Can Wim Hof Method help with Rheumatoid Arthritis?

My name is Henk van den Bergh.

I live in Holland’s most beautiful village

Blaricum. You can’t miss it.

I run a forge. It’s a family business.

In 1984 I was diagnosed with rheumatism.

At first I had difficulties with opening a carton of milk.

I couldn’t work for a while. I ended up going back to work

yet the rheumatism stayed.

My fingers and elbow needed surgery.

My shoulders, knee and right wrist were infected.

Three years ago I could barely walk.

I was on a lot of medication that my rheumatologist had prescribed me.

One of those; Biologicals, wasn’t working anymore.

So my alarm bells went off and at that point our friend Henk Mollema said;

"You should pay Wim a visit."

Just try out the ice bath and some of the other stuff we do.

I said: no way, I’m going to do that. I have a Jacuzzi and a sauna.

I’m not going to do that. I’m just gonna do my thing.

I’ll stay in my comfort zone.

I’m not going to go into the cold.

No way.

But Wim challenged me to try out the ice bath, as well as some other activities.

He also mentioned doing thirty push-ups.

“Mister Hof." I said.

“No thanks. I’m going home.”

“Thanks for a nice day.”

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Henk.”

“You’re going to do 40 push-ups”

“What do you mean?”

“You are going to do 40 push-ups.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Fourty times!”

So the next morning he took me aside to focus on the breathing exercises.

We practised for 45 minutes.

And somehow I managed to do 40 push-ups I couldn’t believe it.

But I did fourty of them. Tears in my eyes.

I gave it everything and somehow succeeded.

I was thinking: Wow, he got the best out me.

I also understand that the previous evening he was working on my mindset.

So that I was already mentally charged for it.

Also the breathing exercises definitely helped.

With that push-up exercise he really showed me

what my body was capable of.

Same goes for the yoga exercises.

I really wanted to continue with it.

His enthusiasm and the way he motivates you to push further

and the way he looks at you…

Great guy.

And so pure.

So I started taking cold showers, which I really hated at first

I really didn’t like it. Just getting one leg under water…Jesus Lord

You probably know what I mean when you first start out. You’re thinking..

“Shit, I don’t want this.”

But I also thought: if he can do it, then why can’t I?

I’m just going to try it and evaluate it after a while

Then, if it works

But if it doesn’t work, too bad.

I had fun while it lasted

So slowly…I continued with the method.

I continued with taking cold showers and doing breathing and yoga exercises.

I also continued the appointments with my rheumatologist

and informed him about my experiences with the Wim Hof Method.

My rheumathologist asked: “Are you really sure?”

“Yes, I’m doing it.”

“But there are enough reasons to not do it.”

I already have enough reasons like that.

I’m at the end of my medication line. Who knows what will happen next? I’m just going to do it.

The blood levels improved.

The infection values decreased.

I became more fit, stronger and healthier.

I was convinced.

My rheumatologist was also happily surprised.

The problems I had with my rheumatism...

...have been neutralized for the most part.

I’m not saying the rheumatism has gone up in smoke, but it is has come to a halt.

Wim’s method played a role in that plus the other stuff I picked up along the way.

I don’t want to state that the Wim Hof Method is the answer to rheumatism.

Yet adopting the Wim Hof Method requires a change in lifestyle and that certainly triggers stuff in your body.

It has impacted my life in such a way that it has increased my performance.

It has impacted my life in such a way that it has increased my performance.

An older gentleman who works here said

"I would have not believed it if I hadn’t witnessed it with my own eyes how you recovered from this."

And also a female co-worker said;

“Seeing how your health has improved is just amazing”.

"It’s that I see you everyday that I know that it works”.

I really want to emphasize that I’m sharing my personal experiences.

I don’t speak on behalf of others and don’t know if it works for other people.

I also want to stress that it’s not only the Wim Hof Method that has helped me.

But it’s an important part in the whole spectrum.

You also become more aware of what you eat.

You become more active, practice yoga more and focus on your mindset.

It’s a matter of trying out new stuff to get your health back in shape.

I also want to make clear that this whole endeavor is for life.

I’m going to stick with it.

I enjoy practicing the method.

And I hope to enthuse other people to try it too.

there’s enough cold water to practice in.

Persuading people to give it a go...

Encouraging them…

Stimulating people to try a course…

But start with yourself.

You can always go to a doctor to get some pills.

Doctors know a lot but they don’t know everything about you.

They know their statistics.

You personally are the only one who can make that change.

Nobody else.

The nice thing with Wim is that he gives the incentive to just do it.

He broadens your horizon.

“There’s more. Perhaps you should take a look at this”

But you have to really want it

Don’t even bother if you don’t want it.. Go read the newspaper or watch a movie.

Don’t bother trying it.

But if you feel compelled to give a go and you really believe you can change..

…then you should go for it.

And fully commit to it.

...for months.

And then see what happens.