UpClose & Personal - Complementary Therapies

The therapeutic and aesthetic values of paraffin can be traced to ancient civilizations. The Romans poured hot oil and waxes on the body as a heat-inducing prelude to massage.

The French brushed melted paraffin on wounds, while the British established paraffin as a modality for orthopedic disorders in the military hospitals of WWI. Today, the medical community, rehabilitation specialists, massage therapists and the spa industry embrace paraffin for its therapeutic qualities.

Doctors have long known that carefully applied heat is a great way to reduce muscle pain and speed healing. As heat is applied to the body, the blood vessels expand, allowing more blood to flow to the affected area and speed the healing process.

Paraffin therapy is a well-rounded thermotheraphy. (Thermotheraphy is the use of heat above 45°c to treat tissue or cells.) It reduces pain and stiffness around joints by removing excess fluid from surrounding tissue whilst providing lubrication. Paraffin is especially beneficial in the treatment of arthritis, bursitis, tendentious, tennis elbow, overworked and fatigued muscle, scar tissue which restricts range of motion in joints and tendons, as well as being extremely beneficial for many types of sports injuries and medical conditions such as fibromyalgia.

Paraffin not only effectively heats the tissues and muscles to provide pain relief, it also leaves the skin hydrated, soft, supple and invitingly ready for massage. Paraffin also provides relief from eczema, psoriasis and dehydrated skin. The medical community has acknowledged the benefits of paraffin in aiding the healing process mentally and physically. Now the massage industry is making paraffin its top service (in terms of industry growth) because of paraffin’s unsurpassed ability to help rejuvenate, hydrate, heal and increase circulation.

Amber’s paraffin wax is the purest Paraffin wax on the market to date. This pure food grade paraffin is colorless (or white), tasteless, odorless and extremely heavy in molecular structure. This organic substance, obtained from petroleum fractions (a by-product of petroleum), has been refined by distillation, purified by boiling, chilled and pressed through a filter creating this heavy oil known to us as paraffin wax. Amber’s paraffin wax is dermatologically harmless and is neither a primary irritant nor a sensitizer.

Paraffin needs to be heavy in molecular weight because after applying paraffin, the heat increases the blood supply to the area being treated. Moisture is drawn from the underlying layers of the skin. The moisture surfaces and mixes with the applied treatment oil or moisturizer. This fluid is unable to evaporate because of the paraffin glove. It is then infused back into the skin. This process results in the most successful way to rejuvenate, hydrate and nourish the skin.

As Amber’s low melt paraffin has a heavy molecular weight and is successfully heated and maintained at 127 degrees in a UL-approved paraffin heating device. Amber’s paraffin is able to perform the above task successfully and is the leading choice in paraffin for massage therapists for effective treatment applications.

The process of applying heated paraffin to the body is simple when using the right tools. Paraffin may be painted, draped or poured onto virtually all parts of the body with excellent results. Treatments are most often categorized as hand, foot, full body, or spot therapy treatments on specific body parts, eg. back or shoulder.

A great area for massage therapists to capitalize on paraffin is with Spot Therapy Treatments. This includes applying paraffin to specific areas of concern:

• Shoulder to treat Bursitis
• Knee due to Sports Injury
• Neck due to Car Accident
• Lower back due to back Injury

As you can see, Amber’s Paraffin can be applied anywhere for any concern. The only area we do not recommend applying paraffin is the under arm region and heart.

But are massage therapists capitalizing on such a useful moist heat modality therapy and are their clients benefiting from the results?? If not you might consider the following advantages. Warm paraffin treatments can offer outstanding results beyond your client’s expectations, yet the treatment itself is simple, fast and profitable to any therapist looking for add-on services.

How is a paraffin treatment completed? Completing a paraffin dip will only take a minute of your time; however, there are some guidelines that must be followed.

Prior to any paraffin service you must sanitize the skin with Amber Total Kleen. This skin cleanser enhanced by the addition of moisturizers contains Triclosan, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent, which reduces bacterial flora on the skin. Next apply a pea-sized amount of Amber moisturizing lotion or treatment lotion of your choice and lightly massage into the area being dipped, brushed or draped with paraffin until fully absorbed. This all-purpose water-soluble lotion is specially formulated to enhance a paraffin treatment and replenish moisture to the skin.

When completing a paraffin dip the relaxed hand or foot is immersed gradually into the warm paraffin spa, dipping in and out creating an extra thick paraffin glove. Once dipped the shape is held so as not to crack the paraffin glove. Amber paraffin has a heavy molecular weight and therefore requires only three dips to create an extra thick warm paraffin glove. As Amber paraffin is in its purist form you will find that it will solidify instantly.

Proceed by placing a plastic liner over the paraffin-dipped hand or foot. A double thick terry cloth mitt or bootie is then slipped over the plastic liner and sealed with a velcro closure. This improves heat retention. (Do not use a heated mitt or bootie as this will melt the paraffin). The disposable plastic liner protects the mitt or bootie from the paraffin.

