Paraffin Wax TreatmentA paraffin wax treatment or paraffin bath feels wonderful on the hands, forearms, ankles, feet, elbows and knees. The therapist should have a good commercial paraffin bath which comes in assorted sizes. Normally, one that fits the hands and feet inside is all that is needed. If the body part that needs heat cannot be dipped, the wax can be painted on quickly. Paraffin wax comes in blocks that are scented with different fragrances. Plain paraffin can be found too. The paraffin bath heats up the wax anywhere from 125 degrees to 134 degrees Fahrenheit. The wax does not need to be changed with each client as the heat in the paraffin bath kills the germs as long as the bath is thermostatically controlled. The client will normally be sitting in a regular chair and not a massage chair. Before beginning, make sure that the body area having the paraffin wax treatment is clean and dry. Also, be sure that the wax is heated up to the manufacturer's instructions so it is hot enough to kill germs, yet cool enough not to burn the client or make him or her uncomfortable.
After the 15 minutes, take off the towel and plastic wrap. What appears to be a waxy glove should be left on the area. Peel the wax off. It usually comes off in one piece. Discard the used wax. Do not place it back in the paraffin bath. The client's skin should feel soft and smooth. If a scented wax was used, the area will smell wonderful for hours. Painful joints are temporarily relieved and are much more flexible. This is a great treatment for arthritis and bursitis as well as strains and sprains. A word of caution---if the area is swollen and/or hot, do not perform a paraffin wax treatment.
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