etc. Now layer that on top of cold plunges where people who do it already have an expectation based on others experiences and boom - you suddenly get tens od thousands of anecdotes about the effects that make it seem like it must be true. (Note: I’m not making a judgement call on cold plunges, it’s just an example)