Abstract

Peripheral temperature can be monitored with various equipment ranging from digital or glass thermometers to mood rings. This article reports on an additional “yummy” temperature feedback approach, milk or dark chocolate, as an indicator of successful hand warming. The chocolate feedback was discovered initially by a trainee to reduce symptoms associated with syringomyelia. In addition, the article summarizes data demonstrating that hand warming is easily learned. Using a thermometer, 219 participants—students and physical therapists—rapidly warmed their hands an average of 10.1°F when guided with imagery. For the subset of 106 university students, their subjective stress levels decreased by 49% as their hands warmed. Regardless of the technique, hand warming provides a useful demonstration that voluntary self-control is possible.