Ancient Egyptian cooling techniques offer alternatives to air conditioning

To combat rising summer temperatures and high energy costs, individuals are turning to ancient cooling techniques, most notably the ‘Egyptian method’ based on the principles of evaporative cooling. This method involves lightly dampening bedsheets with a spray bottle. As the water evaporates from the fabric, it absorbs thermal energy from the surrounding air and the body, lowering the local temperature to help facilitate sleep.

Other supplementary strategies include targeting pulse points to assist in heat dissipation. Cooling the radial arteries at the wrists under cold water for approximately 30 seconds, or using slightly cooled, damp socks on the ankles, can help lower perceived body temperature by influencing blood flow near the skin's surface.

The effectiveness of these evaporative methods is highly dependent on environmental conditions, as they tend to be most efficient in areas with low relative humidity.