Nature CreationBack Heating Pad Microwavable - Flexible & Easy to Use Hot/Cold Pack for Back Pain Relief, Neck Pain, Body Aches and Stiffness - Perfect for Cold Weather - 1 Pack Purple Flowers

Cons first: can't be effectively used as a cold pack. Just doesn't hold the cold and even after freezing it for hours on end it still wasn't at "ice/cool pack" level.Pros: As far as for heat pad, this gets a MILLION stars! It holds heat so well and really does provide relief. Period! There isn't anything else to say but BUY IT NOW!How I use it: Microwave in a standing half fold (like teepee shape) on 2.5 mins on each side (this varies per microwave strength and mine in a little weak so start with 90 secs). Then I lay down (as in my pic posted) with a bath towel folded (two layers on BACK and the rest to fold over heat pad to cover) on my back with the heating pad inside and fold the rest of the towel over it to hold the heat. I let it stay for as long as the heat last and that is like 30 mins or so. Then I flip it over for another 30 mins. Then as it feels cooler through the towel, I remove the towel and place it directly over the shirt I'm wearing and repeat the same steps. As it is too cool to feel thru my shirt, I remove my shirt and do the same thing. Then I'm done. (Take these steps as a guide and listen to your body. It will tell you if the pad is too warm to move thru the steps).This pad is amazing and I have already gifted it to a friend as well.

I have 2 neurological muscles disorders. Parkinson & Dystonia (a painful muscle spasm disorder) I learned from my pain management doctor that micro wave heat is the best therapy not a dry electric heating pad. Dry heat provides relief while on it. When you get off the pain starts up again. Moist heat from a microwaved pad absorbs into the pores and muscles providing hours , maybe even days of relief after using it. It should never be hot if muscles are swollen from an injury. Put it in the freezer & use cold therapy until the swelling goes down. Then use as heat therapy. You can also get more moisture & prolong the life of the pad by placing a damp washcloth or paper towels on top while microwaving it.

The pad is a great size, the scent is nice and mild, and it heats up quickly in the microwave. However, I’m assigning a low rating because after a few weeks of use, the pad started splitting along the seams with the little seeds spilling out all over the place. I’ve purchased several of these pads over the years from various merchants and they usually have years-long endurance. The quality is poor for the seams to split mere weeks into use.

A friend if mine one gave me a sock filled with rice. You nuke it and has instant heat!I was looking for something like this (I don’t know why I didn’t try to make my own).This heating pad has to be kept in a plastic bag in the freezer. I’m guessing that’s to keep the herbs from spoiling. It’s actually an annoying inconvenience and hard to gauge when it’s properly heated.One day I was nuking the heating pad and parts were still cold, so I kept heating. Follow the warnings and DON’T do that! It smelled gross and was thrown out.But if you’re looking for a heating pack with herbs in it, this is it.

I gave this as a gift to my son to help relieve his back pain. He said he like the spicy scent, but he couldn't get it hot enough in the microwave to do any good. I asked him to give it to me...that I'd like to try it out. I had no trouble getting it to heat up on around 90 seconds in my microwave and it held the heat for a good while....longer than the buckwheat version I have. The scent is a bit much for me...strong on cinnamon or similar spices and if you use it while in bed, the sheets end up smelling like baking spices, too. It just depends on what you like. It's a wonderful creative idea that maybe needs a little tweaking, or more choices in scent. Like lavender rose or sandalwood or some herbs that help you relax.

It smells delightful, even after dozens of heatings in the microwave, & is plump & comfortable, due to its rows of fill, unlike many 'skinny', less-filled pads. Other pads start smelling like burned popcorn - or worse - but not this one. Attractive cover, but it could use a case with a velcro strap to keep it in place & keep the pad cleaner. It gives off moist heat, also after numerous heatings. One of the best moist heat microwave heating pads we have ever bought, and we've tried a lot - & it's top 5, for sure. Highly recommend after almost 3 months of use, & we're buying another to add to our favorites.

This is a well-made, effective heating pad. I had been using an electric heating pad but it was very inconsistent, fluctuating between too hot to not warm enough. This pad gives a nice, steady warmth for quite a while. The stuffing shifts around to shape to your body (which works very well for my back), and the weight is nice if you want to lie down with it on your abdomen or back.The only reason for four stars is that I find the "aromatherapy" a bit overwhelming. I think I am just sensitive to it. I leave it out of the plastic bag between uses in hopes of it losing a bit of its pungency.All in all, an excellent product and a huge improvement over an electric heating pad.

I absolutely love this heating pad. It smells wonderful, and, it covers the entire width of my back. I get a lot of muscle spasms, and this eliminates them. My back has been very happy with me since I started using it. I use it just about every day.It does need to be heated in the microwave longer than suggested. I usually do it for 2 minutes and then another minute, depending on how hot I want it. If you put it directly onto your skin, which I do not, then less time would be better.It has held up very well over the few months I have used it, I even spilled something on it, and was able to gently wipe it with a damp cloth and get it clean. Very well made, and love the purple.