Summer is over. Fall is period with lots of rain. Many arthritis sufferers will feel the pain in their joints, neck and back again.

Some may start using the pain killers, but they might get addicted to those drugs. Not to mention the side-effects that you are getting. Causing other pain or trouble in your body.

Natural Pain Relief Solution…

Isn’t there are drug free pain relief solution? A product that has no side-effects and still get a great relief?

I have been reviewing those neck pain relief products for a while. I almost forgot to mention that there are natural pain relief products. With NO side effects.

TDP Lamp or Mineral Lamp

Here are those infrared heated products:

TDP Lamp Mineral Lamp CQ12B

This small desktop heating lamp can be put at your desk. The lamp emits far infrared. As you know far infrared rays are different from those harmful ultraviolet rays coming out of the sun. Far infrared enhance the healing process of your body and helps relieve the muscle pain.

This TDP Lamp is small and easy to move to another place.

TDP lamp - desktop heating lamp

TDP Lamp – Mineral lamp CQ29

This TDP Lamp is bigger version of the CQ12B. It’s almost like floorlamp, but the lamp head can be adjusted, tilted up to 90 degrees, rotated 360 degrees. So you can lay down in your sofa and still enjoy the heat to get relief.

This floor lamp has wheels like those office chair, so it’s easy to move around your room. With a 60 minutes timer, this TDP lamp provides a focused deep heating in therapeutic treatments to relieve sore muscle and muscle pain. It also increases the blood circulation and metabolism

Mineral lamp - heating therapy - far infrared

TDP Lamp – Mineral lamp CQ36B

They also call this lamp the second generation lamp, because it’s an improved model of the popular CQ29. This TDP Lamp CQ-35B has a more accurate timer and longer time of usage than CQ12 B or CQ-29. This floor lamp looks almost the same as the analog TDP Lamp CQ29, but the control panel of CQ36B is digital

Unlike other Mineral Lamp models, CQ35B notifies you when to change the mineral plate. The mineral plate must be replaced after 1500 hours of usage, otherwise it’s therapeutic effect will be decreased. So, with this built-in notification, it tell you to change the mineral plate on time, so you can get the best therapeutic effect. You don’t want to lay down having the TDP lamp turned and not know you are not getting the relief you should get, right?

Besides, the TDP Lamp comes with upgraded timer design (90 minutes and not 60 minutes), Microcomputer Processor, Digital & Liquid Crystal Display, accumulative Memory Timing.

TDP Lamp with large mineral plate

I was reviewing some products for neck pain relief.

Two interesting products came across. The neck traction device and the infrared heating pad. To understand which neck pain relief product is the right one for you, you need to find out the cause of the neck pain.

Causes of Neck Pain

Neck pain can be cause by several ways. Bad posture behind your computer, bending you head all day long reading books, or slept at the wrong side in your bed. There are too many ways to create neck pain.

Some are just a minor pain, and will disappear after you take a good rest. But chronic neck is the worst. This may be caused by whiplash,  sport injury, or bad posture in a long period.

Cervical Traction Device or Shoulder Heating Pad?

If you have compressed disc or pinched nerve, you might want to consider the cervical neck traction device. I’ve found this ChiSoft cervical traction device. It’s a device that you wrap around your neck and inflate with a air pump manually. While you inflate the cervical traction device, it will gently stretch you cervical spine. This helps relieve the compressed disc.

cervical traction device for neck pain relief

neck traction device

When you have neck pain, caused by stiff neck muscle, you should consider using a Shoulder Heating pad. A shoulder pad can be put around your shoulder and neck. The heat of the pad will give you muscle relief.

I’ve found this Microwave Shoulder Heating Pad.  It emits infrared waves. The shoulder heating pad is designed with a “U” shaped cutout that fits like a collar around your neck to more effectively deliver soothing moist heat to your shoulders and neck. Very comfortable and the heat last for a long time.

microwavable heating pad

Such a pain in the neck!

I assume, everyone already know about this nasty virus, a new influenza strain. This flu, also called H1N1, is a combination of pig, avian and human fly. After SARS and bird flu, now this Swine Flu. If we don’t take measurements, it might become a global health problem.

It started in Mexico and now spreading away trough the whole world quickly. It’’s transmitted from person to person now through sneezing and coughing. This flu is spreading so fast, that the World Health Organization almost put it in pandemic alert status. But don’t get paranoid now!

