Herbal Concepts Hot & Cold Neck & Shoulder Wrap, Slate Blue

Customer Reviews

Great Product!This is a great product! I had bought one at TJ Max a year ago. I use it daily. I got a little carried away with the time in the microwave. :-) I like it hot and decided to ignore the clear the directions to not heat it that long. I have a habit of heating it a minute longer than it suggested. I got away with it until I forgot to take it out after heating it. So, it had cooled down about halfway. I went ahead and reheated it as usual. Not a good idea! It smells like burned popcorn now. :-0 So, I was thrilled to see they have it on Amazon. I got my new one and I am very happy. The weight of this item and it's size makes it better than any of this type of thing I have purchased before. It stays in place because it is heavy and it goes up your neck and covers a good portion of your shoulders. The moral of the story is: follow the manufacturer's directions. They made it, they know what's best.5LOVE LOVE LOVE!!I bought this because 1) the color (wow!), and 2) I needed something to help ease the strain and tightness in my shoulders. I was pleasantly surprised by the weight, and the scent -- oh my -- is heavenly!! It doesn't get super hot and retains the warmth for a good 20-30 minutes. I really am glad I bought this product. As a matter of fact, I love using it so much I put it over my eyes when I got to bed (I suffer from insomnia) and between the weight and the scent, I found that I fall asleep faster and sleep deeper. I don't know if that is what it is meant for but for me, it was a bonus! Buy it! You won't regret it.5Dont think $ equals better!I used this for 4 days before I had to throw it away! I have used rice heating pads for years and NEVER had a burn or a fail before! This product is too heavy and bulky. It doesn't warm up with time suggested and doesn't retain heat for more than 5 min . I had learned that 2 1/2 minutes were necessary. This was a different microwave but the same size and wattage. The extra plush material must burn too easily. It also CONTAINS WHEAT which is not listed in the product description! I read that review after it was shipped and almost returned it but was in enough pain to risk taking it with us as I head for chronic lyme treatment. I wish I had read more reviews first and heeded them. I thought buying a more expensive one was good. Not!1Soft, Comfortable, Looks niceI have a lot of problems in my neck and lower spine. The Herbal Concepts products make them feel better. They look nice. They conform well to my neck, where I want the heat on the back of my necks and in the area where the next joins the shoulders.The product could be improved so it was even more effective. Here's what I wrote in an email too the company. They didn't reply to acknowledge the email, which is kind-of strange.***I've got 2 of your Neck & Shoulder Wraps -- one I bought several years ago, and one I bought a few months ago after finding out that I had severe problems in my lower cervical vertebrae, and also severe problems in my lower spine. I'm thinking about buying more of your products, for myself and for my wife.A couple of things might improve your products:1) A Way to keep them in place: I love my 2 neck and shoulder wraps but the things flop around and fall off as I move around the house or the office. It would be nice if there was an option to either buy them with ties (velcro, shoestring, fabric, etc.), or to attach something to them. For example if you could sew a small loop into the ends of the neck wraps, I could run a shoestring the loop at each end. If it was a bigger loop could run a velcro string through them or put a hook into them. I've tried a number of workarounds for them but nothing works because the wraps are heavy and bulky. The problem would best be solved by adding a minor but permanent feature to the design.2) Effectiveness: An option to attach them to the body would also make the wraps and your other products more effective, because it would allow users to attach them more tightly against their bodies. That means more of the heat helps the body, and less evaporates into the room.3) Web Site Pictures: I was looking at your Lumbar Wrap. There is only one picture on the page, so I could not see how it attached in the front, or whether it would fit a larger guy. So I can't buy it.4) Different Sizes: All of your web site models that I noticed were smaller women. I'm 6 ft and 180#s, with broad shoulders. Are your products only designed for smaller women? I know the neck wraps would stay on me much better if they were available in a larger size. I would like to buy the full back product, but the one that covers a smaller woman's back, like the one shown on the web site, would probably have much more limited value if it wasn't sized for someone like me.I would guess that any or all of these changes would translate into increased sales and happier customers.