From Lorna Cady, Feltmakers Ireland member and pharmacist –

As a pharmacist in the 1980s, working at the orthopaedic hospital in London, we often dispensed this wax. It came in foil containers with a cardboard lid [like take-aways] in sizes to accommodate hands [or feet].

For patients with arthritis or other sore, stiff conditions, the wax [in the container] was melted in hot water, and the patient put their hand in it and moved it about gently for several minutes. The heat – which was not hot enough to burn – gave great relief to the painful joints. Apparently, the wax comes off easily after the session.

Sometimes I have heard feltmakers say their hands are a bit sore after a lot of felting work – I remembered about the wax.

In my current job in the nursing homes in Dublin, we don’t dispense ‘sundries’, just medicines, so I hadn’t seen the wax here.

I didn’t want to recommend it to feltmakers without checking that it was still an approved therapy.

This week I met with one of the physiotherapists at work – the wax is still much used – rather than having gone out of favour for whatever reason.

The physio said the wax is melted in a strong polythene bag in hot water, and the hand goes in, as described above. After use, the wax solidifies and can be used again for the same patient.

I have looked at the wax online – there is a lot of information, and different devices like large polythene gloves [cheap] or electric baths [hand-sized] to melt the wax and put the hand in [expensive]. I haven’t found the ‘take-away’ containers yet, but they are probably out there somewhere! There are lots of details on how to use the wax.

For additional information, there is an article here https://www.healthline.com/health/paraffin-wax

I hope low-melt paraffin may be of use to some of you!

Lorna

Pharmacist and Feltmaker

July 2023 LC/Wax for hands 0523

Editors note: Disposable metal containers have been spotted at Evans Art Supplies.