What you can do to prevent swine flu

Although not 100% proof, they do minimize the risk of getting swine flu. Here are some basic steps you can to do prevent getting swine flu:

1. Avoid going to crowded places

2. Avoid visiting hospitals or any other clinics

3. Limit your contact with sick people

4. Wash your hands frequently before and after touching your face for at least 30 seconds with soap and water.

5. Wear a mask

6. Keep a good immune system

7. Cough or sneeze into a tissue and flush it in the toilet immediately

8. Create a clean and healthy environment at home or office with essential oils.

Create a virus free environment with aromatherapy

It’s proven that essential oils can kill bacteria. Ask your aromatherapist for the right blend. You also need an aromatherapy diffuser to spread the therapeutic essential oils into the entire room.

I have seen the ultrasonic aromatherapy diffuser doing a good job. Unlike the oil burner, this aromatherapy diffuser is using ultrasonic waves to create mist of oil into the air. It’s very safe and automatically stops once it has reached the minimum water level.  No more burning oils and risk of flames.

Just plug it into the adapter and let it run for couple hours. You only need put a few drops of essential oils into the water basket.

Should You Avoid Visiting Your Chiropractor?

I guess, people are now trying to avoid visiting clinics, where so many different patients come in and out. Who knows what kind of virus they have in their body.

Reducing the visits of a Chiropractor is common sense. But what should you do, when you have instant neck pain?

neck traction from home use

Fortunately, I still have my inflatable neck traction device. This neck traction device  is portable and after deflating it, you can put it into your bag to carry it away.

Yes, I still need to visit my chiropractor once while, but at least I have instant relief.

cervical traction device

A few days ago, I went to see a professional massage therapist because I was interested in receiving a Shiatsu massage and a Deep Tissue Massage. I get occasional lower back pain from playing sports so I wanted to see if a Shiatsu massage or a deep tissue massage would help.

At my first session, I chose a Shiatsu massage which is more or less an acupressure massage which involves applying medium pressure to specific acupuncture points or trigger points on my body. This type of massage feels quite comfortable because you don’t feel any pain during the massage. The massage therapist informs me that like most massages, I will need to have regular sessions of Shiatsu massage in order to get the ultimate benefits. The day after receiving this massage, I did not notice any difference.

The next day, I went back for a deep tissue massage which is recommended for body pain from sports or if you have tight tense muscles in general. During this massage, I definitely felt pain on my shoulders, back, and legs. Since my lower back was a bit painful before the massage, this type of massage was actually loosening the tense muscles in my lower back and I could feel an increase in blood circulation in my back. A deep tissue massage really feels like a workout even though I’m lying flat on my stomach with the therapist doing all the work.

The next day, my body felt a bit painful in areas where I did not have pain initially but my lower back was actually feeling better. For me, it seems like a deep tissue massage really helps to reduce pain from playing sports.

Shiatsu Massager

As an advanced level tennis player, I play tennis at least two or three times a week. During the summer months of June, July, and August, my body was in top physical shape with no body pain and most importantly, no elbow pain. Tennis elbow is something that I do experience when I play tennis for the first time after a long hiatus from tennis. For example, if I hit the courts after a two week break from tennis, I usually get tennis elbow the day after playing.

In the past I have talked to my doctor regarding my tennis elbow and he informed me of the cause and possible solution to eliminate it. For beginner tennis players, lack of strength in the arms and improper racquet grip is a likely cause of tennis elbow. Since I’m a intermediate level tennis player, lack of strength and improper grip are not factors causing my tennis elbow. For me, tennis elbow could be weather related which means I may have slight arthritis in the arms or it could just be simply lack of regular play.

Since for the past couple of months (September & October), I have not been playing tennis regularly, I noticed that when I do play, I do get tennis elbow pain the day after playing. Therefore I have determined that my tennis elbow results from a lack of playing tennis regularly. If I play two times a week, my tennis elbow becomes non existant.

Since I do get tennis elbow occasionally, I tried using the CQ-12 TDP desktop heating lamp on my right arm to relieve pain. For the first few days, I had doubts about the effectiveness of this TDP lamp because I did not feel any reduction of pain. I guess I was looking for instant results. So I used the lamp regularly for a few weeks, and I did experience some reduction in tennis elbow pain. Now, the reduction in pain could also have been a result of playing indoor tennis on a weekly basis but in the past I would still experience some elbow pain from playing regularly. I believe my reduction in tennis elbow pain resulted from a combination of playing tennis regularly and using the TDP desktop lamp regularly.