***4Wonderfully soothingThis is by far the best product I have found for my sore neck muscles. My muscles in my upper back and neck are so tight and knotted up that they pull on the back of my head. Even taking muscles relaxers does not do much and the same for physical therapy. The only thing I have found to help is a professional massage and heat. Unfortunately massages are not in my budget so heat is my best option for relief. This product fits the bill perfectly. It is made of a cozy soft material, lays across the needed areas and the weight is perfect. In fact, I think the weight combined with the heat is really what does the trick.The collar sits up on the neck and goes up to the base of your skull. It does wrap around the front of the shoulders and closes at the front of the neck. It can lay open in the front if you like and still stay in place. My only dislike is that it has fragrant herbs in it. I get migraines and I am very sensitive to odors. Thankfully, this is a very light fragrance if it were stronger I couldn't use it. I believe the herbs do help with the soothing sensation. Similar products made with rice often are made in a way that causes the filling to shift and you are constantly shifting for comfort and reheating it. This item has sewn sections and holds the heat longer than any other I've ever used. Just throw it in the microwave for two minutes and you can sit and relax without constantly readjusting its position. I had this item in my Amazon shopping cart for nearly year before I purchased it and boy do I wish I would have bought it sooner. Initially I could not get myself to spend $30 on it. One day in a world of pain and desperate for relief I ordered it. To my surprise it had a 20% offer you had to click on. I nearly overlooked it. So if you are considering purchasing this make sure there is not a special offer. If you are desperate for relief order it. You won't regret it. This would also make a great gift for someone who needs a little self pampering.5From an honest reviewerThis thing was worth every penny. I have a slipped disc in my neck and that causes a lot of issues (i.e.: pain) in my upper back and shoulder. Then on top of that, the slipped disc has also caused arthritis in the left side of my neck. I know a lot of amazon reviews are from people who have tried the product for a discounted price or even for free in exchange for reviews on the product. I am not one of those. I am a person with legit back and neck pain and I can tell you from experience, this is the most amazing ice or heat pack. Although you can put it in the microwave, I myself like to keep it in a gallon size ziplock bag in the freezer. The material is so soft and the beads are very evenly distributed that it wraps around your neck and upper back like fluffy blanket of snow. The cold feels so nice - not shocking, but comfortably numbing. There is the perfect amount of weight to not hurt you but enough to keep it held down on your neck and shoulders. I think the only thing that would make it perfect is if it had a little velcro strap from one side of the neck piece to the other. But I can do that simply by grabbing a piece of velcro from a fabric store. But even without doing that, this is a wonderful, high quality product, already. Would I buy again? Absolutely. And I would recommend it to all of my friends. Thank you to who ever made invented this neck and shoulder ice pack. It really is making a difference in peoples lives. Thank you. Please, anyone who has upper back, shoulder or neck pain. Get this now. You won't regret it. Oh, and the smell - well, yes, it's cool, but it's not too strong. I don't know if I'm just not paying attention or if it's really just very subtle, all I can say is, when I put it on, it's very soothing. Light and soothing.5Moist Heat + Healing Herbs= Heaven on Earth for Humans in PainThis is absolutely the best purchase I've ever made on Amazon. This is one of the best products I've ever had the priviledge of owning and enjoying in my life. Period.Here's my deal (the simplified version): I suffer from all-over chronic pain and chronic mental/physical illness. I have debilitating symptoms from: Sensory Processing Disorder (Super hypersensitivity to external stimuli- I can't be in many public places, because of the noise, lights and smells), Fibromyalgia (It's been 2 years of hell), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and bulging discs in my spine.So my head, shoulders, neck, and upper back are always extremely