At this point please ask your client not to move the hand or foot, as the paraffin glove should not be broken. Once the glove is torn or broken the moisture trapped beneath the paraffin glove can begin to evaporate, the heat is released and the treatment will not be as effective. The paraffin is left on the skin for 10 to 15 minutes.

Once the service is completed remove the mitt or bootie. Using the plastic liner, slide the paraffin off the hand or foot. Discard plastic liner along with removed paraffin. DO NOT place used paraffin back into the Amber spa. At the end of the day an equal amount of paraffin is added back to the unit.

Contraindications - Paraffin treatments are not recommended when the following conditions are present: high blood pressure, diabetes, varicose veins, open cuts and sores and any other unusual hand or foot disorders.

Paraffin has many uses and is very successful in treating Fibromyalgia. “What is it and what can I do to help facilitate a change in the client’s life that has this condition?”

Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal condition causing widespread pain throughout the body. The pain is in the muscles, tendons and ligaments. Some clients experience pain that comes and goes, or it may be constant. A client may also experience pain between the shoulder blades, head and neck aches, painful chest muscles, lower back pain and some foot and knee pain. Clients often describe the pain as the sensation of a hot burning knife being pressed into the muscles. Clients seen with fibromyalgia may look as if nothing is wrong with them even though the pain at times can be severe.

There are other related conditions that occur commonly in clients with fibromyalgia. These may include: fatigue, stiffness in the muscles, sleep disturbance, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, mitral valve prolapse, tension or migraine headaches, anxiety, chest pain that is not cardiac-related, cognitive problems, depression, dizziness, excessive dryness in the eyes or mouth, headaches, irritable bowel or bladder syndrome and numbness or tingling in the arms or legs. Some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia occur with many other conditions as well, although they seem to be present more frequently in fibromyalgia.

Individuals with fibromyalgia often have a certain type of personality. Many (not all) are neat, organized, time-oriented, tense, precise individuals. They truly are “type A” individuals! Often those who treat will tell them, “If you could relax you would have a lot less discomfort.” That is where paraffin and massage come into play as they aid in patient relaxation and help to reduce patient discomfort.

There are times when the client may come for an appointment but the trigger points are so sensitive that a massage is not possible. That is when warmed paraffin should be applied on the trigger points. Paraffin soothes the joints, helps hydrate the skin and deeply relaxes the client’s muscles. The application of warmth is more effective for fibromyalgia clients than cold modalities are.

The process of applying heated paraffin to the body is simple when using the right tools. Paraffin may be painted, draped or poured onto virtually all parts of the body with excellent results. Treatments are most often categorized as hand, foot, specific body parts, face or full body.

What do the clients with fibromyalgia have to say about paraffin after their treatment?

Stephens writes: Clients indicate that the “hot knife sensation” does not seem to be as intense after paraffin treatments, so that the massage therapist can work the trigger points without as much pain. This will then allow the therapist to work on areas that would not be otherwise workable during that particular therapy session. Most clients want any relief that they can get.

Testimonials that have come from clients, like Louise from Georgia, have indicated that the paraffin treatment has allowed her to relax so that the sensitive trigger points are far less intense. Client Julie from Georgia said, “Paraffin loosens the trigger points so that the massage is possible.” Client Karen from Georgia said, “The warmth of the paraffin is so soothing to my muscles I love it.”

There are so many success stories from Amber clients who have received and enjoyed the power of paraffin.

Once a client has experienced a paraffin hand or foot treatment, they often comment, “This would be great on my face and entire body.”

This only leads me to one question: “Who gives a Dip? Amber Does”.

Editor’s Note: Amber products may be purchased through Golden Ratio Bodyworks

You can E-mail Elizabeth at AmberProducts@cfl.rr.com (Amber Products)

Bio on Elizabeth Myron
Elizabeth Myron is the Vice President of Education and Sales for Amber Products located in Imperial, Pennsylvania. She brings 14 years of educational experiences to this industry as she presents an exciting new and progressive approach to the art of paraffin services. Elizabeth writes articles not only nationally but also internationally for many of the industries recognized magazines. She has produced four educational videos, was born in England, and trained in Australia and the United States, which allows her to add an international flair to her work. Her desire to learn and impart knowledge to others has become so great that she continually seeks further education enabling her to bring this expert knowledge and training into this field.

While living in Australia, Elizabeth worked extensively as a Promotions Professional conducting Make-up and Skin Care seminars throughout Australia. She has also taught at the Community College level where she was recognized as the educational leader in the many of the certified courses. At this level she was required to set all certificate course curriculum, which is still in effect at the Brisbane TAFE College.

You can attend one of Elizabeth's seminars as she continues to teach nationally and internationally for Amber products at many of the major trade show events.