Fan Shoulder Wrap

Herbal Concepts Aromatherapy Comfort Neck and Shoulder Wrap as featured on Dr. Oz.

I don't know who it was that came up with this product idea, but God love 'em. It's like the old, basic flaxseed filled neck wraps that you microwave to warm and a product that many of us have probably tried at some point. I have one myself, but frankly it was always missing, well...  something. I didn't really know what, until now.

This fan shoulder wrap was featured on a recent Dr. Oz show - y'all know by now that I love his show, and I've purchased quite a few products and supplements that Dr. Oz has talked about and recommended. One thing that sets this wrap apart from many is that it's a fan wrap, that not only fits up higher around the neck, but also fans out down onto the front and top of the shoulders, and upper back of the shoulders, big problem areas for me.

When I was in my teens, and back when seat belts were only lap belts and inadequate protection, much less even required, I was involved in a minor accident where my head met the windshield. I suffered a whiplash injury that has left my neck without much curvature to it, and given me a habitually stiff neck. Pair that with carrying every ounce of tension or stress I experience in my shoulders, spending too much time on a computer, and not having the best posture while sitting either, and well... I'm not even sure I even know what a relaxed neck and shoulders feels like anymore.

When the package arrived it was quite heavy, weighing in at about 4 pounds, so the wrap is substantial in weight and loaded with plenty of flaxseeds in the neck band and the fan part that sits on your shoulders. The weight actually feels good sitting on your shoulders too, so that's really a plus. When I unwrapped it from the plastic, at first I was a little disappointed that there wasn't much smell to it. I knew that it contained herbs, and in fact, that was what prompted me to order it, but I couldn't really smell much of anything. Until I microwaved it.

The instructions said to microwave 1 to 2 minutes, increasing in 30 second increments to get it to your desired heat level, since all microwaves vary. The first time, I folded it to a manageable size and placed it on a clean paper towel, microwaving it for 1 minute on high. Then I removed it, unfolded it and refolded it a different way, just to prevent any hot spots that might burn, and went for another minute. My microwave is a small one with low wattage, so I went 30 seconds longer each time I heated it, and found for my microwave that 3 minutes was perfect. Your microwave may be much more powerful, so start with 1 minute and increase accordingly.

Another thing that sets this wrap apart is the number of herbs included. The wrap contains twelve, 100% natural, aromatic herbs and grains, including lavender, Valerian root, white willow, chamomile, rosemary, peppermint, spearmint, hops, yellow dock, lemongrass, yarrow and other natural ingredients. The fragrance is awakened and released when you microwave it, and, for moist heat therapy, you can water mist it with a sprayer before microwaving. You can also place it into a resealable bag and freeze it for cold therapy.

The cover is made from a very soft, plush material, and not removable, but can be wiped with a damp cloth to clean. The instructions indicate that storing the wrap in a resealable bag will also increase the longevity of the product. It's currently available in eight colors.

I instantly LOVED this product, and it really loosened up those neck and shoulder muscles. I do have to issue a warning about it though... but it's in a good way. The fragrance from the herbals will waft up to your nostrils and RELAX you. It might even make you sleepy. Between that, the weight and the warmth, if you suffer at all from tension and stiffness in your neck and upper shoulders, I think you will love this product too. It really does what it's supposed to.

Made in the U.S.A. by Herbal Concepts a company located in Clackamas, Oregon, it's called a "Comfort Neck and Shoulder Wrap." I purchased mine through my prime membership on Amazon, and you can still order them there, although if you want one right away, you currently have to pay shipping through a third-party company. Considering the weight, the shipping isn't too bad. Apparently Dr. Oz's show prompted some sales, as the free shipping from Prime Membership products are all gone and on wait list for 2 to 3 week delivery. Still, if you don't mind waiting, it's a great price with your Prime membership. Herbal concepts also sell a basic neck wrap along with a number of other products.

Material Disclosure: Unless otherwise noted, you should assume that post links to the providers of goods and services mentioned, establish an affiliate relationship and/or other material connection and that I may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. You are never under any obligation to purchase anything when using my recipes and you should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.

Hot Spot Treatment for Dogs

According to Dr. Oz, apple cider vinegar may be a helpful tool for those itchy, irritated hot spots on your dog.

My little dog Boo gets hot spots on the bottom of his legs, his belly and in the crevices at the top of his legs, especially during the summer.

Hot spots are essentially a type of dermatitis or skin inflammation, and are common. Sometimes they are caused by allergies, including food related, sometimes fleas or other bugs, and sometimes even, simply nerves or stress. They are almost always initiated by constant licking or scratching, that leaves behind red patches of irritated skin and even cause small patches of bald spots. If your dog has these symptoms be sure to look for fleas, mites or other initiating insect bites and investigate other things that might be responsible.

My Boo lives inside, gets bathed regularly and doesn't have fleas, so I think his is caused by those short trips out to the yard where he is annoyed by those same pesky gnats and no-see-ums the rest of us are bothered by and come in itching from. His is also not a constant problem, but a more periodic one, although he was born with somewhat tender skin to begin with, so it takes zero time for him to bite or scratch in angry, irritating red rash like spots, and knock off a little hair too.

I was watching a repeat of the Dr. Oz show recently and he had a guest on with one of those adorable Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise mix "teddy bear" dogs, who had a problem with hot spots. Dr. Oz suggested applying apple cider vinegar to help reduce the itching, heal the spots, and encourage hair re-growth. You can apply it direct by saturating a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar and dabbing it on the spots. If the spots are highly inflamed and irritated, make a mixture of equal parts apple cider vinegar and water and either dab it on, or use it in a small spray bottle.

Yesterday was a particularly itchy day for Boo, and when I checked I noticed a lot of irritated red patches from his scratching. I mixed up equal parts apple cider vinegar with water and applied it to all the spots, repeating it again a few hours later. By the second application, I kid you not, the red patches were completely gone!  Of course, as always, your results may differ, but for me this was another great tip from Dr. Oz and I can feel pretty good about using something natural.

I know a lot of you use organic vinegars such as Braggs containing the "mother," for a variety of health reasons - that was a big discussion back in the day when I was doing low carb - but for general household use and cooking, I keep good ole grocery store Heinz cider vinegar as pictured above, and that is what I used on Boo.

You could also use an apple cider vinegar rinse with your dog's bath that might help. After bathing your dog with a mild shampoo, mix apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of warm water in a small bucket or bowl. Towel dry your dog, then use a sponge to dab on the vinegar and water mixture, letting your pet air dry.

Another use for that same 50/50 spray mixture, might be to lightly spray your dog before they go outside to use the bathroom and when they get back in, or when you leave home and return with them, which may help deter those pests like gnats or even fleas.

I didn't worry too much about Boo smelling like a salad. I use vinegar in my wash and for cleaning and as far as my nose is concerned, I find that the vinegar smell seems to fade away after only a few minutes.

Disclaimer: I am not an animal expert. Information shared here is for informational and entertainment purposes only and any recipes, remedies, solutions, practices or other suggestions or information offered at this site is to be used at your own discretion and at your own risk and you agree to accept all such responsibility for any related liability holding this site and its owner completely free of liability.

Material Disclosure: Unless otherwise noted, you should assume that post links to the providers of goods and services mentioned, establish an affiliate relationship and/or other material connection and that I may be compensated when you purchase from a provider. You are never under any obligation to purchase anything when using my recipes and you should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline.
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