sore, stiff, achy, and in pain. My knees are in constant pain, which radiates throughout my legs.I've had a chronic headache for 20 straight years, which is most of my life. I won't even get into that whole disaster.Many years ago, I used to have constant back pain that was exacerbated from my work conditions. My mom randomly purchased a moist heat from T.J. Maxx, hoping it would bring me some relief.I began using the heat pad every night on my lower and upper back, and after several months, essentially all of my back pain vanished. It was too good to be true.It wasn't the chiropractor, massage therapist, acupuncturist, physical therapist, or anyone or anything else that did it. It was moist heat.So I'm all about the importance of moist heat for any type of muscle or joint pain, strain, injury, and it's even useful for cold nights, anxiety, stress, insomnia, etc. It truly does work, and just the heat alone is comforting.It may not always "fix" serious injuries (go to a real pain & spine doctor, get CY scans!), but it DOES help heal your muscles, by relaxing away the tension, not just physically, but often emotionally as well. Chronic pain always takes its toll, no matter who you are, and consequently, major factors of our lives are affected negatively by it.SO. A few days ago, I was browing Amazon as I always do, looking for new DIY ideas and products to help me and others in pain.When I saw this Herbal Concepts Neck & Shoulder wrap, I became excited. I've never seen a heat pad that is shaped so specifically to cover the exact area of my neck, shoulder and upper back pain.Plus, there were cool colors to choose from, and the wrap was filled with natural, soothing herbs.I reminisced about how effective my old moist heat pad was, and I just knew I had to have this.When it arrived, it was in plastic, and it didn't smell funny.. it smelled really good. It's made of an incredibly soft and smooth material, and I got the gorgeous lavender color.I put the neck wrap inside an open plastic bag to protect it from getting dirty. Then I placed it in my microwave and heated it up for 1 minute.I checked its temperature with my hands. Nope, still cool. So I heated it for another half minute. Hmmm.. almost. Then I went for another 30 seconds, and I could smell the warm lavender and all the wonderful herbs emanating from within. Be careful not to go overboard with the heat. Your body can feel heat differently than your hands do.The smell alone is enough to calm and relax anyone!I gently shifted the herbs from side to side, to mix it and balance the proportions, and wrapped it around my shoulders.HOLY !!! Oh my god....I died. I died. I conveniently melted into my bed and felt a warm wave of pure ecstacy envelop me in a peaceful way, not in like a "let's go crazy at a rave, bring your glowstick" way. It felt amazing to say the least.Wow. After all those years of chronic pain, all those minutes, hours, days, weeks and months I've suffered, my body felt speechless.But outloud, in a daze, I remember mumbling a bunch of joyful, stunned expletives in quick succession.I seriously felt like I'd died and drifted into a heavenly world of goodness. It felt THAT good.OK. So there is this thing called Myofascial Massage. It's a wonderful "alternative" form of massage that is not utilized enough or well known. I tried it once, and it was easily the best massage I'd ever gotten, as it was perfect for my condition.That's where I first learned that my upper back muscles are all mushed into each other, which makes complete sense. It literally FEELS like that. Doesn't sound pretty.That's where I first learned that my tense shoulders are lopsided; I DO always hold one shoulder higher than the other (selfies confirmed this). Maybe always holding a purse or bag on one shoulder helped cause it. I wouldn't be surprised. The muscle in my right shoulder appears larger than in my left.Somehow, this holistic massage therapist found all that out from simply feeling my back. No one else was ever able to determine that, and neither was I.It goes like this: The massage therapist presses his/her fingers deep into your back with firm pressure, just like a deep tissue massage, but then purposefully rubs your muscles outwards, stretching them out, improving blood circulation, while releasing tension and strain. If you think plain deep tissue massage is great, you need to try this! I've only gotten it done once, but it was the first massage in my life, where my body felt significantly more relaxed, my muscles were much less tense and in pain, where I felt totally satisfied with the concentrated amount of deep pressure, and STILL didn't feel sore the next day.Anyway where was I? Oh, right, I'd died and melted into my bed. I lied