How beneficial heat is for back pain and tension
Do you know this feeling? How quickly you make a wrong move and it hurts your back. And the job-related, sedentary activities all day long do the rest, so that the muscles in your back and neck quickly become tense and painful.
If muscles are strained incorrectly, they harden, no longer receive the optimal blood flow and start to hurt. Another problem: Anyone affected will quickly find themselves adopting a protective posture to "avoid" the pain. This often increases the tension even further. However, if you are looking for natural pain relief, there is a simple but effective solution: heat.
But why is heat so good for us? As a manufacturer of heat products for more than 25 years, we would like to shed some light on the subject in this blog post.
Proven for centuries
Heat therapy is one of the oldest medical procedures, as heat can be used to relieve symptoms in a gentle and natural way. Natural home remedies that have proven themselves and are widespread over such a long time must offer great added value. And they do, because products with natural filling materials such as cherry stone, grape stone, rapeseed or linseed pillows are still used today for soothing heat applications. They therefore ensure a naturally effective therapy, without chemical additives!
How does heat work?
Dry heat therapy promotes blood circulation, relaxes muscles, relieves pain, increases joint mobility, reduces stiffness and stimulates metabolism and the growth of new tissue. It has a positive effect on the elasticity of the tissue and increases the body's general ability to regenerate.
What options are there for applying heat?
The classic for a simple and effective application of heat is certainly the tried and tested hot water bottle. But there are now many alternatives that are adapted precisely to the affected part of the body and can also be used on the go. Below we show you the advantages and disadvantages of each variant:
The Hot water bottle is an excellent source of warmth for quiet and relaxing hours at home. A hot water bottle stores the heat through the warm water it contains and is particularly suitable for the lower back. The best way to do this is to lay it on your stomach and place the hot water bottle on your back.
The Classic heat cushions , which can be heated up most quickly in the microwave, are available today in various shapes, colours and sizes, as well as with various natural fillings, such as cherry stones, grape seeds, rapeseed or linseed. They are also available with or without a washable cover. To find out more about the different fillings, please take a look at our Blog post on this topic. A heat cushion, such as the classic cherry stone cushion, is also ideal for relaxing at home on the couch. Feel free to browse through our extensive range of heat cushions. You are sure to find the right heat cushion for your needs.
Our neck pillows are ideal for neck tension, such as the Organic neck pillow filled with rapeseed or the Grape seed neck squirrel . The Grape seed belly & back pillow is also ideal for use while doing housework or office work, as it can be easily attached to the body using the flexible Velcro fasteners.
Mud gel or fango packs as well as infrared light are often used professionally by physiotherapists. They can be used on a health insurance prescription or on a self-pay basis. In this case, it is best to ask your family doctor or physiotherapist if you would like to try this out.
Heat patch offer a discreet and everyday way of applying heat over several hours. It can be applied precisely to the spot and provides pleasant warmth for a long time without restricting movement. This makes it a perfect source of heat for on the go. There are two well-known types of heat patches that are used in different ways. On the one hand, there are the well-known "ABC patches" that contain capsaicin (obtained from cayenne pepper thick extract). The patch is stuck directly onto the skin and the active ingredient takes effect there. Blood circulation is increased by skin irritation, resulting in increased reddening of the skin and a feeling of warmth. On the other hand, there are heat patches based on iron and activated carbon. The way they work is based on a chemical reaction, namely rusting. After opening the packaging, oxygen reaches the iron powder inside the patch, which begins to oxidize and develops pleasant warmth after about 15 minutes. Some of these patches can even be applied to a piece of clothing close to the body rather than directly on the skin, which is particularly beneficial for people with sensitive skin. However, these patches are often not medical products and are primarily used as body warmers.
As you can see, there are many ways to achieve a simple and natural warming effect. Especially from a sustainability point of view, reusable heat products, such as a microwave heat pad, are always a good choice. However, if you need a more flexible and discreet solution, we recommend that you take a look at the ingredients of the heat patches. In our range you will find a large selection of different disposable body warmers, such as the Natural heat plasters , where the plaster filling is designed in such a way that it can be disposed of in the compost. This means that the sustainability aspect is not ignored even with disposable products.
When is heat not suitable?
In some cases, you should be careful when applying heat. Heat should generally not be used in cases of acute or chronic, inflammatory or feverish illnesses, circulatory problems, fresh hematomas, bruises and open wounds, or in people with reduced sensitivity to pain. In addition, if you have existing skin, heart, vein, diabetes or tumor diseases, or are pregnant, you should consult a doctor before using the device to see if there is anything against using it. In general, you should always consult a doctor if symptoms persist or worsen.
We hope we have been able to give you a better idea of the benefits of warmth. If you have any questions about our natural fillings, please send us an email to communication@gruenspecht.de . We would also like to hear your ultimate tips for back pain and tension.