Question from Robin
I experience muscle tension and pain in several areas of my body, and one of the treatments recommended to me is the apllication of heat.
I have a hot water bottle, but this doesn’t work well for neck or shoulder pain.
I’m looking at getting an electric heating pad so I can use it for pain relief while I’m lying down. What are the pros and cons of electric heating pads from a holistic health and environmental perspective? They’re made with an automatic shut-off feature nowadays, so I’m not terribly worried about fire hazards.
Any other options you can suggest?
Many thanks.
By the way, I love your Web site, and consult it regularly. The Green Living Q&A blog is a great idea, and I was pleasantly surprised by the direct nature and helpfulness of reader comments.
Debra’s Answer
Heating pads are generally made from synthetic plastic materials, and are full of electric wiring that generate electromagnetic fields (if anyone wants to comment more on the health effects of EMFs from heating pads, feel free). Heating pads also will not biodegrade at the end of their useful life.
Instead of using a heating pad, I recommend a natural heat pack. They have natural fiber covers and are filled with various natural materials. You heat them in the oven or microwave and then the heat transfers from the pack to your body when placed on the afflicted area. These are renewable and biodegradable, and have no electromagnetic fields. And because they are filled with small bits, they conform exactly to hug body parts with their warmth.
The first one that came to mind was the salt-filled sachet at Himalayan Living Salt. It’s a 100% cotton pouch filled with “The Original” Himalayan Crystal Salt, which gives the unique healing benefits of the salt as well as comforting heat.
Dreamcraft makes heat packs in several sizes and shapes from cotton or organically-grown cotton, filled with organically-grown flax seed, rice, millet, buckwheat hulls, and lavender. Each is custom made, so they are happy to make your pack to your specifications.
Natural Pack has heat packs in several different styles, filled with “a grain product.”
Self-guided.com has heat packs covered with cotton flannel and filled with flax seeds.
Try essential oils like peppermint, wintergreen, cypress, lemongrass, lavender or helichrysum. Dilute properly. DoTerra has two excellent blends: soothing blend Deep Blue & deep blue rub) and a tension blend (Past Tense). Many people I know said it works.
The himalayan salt sachet – the cover is linen, not cotton. I assume that is okay since it is natural (better than Polyester). It cannot be put in microwave, I was told use convection oven or regular oven. I am waiting to get the directions sent to me to find out how long it takes to heat in regular oven. Do you know of anyone who uses it instead of heating pad and if so are they happy with it?
The linen cover cannot be washed. I always wash things first before I use due to smells etc. Just wanted people to know this. I was planning on getting it but now I am doubtful – and it sounded so good!! And it is always good to doublecheck things. I did an online chat yesterday and was told by the company that it could be washed and when I called on the phone today to order it, I asked again if it could be washed and she had to check and call me back and it cannot be washed. So again, always good to double check things.