Uses

Aches & Pains  

Microwave heating pads relax tight muscles after periods of strenuous activity – playing tennis, walking eighteen holes on a golf course, hiking, swimming, playing professional sports, mountain climbing, or mowing the lawn. Frozen, they become cold therapy packs to reduce swelling from surgeries, Wisdom Teeth extraction, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, bee stings, bumps, and bruises. Consult a physician for injuries and acute or prolonged pain.

Arthritis

Relief for minor stiffness and cold associated with arthritis. For more information see the Arthritis Foundation website.

Back Pain

Use heat for stiffness during long hours at the office, computer, or drawing board. Relax tight muscles after periods of strenuous activity. Relieve pain associated with muscle spasms. Improve flexibility before or after a workout. Relieve periodic cramps or lower back discomfort. Use ice to reduce swelling. Consult a physician about when and how long to apply ice or heat.

Blocked Glands

Use moist heat to help with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (eyes), Bletheritis, and other blocked glands. Heat helps to stimulate circulation and open pores.

Blood Tests

For people with difficulty having blood drawn due to small or hard to hit veins, a heat pack placed on the area for five minutes prior to insertion of the needle, may help stimulate circulation and ease the sensation of a pin prick.

Quote: “When my granddaughter was a toddler and in the hospital and had to have blood drawn frequently, the nurses used a heating pad to warm the area of the foot where the needle was injected. The heat helped stimulate blood circulation and helped the needle to go in more smoothly, eliminating my granddaughter’s tears and much of my anxiety.” ~ Owner of Maine Warmers

Burns

Use a cold pack on mild burns to relieve pain. The soft fabric is more comfortable on the skin than a bag of frozen peas or ice cubes, and there is no spoilage of food or mess of melting ice.

Bursitis

Use cold on affected area to reduce inflammation.  Consult a physician for acute or prolonged pain.Visit the Mayo Clinic website for more information about bursitis.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & Related Pain

Use heat to increase blood flow. Sometimes shoulder and neck stiffness can cause pain in the arms or wrists. Heat on neck may help improve circulation. Follow advice of a physician or therapist for proper posture for prolonged use of the computer, drawing board, or other activities that might cause arm & wrist problems. Visit the Mayo Clinic website for more information about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Colds & Flu

Relieve fever or the chills from flu or from being inactive. A little TLC while resting may relieve stress and tension.

Coughs

Use heat to relax chest muscles when coughing becomes incessant and keeps you from resting.

Cramps

Relieve the pain of stubborn leg or abdominal cramps dues to exercise or periodic pain.

Cranky Babies

Very mild heat on a baby’s tummy may help colic. Heat warmer for 30 seconds. Do not overheat as baby’s skin may be more sensitive to heat than an adult’s skin. Pre-warm a crib and avoid waking a baby by preventing the shock of cold sheets. Please note: NEVER leave a child unattended with a warmer. Our warmers contain whole corn and ingesting could cause choking.

Cricks  

Relax tight muscles from sleeping or sitting the wrong way, or stiffness from overexertion.

Facial Pain

For sinus pain or facial pain due to tooth extractions, use soft flannel Palm Packs on the face according to your physician’s instructions.

Fever

Keep a “Warmer” in the freezer in a plastic bag and when you need to cool a fever it will be ready to use. The coolness is soothing and not at all harsh like ice cubes.

Foot Pain

Heat relaxes stiff muscles in the feet. Check out our blog on Healthy Feet.

General Stress

Use heat to relax and relieve stress at the end of the day. Place ice pack on back of neck to help relieve tension headaches.

Insomnia

Take a “heat bag” to bed with you. The heat may help you relax at the end of the day – or in the middle of the night.

Lung Ailments  

For those who are on oxygen, the use of an electric heating pad is forbidden. A microwave heating pad is safe to use.

Migraines

Quote from a Customer about using heat and cold for migraines:

“I really love your warmers! I am using one right now. One of my favorite uses – for my horrible migraines, is to freeze one and microwave a second one. Put the microwaved one on the back of the neck and the frozen one on the forehead. This idea was given to me by my specialist, who also suffers from migraine headaches. It really does give relief from that horrible pain! Repeat as needed. I thought that other sufferers of migraine headaches might benefit from this great idea, so please feel free to share this info on your web site. Thanks so much for such great products.”  ~D.A., Atkinson, ME 7-10-2012

For more information on treating migraines with heat therapy, see our blog.

Pets  

Help pets through periods of illnesses or cold weather. Use frozen when the vet says to ice it.

Pregnancy & Post Partum

Relieve hip pain due to softening of connective tissues between pelvis and joints during 3rd trimester. Relieve back pain from the weight of the baby. Use on face to help relieve sinus headaches when pain medication is not recommended. Help relax during times of emotional stress and anxiety.Visit the Mayo Clinic website and look for “Healthy Living Centers.”  Visit Lamaze.com and see articles on “Comfort Measures.”

Raynaud’s Disease

Use to warm cold hands from Raynaud’s or other conditions that cause cold hands. For more information on dealing with Raynaud’s go to the Raynaud’s Foundation.

Recovery from Surgery or Chemotherapy

Warm cold extremities from inability to exercise during recuperation period. Use cold therapy to reduce swelling after surgery. The cold from our “warmers” is not as cold as a bag of frozen corn. However, it is more comfortable, and therefore patients are more willing to use cold therapy on the affected area.

Sensory Processing Disorder

Some children need weighted heat therapy to help them cope with SPD.

Sports Injuries

Before the sport/activity, use on tight muscles to help increase flexibility and prevent injuries. After participating in a tennis match, 18 holes of golf, hiking, soccer, football, basketball, skiing, or a brisk walk or run, use a Maine Warmer to help keep muscles from tightening. For sprains and strains, tennis elbow, golfer’s injuries, tendonitis, soft tissue injuries, etc., always consult a physician before treating. For added information visit the Mayo Clinic website and look under “First Aid” and/or “Healthy Living Centers.”

Stiff Necks

Relax stiffness from sitting at a computer all day, sleeping or sitting the wrong way. Relieve tension headaches by placing heat or ice on back of neck.

Stress Relief  

Heat is known to relax tight muscles. Massage is recommended to help relieve stress, but that is often expensive and time consuming. A microwave heating pad is inexpensive, easy to use, and safe. A Maine Warmer lasts for years under normal conditions — a huge value at low cost.

Winter Warmth

Warm up fast after exposure to the cold. Take a warmer with with you in a cold car or to a hockey rink. Pre-warm beds to prevent the shock of cold sheets.

For more information, please see our FAQ page (Frequently Asked Questions).

Updated February 2014