The Effect of Electric Heating Pads

Fateh Srajeldin N.D.*

Many people are under the impression that electric heating pads are just as good as a hot water bottle! Nothing could be more untrue and it is definitely the wrong impression. Electric heating pads are a source of continuous heat which does more harm than good.

The use of electric heating pads

Prolonged usage of electric heating pads over a joint or a muscle may produce more problems the next day and longer periods of suffering.

The steady intensity of electric dry heat stimulates the following:
* Dilates skin’s pores,
* Expands blood capillaries,
* Expands the lymphatic system’s channels and
* Dilates all the cells directly under the influence of the heating pad.

On the other hand, internal fluid flows into the area form the blood circulation or the lymphatic system would accumulate under the skin and adjacent tissue.

Once the pad is turned on, heat begins to increase its intensity and skins’ pores dilate and start to perspire. On the other hand, internal fluid flows into the area form the blood circulation or the lymphatic system would accumulate under the skin and adjacent tissue.

The accumulated fluid leads to an edema. The increased size of the edema would press on the surrounding cells and tissues leading to compressions on muscle fibers, blood arteries, veins, nerves, joints and ligaments. The compression would lead to severe pain and consequently reduced function of the compressed organ or tissue.

Take for example a patient with a strained lower back from lifting a heavy object. Should this patient use a hot water bottle for one half hour, the heat in the water will penetrate the skin and dilate the skins’ pores and all other tissues and organs it could reach. Since water in the bottle does not have heat supply, the heat will diminish gradually every second.

This passive reduction in heat is the main difference between a heating pad and a hot water bottle. In the case of a hot water bottle, at the start of the treatment all the tissue and pore receiving heat form the hot water bottle will dilate expelling a volume of toxins through perspiration.

This expelled volume would create a vacuum inside the cells which would correct by absorbing fresh clean fluid from fluids surrounding the cells. The continual loss of heat would help these pores to gradually close down restoring proper volume of fluid inside the cells.

In the case of electric heating pads or blankets upon starting the treatment the pores will also dilate. The cells will begin to give up its toxins for fresh fluids too. However, since the electric heating pad produces a continuous intensity of heat, this would lead to bulging of the cells of the muscles receiving the heat. This bulging of the muscle cells will hinder muscle action leading to prolonged agony and pain in addition to a longer period of recovery.

*) Fateh Srajeldin N.D. of Toronto Canada is the director of the largest naturopathic and allergy clinic in North America.
Currently, he is treating members of the royal families and dignitaries from the Gulf region who have traveled to Canada specifically to be treated by him.