A system and method of body temperature regulation, including inhalation of cooled or warmed air flow supplied either manually or by a ventilator through an intubation tube or a breathing mask. The system is automatically regulated to produce a regime of compensated hyperventilation defined as the rate of breathing gas supply that would cause the defined decrease of CO2 blood levels if left uncompensated under given conditions. The system relies on minimized thermal inertia by including a combined heating/warming chamber, where the corresponding heating and cooling paths are mutually insulated. The inhaled breathing gas is automatically directed via a heating or cooling path by a processor, analyzing the inputs of temperature and CO2 level sensors measuring the core body temperature and CO2 blood level.