back, propped up by pillows, and I promise you, every single worry in my life suddenly just hopped aboard a plane and got the hell outta here.Seeya! They said. I didn't reply back.It felt SO GOOD. Incredible. I struggled to keep my heavy eyelids open and my contacts got all dried out. They always dry out when I get very relaxed and sleepy.The sweet and earthy aroma of lavender and flax seed filled my senses, and I'm sure the lavender, valerian root, and chamomile made me more sleepy. All 3 are effective for relaxation, stress relief, and to promote sleep. Remember that!I seriously couldn't move for a while. If there was a fire in the house, I'd weakly call out, "Just one more minute.... just one...one...."Well... at least I'd burn in bliss. (Sorry, no disrespect to burn victims. But I literally felt like I'd hopelessly and pleasantly lost my battle with gravity.)The wrap gently flowed around all my curves and penetrated moist heat deep into my tight, yearning muscles.Since my chronic headache was really bad, I put the wrap against my closed eyes and forehead, and it felt so relaxing. Usually cold washcloths help soothe the pain a bit, but moist heat is unbeatable in my opinion.I instantly fell into a deep trance-like relaxation. It was better than any massage I've ever gotten, any hot tub I've ever been in, and, well, it felt better than sex to me. Because it was precisely what my body had been screaming and crying out for for so long.I love how the collar part covers your whole neck area, and how the front section comes together comfortably around the front of your neck.It's lovely. I can't helping scolding myself for not getting this years ago.There is a perfect amount of weight to this soft, velvety plush heat wrap. It's generously filled with the following ingredients:LavenderChamomilePeppermintSpearmintLemongrassRosemaryCinnamonYarrowWhite WillowValerian RootYellow DockHopsAnd "other natural ingredients."The material is made of Polyester it says, but if this really is just polyester, I want my clothes and bed and damn underwear and socks to be made of it!The cool thing is, this wrap can be used cold as well. In order to chill it, seal it inside a plastic bag. Place it in the freezer for at least 1 hour (a few hours is ideal). Then shift the herbs side to side to mix it and balance out the weight, and lay back with the wrap around your neck. Put your feet up. Close your eyes.Can you hear the ocean waves? Can you smell the fresh air and feel the warmth of the sun beating down upon your back?Did you forget your own phone number and street address?GOOD! Then you are experiencing the beginning of a blossoming new love/love relationship with this awesome neck and shoulder moist heat wrap.A few people, including my mom's boss, have asked me for the link to this, after they heard about it. They too are excited about melting into their beds and sofas, and feeling the pleasures of Comfort Delirium.Yup, I just made that phrase up, but you'll see what I mean. It makes absolute sense.This wrap is as effective and comforting as they come. Try it on any area of your body and be pleasantly surprised.I personally also spray some magnesium oil and rub it into my neck and shoulders for pain (most of us are deficient- look it up!)Sometimes, I use Tiger Balm cream as well. That stuff is incredible in healing sore muscles, especially overnight.To clean the neck & shoulder wrap, wipe the outside with a damp cloth. DO NOT wash it or get it wet. Let the dampness air dry.For the best storage and cleanliness, keep it in an air tight bag when not in use. (I fell asleep with it, sans a bag, in my arms last night. It smells so relaxing.)Store it in a cool and dry area.Overheating this wrap is a terrible idea. And that's what a bunch of reviewers have done here. They microwave it for way too long, on high heat, and damage the material. So make sure to check it in 30 second intervals after the first minute. Since your microwave will differ from other microwaves, make sure you're aware of the settings. It's always safer to underestimate the heat than to overdo it. It doesn't need to be seering hot to do its job magnificently. But if you have health issues, check with your doctor. Pre-existing medical conditions could possibly make this not the best option. So ask first if that's the case.Then? Recommend this moist heat wrap to every human who complains about neck, shoulder, upper back and anywhere else pain. I do!This will help even hardcore insomniacs (me!) To get groggy and sleepy. This will calm anyone with anxiety, and relax anyone with stress and depression.Consistency will be more affective in the long run. I've been using a plug-in electric heat pad for my knees for the past year, and I'm