Jade Allègre's cooling tip: a simple damp cloth around the left wrist to better withstand the heat

During a discussion about extreme heat, Dr. Jade Allègre, a doctor known for her work on clay and her field experience in tropical environments, shared a method as surprising as it is simple for better enduring heatwaves.

According to her, this tip allowed her to live and work for many years in regions where temperatures regularly exceeded 40 °C.

A surprisingly simple method

The principle is very simple.

Simply take a piece of fabric (a handkerchief, a cotton strip, an old towel, or any other soft fabric) and wrap it several times around your left wrist to create multiple layers.

Once the fabric is in place, soak it in water until all layers are thoroughly moistened.

The water doesn't need to be icy; cool or even room temperature water is sufficient.

Why multiple layers?

Jade Allègre emphasizes an important point: the fabric should not be a single layer.

By wrapping it several times around the wrist, the inner layers remain damp much longer. The fabric doesn't dry out immediately, which extends the cooling effect.

When the fabric starts to dry, simply re-moisten it as soon as you have the opportunity. In practice, this might be about once an hour or every two hours, depending on the heat and conditions.

Why the left wrist?

This is undoubtedly the most surprising aspect of this method.

Jade Allègre specifically recommends placing the fabric around the left wrist. She states that, based on her experience, the effect is significantly more pronounced on this side and advises against placing it only on the right wrist.

To date, this recommendation is primarily based on her anecdotal experience. To our knowledge, there is no scientific study demonstrating that the left wrist would be more effective than the right for enhancing the sensation of coolness. However, it is well-established that the wrists are areas where blood vessels are close to the skin, which can promote a feeling of cooling when kept in contact with a damp cloth.

A tip to try during heatwaves

This method has several advantages:

• it costs almost nothing;

• it requires no electrical devices;

• it can be used at home, at work, or on the go;

• it's easy to refresh as soon as you have access to a little water.

While it obviously doesn't replace the usual recommendations during a heatwave (drink regularly, avoid prolonged sun exposure, close shutters during the day, etc.), this technique can be a valuable supplement to improve comfort.

If you decide to try it, feel free to observe for yourself if this method provides you with a sense of coolness. The most effective solutions are sometimes the simplest.

Source of this tip: method presented by Dr. Jade Allègre during a video exchange on extreme heat.