Rehabilitation specialists, massage therapists, and the spa industry have endorsed paraffin therapy for its therapeutic properties. Physicians have long known that paraffin therapy is a veritable way to speed healing and soothe muscle and joint pain. In fact, the healing qualities of paraffin wax therapy have been known for centuries.



Along with the use of hydrotherapy, the use of paraffin wax therapy can be traced all the way back to the Roman Empire. In those ancient times, the Romans would pour hot waxes on the body in preparation for massage therapy. Later the French embraced paraffin therapy by melting paraffin wax and spreading it on wounds to accelerate healing. In World War I, the British used paraffin wax therapy as a protocol to treat orthopedic disorders in military hospitals. In modern times, paraffin therapy is quite common and widely used to aid in the treatment of conditions such as the following:

Arthritis

Bursitis

Eczema

Fibromyalgia

Fibrositis

Inflammation

Muscle Spasms

Overworked/Fatigued Muscles

Psoriasis

Scar Tissue

Stiff Joints

Tendonitis

Tennis Elbow

And more...

Paraffin therapy is also widely used in the treatment of sports related injuries and other conditions where heat therapy and exercise therapy are needed. One of the overlooked benefits of paraffin therapy is that it soothes and moisturizes the skin, opens pores, increases circulation, and promotes a sense of calm in the patient.

A great way to use this therapy is by using a spot paraffin therapy bath. Using such a modality will enable you to treat specific areas of the body and pinpoint the management of treatment. Not only are such modalities increasingly being used in rehabilitation and therapy clinics, but they are now widely available to the public. Using a paraffin therapy bath is easy and doesn't take very long at all, but there are some guidelines to follow. Be sure to remove all jewelry prior to treatment. Thoroughly wash and dry the area that is to be treated. When conducting a paraffin dip, relax the body part to be treated and immerse it gradually in to the warm paraffin wax. While dipping the area into the paraffin therapy bath, layers of paraffin wax will build up. Allow it to harden. Once the treatment is complete, the wax is peeled off and the area is then ready for massage, stretching, exercise, or additional therapeutic measures.

Paraffin wax occurs naturally as a component of crude mineral oils. Paraffin wax is produced by refining or separating the wax out of the crude mineral oils. It is then purified through boiling and then chilled and pressed through a filter which creates a heavy oil, or paraffin wax. Paraffin has been laboratory tested to be hygienically safe to use. It is colorless, tasteless, odorless, and extremely heavy in molecular structure. Since paraffin is heavy in molecular weight, it increases the blood supply to the area being treated and traps moisture from underlying layers of the skin, resulting in rejuvenated and nourished skin. Paraffin therapy reduces pain and stiffness around joints by removing excess fluid from surrounding tissue while providing lubrication.

Paraffin treatments are not recommended for people with the following conditions: Hypertension, diabetes, varicose veins.