so thankful to have it. I can't imagine life without it right now, with the amount of pain I feel. I'm able to sleep because of it.I think it could be a good idea to add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil to the wrap, if you feel inclined to. Lavender, vanilla, bergamot, and tangerine are just a few relaxing/calming suggestions, and personal favorites. Using the essential oils of the actual flowers and herbs inside the wrap is also ideal.Otherwise, the scent of the natural herbs alone is really nice, and will be enough for most people.I'm a petite woman, so this wrap is a perfect, but with room to spare... I can tell that it will easily fit larger and average people as well.However, I don't think this will be the best size for very obese people, or for very large, muscular men. Ideally, this wrap is a great size for women and teens, up to mostly average sized men. But there is absolutely no rule on that. The wrap adjusts to your shape and size pretty well. I'm just warning you that if you have a huge neck and broad shoulders, you may want to go with something else.Otherwise.... I've always sworn by the healing powers of moist heat pads. And now? I have greater confidence that my pain will eventually become manageable enough for me to be more active and functional, and to once again enjoy pursuing my many life passions.My main purpose is to help and support those who suffer from chronic physical, mental and emotional pain. I can empathize well, and I'm passionate about it. I try to balance care for myself and others- mainly strangers, believe it or not. I've successfully helped prevent 3 suicides just through social media, since I'm so often stuck in bed. I'm too sick to do these things in person right now.This is the time when most people around my age are settling into their jobs and careers, making major life decisions, moving on and establishing their financial and personal freedom, getting married, having kids and starting a family, and enjoying the many pleasures and passions of life. We still screw up at times... a lot of times. And hopefully we always will periodically. It's the only way to get it right next time, and to gain empathy for others in their distress, and to understand people's struggles.My aspirations and goals for the future fill me with hope. Chronic illness, chronic pain, major depression, constant hospitalizations... none of this was planned, and how could it have been? But I've learned SO many valuable things.One of them is that you have to make some time to take care of yourself, and try to limit your stress, especially when you feel totally burnt out, empty, exhausted. After major traumas and losses, take time. You can't just convince yourself everything will be fine if you constantly stay busy. Not if you need time to grieve and process.Stress manifests itself physically and emotionally, and can lead to many illnesses and all the difficulties I face every day.If only one thing, at least allow yourself a nice warm bath with epsom/dead sea/himalayan salts, with calming essential oils, and/OR.....treat yourself to this neck/shoulder moist heat herbal wrap.I promise you, that if you have tension and pain, using this daily will most likely make a significant difference.I highly recommend seeing a pain/spine specialist, and possibly get a CT scan if you have chronic back or body pain/discomfort. Don't ignore it! Almost everyone I know ignores persistant warning signals that their body gives out. Those with digestive problems, it's not normal. See a gastroenterologist.You can thank me later!It's like our ability to feel full after eating. If we never felt full or satisfied, it would be a disaster! It's the same with pain and other medical issues. If you constantly ignore uncomfortable symptoms or side effects, you'll never learn to listen to what your body really needs to stay optimal. There is a reason we're wired to feel certain things. Pain is your body's way of letting you know something is injured or very wrong. It shouldn't be a normal state of being. We deserve to experience a better sense of well-being, on a regular basis!I've been forced to listen to my body's needs throughout my Fibro ordeal, and it has actually saved my life. I've learned that if I overdo it or put toxins in my body, I WILL pay the price for it. Definitely not worth it.So this heat wrap is more than just a product. For me, it gives me real hope again. Without wasting hundreds and thousands of dollars like I would be, for the same or less effective result.I've been stressing about what to do, because of the impossibly high expenses of the treatments that I know will help me the most, like the myofascial massage. Simultaneously, the chronic pain is