Paraffin Baths for Pain Relief: Comparing Brands and Sizes

According to the Arthritis Foundation and the Arizona Arthritis Center, over 100 types of arthritis attack children and adults. Health Professionals, the specialty doctors who treat arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other painful autoimmune conditions, often recommend paraffin therapy. Paraffin baths relieve many pain symptoms like aches, cramps, throbbing, joint stiffness, and more.

Before beginning any treatment, it is advised to speak with a health professional and receive direct instruction on how to best to use a paraffin bath, according to a patient's unique needs.

Small Paraffin Bath Advantages

Small paraffin wax baths by Revlon,® HoMedics,® and Artemis Woman® are sold for as little as $30 to $50 at discount department and beauty super-stores like Wal-Mart, Target, and Ulta.

All small paraffin baths offer low price, convenient availability in-store or on-line and easy use instructions. The Artemis Woman® model ASIN: B000WAX8MU is the closest to a true therapeutic small paraffin spa, because of its thermostat which remains steady in temperature without guesswork, and its simple 'on-off' button.

Small Paraffin Bath Disadvantages

Customer reviews at Revlon® and HoMedics ® show thermostat unreliability of models offering individual temperature control of low, medium, and high. Medical therapeutic recommendations are for paraffin to remain at a steady temperature of 125-135 degrees. Small paraffin baths often do not make that temperature guarantee statement, because these varied temperature control spas are mostly marketed to the beauty and cosmetic buyer, not the medical therapeutic buyer.

Potential disadvantages: Small paraffin baths offer wax melting basins too small for a large hand or foot to fully immerse. Medically helpful accessories may not be available for the small baths. Warranties are often not offered. If warranties are offered, they are one year or less depending on brand and model. Paraffin refills are often not available at stores selling the appliance.

Large Paraffin Bath Advantages

Paraffin wax baths marketed especially for pain therapy are generally over-sized, and it is not unusual for a foot of shoe size 14 to fit into the wax basins. Most models offer packages including accessories like: a debris grille, hand therapy kit, foot therapy kit, facial therapy kit, 6 to 8 lbs. of paraffin wax in various scents, and more.

The thermostats are generally pre-set at the standard medically recommended 125-135 degrees, with just the on-off button, or simply plug-in to start wax melting and temperature maintenance process. These models are meant to be left on like a refrigerator, and only unplugged or turned off for cleaning. The paraffin is always ready for use when pain relief is needed, with no waiting for the wax to melt.

Warranties are generally offered on the big paraffin spas. TheraBath® includes a lifetime warranty on their paraffin bath, asking only the buyer to use the TheraBath® paraffin to maintain warranty agreement.

Large Paraffin Bath Disadvantages

Large paraffin spas vary in warranty length and rules of coverage. For instance, the GiGi® Paraffin Bath Spa, sold at Sally Beauty Supply® stores and on-line, starts at $140, including 8 lbs. scented wax and more. A one year warranty is offered for an additional $13.99 fee.

TheraBathPRO® baths at the TheraBath® website are about $200, including debris grille & and 6 lbs. paraffin scented/unscented. The same TheraBath® is at Amazon.com for $40-$60 less.

Paraffin Bath Accessories Best Buy On-line

Accessory kits may include sanitary plastic hand/foot liners, warming mitts, sanitizing spray, moisturizing lotion, and other items specific to the buyer's need. Amazon.com's vendor, CacheBeauty, offers competitive pricing starting at about $20 for refill and accessories. Other sites sell them also, but CacheBeauty consistently delivers when promised and often beats competitors' prices.