Heat therapy is an effective way to relieve pain and soreness in various parts of the body. Heat therapy can be applied in many different ways, from hot baths to heating pads to even hot water bottles. Throughout the blog, we will discuss the benefits of heat therapy, the different types of heat therapy available, and how to use heat therapy safely and effectively. We will even delve into how heat therapy can be an effective technique to reduce overall stress!
What is heat therapy?
Heat therapy involves the use of heat to increase blood flow and relax tense muscles, providing relief from discomfort often caused from muscle strains, joint pain, and other common injuries and conditions. Heat therapy is often used alongside other popular forms of therapy, such as physical therapy, massages, or medications. It is a proven safe and effective way to manage overall pain and soreness.
What are the benefits of heat therapy?
There are various benefits to using heat therapy. Some of the most popular include:
Increased Blood Flow: Heat therapy can be useful in increasing blood flow to the affected area, which can promote better healing by delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to the tissues.
Pain Relief: Heat therapy is extremely effective in treating pain. The heat helps to decrease pain in the muscles, and can even help reduce overall inflammation.
Improved Circulation: The increased blood flow that results from heat therapy can help to improve circulation and promote overall healing.
Stress Relief & Relaxation: Heat therapy helps to promote relaxation and stress relief by soothing tense muscles and promoting an overall sense of calm.
There are also several conditions that can benefit from using heat therapy as a tool, including:
Arthritis: Heat therapy can be helpful in reducing pain and stiffness in the joints, which can be beneficial for people who have arthritis.
Menstrual Cramps: Heat therapy is also helpful in reducing pain and discomfort during menstruation by promoting relaxation and reducing inflammation.
Chronic Pain: Heat therapy is extremely beneficial to those who struggle with chronic pain. This is due to it reducing overall pain and promoting relaxation.
Headaches: Heat therapy can help to relieve tension headaches and migraines by relaxing the muscles and promoting relaxation.
It’s important to note that not all people will find relief from using heat therapy. In fact, people with specific pre-existing conditions should especially not use heat therapy. Healthline states that certain conditions may have a higher risk of burns or complications. These conditions are diabetes, dermatitis, vascular diseases, deep vein thrombosis, and multiple sclerosis (MS). You should always consult with your doctor before trying any pain relieving techniques.
What are the different ways to do heat therapy?
There are two main types of heat therapy: dry heat and moist heat. Dry heat works by heating the air around the body. Moist heat works by applying heat directly to the skin. There are several ways to apply these heat therapy techniques. Some popular methods include:
Heating Pads: Heating pads are an essential and convenient method to apply dry heat to a specific area of the body. They can be used for short increments throughout the day to help alleviate pain.
Warm Baths: Soaking in a warm bath can be a relaxing and effective method to apply moist heat to the entire body. Adding Epsom salts or essential oils can enhance the experience.
Moist Towels: Wrapping a moist towel around the affected area can be a simple way to apply moist heat.
Hot Water Bottles: A hot water bottle can be filled with hot water and placed on the affected area as a method for applying dry heat.
Hot Stone Massage: Hot stone massages involve using heated stones to massage the body, which helps to promote relaxation and relieve pain.
No matter which hot therapy method you prefer, it should generally be applied for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, to prevent overheating.
Stress Relief & Relaxium Calm
Dealing with muscle stiffness and pain can be disheartening, and often bring upon stress. In addition to its pain relieving benefits, heat therapy can also be used as a way to reduce stress. When the heat is applied to the body, it can help to promote relaxation and reduce tension in the muscles.
If heat therapy isn’t completely effective in providing you with stress relief, it may be time to consider a calming supplement. Relaxium Calm, a mood enhancing supplement, is the perfect addition to help promote relaxation. This supplement can even help to supply vital nutrients to the body, and help elevate your mood.
At Relaxium, we have a simple mission in mind – to create affordable, safe, and effective supplements. Through extensive research, we created four life enhancing supplements: Relaxium Sleep, Relaxium Calm, Relaxium Immune Defense, and Relaxium Focus Max. We use a perfect synergistic blend of ingredients in our products to ensure results. If you are interested in trying our Relaxium products, click here for more information!
To restful and healthy days ahead,
The Relaxium Team
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Sources:
[1] 6 Techniques for Heat Therapy (painscale.com)