Thursday, July 18, 2013

How To Make Your Own Paraffin Therapy Spa Using A Slow Cooker - Guest Post

How To Make Your Own Paraffin Therapy Spa Using A Slow Cooker

Paraffin therapy is one of the most effective natural treatments for muscle soreness and joint pain.  Ever heard of it?  It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like: you coat yourself (or at least, your hands or feet, depending on where the pain is) with paraffin wax.  The moist heat helps to relieve pain and increase range of motion--much like a piping hot bath, but with more lasting effects.
              
Although paraffin therapy is a well-loved holistic remedy, it can take quite a hit on your wallet.  If you want to save some cash, you can actually create your own paraffin therapy.

There are a couple of options: you can buy your own paraffin bath from a medical supply store--

Or...

...You can make your own spa using a slow cooker.  Yes, you heard that right: you already know your favorite kitchen appliance can be so much more than you thought possible; let’s take it one step further. Read on to learn how your slow cooker can double as an arthritis-soothing spa.

Materials

You’ll only need a few things:

     A slow cooker (small for hands, large if you also want to use it for your feet)
     4 lbs paraffin wax
     1 ⅓ c Mineral oil
     A candy thermometer
     Essential oils (optional)
     Plastic wrap

To make things even easier, all of these items are easy to locate at your neighborhood supermarket!

Using the paraffin therapy spa:

First, you’ll add the paraffin wax to your slow cooker.  When it’s fully melted, stir in the mineral oil. At this point, you can also add a couple drops of the essential oil of your choice.  The essential oils are by no means “essential” (har-har) to the process, but they can certainly make the experience more relaxing and luxurious

After combining the ingredients, continue to heat to your preferred temperature. This is where the candy thermometer comes in. To avoid burns, you must keep the temperature under 125 degrees. Most paraffin therapy spas keep their temperatures between 115 and 125 degrees, as that’s the most effective range of temperatures.

Once the bath is ready, go ahead and dip your hands or feet into the bath. Make sure and wash with soap and water beforehand; if you keep the paraffin clean, it can actually be stored and used again! 

Once you’ve fully submerged your limb (hand to the wrist or foot to the ankle), continue dipping to build up layers. After you’ve dipped several times, wrap wax-covered parts of your body in plastic wrap. Then, cover the plastic wrap with a towel (this will help keep the warmth in).  Once you’re all wrapped up, let the therapy do its work for the next 20 minutes as you kick your feet back and relax.

When the paraffin has done its work, go ahead and peel it off-- you can either discard or save for future use. Finish with a luxurious moisturizer to nourish the skin and keep it from drying out.

So there you have it--having your own paraffin therapy spa can be just as relaxing as a professional day at a real spa or natural hot spring in Japan, but this treatment can be done right in the comfort of your home.



Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer, business owner and mother who doesn’t always have the time to visit a professional spa for a paraffin therapy treatment, so she makes her own right at home. Follow her on Pinterest and Twitter for more beauty tips and tricks.


Print Friendly and PDF

10 comments:

  1. This seems like a great idea, after researching different use-at-home models. One question: can you ever use the crock pot for other uses after this? Or can you use those plastic crock pot liner bags?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wouldn't use the crock liners for this. I would dedicate a crock to this.

      Delete
  2. I have the same question as previous poster. Do you need a paraffin specific crock pot?

    ReplyDelete
  3. If you're going to dedicate a crock pot for this particular use, I suggest you simply purchase a spa designed for this purpose - it often comes with many extras including scented wax, plastic gloves/mittens, and large "pot-holder' type mittens to hold in the heat while waiting for the wax to do its thing. It also has a rack inside to prevent your hands and/or feet from coming in contact with the heating element.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The foot massage spas therapy are quite the rave these days, and world to popular belief that such places are only affordable for the spa of society, many college going student, young and old professionals, and even people suffering from arthritis or joint pains can be seen frequenting such spa therapy.Visit - http://www.foottherapy.net/ to know more information.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Massage Therapy is a great and economical way for you to manage your injuries. 55-83% of patients respond well to this conservative treatment. Besides giving you great therapist to client value, we will also provide you with the education and skills to help manage your injuries at home between treatments. Often 4 weeks (2 x 30 minutes each week) is adequate at reducing pain and improving function.At Axis Registered Massage Therapy Toronto, we can design you a comprehensive program to get you back on your feet! So please come in and let us show you how we can help.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Slow cookers are dirt cheap on Craigslist. It's also possible to get large slow-cookers, if you have elbow issues.

    ReplyDelete