Product Review: Bed Buddy ThermaTherapy Neck and Hand Wrap

For those of you following along in my Sharing a Challenge series, you know that I have been training for a half-marathon walk race. Given the associated aches and pains, it was excellent timing when I was asked to review the Bed Buddy®: Plush ThermaTherapy® Neck and Hand Wrap.

Here is the official description from Carex Health Brands:

This specially designed wrap with warming neck and hand pouches warms in minutes in the microwave. Moist heat ThermaTherapy® penetrates deeply to relieve aches, pains, tension or arthritis in chronic problem areas. Luxurious and soft, this wrap comfortably envelopes the neck, and hands can slip into warm pockets for indulgent therapy. Unique design allows you to sooth additional areas with the warming hand pouches. This reusable and long lasting wrap is filled with 100% all natural ingredients and is lightly fragranced with Lavender and Chamomile aromatherapy.

But, let’s cut to the chase.

It’s soft. It’s cozy. It smells really nice.

Creating heat

The first step is to microwave the Bed Buddy Wrap to heat it up. Nuke on high for 90 seconds, and if this isn’t warm enough, keep going in 20 second intervals up to two and half minutes.

I didn’t want to ruin my Wrap before I could even try it, so I went 110 seconds. This made it pleasantly warm, and I headed off to bed to enjoy the experience.

Then things went awry. Not with the Bed Buddy Wrap, but with the cats! We have to lock them in the front half of the house in order to stop the Siamese from yowling at us at 3 a.m. Normally, this involves a simple scoop and toss procedure. Scoop them off the couch and toss them through the French doors.

However, for some reason, both of them took off and I had to chase them around the living room. The whole time we are playing hide and seek, I’m getting more annoyed because I’m afraid my Bed Buddy will cool down and I won’t get to enjoy it.

I finally take it off my neck, capture my rogue cats, and toss them through the doors. In retrospect, they were probably trying to avoid the great yellow snake wrapped around my neck. Note to self: nuke the Bed Buddy AFTER the cats are corralled.

Anyway, I then dashed back to my Bed Buddy fully expecting to have to nuke it again.

Not so! It was still nice and warm, so I headed up to bed with it. After all, it is called a Bed Buddy.

The scent of lavender

Bliss. There I lay with lavender wafting into my nose, my neck gently cradled in warmth, and my hands all wrapped in coziness.

For over thirty minutes it stayed warm! And that’s not including the cat chasing time.

Mr Very Right has taken a great liking to the Bed Buddy as well. I arrived home from work one day to have him greet me at the door with his neck and hands enveloped in yellow plush. Not exactly a virile image, but, he had been working outside on one of my honey-do lists and had gotten chilled to the bone. Maybe not virile, but definitely endearing.

Checking out the durability

Having made the rounds of both humans in the house, and some serious cautious sniffing from the cats, it was time to test out the durability of the Wrap in the wash. I just popped out the sacs of herbs, and threw the plush in the washer and dryer. The instructions recommend using fabric softener, which I don’t use because I am sensitive to perfumes. I was worried, therefore, that it wouldn’t come out as soft as it went in.

Nope! It came out just as cuddly.

Unique use

The scent of lavender is a known stress reliever, and I proved this works after my escapade with the cats. Thanks to Mr Very Right, we also proved it nicely takes the chill out of your bones. But, ladies, I discovered a use for the Bed Buddy Neck and Hand Wrap that you won’t find on the box or product description.

Two words: menstrual cramps.

Yep, just warm that baby up, zen out to the scent of lavendar around your neck, and massage your belly with the hand pouches.

Gosh, I’m almost looking forward to my next period.

Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but now I have a natural solution for dealing with the awful bloating and pain associated with that time of the month.

Bed Buddy Plush ThermaTherapy Neck and Hand Wrap. Who knew? I think they really need to change their marketing strategy. Forget about the aches and pains associated with half marathon training. It’s all about menstrual cramp relief.

More information!

The Bed Buddy Plush ThermaTherpay Neck and Hand Wrap will be given away on Silver & Grace. Make sure you come back on May 6 and enter to win.

You can get more information on the Bed Buddy at Carex Health Brands and the Bed Buddy Facebook page.

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