Since the invention of car seat massager, it’s popularity has increased tremendously, especially among the car lovers. Driving hours in the car is exhausting, but with the car seat massager it’s like having your own shiatsu massage anywhere and anytime. I feels great..

read more about Car Seat Massager | digg story

I found that this desktop mineral lamp extremely easy to use. It’s lightweight and easy to carry away. I place it at my desk besides my computer. My arms are receiving infrared heating while I’m working at my computer. It feels great. I wonder whether this mineral can helps relieve tendon.

These portable TDP Lamps are easily transferred. The two hinge adjustment points makes it easy to aim on any part of my body while I’m working at my desk. hmmm…nice

These lamps are also useful during the harsh winter seasons and for the elderly.

TDP Mineral Lamp for Tennis Elbow

Chinese doctors and acupuncturist say that these TDP lamp are effective in treating ailments such as joint pain, arthritis, back pain, injuries and some skin conditions like herpes and psoriasis etc.

TDP lamp has been widely used in China to treat many chronic conditions. Studies done in China show that TDP lamps are effective for treatment of over 100 different ailments.

I mainly use the lamp for my tennis elbow.

heating lamp for tennis elbow

TDP Mineral lamp Emits Special Electromagnetic waves

The TDP Lamp features a plate coated with a proprietary mineral formation consisting of 33 elements. Upon activation of the built-in electric heating, the plate emits far infrared waves for human body’s maximum absorption. Better absorbed than near infrared energy.

The mineral plate emits a special band of electromagnetic waves in the infrared range of 2 to 25 microns in wavelength and 28 to 34 mw/sq.cm in intensity. It is particularly helpful in promoting microcirculation, relieving pain,  and strengthening immune system.

If you spend many hours sitting on a chair in front of the computer or watching TV,  than you know back pain is going to hit you. What was the last time that you have tried to find a good back support?

Recently, I have found a Memory Foam Pillow that is very effective for relieving and preventing back pain. This cushion has an adjustable strap, which allows for easy placement on your chair to support your back immediately.

The Foam Pillow is great for back pain sufferers that spend many hours sitting. I have seen the Cushion is in three different colors; green, pink, and yellow.

Back & sleep cushion

The Pillow Cushion can also be placed on the back of your car seat while driving. If you have nagging back pain while driving, a Pillow Cushion is a very safe and affordable way to prevent pain in the lower back. The Pillow Cushion keeps your back straight and also acts like a shock absorber for your back while driving. It feels great….

Sleeping at Work

Here is the funny part….

You can put this foam cushion at your desk and enjoy a nap.

This pillow has an open space in the middle of the cushion for better airflow while you sleep.  Besides, the surface is cushioned with memory foam to avoids pressure on the face.

Isn’t that fabulous?

I’m sure my boss wants to have one for his desk.  Wonder how long he is going to take nap with this cushion.

Sleeping Cushion at work

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I have tried so many different travel neck pillow, but none of them gives me the comfort that I want.
Many of these neck pillows can’t provide the neck support you need, because every person’s neck size and shape is different.

Those neck pillows have a fixed shape and therefore can’t fit to every person.
Until I have found these memory foam pillow.

Memory Foam Neck Pillow For All Neck Sizes

These memory foam neck pillow consist of temperature-sensitive material that molds to and cradles your head and neck. It creates an orthopedic shape that eliminates all pressure points. Great for daily trip to work or when traveling to the far reaches of the world.

Also, “U” Shaped design gently cradles your neck while supporting your head for lasting comfort. It is designed to help relieve pressure, prevent stiffness and alleviate soreness while traveling. This micro-bead filled comfort sensation is a tactile experience unlike anything previously I have tried before.
Memory Foam Pillow is Portable and Comfortable for travel
ComSoft Neck Pillow is made especially for travel. Easy to carry and has a machine washable cover. Cotton velour cover is mite-resistant.

I felt the difference with ComSoft Travel Pillow immediately. My flight to Europe was never so pleasant before.

>> More about Memory Foam Travel Pillow

Due to its prominent therapeutic effects, the Mineral Lamp is also known in China and Hong Kong as the “Miracle Lamp”. The TDP Mineral Lamp even won a gold medal at the 35th Brussels Eureka World Fair for Invention in 1986.

Mineral mineral lamps is proven to temporary relief from pain and arthritis. This mineral lamp emits far infrared (below visible light) to increases the microcirculation  and loosens the fascia. This accelerates the natural healing processes of the body. It is used by many acupuncturists, homeopathic doctor, and other medical professionals.