Why use a ThermaHug?
We’d like to educate our clients on why using moist heat and cold therapy, a weighted pillow and aromatherapy work so well to help all of us to relax, rejuvenate and heal.
The use of moist heat and cold temperatures for therapy is as old as the practice of medicine, dating back to Hippocrates. These types of therapies can be very effective in helping the body. They take effect quicker than pain medications and also help decrease the risk factors associated with prescription medications by reducing the need for them. Moist heat is very relaxing, helps increase circulation, decreases muscle spasms, decreases swelling, eases joint stiffness, helps increase range of motion, aids the body in healing and has the ability to reduce pain. Also, it is a great deal more beneficial than dry heat since it does not dehydrate the tissues. Moist heat naturally radiates deep into muscles and surrounding tissues, thereby enhancing the therapeutic response. Use of cold temperatures can be very therapeutic for the body as well. Cold therapy can relax the body, decrease swelling, help the body to heal and has the ability to reduce pain.
Now that we’ve gone over the benefits of Fomentation (heat therapy) and Cryotherapy (cold therapy), I’d like to address why using a proportionately heavier pillow is so important to receiving real therapeutic results. There is a phenomenon called perceptual dominance that takes effect when using a heavier pillow. Perceptual dominance is the theory that when a more intense stimulus is introduced to an individual who is experiencing pain, the more intense stimulus will override the other sensation, thereby diverting the actual pain stimulus. Another theory that supports this information is the Gate Control Theory, which explains that there are certain fibers (large A and small C fibers) in our bodies that transmit data to our spinal cord regarding pain and injury. When the larger fibers are activated it shuts a gate and doesn’t allow the large transmission of pain stimulus. We can see these theories in action when someone is experiencing a massage. When a masseuse applies pressure to the client’s painful back, the stimulus being provided helps the client’s body to override the pain stimulus that was present when they walked in for their appointment. Also, when deep pressure is applied to our bodies it is relaxing and calming to our nervous system. There has been much research that shows children and adults who suffer with autistic spectrum disorders, sensory integration dysfunctions, proprioceptive dysfunction, ADHD and psychiatric disorders benefit from the use of weighted objects. The deep pressure can even help the brain to organize itself. Another positive benefit that the heavier pillows provide is a slight form of traction and manipulation of the ailing tissue upon which it is placed. This helps in stretching the muscles and providing some type of stimulus to aid in expressing toxins from the muscles and surrounding tissues. In addition, having a heavier pillow helps to push the moist heat and cold temperature into the tissues and results in a person feeling better.
Last of all, we’d like to address the use of aromatherapy in helping our bodies to relax, rejuvenate and heal. Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years to help in healing, as well as for pleasure. It involves using pure essential oils, derived from plants, in a huge range of health and beauty treatments. The use of aromatherapy for medical benefits is based on the pharmacological effects of essential oils. Essential oils have many properties that lend themselves to helping the body heal. For example, Lavender is well known for it’s analgesic, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antirheumatic, anticonvulsive, antispasmodic, parasiticide, sedative and tonic effects. Eucalyptus and Peppermint have similar effects as Lavender, but instead of being sedating they work as stimulants. They also work as expectorant, decongestant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory agents. When using these essential oils in aromatherapy, they can affect your circulatory, respiratory, digestive, immune and nervous system in a positive way. They not only smell great, but also lend a therapeutic advantage to our ThermaHug™ pillows and our clients who use them.
There is always more to learn when it comes to therapies, healing, relaxing and our overall well-being. We invite you to spend time learning from various sources that are available to you. We hope you enjoy and use the knowledge that you find.