TEMPERATURE THERAPY

Historically, heat and cold have been used as a natural remedy to relieve pain and enhance the recovery process.  Heat or cold stimulates our thermoreceptors — receptors that respond to heat and cold — which, in turn, help block the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Thus, a continuous application of heat or cold can significantly reduce your discomfort.

Heat therapy increases blood flow, which helps to decrease stiffness, relax sore muscles and provide soothing comfort. Methods used to restore balance in a typical heat therapy session include herbal steam "baths", hot stone massage, heat pads and more.

Cold therapy decreases the flow of fluid into the tissues and slows the release of chemicals that cause pain and inflammation. Cold decreases feeling in an area by reducing the ability of the nerve endings to conduct impulses. It may also reduce pain by "countering" the injury. For example, you might counter the pain of a sore tooth by pinching yourself hard in the leg.

Cold also decreases the activity of cells to reduce swelling and internal bleeding at the site of acute injury. Cooling the deep tissue also reduces muscle spasm by reducing the muscle's ability to maintain a contraction (contractility). Methods used to restore balance in a typical cold therapy session include ice massages, ice bags and ice baths.

Resources

Products For Heat Therapy

Products For Cold Therapy