soul-crushing......but now, my stress melts away.. at least for a little while. And I feel almost human again. It's kind of like a dream.I hope this product helps you as much as it is helping me. I sincerely do.Sorry for writing so much, for preaching, for yada yada. But I mean every word. Moist heat has been miraculous for me, and I wish I'd found this long ago. But maybe it won't mean so much to me then....Good luck to all of you. 5Look no further. This is the best one that is being manufactured today.As I was relaxing with my heated neck wrap today, I felt compelled to write a review on my purchase and explain exactly why this is such a great wrap. I have had this neck/shoulder wrap for over a year, use it regularly and it is by far the best out there. I have had internal stuffing for some of these wraps start to cook when placed in the microwave, wraps that did not cover the right part of my neck/shoulders, stitching fall apart resulting in the contents exploding everywhere, rashes from synthetic stuffing and and stuffing migrating to a single area where I can't get it out. I am so happy that a wrap has been invented that takes all of those issues into consideration.When it is really cold out (we get below zero temps in AM where I live), I will heat it, put it on, put on my coat over it and walk the dog. Try it -- it is the most relaxing walk in freezing temperatures you will ever take. It allows you to resist the instinct to scrunch up your shoulders.I searched through reviews for a ton of different neck wraps before settling on this one. Look no further. This one has everything you are looking for (and even things you didn't know to look for).5Effective, versatile, and they have mass!Just perfect! I get spasms in my lower neck and upper back (C6-T2) on occasion, and they can be debilitating (they have led to my having to cancel appointments with my massage clients before) and these capes have been a life-saver. They smell great, but more importantly, they have real mass to them, so you get heat, but you also have some weight to the experience, which encourages you to lower the shoulders and let the heat work its magic. I tend to nuke them for 3-4 minutes (longer on the first application, and then less each time, as the grains retain some heat). They hold the heat for 15 minutes or so on the first nuking. Over time (weeks, not minutes), they eventually will start to smell a bit like burned popcorn, which I quite like, but it is a sign that it's time to get a new one.The stitching allows you to pour the contents into the part of the cape that will deliver the most bang for your proverbial buck, so they are versatile. They stay on your shoulders as you do most things. From time to time, I'll wear a chamois shirt over the wrap/cape, and that keeps it in place if I'm going outside for a while.Really, these things are just a great invention! I'm thankful for their existence!5Make sure to repurchase in different colors so it's harder for your relatives to stealI bought my first wrap several years ago and loved it dearly (although the smell had faded over time). I brought it to my parents house during a visit and proposed my dad try it for his neck pain. He loved it, and had other guests also try it to see how lovely it was. As a germophobe, this wasn't great for me, so I repurchased another one in the same gray color.Cue a year or so later, when my fianc now brings it to my parents home to use while he's there (are they a not-so-subtle pain in his neck? possibly). When we leave a few days later, low and behold, the second wrap was "accidentally" kept by my parents because my father thought it was his. Cue wrap number three, now in burgundy. It works great, life is great, and the new color prevents future "mishaps."Despite this, I get a call a few weeks later from my parents asking that I send them another one. They gifted the extra one "we left" to my grandparents, but didn't realize how much they enjoyed having an extra themselves. Now dad has this blue one, mom has the grey one, I have the burgundy one, and grandma also has a grey one. All work great, and there are no complaints other than those due to the difficulty in hanging on to these things in a family with neck problems. It does seem like some are filled a little more or less, and therefore vary slightly in optimal microwave times; however, it's a small difference (+/- 30 seconds) mostly due to being picky and having used 4 different wraps over the last couple years.5

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Herbal Concepts

Herbal Concepts Hot & Cold Neck & Shoulder Wrap, Slate Blue

Herbal Concepts Hot & Cold Neck & Shoulder Wrap, Slate Blue

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