Hot water bottles come in different shapes and sizes. They are made of plastic with a gel filling for the microwave or they are available as a hollow body, which can also be made of plastic but also of copper and which has to be filled with hot water before use. Hot water bottles serve as beneficial heat donors and are sometimes used specifically for thermal therapy purposes.
What is a hot water bottle?
A Hot water bottle consists of two components, a filling body with a filling opening and a solid screw cap, which is supposed to prevent the water from flowing out. The body of the heat dispenser is no longer made of rubber, it is made of a tough and heat-resistant PVC. The plastic does not tend to become brittle like rubber, it is durable for years and even for generations.
Gel hot water bottles form a compact unit as they do not have to be filled. They are provided with a non-removable fabric cover and are heated in the microwave before use.
The forerunners of the bed warmers were made of copper. The reddish shimmering metal not only has a beautiful appearance, it is an excellent conductor of heat. The hot water bottle made of copper is therefore gaining popularity again.
Shapes, types & types
Hot water bottles made of colored plastic have a rounded rectangular shape in their classic design. Other shape variants are tubular bodies, they resemble a neck roll that can be bent into any shape.
Another modification is the round shape. Its central closure can be pressed in, so it takes the form of a decorative pillow. Playful versions are heart-shaped. Their practical function does not distinguish them from other variants, it is only their decorative appearance that enhances them.
The copper bed warmers are usually oval and about a hand's width high.The heat roller made of the said metal has almost been forgotten, and cold hands can practically grasp the cylindrical body. The saddle-shaped bed warmer made of copper is U-shaped and is placed directly over the relevant part of the body. There are hot water bottles in correspondingly smaller sizes for babies and children.
Structure, function & mode of operation
So that a Hot water bottle Tried and tested as such, it is heated by microwaves or filled with hot water. Most of the heat is given off through the body of the bottle, as this forms the largest surface area of the object.
The heat dispenser should therefore be placed under blankets and pillows as quickly as possible. Blankets and pillows have the property of not conducting heat and keep the bottle body from cooling down.
Direct contact with the heat source is rather unpleasant, as the internal temperature is largely transferred to the outside area. There are protective covers made of fleece or terrycloth, which are provided with an elastic band or Velcro fastener. They are available in different colors, patterns and motifs. There are covers in the form of soft toys especially for children.
Due to their metal structure, copper bed warmers get particularly hot and cool down faster than their PVC counterparts. For hot water bottles made of copper there are sleeves with a drawstring, these are mostly made of crochet lace, less often of fleece or terrycloth.
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➔ Medicines for cold feet and handsMedical & health benefits
Hot water bottles are also used in therapy practices as they are used as a supplement to home remedies. The influence of the warmth has a relaxing, antispasmodic, blood circulation-promoting and pain-relieving effect.
In addition to medical prescriptions, heat sources are used for muscle strains and joint injuries. The temperature relaxes the tissue and absorbs remedies such as ointments more easily. After massages against tension or even against cramps, heat pads serve to relax muscles and relieve pain and discomfort.
At the age of two or three, children begin to be aware of their dreams and therefore wake up screaming at night. A heat source in the form of a soft toy gives them a feeling of security and makes it easier for them to bridge this time. For colds, cold calf or full body wraps are used and a tube warming bottle is tied around the neck.
Cold sources are used for insomnia during hot summer nights. The property of copper is particularly suitable for this. The metal hot water bottle is filled with ice-cold water just before going to bed.
