A Moist Heat Therapy Products History

Up until just a few years ago, the application of moist heat therapy at home was difficult, inconvenient and dangerous. It involved soaking a heavy canvas bag filled with silicon sand in boiling water for twenty minutes, carefully removing the bag and covering it with two towels and a special cover before placing it on the body. One towel was removed every ten minutes.

Next came liquid gels sealed in plastic. Originally developed for cold therapy, these were put in boiling water or in some cases, microwaved. Though somewhat easier to use, gel packs presented a different set of problems. Gel packs could explode, burst, scald, burn and stay hot too long. A cover or cloth soaked in water was needed for moist heat. The trapped steam from a wetted pack when pressed against the body greatly increased the danger of burns.

Grain or herb-filled cloth bags, still on the market, (Magic Bag, Bed Buddy) were originally popular because they could be heated quickly by microwaving. However, these products do not produce true therapeutic heat levels. The grain used can be “dirty” and cooking results in unpleasant odors. Also because grain is organic, it supports fungi and bacteria growth. Many grain and herb microwave moist heat packs can become ineffective and are often discarded within months.

Several microwave-activated substances sewn into cloth packs or inserted into wrap pockets have been introduced recently but they have all fallen short in different ways. Permanently absorbing organic substances, drying out, bacteria growth, fungi and dangerous “Hot Spots” remained as unacceptable problems. This is compounded by the fact that pellet/bead packs cannot washed resulting in very unpleasant odors and an “oily feel” even when disposable covers are used.

In 2002, Bruder Healthcare Company, the pioneer in microwave activated moist heat treatment products, announced the introduction of MediBeads Microwave Activated Moist Heat Wraps.

MediBeads Wraps meet and exceed the demands of medical professionals who prescribe moist heat therapy and the consumers who use it at home. Ready in just one or two minutes, MediBeads Wraps are soft, conformable and easily applied without assistance and they stay in place. They create moist heat naturally without wetting and deliver up to thirty minutes of therapy. A proprietary process protects against bacteria growth and “hot spots”. They are washable and can be used for years with proper care.

MediBeads Q. & A. will help familiarize you with MediBeads Moist Heat Wraps and the advanced level of safe and effective moist heat therapy these new wraps make available.