HICE HQ

HICE HQ: sauna, ice baths and hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Brighouse

HICE HQ is a social wellness space located in Brighouse, West Yorkshire (United Kingdom). It presents itself as the region's leading social wellness space and brings together ice baths, Finnish sauna, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, specialty coffee and community events under one roof. Its offering is aimed at improving physical recovery, mental clarity, stress reduction and overall wellbeing through therapies the company describes as evidence-based, in a modern and welcoming environment. The centre welcomes walk-ins.

Contrast therapy: alternating heat and cold

Contrast therapy consists of alternating exposure to heat and cold. According to the centre's information, it is designed to support recovery, circulation and mental resilience, reduce inflammation and improve performance, leaving you feeling reset after the session. Among the benefits the company attributes to this practice are reduced delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and improved post-exercise recovery, improved circulation and vascular function, reduced inflammation, support for cardiovascular health, mental wellbeing and stress resilience, and improved sleep quality. The centre backs these claims with references to scientific studies (Bleakley et al., 2012; Hohenauer et al., 2015; Wilcock et al., 2006; Leeder et al., 2012; Laukkanen et al., 2015; Hirvonen et al., 2002; Laukkanen et al., 2018; Haghayegh et al., 2019).

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

The centre has a pressurised chamber in which the user breathes pure oxygen to accelerate recovery, support healing and improve overall wellbeing. The company presents it as a therapy indicated for performance, fatigue and long-term health. Among the areas in which it describes benefits are post-stroke recovery, athletic recovery, orthopaedics, brain injuries, concussions and traumatic brain injuries, myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome, Crohn's disease, long COVID and general wellbeing and recovery. The material cites studies with specific data, such as clinically significant cognitive improvement in 86% of 162 chronic stroke patients, improvements in memory and attention after brain injury, significant reductions in fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome after fifteen sessions, clinical improvement in approximately 78% of patients with Crohn's disease, and improvements in fatigue, sleep, pain, cognitive performance and psychiatric symptoms in long COVID that were maintained for up to twelve months after treatment. It also states that the therapy can increase oxygen dissolved in blood plasma by up to twenty times normal levels.

Coffee, socialising and events

In addition to the therapies, HICE HQ has a coffee and social space serving high-quality coffee, matcha and freshly baked pastries. It is conceived as a relaxed place to chat, build community and enjoy time after the session. The centre also organises community events.

Location and how it works

HICE HQ operates in Brighouse, Halifax, within the county of West Yorkshire. Walk-in access is available. The company offers memberships, as stated on its website.

Unit 10A, Kershaw Garden Centre, Halifax Road, Brighouse, HD6 2QD · Phone: 01484 482714 · Email: info@hicewellness.co.uk · Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 08:00-21:00. Tuesday: closed. Thursday: 16:00-21:00. Saturday and Sunday: 08:00-20:00.